EU Envoy for Digital to the US visit to Australia
During his visit, Mr. de Graaf met with numerous Australian officials, policymakers, and key stakeholders, emphasizing the transformative impact of the EU legislation on the future of digital governance.
A highlight of the visit included a highly productive meeting with Ambassador for Cyber Affairs & Critical Technology Brendan Dowling and Deputy Secretary Helen Wilson. They discussed the EU-Australian cooperation on artificial intelligence, platform regulation, and cybersecurity, and outlined plans for further meetings in 2024.
In a separate meeting with the Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, Mr. de Graaf reaffirmed shared goals in tech transparency, accountability, and joint commitment to online trust and safety. The discussion underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in creating a secure and responsible digital environment.
Mr. de Graaf was featured in the Australian press, providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives and insights on the evolving digital landscape. Listen to his interview with the ABC: How will the EU's new online safety laws impact tech giants?
During his stay, Mr. de Graaf also participated in The Australian Strategic Policy Institute Round Table on De-Risking Authoritarian AI. He shared his insights about the future of digital governance drawn from his experience developing and implementing EU legislation, such as the EU AI Act, DSA, DMA, and Cyber Resilience Act.
Speaking about his time in Australia Mr. de Graaf noted that Australia was focused on building trustworthy AI.
‘Australia is working hard to build trust worthy AI, promote internet safety, and keep digital markets competitive,’ concluded Mr. de Graaf after his visit.
Further reading on the EU legislation in digital world:
- EU AI Act: first regulation on artificial intelligence [European Parliament]
- Digital Services Act: Ensuring a safe and accountable online environment [European Commission]
- Digital Markets Acts: make the markets in the digital sector fairer and more contestable [European Commission]
- Cyber Resilience Act: cybersecurity rules to ensure more secure hardware and software products [European Commission]
