Digital responsibility
Digitalisation is for the people
We are currently at a turning point. All around the world, digitalisation is resulting in fundamental economic and social changes. The pace of digital transformation, which is affecting every aspect of our lives, is remarkable.
“We are approaching the topic with the mindset that technology must serve people and not vice versa. People are the highest ethical authority.”
Valentina Daiber
Chief Officer Legal and Corporate Affairs
Chief Officer Legal and Corporate Affairs
We assume responsibility
Shaping the digital transformation responsibly is one of our main concerns – for the benefit of our customers, our company, our employees and society.
We are a founding company of the Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) Initiative launched by what was Germany’s Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection.
We made a commitment in 2021 to recognise the initiative’s CDR Code as one of seven companies to do so. This states: “We put people at the centre of the development and use of technical systems.”
Our target: digital participation of all people
We stand up for making sure all people have access to the opportunities offered by digitalisation. We have been working for years to familiarise the young and the old with the possibilities offered by digitalisation and teach them about the challenges involved in using the Internet.
We have a joint initiative with the Digital Opportunities Foundation called “Digital mobil im Alter” (Digitally mobile in old age). This focuses on teaching about risks – ahead of the 2021 federal election, we launched an information campaign for the elderly on the topic of disinformation on the Internet. The website “Faktisch betrachtet – Fit gegen Fake News” (Factually speaking – fit for fake news) features a checklist for identifying misinformation, explanatory videos and an online quiz.
Protecting children and young people
These days, children are asking for a smartphone or a tablet at an early age – most young people can no longer imagine living without a mobile device. But they too have to learn how to use digital technologies safely. Many young people find themselves confronted with hate messages or offensive comments, and primary school children are affected by cyberbullying too. We therefore consider it important to specifically take responsibility here.
We want to enable young people to use digital media in a competent and safe manner and play a part in protecting them from problematic media content. Our WAKE UP! initiative uses a web series, workshops and a video competition to teach children and young people about how to deal with cyberbullying. We support parents with guides and pamphlets on competently handling their children’s mobile freedom.
Sustainable innovations in accordance with ethical principles
We want to use digital technologies to press ahead with the sustainable development of our company and the economy. It is important that limits are set regarding technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in order that they benefit society. We therefore observe strict ethical principles regarding the use of AI.
We work to ensure customers retain sovereignty over their data and remain the masters of their digital lives. See the data protection web page for more information.
Our ethics of artificial intelligence
New digital pact
The pace of change is putting pressure on political decision-making processes and international collaboration. O2 Telefónica is calling for a “new digital pact” in order that everyone can benefit from digitalisation in an age of rapid technological changes. Our digital manifesto to download:
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