Timeline

The permanent representatives of Rwanda and Zambia to the UN are appointed as co-facilitators to lead the intergovernmental process on the GDC for the upcoming period.

The September 2023 ministerial meeting dedicated to preparing the Summit of the Future featured some discussions on the GDC.

In September 2023, the GDC co-facilitators Rwanda and Sweden released an Issues Paper outlining their assessment of the deep dives and consultations conducted in relation to the GDC.

Guiding questions:

1. Which challenges in the domain of digital transformation can be addressed by strengthening “global digital commons”? What could a “global digital commons” approach entail – in terms of possible principles, values, and ideas? How should these principles influence the creation of “global digital commons” and their governance?
2. Digital public goods (DPGs) and digital public infrastructures are increasingly part of countries’ digital transformations, including by promoting digital inclusion, as well as supporting other sectors such as health, environment, and education. What are the main challenges with regards to digital public infrastructure? How can the GDC contribute to the safety and inclusivity of digital public infrastructure and mitigate potential harm? How can the GDC contribute to strengthening the global DPG ecosystem and increase local adoption of DPGs?

Guiding questions:

1. Given existing experience, especially from the Global South, where and how is digital technology helping to deliver on the SDGs (eg health, water, jobs environment)? How can experiences be shared effectively? Are there any principles and approaches that could be generalized?
2. How can Member States, the private sector, civil society, the technical community, and individuals work together to design and apply digital technologies for the purpose of accelerating process on the SDGs? What role could capacity-development of public officials and other development stakeholders play in this regard?
3. Which future challenges, for example with regards to environmental sustainability, could digital technologies create or help solve in relations to the SDG? What measures could support stakeholders in tackling these issues?

A Policy Brief from the UN Secretary-General was issued in May 2023.

Guiding questions:

1. How can we move from principles to practical measures that will help guide
   and lead the application of AI technologies in different contexts, and how can
   these be aligned?
2. How can regulators and innovators work together to promote the development
   and rollout of new emerging technologies while protecting human and
   planetary safety, human agency, and fundamental rights?
3. What measures can be taken to ensure that AI and other emerging
   technologies promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals?

Guiding questions:

1. Digital spaces and online platforms can be exploited by actors for financial,
   criminal, social, political, or malicious goals – to spread falsehood, violent and
   extreme content, perpetrate scams and other crimes, and manipulate online
   behaviors. Which collaborative measures undertaken by Governments, the
   private sector and civil society have proved effective in tackling such misuse
   so far? How can global digital cooperation strengthen their implementation?

2. Different jurisdictions apply different norms to online behaviors. Different
   online platforms apply different policies to similar online behaviors. How can
   Member States, the private sector and relevant stakeholders engage to define
   common frameworks to address the challenges to online safety?
3. Regarding mis/disinformation and online harm, what policies, frameworks
   and measures can be adopted by governments and companies to protect the
   integrity of public information and preserve civic spaces for public debate?
4. What digital cooperation measures, for example trust labels, audits, and
   certification schemes, can stakeholders consider promoting trust and safety for
   consumer products and services, including AI models? How can we enhance
   digital literacy skills and training so that people are empowered to protect
   themselves?

Guiding questions:

1. Digital technologies can greatly contribute to the protection of human rights. However, digital surveillance, censorship, algorithmic bias, online harassment, and other forms of abuse can suppress or violate human rights. How can women and girls, children, and persons in vulnerable situations such as persons with disabilities or persons belonging to linguistic minorities be supported in exercising their human rights online?
2. What are the gaps in terms of existing mechanisms for protection and promotion of human rights in the digital domain? How can accountability of digital platforms – public and private – be strengthened?
3. How can international organizations, Member States and other stakeholders work together to ensure human rights offline are protected online?

Guiding questions:

1. Art. 17 ICCPR recognizes the individual right to privacy. How can governments, data protection authorities’ private companies, the scientific community and civil society work together to ensure personal data is processed, stored, secured and protected against misuse?
2. What principles would support quality and interoperable data so that governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society and individuals can contribute to and benefit from digital trade and economy and leave no one behind?
3. Data is a key enabler of innovation and research. How can stakeholders leverage tools such as (pseudo)anonymization,1 encryption, portability, etc. to drive innovation and interoperability while protecting personal data?