By Javier Surasky-
The Summit
of the Future will convene next September, and its primary outcome document
will be the “Pact for the Future,” a political, non-binding document. The Pact
will accompany two companion documents: The Declaration on Future Generations
and the Global Digital Compact.
In a previous
entry, we analyzed the current version of the Declaration on Future
Generations. Now, we will focus on the recently published second revision of
the Global Digital Compact (GDC Rev2).
There are
many different approaches to that document. To keep it simple, it aims to set
the baselines for future discussions on global digital technology governance.
The GDC
negotiation process is being co-facilitated by the Permanent Representatives of
Sweden and Rwanda to the United Nations (originally, Sweden and Zambia were the
co-facilitators, but Zambia was
replaced by Rwanda in October 2023).
The
co-facilitators released the zero
draft of the GDC on April 1, 2024, followed by the first
revision on May 15, 2024, and the second revision on June 26, 2024.
There were
many changes between each version of the document. Focusing on those in the
second review, we can identify changes in wording, deletions, and additions.
Considering
that almost every paragraph includes modifications, it is impossible to make a
detailed review of all changes in a blog entry. Therefore, this text focuses on
the Chapeau, objectives, and principles stated in Rev 2. Nevertheless, I will
include references to some modifications in the text that I consider of particular
interest.
To help
readers quickly identify changes introduced in Rev 2, we include them in italics.
The Global Digital Compact Structure
Like the
Declaration on Future Generations, the first part of the GDC starts with a
short chapeau, followed by two paragraphs on objectives (para 7) and principles
(para 8). The second part unpacks each objective, establishing commitments and
actions to reach them by 2030.
The Chapeau
The chapeau
recognizes that digital technologies are dramatically transforming our world,
bringing fantastic potential for change and equally severe risks. To realize
the former and prevent the latter, we need to strengthen international
cooperation and, as Rev 2 adds, bear in mind that “closing digital divides
will require adequate, sufficient, and predictable means of
implementation.” Paragraph 6 also mentions the need for stakeholder engagement
“within their respective roles and responsibilities,” a phrase included in
various paragraphs in this second revision.
Consequently,
GDC Rev2 paragraph 4 says, “Our goal is an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair,
safe, and secure digital future for all. This Global Digital Compact sets out
the objectives, principles, commitments, and actions we undertake to achieve
it.” The inclusion of the word “fair” is the only change in this paragraph
compared to the previous version of the document.
Paragraph 5
provides a list of elements acting as a basis for the required cooperation:
international law, the UN Charter, international human rights law, international
humanitarian law (a Rev. 2 addition), and the 2030 Agenda. At the same
time, countries reaffirm their commitment to the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action
and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society.
Strangely,
the chapeau does not mention the “leave no one behind” principle, previously
included in paragraph 2 and deleted in the new version of the document.
Objectives and Principles
Beyond the
goal established in paragraph 4, the GDC lists five objectives:
- Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the SDGs.
- Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all.
- Foster an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space that respects, protects, and promotes human rights.
- Advance equitable and interoperable data governance.
- Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for the benefit of humanity.
The main
changes here are in objective 4, which called for “responsible and equitable
international data governance.” The reference to “responsible” has disappeared,
and “international” was replaced by “interoperable,” a modification that is
consistently repeated across the Rev 2 text. Referring to interoperability is a
step in the right direction. However, it can weaken the idea of an
internationally agreed framework for data governance.
I still
miss one objective: ensuring that AI will be “for good” or “for Sustainable
Development,” both well-established concepts referring to the ends of AI
development. It is critical to include this as setting the baselines for future
negotiations on AI global governance.
The GDC
also recognizes 12 principles that, hand in hand with the UN principles, should
guide digital cooperation. We divided them into three groups according to their
main function:
Defining
Values: Principles a, f, g, and i
- a) Inclusion: Equitable participation of states and stakeholders.
- f) Equity: Fair cooperation is required to confront technological capacity concentration and market power and promote meaningful inclusion in the digital economy.
- g) Accessibility: Accessible and affordable data and digital technologies and services are essential to enable every person to participate fully in the digital world. “Data” and “services” are words added in Rev. 2 as Rev 1 only referred to accessible and affordable digital technologies. This paragraph also references supporting linguistic and cultural diversity in the digital space.
- i) Responsibility: To ensure the safety, security, and trustworthiness of emerging technologies, cooperation will advance responsible, accountable, transparent, and human-centric design development, deployment, and use, including effective human oversight.
Efforts
Guidance: Principles b, c, d, and e
- b) Development: Rev 2 reaffirms that the GDC is rooted in the 2030 Agenda, which “takes into account different national realities, capacities, and levels of development” and respects national policies and priorities. This paragraph includes the only mention of the “leave no one behind” principle in the GDC. Rev 2 has also incorporated a reference to the special needs of developing and middle-income countries.
- c) Human Rights: Establishes that all human rights must be respected, protected, and promoted online and offline. Rev 2 includes a mention of the rights of persons with disabilities and erases a reference to the right to participation.
- d) Gender Equality and Empowerment: Refers to the “full, equal, and meaningful participation of all women and girls in the digital space” to close the gender digital divide. Rev 1 stated, “Our cooperation will encourage the leadership of women and prevent and eliminate sexual and gender-based violence which occurs through or is amplified by the use of technology.” Rev 2 introduces some significant modifications by replacing the mention of women and girls’ empowerment with “mainstream a gender perspective” and including the wording “All forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence.”
- e) Environmental Sustainability: Highlights digital technologies’ capabilities and opportunities for measuring, monitoring, and solving environmental challenges. Rev. 2 adds “and implements multilateral environmental agreements.” It also mentions digital technologies’ resource consumption, carbon emissions, and e-waste production: “Our cooperation will leverage digital technologies for sustainability while minimizing their negative environmental impacts.”
Operational
Guidance: Principles h, j, k, and l
- h) Interoperability: To ensure digital systems communication, this now includes the development of “compatible governance approaches.”
- j) Innovation-Friendly: Recognizing that “creativity and competition drive digital advances,” cooperation will foster innovation.
- k) Multi-Stakeholder: This statement affirms that governments and other stakeholders have roles and responsibilities in advancing an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital future and calls for working together in a “spirit of global solidarity and partnership.”
- l) Forward-Looking: The international cooperation promoted by the GDC must be able to identify, anticipate (added in Rev 2), assess, monitor, and adapt to emerging technology opportunities and risks.
Other Relevant Changes Introduced by Rev 2
Beyond the
GDC objectives and principles, its second revision includes modifications that
are key to note due to their repetition across the text (indicating a formal
change in the “accepted wording”) or possible impacts.
Increased
Attention to Data Issues: Even if data issues were vital in Rev 1, this new
version of the GDC expands its reach. For example, when establishing
commitments under objective 1 (Closing all digital divides and accelerating
progress across the SDGs), Rev. 2 added “data” as part of the promise made by
States of developing, disseminating, and maintaining, through multistakeholder
cooperation, safe and secure open-source software, platforms, data, AI
systems, and standards that benefit society as a whole.” (paragraph 17.a,
and under objective 2 (Expanding inclusion in and benefits from the digital
economy for all) governments commit to “conduct national and regional
assessments to inform actions to address gaps and needs in digital
transformation and strengthen the collection and use of data to inform
decision-making.”
Moreover, a
new paragraph 42 explains that States “consider that safe and secure data
systems and capacity are critical for evidence-based policy-making and the
delivery of public services. Underinvestment in public data systems and
statistical activities can hamper progress in achieving sustainable development.”
The
Expression “Non-Military Domain” appears for the first time in the GDC.
Paragraphs 13.e on prioritizing and setting targets for developing digital
competencies of public officials and institutions “including the development of
cybersecurity capacity and skills in the non-military domain”; paragraph
20 on cybersecurity standards and capacity to facilitate commercial
transactions; paragraph 21.i on promoting cybersecurity-related “capacity
building and skilling in the non-military domain,” and paragraph 49 on
efforts to advance safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems “in the
non-military domain.”
The
“Gender” Issue: Paragraph 56 (55 in Rev 1) new wording caught my attention. It
invites standards development organizations to develop AI standards that uphold
safety, reliability, sustainability, and human rights. In Rev 1, the list also
included a fourth element: gender equity. This contradicts the GDC principle of
promoting gender equality and empowerment. Even though the document has a sound
reception of general issues.
“Relevant”
Stakeholders: The word “relevant” before “stakeholder” appears repeatedly in
Rev 1. Rev 2 extended the use of this expression, which could be used to
exclude actors and sectors from participating in digital technology-related
processes.
A Global
Fund for AI: In Rev 2, paragraph 61 (60 in Rev 1), states request the
Secretary-General to establish a Global Fund for AI for Sustainable Development
(in Rev 1, Global Fund for AI) to “catalyze the AI capacity-building that is
required to bridge AI divides and promote AI-based solutions for the SDGs.”
In Rev 1, this paragraph mentions fund collaboration with technology companies
and technical and academic communities. It also has a second objective:
supporting the development of computing capacity and quality standard data
sets. All those references were erased.
Moreover, Rev 1 paragraph 61 stated: “This Fund should be put into operation with an initial amount of 100 million US dollars at launch in 2025, financed by voluntary contributions from public, private, and philanthropic sources. To this end, the Secretary-General should initiate consultations among potential donors and report on the progress of the Fund in the context of annual reporting on the Global Digital Compact”. The Rev 2 writing is very different and much less ambitious: “We request the Secretary-General to initiate consultations with potential public, private and philanthropic contributors and to report on progress on the Fund within 12 months.”
Conclusion
Still a
living document, GDC Rev 2 contributes to setting the baseline for digital
international cooperation. However, it is still far from being an ambitious
guide for future steps toward establishing global digital technology and AI
governance. In particular, it would benefit from a closer dialogue with AI for
Good principles and commitments.
GDC
principles should pay more attention to different sets of principles on AI
established by international groups of experts in the past and also look at the
principles guiding AI efforts in companies like Google or Microsoft. Considering
those principles will strengthen the GDC and more directly attract the
attention of the expert community and the private sector.
Besides,
the GDC should consider how the cooperation it calls for will be funded. That
is a significant gap in Rev 2.
There are
two open discussions that I will consider in a future post: the efforts to
establish the GDC commitments follow-up mechanism and the commitments’
timeframe. Why are we considering 2030 as the GDC deadline? The obvious answer
is “Because of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs,” but it would be helpful to
remember that debates on the need to consider a more extended timeframe for the
SDGs are taking place as the GDC is being written.
As a work
in progress, GDC Rev 2 clarifies that there is a lot of work to do if we want a
solid basis for our necessarily shared digital future. As Lyndon B. Johnson,
former President of the United States, said during his address at the White
House on October 2, 1968, “If future generations are to remember us more with
gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of
technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created,
not just as it looked when we got through with it.”
