## Notes from 27 May 2025 [[2025-05-26|← Previous note]] ┃ [[2025-05-28|Next note →]] Currently immersed in the second day of [re:publica](https://www.re-publica.com/en) here in Berlin, and the atmosphere is buzzing. It’s a sprawling conference devoted to all things digital, from [government applications](https://www.sprind.org/en/words/eudi-wallet) to the broader contours of what’s next in digitization, its inherent dangers, and its most exciting possibilities. The crowd feels like a snapshot of Berlin’s international “cool set”: NGOs, startups, and even a few government folks. A few observations: - The audience leans progressive, a sharp contrast to the growing “[[Tech Right]]” space in the US - Diversity is visible (across gender, race, sexual orientation, and nationality), fueling a range of perspectives (as long as they aren't conservative!) - Large tech firms like Google still hold prominent booths, even as more voices openly critique their societal influence - Themes of digital sovereignty recur (as in [Francesca Bria](https://www.euro-stack.info/)’s keynote) reminding us that control over data and infrastructure is the issue of the moment Critics [like this one](https://lichtblau.substack.com/p/wir-brauchen-kein-europaisches-silicon) abound. While I share concerns over Big Tech’s dominance (my kind of liberalism is decidedly pro-market but rarely pro-company), I sense there’s often too little acknowledgment of the nuanced ecosystem that enabled Silicon Valley’s rise. It's usually the biggest players who push for regulation, not to restrain themselves, but to entrench their position. Still, painting Silicon Valley with a single, cynical brush misses its inherent ambiguity. Yes, the “Magnificent Seven” wield immense power, but they emerged from an environment shaped by: - A dynamic labor market where companies evolve and knowledge compounds. - A mature venture capital ecosystem willing to back bold ideas without prejudice - Legal frameworks ([Delaware incorporation](https://proposal.eu-inc.org/?v=14d076fd79c58146b048000caeed686a), flexible labor market) that lower barriers for entrepreneurs - A culture of rapid iteration, where failure teaches as much as success These foundations can't be copied wholesale... but they can be upgraded. And they should never be ignored. Hopefully, people associated with the idea of [[European Accelerationism]] are discussing this. I know I risk being very unfair, but I didn't see any of this at re:publica. Newer players like Anthropic and OpenAI still thrive in this environment - something Europe (especially Germany) struggles to replicate, held back by rigid labor markets, cautious digitization policies, and [overly bureaucratic university systems](https://www.siliconcontinent.com/p/to-win-the-war-for-talent-free-the). Critiquing U.S. tech is easy. But unless European actors learn to foster similar forms of dynamism (while doing better on its failings) they risk falling behind, left clinging to symbolic gestures and regulation as consolation. In that sense, the real question isn’t who to blame - but what to learn.