Digital awakening or standstill: Germany’s critical infrastructure at a crossroads

The digitalization of critical infrastructure in Germany has become a key challenge that urgently needs to be addressed.

From Homo Faber to digital native: Germany’s path to the digital future

Anyone who fails to recognize that a functioning digital infrastructure is crucial to the future of our country is either ignoring the signs of the times or deliberately exposing themselves to the risk of losing touch with the unstoppable technological development.

Challenges of digitizing critical infrastructure in Germany

Of course, such a digital infrastructure must also protect the interests of citizens and thus guarantee data sovereignty and informational self-determination. Anything else is not in line with legal provisions.

Opportunities and risks of critical infrastructure in Germany’s digitalization

The digitalization of critical infrastructure in Germany presents our country with new challenges and opportunities.

As I see it, the majority agree on this point. As far as implementation is concerned, the situation is unfortunately very different:

• There is no overarching, cross-sector strategy for this in Germany.
• The digitalization of critical infrastructure in Germany is essential toensure long-term resilience and security standards.
• The challenges in the digitalization of critical infrastructures in Germany lie primarily in the complex requirements for IT security, the implementation of which is absolutely essential in order to be resilient.
• For Germany, the digitalization of critical infrastructure is a key factor in ensuring international competitiveness.

The digitization of critical infrastructures in Germany faces major obstacles, but also opportunities.

Between progress and fragmentation: Germany’s digitalization in focus

Particular interests and a fragmented digitalization of Germany ina wide variety of sectors stand in the way of this.

That hits every homo faber hard. It hurts and pains me.

What we need is a cross-departmental digital infrastructure for everyone. Consistent digitalization is necessary to future-proof the critical infrastructure in Germany.

Privatization an option, but not always the right path

Privatization is one possible solution. This approach is not always suitable for solving structural problems.

Large-scale for AI in the Rhenish lignite mining area

The possible construction of a cloud data center for the US company Microsoft in the Rhenish lignite mining region is one option.

Microsoft’s commitment to supporting schools in AI education is by no means in the public interest. Rather, it is another effective step for the American software company to firmly establish its foothold in the German digital infrastructure.

❇️ From coal to artificial intelligence: plans for a European cloud data center for AI in the Rhenish mining area ❇️

Large-Scale AI – From coal to artificial intelligence – Microsoft plans for European cloud data center for AI in the Rhenish mining area

Microsoft has plans to build two large data centers in the Rhenish lignite mining region. For the region, this is certainly a symbolic step in the transition from traditional coal mining to future-oriented technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The largest construction project in Bergheim’s history, a hyperscale data center with an area of 200,000 square meters that would be one of the largest cloud data centers in Europe, would then be realized there. In addition to the infrastructural change, Microsoft says it is focusing heavily on education: The US company plans to invest a total of 3.2 billion euros in Germany and the company also plans to train around 1.2 million citizens in Germany in AI, with a particular focus on North Rhine-Westphalia. By building data centers in the Rhineland region, Microsoft is creating new prospects for jobs and strengthening hope in the surrounding communities. This step, even if it hardly replaces the 14,400 jobs lost due to the coal phase-out, is an opportunity to improve Microsoft’s image and demonstrate its commitment to the region and beyond. Were it not for the danger of possible login effects, which in retrospect, i.e. at a later date, make the investment of 3.2 billion euros seem like peanuts… The data centers, coupled with the qualification initiative, are aimed at significantly increasing capacities for cloud services and artificial intelligence, while at the same time pursuing the economic interests of the US company. Whether it is relevant that the company is trying to improve awareness and competence in dealing with AI-generated content seems at least questionable in its role and function. Projects like these are symbolic of our transition from coal to AI and raise important questions about the future of work, sustainability in the technology industry and our easy access to education.

Lock-in effect for cloud data centers – dependencies in large-scale mode

Like a mouse caught in a trap! This picture speaks volumes… Just like this rodent, companies and organizations can also fall into the “lock-in trap” of technology. The lock-in effect occurs when a company is so deeply locked into a (digital) product or platform that switching to another provider becomes impossible or extremely costly.

Lock-in effect for cloud data centers – dependency in large-scale mode

This typically happens through proprietary technologies or long-term contracts. In our digital world, where agility and good standardization are key to success, a lock-in is devastating. It inhibits innovation, explodes costs, prevents interoperability and increases dependency on a single vendor. This is why it is so critical to make strategic decisions about IT investments that promote openness and interoperability. It’s important to evaluate standards in a targeted and transparent way and not fall into the trap like the proverbial mouse. In our Rock the Prototype podcast, we looked in detail at this challenge and how we can overcome it.

The nuts and bolts of digital authentication: standards, security, trust

This method of gradual dependency has already proven itself in colonial times and unfortunately still works today. We call this the vendor lock-in effect.

State responsibility for digital services of general interest

Our state and its institutions must take over the strategy for our public services, both from a social perspective and from a technical responsibility. This means a uniform, cross-sector infrastructure with uniform quality standards. Qualified by validated sustainability and transparent audit processes that are digital and publicly accessible.

Billions of euros are currently being spent on digging graves where maintenance and safety cannot be guaranteed in the foreseeable future, resulting in extremely high follow-up costs for the state and therefore for us all.

Billion-dollar graves in digitization – Large-scale spending on digitization projects whose maintenance and security are foreseeably not guaranteed and mean extremely high follow-up costs for the state and thus for all of us.

We all ignore this or see it as the only way forward. In fact, it is a development into a technological dead end that only works and continues to grow until all resources are used up.

Creeping deindustrialization of our country

No one canseriously deny the creeping deindustrialization of our country. Germany’s economy is weakening.

Even though there have always been recessions and cyclical economic phases, we must be aware of the opportunities we are missing if we do not have a functioning digital infrastructure.

In 2024, fax machines will still be an integral part of the infrastructure in many public authorities. Although we are working feverishly on a changeover, the end of the fax machine is not yet in sight.

The escapade over the halted online access law is not only a first-class political drama, but also a cautionary example of the eternal struggle between progress and analog perseverance.

The delay in the Online Access Act is increasingly turning out to be a charade that highlights how open flanks and technical inadequacies undermine the ambitious goal of digital administration.

The rejection of the law is not only a bitter setback for our administrative digitalization, but also a missed connection to the future. While the world around us is digitizing at the speed of light, Germany seems to prefer a leisurely Sunday stroll. But as we all know, the future doesn’t wait for latecomers.

Identity theft: an underestimated risk in the digital world

According to the FAZ, one in ten people has already been the victim of identity theft. The number of unreported cases is far higher and it is more likely that every second person is already a victim of identity theft and just doesn’t know it or ignores it.

Digital identities are diverse and many are inadequately secured or even observed by third parties.

Facebook appears to have deliberately circumvented Snapchat encryption. In connection with a class action lawsuit against the Facebook group Meta, documents have now been made public that once again provide explosive material in the Facebook scandal surrounding data protection and data sovereignty. Facebook’s action against Snapchat was probably far more aggressive than ever thought…

As a result, Mark Zuckerberg is probably directly involved in a “Ghostbuster” project to spy on Facebook competitors and is therefore much more guilty than previously known.

According to the report, real “man-in-the-middle” attacks were carried out against Snapchat.

A man-in-the-middle attack is a form of cyberattack in which the attacker intercepts communication between two parties without them knowing about it.

The legal investigation is now taking place as part of a class action lawsuit against Facebook (Ref.: 3:20-cv-08570-JD). More and more explosive details from the documents are coming to light.

Podcast episode on identity management and trust models in digital infrastructures

Prepare to immerse yourself in the world of digital identities and understand how they make our online interactions more secure. Don’t miss the chance to expand your knowledge on one of the most important topics in our digitally connected world. Listen now:

Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/49gizXS

Enjoy on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42lNbVB

Stay tuned, tune in and get informed!

What does this mean for the data sovereignty and freedom of information of all Facebook users?

The revelations surrounding the “man-in-the-middle” attacks and the associated practices raise serious questions about data sovereignty and freedom of information , and not just for Facebook users. On the one hand, this could serve as evidence that users’ trust in Facebook’s handling of their private data has been profoundly destroyed. The possibility that Facebook actively circumvented encryption to collect usage data from competitors is far more than a mere indication that users’ privacy and control over their own data may have been compromised.

These incidents underline the need for a transparent and responsible data policy that prioritizes users’ rights to privacy and control over their own information. It could be a wake-up call for users to think more critically about what data they share online and how that data could be used by platforms.

Furthermore, these revelations could lead to increased demands for stricter data protection laws and regulations that ensure the sovereignty of users and their ownership rights to their data and thus also protect the freedom of information. The debate on data protection and data security will definitely intensify, with serious implications for the entire tech industry.

The question is always at what price we are prepared to put our personal data at risk. A game that reveals more about us than we might like.

Transparency of data processing and user rights in the shadow of Facebook’s scandal

In the wake of the revelations surrounding Facebook’s man-in-the-middle attacks on competitors such as Snapchat and the analysis of encrypted data streams from YouTube and Amazon, the transparency of data processing and the protection of our rights as users are increasingly becoming the focus of public debate. We users have a legitimate concern that Facebook and all platforms not only improve their user interface and functions, but also offer us comprehensive data protection guarantees .

These incidents appear to be just the tip of an iceberg, with the most worrying part still hidden below the waterline. To put it optimistically, there may already be an emerging trend in which large technology companies advertise trust, transparency and security to the outside world, but if the privacy and data sovereignty of us users is undermined in secret and laws do not protect us effectively, none of this is worth anything.

The revelations surrounding Facebook raise pressing questions:

• How do companies find a balance between the ease of use of their services, the protection of their users’ privacy and regulatory requirements?
• How can we be effectively guaranteed that our trust and our rights are protected?
• How can audits and open code policies effectively contribute to this?

Given the seriousness of the allegations against Facebook, a broad discussion about the role of large corporations in shaping digital identities, the associated user rights and the need for stricter regulation and monitoring of digital platforms is unavoidable. Users and data protectionists are increasingly calling for technology companies to adopt a user-centric approach not only in their service offerings, but also in their handling of user data.

A new start in the digital space: Why we need uniform data protection standards now

In our increasingly digitalized world, these concerns about data security and privacy are not only absolutely justified, but must be taken seriously.

“You cannot teach a man anything: you can only help him to discover it in himself.” – Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei – with his eyes on the sky – shows us that true breakthroughs often come from those who dare to be bold: questioning conventions, challenging the status quo – and sometimes even risking their own well-being in the process.

Progress regularly comes from the courageous, the visionaries, those who dare to break new ground. It is the bold thinkers and dreamers who expand our boundaries of the known and lead us into unknown worlds.

I feel that this willingness to swim against the tide is not only an act of courage, but also a gift to our future that inspires us all together to think beyond our own limits in order to make the previously impossible possible. Each and every one of us can contribute proactively and, above all, constructively.

When hyperscalers like Apple, Amazon or Microsoft set new standards, the tech industry inevitably follows suit. Unless we fundamentally change the rules of the game and think and act in terms of interoperable and data protection-compliant standards that redefine our global, digital ecosystem and thus our role as users and consumers. This means being vigilant and proactively thinking and acting.

What we need is the development and implementation of a uniform, sustainable concept for digitalization.

Trusted digital identities are ONE elementary building block and a valuable piece of the puzzle that ultimately fits into the big picture…

Nothing more and nothing less…

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Until then, stay safe, creative and above all curious!

Your Sascha Block