Last month, we published four key points that we would like to see reflected in the election manifestos for the 2025 general election. Now we are taking stock: we have examined the manifestos of twelve parties to see to what extent our recommendations have been adopted.
What stands out is how digitalisation is becoming an increasingly important part of the political agenda. Topics like artificial intelligence, digital independence, data security, and transparency have a direct impact on our democracy, economy, and privacy. While some political parties support investing in technology with minimal restrictions, others call for strict public oversight and regulation.
GL-PvdA, SP, PvdD and Volt: Technology in service of society
The clearest digital vision comes from GroenLinks-PvdA, which dedicates a full chapter of its platform to digitalisation. While the party acknowledges the benefits of technological progress, it also raises critical questions: who truly gains from it, and who is being left behind? GL-PvdA highlights concerns about algorithms, the power of big tech companies, and the impact on workers and the environment.
The party proposes creating a European Civil Tech Fund, investing in European digital services, and giving regulators a stronger role. It emphasises that digital government should be accessible to everyone, with public values taking priority. GL-PvdA strongly supports digital autonomy, inclusion, and transparency, and explicitly calls for efforts to promote alternative social media platforms.
A strong democracy depends on a healthy online public space. That’s why we will invest in a public digital sphere rooted in democratic values, including support for alternative social media platforms.
- Election manifesto GroenLinks-PvdA
The SP takes a strong public stance on digital issues. The party is committed to fighting surveillance capitalism and calls for stricter regulations on companies: collecting personal data without clear necessity should be banned, and addictive features in social media must be removed. The SP also supports the development of publicly controlled alternatives to commercial social media platforms.
The Party for the Animals (PvdD) highlights that technology is not just a technical matter, but also an ecological and ethical one. It prioritises digital sovereignty, open and secure infrastructures, and maintaining analogue backups for essential public services. According to the PvdD, technology should never serve profit or power alone: it must be transparent, accountable, and aligned with public values. The party also supports government investment in ethical and sustainable technology.
Volt, meanwhile, calls for a fundamentally new approach to digital governance. It proposes appointing a Minister for Digital Affairs, making algorithms transparent, and ensuring that citizens know exactly what data is being collected and where it is stored. Volt believes technology should make government more accessible and efficient, but always under strict rules that protect openness, accountability, and civil rights.
PVV and VVD: one-sided view on technology
Not all parties give equal weight to digital issues. The PVV, whose programme focuses heavily on immigration and security, largely ignores the topic of digitalisation. Key concerns like digital autonomy, algorithmic transparency, and protection from big tech are notably absent. Even more troubling is a section calling for groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Antifa, and “pro-Hamas groups” to be classified as terrorist organisations and banned. Such proposals directly threaten fundamental civil rights - both offline and online - like freedom of expression and the right to organise, which are essential pillars of an open society.
The VVD takes a different but equally narrow approach. The party places strong faith in artificial intelligence and digital technologies as engines of economic growth. Its platform supports major investments in AI for both the private sector and the public sector, particularly to enhance the work of security and intelligence services. Efficiency and innovation are at the forefront.
But what’s most noticeable is what the VVD leaves out. There is no mention of privacy, digital civil rights, or ethical safeguards around AI. No restrictions are proposed for tech giants, no rules around data collection, and no measures to prevent algorithmic discrimination. This suggests that the VVD views technology primarily as a tool for economic and security gains, without seriously addressing its risks to democracy, equality, or individual freedoms.
Digitalisation as a democratic battleground
With the rise of more authoritarian and right-wing parties and a string of big tech CEOs bowing to the agenda of leaders such as Trump, it would be unwise to relinquish control over the digital realm. It is good to see that parties such as GL-PVDA, SP and PvdD are critical and are proposing measures to protect our privacy and democracy. What still needs attention in these programmes is that the technology must remain in public hands. For example, we advise societal moderation of social media and greater use of corporate structures in which the mission is monitored by stakeholders rather than shareholders.
There are still six weeks to go before we head to the polls. How will you vote? And what positions do you consider important when it comes to our digital future? Join the discussion on our Mastodon instance at waag.social!
