So, what comes next?
Clearly, we must continue fighting for more democracy in the digital economy at large. And in this sense it is necessary to express more emphatically that what civil society has been expressing for years is true: we must stop the negotiations that aim to deregulate digital markets at the global level, both in bilateral free trade agreements and in the WTO and other regional agreements. It is necessary to continue moving forward to stop negotiations that are harmful to economic development, technological diversity, the protection of democracy, culture, education and public policy, among other effects.
At the same time, it is necessary that the States do not renew the moratorium on electronic transmissions at the next WTO ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi in March 2024: this moratorium has the effect that technology companies do not pay customs duties on the sale of goods on the Internet, such as books, video games, music and others. This moratorium is not only intended to be extended indefinitely, but also to extend its scope to goods and services in the economy.
It is time for states to regulate what happens on the Internet.
It is time to control the damage we have suffered as a society due to the tremendous power we have given to technology corporations.
A diverse, democratic and inclusive technological world is possible. The paralysis of e-commerce negotiations at the WTO is just one step towards working for a more just global digital society.