Introducing the DIRECT Project: Empowering DIgital Responsibility Through EduCation and Training

In an increasingly digital world, the ethical use of technology is no longer just a theoretical concern—it’s a daily reality. From artificial intelligence to social media platforms, digital technologies are shaping the way we live, work, and connect. With this transformation comes a pressing responsibility to ensure these tools are used ethically and inclusively. This is where DIRECT comes in.

We are proud to introduce the DIRECT Project—a forward-looking initiative dedicated to advancing Digital Responsibility (DR) EduCation and Training across Europe and beyond. The project runs for 36 months and is funded by the EU Erasmus+ programme. But what does Digital Responsibility mean? It’s a growing concept that encompasses the values, norms, and principles guiding both individuals and organizations in the ethical design, development, and use of digital technologies. At its core, DR ensures that technology serves humanity—safely, fairly, and sustainably.

What is digital responsibility?

Digital responsibility is the commitment to use and share digital technologies under premises of security, ethics and responsibility in order to protect yourself and others. In fact, protecting your digital privacy is more important now than ever in the face of the ever-increasing risks of attacks, cybercrimes and inappropriate behaviors using new technologies as leverage. 

It is important to be aware that incorrect use of ICTs (Information and Communication Technology) in aspects such as respect, privacy, right to disconnect, security, ethics or prudent sharing not only affects you when you make use of technologies, but also directly affects people who have, for example, copyrights that can be violated. 

At this point, it is important to note that digital responsibility does not only affect private individuals, but can also have an effect on companies that see the need to work on their digital information management in a proactive and sustainable way and also organizations that collect data and has to implement a correct use of anonymization.

In essence, digital responsibility is about:

• Using technology in a way that minimizes harm and maximizes benefit.
• Being mindful of the impact of technology on individuals, society, and the environment.
• Acting ethically and responsibly in online spaces.
• Protecting personal information and the privacy of others.
• Promoting digital equity and inclusion. 

Core digital responsibilities

To narrow down the topic before moving on to examples, we want to share with you a list of key digital responsibilities that help establish ethical and secure information exchanges. 

• Use language and behave correctly and appropriately when interacting with others. This has a direct and fundamental influence on situations such as cyberharassment. 
• Be respectful of other people’s opinions and ideas. It is important to take the time to listen and analyze in depth and calmly the opinions of others before issuing an opinion that may be biased. 
• Be aware of and respect all intellectual property laws so that no professional can see the digital rights related to their creations infringed. 
• From the previous point we can deduce the obligation to ask permission and prior consent to the legitimate intellectual owner before making use of their work. In this sense, review everything related to GDPR.
• Respect the rules of conduct and behavior of each Internet site.
• Report cyber threats that you detect, as well as any inappropriate use of digital resources. 
• Know and apply cybersecurity measures in gadgets, devices and broadcasting channels: email, social networks, websites, etc. 

What will DIRECT deliver?

Our work begins with the creation of a comprehensive Digital Responsibility Competence Framework, rooted in real-world ethical dilemmas from a variety of professional and societal contexts. From there, we will develop:

• Innovative learning pathways designed around practical skills and ethical understanding,
• A skills analytics engine to personalize the learning experience,
• And a user-friendly digital platform to make DR training accessible, adaptable, and scalable.

These tools will form the foundation for future initiatives that foster the responsible use of digital technologies and support long-term societal resilience.

At its core, DIRECT is about empowering people and organizations to make ethical choices in the digital age. It actively promotes gender equality, inclusiveness, and the fight against discrimination in all its forms. By championing digital responsibility, DIRECT seeks not only to respond to current challenges, but to shape a more just, equitable, and sustainable digital future.