In an age where our lives are increasingly mediated by screens, the quiet erosion of digital rights often goes unnoticed, a subtle trade-off made with every tap and scroll. We navigate complex online environments, frequently consenting to terms we haven’t read, unknowingly relinquishing control over our personal data and digital identity. It is against this backdrop of pervasive digital interaction that a new initiative in Madrid seeks to awaken public consciousness, urging a pause for reflection before the next click.
At the Espacio Fundación Telefónica in a central district of Madrid, an exhibition titled “Today is a Good Day to Talk About Digital Rights” has opened its doors, offering a vital space for introspection. Free to the public until May 3, 2026, the exhibition, curated by Fundación Telefónica and Domestic Data Streamers, is a cornerstone of the Observatorio de Derechos Digitales (Digital Rights Observatory) initiative. Its core purpose is to illuminate how our online choices continuously reshape the digital realm and to foster a dialogue on building a more secure and responsible digital ecosystem for everyone.
The immersive experience features more than 20 contemporary pieces by artists from around the world. These works collectively explore seven critical domains drawn from the 21 digital rights outlined in the Charter of Digital Rights. Visitors are prompted to consider aspects ranging from the fundamental right to freedom of expression and access to truthful information, to the nuances of digital privacy, personal identity in the digital sphere, the importance of human decision-making over algorithmic control, and the often-overlooked rights to be forgotten and to a digital legacy. The exhibition also touches upon the right to dignified work in a digital economy and the universal right to internet access.
Organizers emphasize that the objective is strikingly clear: to demonstrate, through a blend of humor, insightful reflection, and tangible data, that every single click holds significance. It aims to clarify, using relatable, everyday examples, that merely accepting terms without scrutiny involves surrendering more than just a piece of data. The message is a simple yet profound one: if we are to leave a digital footprint, we should at least understand the ground we are treading. Visitors are invited to engage actively with real-world dilemmas, casting their opinions via QR codes that contribute to a collective manifesto. This dynamic “poem” on a desired digital future is generated in real-time, underscoring the adaptive nature of technology and, by extension, the evolving rights that must accompany it.
This exhibition is part of a broader, concerted effort by the Observatorio de Derechos Digitales, an initiative spearheaded by Red.es, a public entity under Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function, through its Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. The Observatory’s mission is expansive, aiming to monitor, disseminate, debate, and champion digital rights among both citizens and private and public organizations. This vital work is financially supported by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU funds, channeled through Spain’s Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan, highlighting a significant institutional commitment to safeguarding digital freedoms.
Fundación Telefónica’s involvement extends beyond the exhibition, encompassing a range of activities scheduled between 2024 and 2026. This includes the publication of TELOS 128 magazine, dedicated entirely to digital rights, featuring contributions from leading thinkers such as Michael Ignatieff and Rafael Yuste. Additionally, the “Seres Digitales” platform has been launched, offering an accessible resource for understanding digital rights through video simulations of daily situations, infographics, and a podcast. Complementing these initiatives, a series of digital rights discussions at the Espacio Fundación Telefónica explores themes like digital identity, the pervasive issue of misinformation, intellectual property in the digital age, and the critical concerns surrounding algorithmic biases. Together, these efforts underscore the urgent global need to cultivate informed, active digital citizens capable of navigating and shaping the complex digital landscape responsibly.