Diplomacy, Disruption and the Digital Defence of Democracy

A fast changing world, driven by staggering breakthroughs and new fissures opening up. Can we make sense of patterns of change across the globe during this time of exponential technology?

In this series, I speak to some of the most brilliant minds building, investing in or analysing the near future. Subscribe to get notified of future columns and let me know what you think--and to stay in touch for good, sign up to my email newsletter.

Casper Klynge is the world's first ever technology Ambassador. As Denmark's official envoy to the tech industry, Casper's role is to engage in diplomacy with tech companies which rival or even exceed the size, wealth and power of some sovereign states. It was a fascinating conversation which delved into the increasingly complex relationship between technology and geopolitics, how tech companies are waking up to their own power, and how governments and companies need to work together for the benefit of society as a whole.

To hear our full conversation, subscribe to Exponential View podcast wherever you get your favourite pods >> Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | Breaker | Overcast | Soundcloud

Why have have an ambassador to the tech industry?

Casper Klynge: "The basic assumption on our side is that technology transcends everything. The distinction between what is local and what is global makes no sense any more. [Creating the ambassadorial post] was in recognition that this will be one of the drivers of change, globally, locally, and also that some of the big technologies companies are, in fact, becoming very, very, large, and potentially also extremely influential over local matters and also over international matters. So in that sense this is an ambassadorial post to an industry, but in fact it's also a post to all other countries around the world, because what we are trying to do is to get other countries to do something along the lines of what we are, because we want to put technology more firmly in the international agenda."

So states need to adapt to engage with the tech industry, but how does the tech industry need to engage with states?

Casper Klynge: "I know there's a lot of techlash, and we certainly have our own criticisms and concerns about how the tech companies act and how they behave.

But I think to be fair to them, they are only now beginning to realise and acknowledge that they are sitting on power bases with enormous influence. Even in the C-Suite level, some of them are really struggling with the complexity of what they've become, the power that they have and how they actually exercise that, both from a commercial point of a view and also from a societal point of view. And, you know, I think those are the battlegrounds that we'll see in the coming years, and I think the companies will be judged on their ability to take responsibility and to help protect some of the key values and institutions in our societies.

I think the response to that, from our point of view, is that you need to bring the industry much closer to government, so we need to almost establish a new partnership where we work together. This is a very value-driven dimension because, in fact, this is also about protecting democracy, it's about protecting the critical infrastructure of our nations."

Norms and values play a huge role in traditional international diplomacy. How does that translate to the tech industry?

Casper Klynge: "Innovation is fantastic. We have a lot to learn from innovation, especially when you come from a government, but sometimes innovation environments and centers also need to take a broader look on what's good for society, and that it fits into the values that we fought for literally hundreds of years to create.

The big technology companies have to get it right and I think that requires a change of mind-set in the C-Suite. It's not only about being a good coder, a good programmer; it's also about making sure that those companies adhere to higher standards, not only in how they promote their commercial activities but also how they play in to societies and into the international systems."

What do you think? Do tech companies have a responsibility to consider the greater societal good? How should governments respond to the growing power and influence of the big tech platforms?"

There are many more brilliant insights from this conversation which you can listen to on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Breaker & Stitcher. #brilliantminds