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Augustin Courtier is the co-founder and head of development and partnerships at Latitudes, which addresses the impact of digital technology on society and the environment.
During the summer break, the teams at impact.info invite you to (re)listen to one of our episodes published this year.
This episode highlights the testimony of Augustin Courtier , co-founder and head of development and partnerships at Latitudes .
Enjoy listening!
Florence Jaillet
impact.info journalist
Published on 19 August 2026
Transcript Audio in Français — text automatically translated· AI-generated transcript
0:00 Today, we address the question of digital technology by looking at how we use digital tools 0:05 and not so much from the angle of their impact on society. 0:08 So, everything we try to do is to bring this question back to the heart of our teaching 0:12 so that we learn to use it in a healthier and more sustainable way. 0:21 Hello and welcome to the podcast for those who want to change things within their company. 0:28 A more citizen-friendly, accessible, diverse, engaged, sober, and human-respecting technology is possible. 0:35 Augustin Courtier. 0:37 So, my name is Augustin Courtier, I'm 31 years old and I was born in the Paris region. 0:43 And I still live in Paris today, and I co-founded the association Latitude eight years ago now. 0:48 So, I am particularly responsible for the development and partnership aspects. 0:51 So, what is the association Latitude? 0:54 The issue we want to address with Latitude is the impact of digital technology on society and the environment. 1:00 And so, for eight years, we have been working a lot on the theme of education with Latitude. 1:04 We deploy educational programs on the social and environmental impacts of digital technology 1:09 which can take the form of card games. 1:11 For example, we created the AI Battle to develop critical thinking around the impact of AI on society and the environment, 1:17 or citizen engagement programs. 1:19 For example, we created the Open Data University to enable people with data analysis skills 1:24 to analyze data in service of themes like access to culture, ecological transition, new mobility, etc. 1:32 So today, we are a team of 15 employees and 550 volunteers all over France. 1:37 And our job together is to train citizens on the impacts of digital technology. 1:43 So, what are the impacts of digital technology? 1:46 The impacts of digital technology are very numerous. 1:48 Indeed, we have a fairly global approach with Latitude in the sense that we address both the social and environmental issues of digital technology. 1:55 And we have grouped them into six themes to mention them. 2:00 Digital sobriety, the impact of digital technology on the environment. 2:03 The issues of digital citizenship. 2:05 So, it's all about the impact of digital technology on our democracy, to put it simply. 2:08 So, the topics of fake news, personal data on the Internet, etc. 2:13 The issues of diversity in digital technology. 2:15 The issues of accessibility in digital technology. 2:17 The topics of respect for humanity. 2:18 So, it's all about the impact of digital technology on our health, where we talk about themes like screen addiction or mental health on social networks. 2:25 And finally, the theme of citizen engagement. 2:27 Ultimately, what we need to remember about how we address digital technology is that we try to question its usefulness. 2:33 It's about seeing the positive side on certain themes, but also being realistic about the negative impacts of digital technology to learn to better manage them. 2:41 It's interesting because ultimately, all of this happened very quickly and we don't necessarily have the keys to analyze and master this digital world. 2:50 Very quickly, yes and no. 2:51 For example, in our workshop The AI Battle, there is a part of the workshop dedicated to the key events of AI from 1950 to the present day. 2:59 We become aware that this is not a wave that has only been around for two years. 3:02 These technologies have been in development or use for decades. 3:07 It's also a topic that is often misunderstood and appears as a technical subject reserved for experts. 3:13 Part of our work at Latitudes is to show that this is not the case. 3:17 It's a subject that concerns everyone because the use cases of digital technology or, for example, artificial intelligence are indeed concrete in our daily lives. 3:24 To give the example of AI in recommendation systems, in intelligent transport systems. 3:30 These are things that have been part of our daily lives for decades. 3:34 However, these are questions that are rarely or poorly addressed in our training curricula. 3:39 Today, we approach the question of digital a bit more through how we use digital tools and not so much from the angle of their impact on society. 3:48 Everything we try to do is precisely to bring this question of why digital to the heart of our teaching so that we learn to use it in a healthier and more sustainable way. 3:58 You said it, it concerns everyone. 4:00 I imagine you address everyone. Are there programs that specifically target perhaps young people or women? 4:07 Or are there other specificities in your approaches? 4:10 Yes, absolutely. We do have, behind everyone, a few more specific audiences. 4:16 In particular, we have programs dedicated to youth, for young people in middle and high school. 4:20 With workshops dedicated to discovering digital professions to help young people with their orientation and also to develop their critical thinking. 4:27 We have a strong foothold in higher education with students. 4:32 Since for us, it's a key period where one transitions from adolescence to adulthood and where one also builds a lot of reflections on their professional path. 4:40 So, it's also a very interesting moment to raise awareness of the issues related to digital. 4:44 And finally, we have a public more focused on continuing education that addresses both professionals in the public and private sectors. 4:52 And increasingly, we also work with actors in digital mediation to make these questions accessible to everyone. 4:59 So, there’s this way to join you, that is, through these workshops. Can we join you in other ways? 5:04 Can we join you as a volunteer? Can we join you as a patron as well? 5:08 Yes, absolutely. This is the topic we've worked a lot on over the last three years, the question of volunteering. 5:14 In three years, we've gone from 50 to 100 volunteers per year to 550 active volunteers all over France. 5:22 And so today, when we see if this is a theme that interests us or if you want to know more, 5:28 becoming a volunteer is the best way for us to train you on these topics. 5:32 And then, we provide you with ready-to-use tools so that you can talk about it around you, 5:35 whether to your loved ones, but also perhaps in your company, your association, or your school. 5:42 So that's really the simplest way today to participate in the adventure of Latitudes. 5:47 And indeed, afterwards, we look for financial or non-financial partners for all our programs. 5:52 And for that, the best thing is to go to our website where all the programs are dedicated. 5:56 Some are presented, some are dedicated to digital sobriety, others more to the education of young people, others more to AI. 6:02 And so, depending on the interest of your organization, we definitely have programs that may interest you. 6:07 In what way, in your opinion, is what you offer different from what exists? 6:11 Adds an additional stone to the edifice, changes things, specifically moves the lines? 6:16 I think there are three specific points that make EdStud a bit special. 6:20 The first is the theme we address. 6:22 Today, as we said, it's a bit our reason for being, 6:25 but questions of digital impact are very poorly taught. 6:28 To give a figure, only 7% of professionals in digital training. 6:32 who train on the environmental impacts of digital technology. 6:35 So, it's really anecdotal. 6:37 And so, we can say that through our content, we bring innovation to national education 6:42 or higher education in particular. 6:44 Secondly, I think there's the way to do it, our deployment model, 6:48 where for the past three years, we've worked a lot on citizen mobilization of volunteers. 6:52 And in the next three years, we're tackling teacher training 6:56 to really work hand in hand with education professionals 7:00 to train them to use our resources independently. 7:03 And finally, there's also the way we organize the life of the association, 7:08 where we try to innovate a lot in our human resources policies 7:12 with a policy of conscious and flexible leave. 7:15 We implemented a 4.5-day work week six months ago 7:18 without a salary reduction for the salaried team. 7:21 So, we're trying to establish policies 7:23 that also allow us to innovate at that level. 7:25 You talk about ecological footprint. 7:27 Are there any tips and tricks? 7:29 To know, to limit one's digital footprint, 7:32 we say to sort your emails. 7:33 Are there simple things to do ultimately for everyone, 7:36 fairly easy to accomplish? 7:38 Yes, indeed. 7:39 And by the way, sorting your emails is often the action that's mentioned, 7:42 but it's really not the one that has the most impact. 7:45 And so, what to remember about the environmental footprint of digital technology, 7:48 is that the main impact of digital technology, 7:50 is more on the electronic equipment we use, 7:53 like our phones, our computers. 7:55 And so, if there's one action to take to reduce one's footprint individually, 8:00 it's to extend the lifespan of your equipment, 8:03 to buy it refurbished, 8:05 to recycle it once it's at the end of its life or to give it away. 8:07 That's really the main thing. 8:09 After that, of course, all actions are good to take. 8:11 And then, there are issues more at the level of organizations or the system, 8:15 especially with the arrival of AI in the last two or three years 8:18 which also significantly disrupts the environmental impact of digital technology 8:21 with digital systems that are increasingly resource-intensive, 8:24 both in energy and electronic equipment, 8:28 with notably the construction of quite a few data centers 8:31 to meet these growing needs for computing power. 8:34 But in any case, what needs to be remembered is that at its scale, 8:36 hardware is really what has the most impact. 8:39 Maybe one of the topics we are also trying to advocate in the digital realm, 8:42 is the importance of taking time. 8:44 And in this constant acceleration regarding digital issues, 8:47 we have just initiated our strategic cycle 2025-2027 8:51 titled Welcome to Long Time, 8:53 which is an invitation to ask the right questions, 8:55 to take the time to digest all these technological evolutions 8:58 and to learn to question this progress as well, 9:00 and to ask the question of what the right progress is ultimately. 9:03 Perhaps for those listening to us, 9:06 to keep these reflections alive and not hesitate to take the time 9:09 rather than giving in to the technological sirens 9:13 that push us towards more technology more quickly, 9:16 which is not the message we convey. 9:18 Impact.info, doing business differently. 9:22 Augustin Courtier, you are the co-founder of the association Latitude. 9:26 16 years old is the age to start your business in France. 9:29 You, at 16, were already interested in digital technology. 9:32 What did you envision for yourself? 9:34 Did you imagine you would be where you are today? 9:37 Well no, not at all. 9:39 At 16, I think I was rather afraid of IT jobs 9:42 which did not attract me at all. 9:44 I was a consumer of digital for video games 9:47 or my personal social life, 9:50 but the jobs did not interest me at all. 9:53 And gradually, indeed, during my engineering studies, 9:56 I also understood all the ramifications 9:59 that existed in the IT world 10:01 and how much it sharpens all sectors of activity today. 10:04 That's a bit what sparked my interest in IT, 10:07 so I became a computer engineer. 10:09 And it was also at that moment that I understood 10:11 that it had an impact on many aspects of society. 10:13 And it was rather from that angle that I became interested in it, 10:15 but both in entrepreneurship and in digital at 16, 10:18 these weren't themes that attracted me. 10:20 But ultimately, life and encounters gradually led me there. 10:24 Thanks to Augustin Courtier, co-founder of the Latitudes association. 10:28 You can find this podcast on our website impact.info. 10:33 This was impact.info. 10:35 Doing business differently. 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