32 V I . S I C H E R H E I T, S C H U T Z U N D V E RT R AU E N F Ü R G E S E L L S C H A F T U N D W I RT S C H A F T zzIn response to global networking and revelations about the misuse of personal data, we want to be in the vanguard of the development of international data protection principles. To this end, we are engaging in dialogue with partners around the world. 3. Consumer protection in the digital world Consumer sovereignty on the digital markets must be restored and safeguarded. As the digital transformation takes place, we also want to ensure a high level of security by means of legal requirements or generally binding standards. To do this, we need to take the necessary measures to safeguard the trustworthiness of our digital infrastructures, expand our technological system expertise and reduce our dependencies. It is important to promote the use of German and European IT products and their manufacturers. To achieve these objectives, business, civil society, science and government must work together closely. zzWe are improving IT security by developing partner- zzWith this goal in mind, we are strengthening consumer confidence in digital products and services. We support the establishment of an Internet arbitration board. ships with operators of critical infrastructures; through legal guidelines for minimum security standards; and by introducing mandatory reporting for serious IT security incidents as part of an IT security law. zzIn order to identify shortcomings in digital products and services at an early stage, we are setting up a market watchdog to monitor the digital world (Digitale Welt). zzWe are introducing a right of associations to take legal zzWe support and demand the use of trustworthy IT secu- rity technologies, especially the use of more and better encryption in electronic communication. This will also lead to a more robust market for IT security solutions. action to improve data protection. zzWe investing greater efforts into the certification and zzHigh standards of data protection and data security are essential to maintain trust in digital services and products. We are therefore supporting and demanding technology-based data protection (privacy by design) and privacy-friendly default settings (privacy by default). zzTo prevent infringements of the law, we will improve the media literacy of users and ensure they are better equipped to distinguish between legal and illegal activities on the Internet. zzWe will clarify the future status and role of the Data Protection Foundation (Stiftung Datenschutz). 4. Strengthening digital infrastructures to create a trusted space Users’ trust in secure digital infrastructures must be constantly reinforced. IT security is an important driver of innovation and growth in Germany. We are committed to ensuring that our country remains one of the most secure digital locations in the world. recognition of expert agencies as this generates trust in IT products. zzWe support the design of new technologies that are secure and trustworthy. To this end, we are expanding standardisation activities that apply in particular to the international context. zzWe are empowering the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to meet the needs of telecommunications security and the European regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market. The improved provision of resources is also part of this process. zzTogether with the business community we want to improve German technology expertise in trustworthy IT and safeguard this expertise over the long term. To do this, we are setting up a „Trusted IT“ (Vertrauens­ würdige IT) platform. zzWe will safeguard the strategic capability of German companies and authorities to operate and monitor digital infrastructures and to gain technical mastery of hardware and software components.