In the debate about societal development, it is often easy to fall into the trap of seeing technological development as either-or in relation to other societal changes. A common view is that technology drives change and that rules and laws only hinder this development. But the truth is that it is not a matter of choosing between one or the other.
To achieve sustainable and effective societal development, we need to understand how technological innovation and changes in laws and regulations interact.
Laws and regulations – an inertia that protects us
Laws and regulations create a structure that society needs to be able to function in the long term. They ensure that changes do not occur too quickly or without proper thought. There is an important point in this inertia, as it counteracts ill-considered changes that can create more problems than they solve. Regulatory systems also have the advantage that, if they are designed correctly, they can create long-term stability and influence society over time.
Think about how power systems are designed to check and balance each other. One example is how politicians and the police are controlled by different control bodies. In many democracies, politicians are not above the police – politicians can be brought to justice and even imprisoned if they abuse their power. At the same time, the police need a control body that reports to politicians, so that the police cannot use their power in an arbitrary manner. This system of mutual control is fundamental to maintaining justice and preventing any individual party from gaining too much power. If we add that this cannot be changed within a term of office but requires several leaders to change, we create security against unfair use of power. Here we see how laws and regulations contribute to long-term stability and prevent abuse of power, which is a necessary function for the survival of society.
The rapid development of technology – an ability to change the world
Technological development has always progressed rapidly, but recently it has accelerated so quickly that we do not have time to overview its consequences. The Internet is a clear example of this. It has affected everything from how we communicate and educate ourselves to how we work and shop. Technology and digitalization have also had a huge impact on medicine, where new treatments and technological advances have led to improved quality of life and longer life expectancy.
But this speed has its challenges. Technology often changes systems faster than society can adapt, which can create imbalances. A platform economy, such as the one we see in social media and the sharing economy, can, for example, create benefits for many, but also entail unwanted consequences, such as increased gaps, exploitation or inequalities. Here we see that technology, for better or worse, can revolutionize systems that we do not always have time to adapt laws and regulations for but sometimes need to create better conditions and, for example, protection against new types of crime.
The possibilities through technological development
To illustrate the enormous potential that technology offers, think of a scenario that a few hundred years ago would have seemed impossible – that we could save the Earth from a meteorite on its way to destroying the planet. Thanks to technological developments, we now have rockets, advanced computers that can calculate orbits and impacts, engines that can take us into space, and cameras that can take extreme pictures of these phenomena. We also have AI that can analyze data from centuries to predict events and give us the opportunity to act.
Previously, without these technological advances, we would not even have understood what was about to happen. This shows the enormous power of technological development. If we use the right tools, we can fundamentally change our world – even save it from disaster. If all this development were to be governed entirely by slow regulations, we would not have this opportunity.
What do we put first?
So what should we put first – the slow but steady formation of society’s rules and laws or the rapid technological development? The answer is of course that we have to deal with both together and that we have done a pretty good job so far. Technological innovation can open doors to solutions we never imagined, but without the right laws and regulations to guide development, we risk creating a society where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, where social gaps grow, and where the possibilities of technology are exploited without considering long-term consequences.
There are also people who do not like change, and therefore they often refer to laws and regulations as the solution. These people see the stability of the old system as a security, a barrier against risk-taking and uncertainty. On the other hand, there are people who are prepared to take risks to find new solutions to big problems, and who see technological development as the way forward. But to find the right balance, we need to understand how these two forces – the slow and the fast – are interconnected and influence each other.
Synchronizing laws and technology for a sustainable future
A concrete example of this is the so-called twin transition that many European countries are working on to create a green transition. It is about using technological development to accelerate the green transition, so that these changes not only happen faster, but also in a way that reinforces each other. By using the transformative power of technological development, we can create a more sustainable world without digitizing and entrenching systems that are not sustainable. It is when they do not have common purposes that the problems arise.
This is where laws and regulations play a crucial role. We cannot just let technology take over without ensuring that it does not reinforce negative structures, such as environmental degradation or social inequalities. By introducing the right rules and creating an environment for innovation, we can ensure that technology is used to solve our biggest problems, rather than creating new ones. Using technology for technology’s sake is as foolish as referring to laws for law’s sake.
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
Ultimately, it’s not about choosing between technological development and laws and regulations. It’s about understanding how these two forces can work together to create a better society. By harnessing the potential of rapid technological development while ensuring that laws and regulations are adapted to support a sustainable future, we can create a world where change happens in a thoughtful and positive way. It is in this interplay between technological innovation and societal inertia that we find the greatest opportunity for a better future.
As usual, it’s not about either or – it’s about both!
