Papers

By Pari Esfandiari.

The recent Global Digital Compact (GDC) discussions held in September 2024 have reignited the call for a more integrated approach to digital governance, highlighting the urgent need to merge the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Lines with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we look ahead to the WSIS+20 in 2025, the time is ripe to address this separation and work towards a unified framework that streamlines efforts, maximizes resources, and accelerates progress toward sustainable digital development.

Since their inception, WSIS Action Lines and SDGs have operated in parallel, often duplicating efforts despite their common goal of leveraging digital technologies to advance sustainable development. The two frameworks, though aligned in purpose, remain largely disconnected, resulting in missed opportunities for synergy and coordinated action.

Continue reading “Digital Synergy: The Urgent Case for WSIS-SDG Alignment”

An overview of the UN, the UAE and Regional Initiatives.

By George Salama.

Humanity is witnessing a revolutionary race at an unprecedented pace— a race driven by artificial intelligence (AI) applications that are rapidly transforming nearly every aspect of our lives. While AI research and applications have been evolving for many years, the key difference today is their widespread availability to the public. As AI moves from the confines of research labs into the hands of everyday users, the focus on responsible use becomes sharper. The responsible use of AI is a global social challenge that requires a coordinated societal approach, incorporating governance models, public policies, regulatory frameworks, security measures, and safety aspects. Additionally, the socio-economic impact of AI necessitates collaboration among global and regional stakeholders. In response, several governments worldwide and specifically in the MENA region are developing comprehensive AI strategies, policies, and regulations to balance AI’s potential with its associated risks.

As AI continues to revolutionize industries worldwide, its economic impact is becoming increasingly significant. The global AI market, valued at approximately $150 billion in 2023, is projected to grow exponentially in the coming years. According to recent reports, the AI market is expected to reach over $1.8 trillion USD by 2030, driven by advancements in machine learning, automation, and the deployment of AI across sectors like healthcare, climate, finance, sports, and manufacturing.

Continue reading “Navigating the AI Revolution: Global and Regional Strategies for Responsible Governance.”

By Tobias B. Bacherle.

Studying the Convention on Cybercrime I realise that all my worries have been confirmed. During one of the most effective attacks by digital authoritarianism, internet freedom, and human rights in the digital space did not win anything in the negotiations.

The reactions to the adoption of the convention were even more puzzling, where unconcealed joy accompanied the first reports of a deal, followed by happy tweets from diplomats. After three years, the ad hoc working group has agreed on a Cybercrime Convention. Hooray!? Unfortunately not.

The convention seems to be about creating an international set of rules,  which at first glance appear to complement the fight against crime, in the digital space and translate it into international law. However, the content of the agreed document has very little to do with the decent goals one might associate with its title.  

Continue reading “The UN Cybercrime convention is a victory for digital authoritarianism”

By Milton Mueller.

(This is based on the keynote speech at the GigArts 2024 conference in The Hague)

We now have almost 30 years of experience with so-called multistakeholder (MS) governance. Sometimes it is called the multistakeholder model. Sometimes it is the “multistakeholder approach.” Sometimes, it is an “ism,” like communism or liberalism or impressionism. It is a good time to reflect on what it all means. Is multistakeholder just a catchword, or is it a meaningful and important structural shift in governance models. Is it something that we should preserve and protect? Is it something that we should expand? Is it something we should get rid of?

That question needs to be placed in historical context. We need to look at where the word or concept originated and how it has been used in Internet governance debates.

I have just finished a book that recounts an important part of that story. It focuses on the formation of ICANN, which is really the origin of what we now call the MS model. ICANN was an attempt to institutionalize a radical change in the role of state actors in transnational governance. My book analyzes ICANN’s changing ties to the U.S. government. It explains why the US government let go of that control, in a seeming victory for that new governance model. As an organization ICANN is one the most steadfast promoters of the multistakeholder approach.

Continue reading “The Power to Govern Ourselves: (Multi)Stakeholders, States and Collective Action”

By Peixi Xu.

Despite the removal of considerable parts of contents which are regarded as controversial in the second version of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), the third version of GDC is now being challenged by member states who chose to break the silence procedure.

However, this moment should not be understood as a setback of this prominent process, but as a moment to recognize the complex, encompassing, evolutionary, and interwoven nature of digital issues, where governance issues as diverse as Internet technical resources, data, online content, and most recently AI, are mixing altogether.

The initial framework about GDC used to describe global digital governance in 7 topics: (1) connectivity, (2) avoiding Internet fragmentation, (3) data protection, (4) applying human rights online, (5) accountability for online content, (6) regulating AI, and (7) digital commons. After rounds of consultations and talks, the third version of GDC now combine and integrate the 7 topics into 5 areas: (1) digital divide, (2) digital economy, (3) human rights, (4) data, and (5) AI. A renegotiation process perhaps will not bring the document back to the 7-topic framework but may be used to enhance some achievements on the one hand and address some disputes on the other. The following is some observations and comments regarding the third version of GDC based on a leaked text online.

Continue reading “UN Global Digital Compact Talks at a New Moment”