Non-Discrimination in the Current Digital Era in Relation to the Legal Framework of the European Union

Abstract

Tackling discrimination is a core policy challenge in EU strategies for the construction of a shared legal identity. In the present quest, they constitute a reference framework for all interactions between competitiveness and economic growth on the one hand, and individual fundamental rights on the other. Discrimination and inequality constitute a major source of concern. The penetration level varies with the nature and weight of the discrimination, but should not reach the autonomy of national competences. The rise of digital technologies has had a profound impact on almost every aspect of our societies. The new Digital Age, a period characterised by rapid and constant innovation, an urgent need for development, and new technologies and tools, has become a defining characteristic of our lives. In this scenario, the challenges of managing innovation, digitisation, and new technology have been placed centre stage by the European institutions as one of the priorities in the development of the Union. The objective is clearly to take advantage of the opportunities that the new technologies bring for all Europeans and for society as a whole, while also reducing the associated risks of discrimination in digital spaces.