Global Digital Compact in focus at one of the main sessions on IGF 2023

The Global Digital Compact (GDC) took centre stage at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023, where key stakeholders converged to share their insights and perspectives on shaping the digital future. The Main Session on GDC: A Multistakeholder Perspective featured a range of distinguished speakers, along with contributions from moderators and the audience.

Amandeep Singh Gill, Under-Secretary-General and UN Envoy on Technology, highlighted the GDC’s pivotal role in addressing global challenges, emphasising inclusivity, gender equality, and youth participation. Gill stressed the importance of accountability and innovation in shaping a successful digital future. Efforts to improve multi-stakeholder involvement and inclusivity, inspired by the Secretary-General’s vision for digital cooperation, are required.

Paul Wilson, Director General of APNIC, Australia, underlined the significance of multistakeholder internet governance and bridging connectivity gaps. He reiterated the IGF’s central role in fostering global cooperation and the need for continued collaboration to shape the digital landscape.

Valeria Betancourt from the Association for Progressive Communications voiced concerns about the GDC’s clarity and inclusiveness, calling for linkages with existing processes and the prioritisation of inclusivity. She advocated for trade rules that respect digital rights and financial mechanisms to support equitable digital development.

Representing the private sector, Raul Echeberri welcomed the UN’s focus on digital cooperation but expressed concerns about GDC’s inclusivity. He called for regional consultations and greater private-sector involvement to accommodate diverse interests.

Project Liberty Institute’s Constance Bommelaer de Leusse discussed the positive role of technology during the pandemic, highlighting the need for innovation-friendly regulation and open discussions on standards. She recognised the transformative potential of AI in education.

Bitange Ndemo, Ambassador to Belgium, Kenya, emphasised the internet’s vital role in empowering micro-enterprises during the pandemic. He supported the regulation of new technologies and called for inclusive policymaking to ensure a digital future that benefits all.

The moderators emphasised the energising effect of the GDC process on the IGF community, encouraging stakeholder involvement to gather diverse perspectives and inputs. They highlighted the complexity of multilateral and multistakeholder governance forms, advocating for their effective complementarity.

Audience contributions covered various perspectives, including the need for open final stage negotiations of the GDC, greater IGF involvement in implementing GDC principles, civil society participation, and active stakeholder engagement. Transparency in negotiations, inclusivity, digital inclusion, gender equality, and reducing energy consumption in the digital sphere were also key points.

In conclusion, the IGF 2023’s Main Session on GDC served as a platform for robust discussions on the digital compact’s future. While speakers expressed optimism, concerns about inclusivity, transparency, and equitable digital development were prominent. The session underscored the importance of multistakeholder cooperation in shaping a digital future that respects rights, fosters innovation, and benefits all.