Marietje Schaake

Marietje Schaake is a prominent expert on technology, policy, and geopolitics with a public sector focus. She served as a member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2019, where she was influential in shaping Europe's policies on technology, trade, and foreign affairs, including implementing "net neutrality" policies. Currently, she is a Fellow at Stanford's Cyber Policy Center and at the Institute for Human-Centered AI, where she advances initiatives to promote digital freedoms, stricter export controls for cybersurveillance technology, and new policies for e-commerce and cybersecurity.

Schaake is the author of "The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley," which provides a roadmap for governments to prevent technology companies from harming citizens. Her work has been described as "alarming and hopeful," and she has been hailed by The New Yorker for her "forceful critique" of Big Tech. She writes a monthly column for the Financial Times on technology and governance and serves on the UN's AI Advisory Body.

Her research focuses on the critical intersection of technology, democracy, and governance. She examines how digital platforms impact democratic processes, the geopolitical implications of technology dominance, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks to protect citizens' rights in the digital age. Her work emphasizes digital sovereignty, the importance of preventing corporate overreach in governance functions, and developing alternative models to the current US-China tech dominance.

Schaake's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on emerging technology policy challenges. Her writing tracks the evolution of debates around AI governance, digital sovereignty, and the democratic implications of technology concentration. She has been particularly prescient in identifying how technology companies increasingly encroach on governmental functions and the urgent need for democratic institutions to reassert their authority in the digital realm.

As a speaker and policy advisor, Schaake works extensively with governmental bodies, international organizations, and civil society to develop practical approaches for technology governance that prioritize democratic values and human rights. Her perspective bridges the technical, policy, and geopolitical dimensions of the digital transformation currently reshaping societies worldwide.