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Report of the Secretary-General Roadmap for Digital Cooperation JUNE 2020 Cover Illustration: HyunWoo Lee Iconography: Yooyoung Ko Report Design: Graphic Design Unit, Department of Global Communications Copyright is retained by the United Nations. Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................2 II. BACKGROUND...............................................................................................4 III.  ONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS C OF THE HIGH-LEVEL PANEL.........................................................................5 An Inclusive Digital Economy and Society GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY....................................................................................... 5 DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS.......................................................................................... 8 DIGITAL INCLUSION............................................................................................... 10 Human and Institutional Capacity DIGITAL CAPACITY-BUILDING............................................................................ 12 Human Rights and Human Agency DIGITAL HUMAN RIGHTS...................................................................................... 14 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE................................................................................... 17 Trust, Security and Stability DIGITAL TRUST AND SECURITY............................................................................ 19 Global Digital Cooperation GLOBAL DIGITAL COOPERATION.......................................................................... 21 IV. THE WAY FORWARD....................................................................................22 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 1 I. Introduction As the world grapples with the coronavirus access to the Internet, women and girls are dis- disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it is witness- proportionately affected.1 ing first-hand how digital technologies help to confront the threat and keep people connected. Supercomputers analyse thousands of drug Digital technology does not exist in a vacuum – it has enormous potential for positive change, but compounds to identify candidates for treatments can also reinforce and magnify existing fault lines and vaccines. E-commerce platforms prioritize and worsen economic and other inequalities. In household staples and medical supplies, while 2019, close to 87 per cent of individuals in devel- videoconferencing platforms enable education oped countries used the Internet, compared with and economic activity to continue. only 19 per cent in the least developed countries.2 At the same time, the technological challenge As more people are brought online, new vulnera- posed by COVID-19 has been tremendous. bilities arise. According to estimates, the poten- While accurate data and information related to tial cost of worldwide data breaches will be more the disease are fundamental for an effective than $5 trillion by 2024.3 The use of the Internet response, social media have been misused by and social media in the context of elections, some to spread dangerous misinformation and fuel discrimination, xenophobia and racism. Cyberattacks on the World Health Organization, hospitals and laboratories endanger lives and as both enablers of participation and tools for spreading disinformation and hate speech, raise complex issues. jeopardize potential advances in responding to Though not explicitly indicated in the Panel’s re- and preventing the virus. A balance has to be port, advancing technology has always been cou- struck between the use of technology and tracing pled with significant impacts on the environment. applications to combat the spread of the virus and Operations related to information and communi- the safeguarding of privacy and individual rights. cations technologies (ICT) are expected to rep- Even as digital technology makes it possible for resent up to 20 per cent of global electricity de- people in countries with high connectivity to work mand, with one third stemming from data centres and learn from home, it is a privilege not enjoyed alone.4 On a positive note, the recent advances by all: some people must be physically present for in technology offer ground-breaking opportuni- their jobs, while others have lost employment or ties to monitor and protect the environment, as do not have access to the Internet and technolo- well as overall planetary health. By harnessing gy, in particular the poor and vulnerable. With less them appropriately, the digital revolution can be 2 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION steered to combat climate change and advance global sustainability, environmental stewardship and human well-being. The prevalence of child sexual exploitation and abuse is also a major concern. In 2019, 70 million pieces of child sexual abuse material were report- Digital technology does not exist in a vacuum – it has enormous potential for positive change, but can also reinforce and magnify existing fault lines and worsen economic and other inequalities. ed to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of the United States, 5 while many more The world is at a critical inflection point for tech- went undetected. The international community nology governance, made more urgent by the on- has long stood united in its shared resolve to pro- going pandemic. For example, according to the tect children. Building on that resolve, coopera- 11 norms of responsible State behaviour, agreed tion between national law enforcement agencies upon in 2015, States should not conduct or know- and major technology companies has increased, ingly support ICT activity that intentionally dam- but more can be done. Companies must embrace ages critical infrastructure – an essential agree- more robust scanning practices and accelerate ment for the current global response. Such norms detection methods focused on prevention. This provide a foundation for significantly scaling up approach must also be supported by important and identifying innovative, ambitious initiatives legislative steps. In that regard, multi-stakehold- and opportunities for technology governance. It er partnerships, such as the WeProtect Global is important to redouble efforts to better harness Alliance and the Global Partnership to End the potential of digital technologies while mitigat- Violence Against Children, are of great benefit. ing the harm that they may cause. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 3 II. Background In July 2018, the Secretary-General convened a High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation to advance proposals to strengthen cooperation in the digital space among Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, academic institutions, the technical community and other relevant stakeholders. Co-chaired by Melinda Gates and Jack Ma, the 20 members of the Panel served in their personal capacities, representing an unprecedented mix of disciplines and sectors and geographic, gender and age diversity. The Panel completed its deliberations and submitted its final report, entitled “The Age of Digital Interdependence”, in June 2019. In the report, the Panel included five sets of recommendations on how the international community could work together to optimize the use of digital technologies and mitigate the risks: 1. Build an inclusive digital economy and society; 2. Develop human and institutional capacity; 3. Protect human rights and human agency; 4. Promote digital trust, security and stability; 5. Foster global digital cooperation. 4 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION Following the issuance of the report, Member States and over 300 entities and organizations were contacted. More than 100 sent feedback to the Secretariat, including volunteering to lead or participate in discussions on the Panel’s recommendations. The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Preparations for the Commemoration of the United Nations 75th Anniversary coordinated the follow-up process to the Panel. Round-table discussion groups of subject-matter experts were constituted to address the Panel’s recommendations.6 Champions were selected on the basis of experience, previous engagement with the Panel and geographic and stakeholder diversity to coordinate and lead each group. The round-table groups held consultations on how to proceed with the recommendations, including by providing input for the present report. Their contributions provided invaluable advice, which was carefully considered in the preparation of sections III and IV of the present report. The report is aimed at, first, summarizing the state of play in relation to each of the Panel’s recommendations, incorporating the subsequent consultations on follow-up, and, second, setting out in the concluding observations the envisaged action points for the way forward. III. Consideration of the recommendations of the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation © Tom Perry / World Bank GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY 7 Meaningful participation in today’s digital age requires a high-speed broadband connection to the Internet. Countries report that 93 per cent of the world’s population live within physical reach of mobile broadband or Internet services. However, only 53.6 per cent of the world’s population now use the Internet, leaving an estimated 3.6 billion without access. The least developed countries are the least connected, at only 19 per cent of their populations.8 Numerous barriers exacerbate the digital divide. First, installing traditional broadband connections is costly, and countries often face difficulties in financing the fibre-optic cables required. Second, market dynamics are often not favourable. Lower purchasing power in the least developed countries is a limiting factor for connectivity providers and, although wireless technology may help to spread broadband coverage further, faster and more cheaply, companies do not have the incentives to pursue this. Finally, the lack of digital skills can also limit the adoption of digital tools. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 5 PROPORTION OF INDIVIDUALS USING THE INTERNET by region and devlopment status, 2019* 100 90 86.6 82.5 80 77.2 72.2 70 60 50 53.6 51.6 48.4 Europe is the region with the highest Internet usage rates, Africa is the region with the lowest Internet usage rates 47.0 40 30 28.2 19.1 20 10 Cs LD g op ve l ve l in ed ld op De Ar De W or a r ic ab St ci Pa & ia As In developed countries, most people are online, with close to 87 per cent of individuals using the Internet. Af at es fic S CI as ic er Am Th e Eu ro pe 0 In the least developed countries (LDCs), on the other hand, only 19 per cent of individuals are online. 86.6% 19.1% Note: *ITU estimate. Source: ITU The fundamental issue of affordability of ac- GB of mobile data.10 In Myanmar, for example, the cess and equipment has to be addressed. In 19 creation of a competitive market slashed the cost of the least developed countries, the price of 5 of subscriber identity module cards from $150 in GB of fixed broadband is more than 20 per cent 2013 to $1.50 in 2015, allowing 2 million new sub- 9 of monthly gross national income per capita. scribers within the first month.11 Special attention Concerted efforts to promote affordability can should also be given to ensuring connectivity in therefore have real impact; in low- to middle-in- times of crisis and in humanitarian operations. come countries, breaking up a broadband monop- COVID-19 has already shown how connectivity oly can help users to save as much as $7.33 per is a critical need. Inaccessibility to the Internet 6 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION has posed a direct risk to individuals’ ability to save their own lives and livelihoods, as well as for Governments and front-line workers to respond quickly and effectively. In the present crisis, connectivity needs to be prioritized as a foundation to ensure the continuation of critical services, enable digital literacy and promote social inclusion. that entry-level broadband services in developing A central challenge to building an inclusive digital economy is that there are no baselines regarding the fundamental level of digital connectivity that individuals need to access the online space. Identifying such baselines, with flexibility to update them as necessary in the light of technology changes, would enable the development of targets and metrics. Risk factors that affect the ability of vulnerable and marginalized groups to have access to connectivity should be specifically identified and addressed. cost as much as $100 billion.13 Achieving connec- Meaningful participation in today’s digital age requires a high-speed broadband connection to the Internet. Countries report that 93 per cent of the world’s population live within physical reach of mobile broadband or Internet services. However, only 53.6 per cent of the world’s population now use the Internet, leaving an estimated 3.6 billion without access. The least developed countries are the least connected, at only 19 per cent of their populations. countries cost less than 2 per cent of monthly gross national income.12 Establishing baselines and targets could form the basis of general cost and investment estimates. For instance, it is estimated that achieving universal, affordable and quality Internet access by 2030 across Africa may tivity for the 3.6 billion people currently unconnected globally will cost significantly more. In the absence of baselines on fundamental connectivity and affordability, building a financing platform to address these needs will be challenging. At the national level, Governments and communities, with the support of multi-stakeholder coalitions, can conduct local and regional assessments of connectivity needs in order to develop comprehensive connectivity plans. Real-time data about connectivity levels and projects can be made available to help to develop appropriate financing models. Ambitious regional infrastructure development initiatives, such as GIGA,14 a groundbreaking partnership to connect every school in the world to the Internet, can provide inspiration. Some policies have been shown to promote connectivity, including regulations aimed at creating an enabling environment for smaller-scale providers, including broadband cooperatives, municipal networks and local businesses, by putting in place practices such as facilitating licence exemption and tax incentive schemes. As increasingly discussed within the Broadband Baselines and targets of “affordability” are also Commission necessary, along with universal targets and met- emerging technologies also play a key role in rics, such as defining affordable Internet as “pric- promoting connectivity and the digital economy, ing 1 GB of mobile broadband data at 2 per cent as they can help to provide, monitor and finance or less of average monthly income” or ensuring Internet connectivity. for Sustainable Development, ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 7 © ITU/S.Acharya DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS 15 Digital public goods are essential in unlocking the full potential of digital technologies and data to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular for low- and middle-income countries. The “digital public goods in the form of actionable real-time and predictive insights”16 is critical for all stakeholders, including the United Nations, as they can serve to identify new disease outbreaks, counter xenophobia and disinformation and measure impacts on vulnerable populations, among other relevant challenges. Other digital Internet began as a publicly managed network solutions are also being deployed to address the with an open-source ethos that encouraged col- COVID-19 pandemic. For other health crises, an laboration and experimentation. Over time, how- open-source digital data package17 can be envis- ever, the percentage of the Internet that is open- aged to accelerate case detection and open edu- source and public has significantly decreased. cational resources during school closures. Hence, much of the most useful information online is not easily accessible, especially to those Currently, access to digital solutions is often lim- who need it the most. ited through copyright regimes and proprietary During the 2014–2015 outbreak of Ebola in West not easily accessible because they are often une- Africa, insights drawn from aggregated data, venly distributed in terms of the language, content which were made public and shareable, played and infrastructure required to access them. Even a crucial role in containing the virus. The utiliza- when the relevant digital public good or open- tion of big data and artificial intelligence to create source solution is found, support and additional 8 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION systems. Most existing digital public goods are investment are still required to scale them up and up the sharing of data in all modalities to speed successfully implement them. A concerted global up the processes for creating quality digital pub- effort to create digital public goods would be key lic goods. 18 to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives are critical to the development Several such digital public goods platforms of common standards on open data that can are emerging, including most significantly the guide the private and public sectors on how to Digital Public Goods Alliance, a multi-stake- provide open access to data sets, ensuring that holder initiative responding directly to the lack more data become available as digital public of a “go to” platform, as highlighted by the Panel goods, while respecting privacy and confidentiali- in its report. The work of the Alliance is com- ty. Central to the implementation of digital public plemented by efforts such as the Global Data goods are robust human rights and governance Access Framework, which is aimed at develop- frameworks to enhance trust in technology and ing technical infrastructure to enable and scale data use, while ensuring inclusion. 19 20 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 9 © SDM-IN-097 World Bank DIGITAL INCLUSION 21 Even when ostensibly available, access to digital technologies remains uneven. As the Panel states in its report, “The people being left behind are typically those who can least afford it”. Digital divides reflect and amplify existing social, cultural and economic inequalities. The gender gap in global Internet use is a stark example – in two out of every three countries, more men use the Internet than women. This gender gap has been growing rather than narrowing, standing at 17 per cent in 2019, and was even larger in the least developed countries, at 43 per cent.22 Similar challenges affect migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, older persons, young people, children, persons with disabilities, rural populations and indigenous peoples. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the urgency in bridging these divides. Digital tools have been a lifeline for millions of people. Without prompt action, there is a risk of layering the current barriers to digital inclusion on top of existing obstacles to 10 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION development. In looking towards post-COVID-19 economic support for developing countries, digital tools have to be leveraged for these countries, as well as underserved groups, so that recovery efforts build an inclusive digital infrastructure that would accelerate progress for all. The efforts that Member States and stakeholders are already undertaking, including the forthcoming multi-stakeholder action coalition on innovation and technology for gender equality, are much needed.23 Nevertheless, globally, efforts have to be better coordinated and scaled up. A set of metrics to measure digital inclusion will be essential for evidence-based policymaking. In developing these metrics, the underlying definition of what it means to be digitally literate and have digital access has to be based on the fundamental premise that everyone should have an equal opportunity to become empowered through ICT. It means accessibility through not only physical access and skills development, but also design that respects the needs of all people, including those with disabilities, as well THE INTERNET USER GENDER GAP (%) 2013 and 2019* 45 42.8 40 35 33.0 29.9 30 24.4 25 % 20 24.4 19.2 17.4 15 Cs LD g in op ve l De De ve l op ed ld a r ic Ar 2013 W or St ab Af at es fic ci ia & Pa er Am e Th 2.3 S as ic pe ro Eu 1.0 5.8 3.6 CI -0.4 0 -5 15.8 7.5 5.3 5 17.0 11.0 9.4 As 10 22.8 20.7 2019 Note: *ITU estimate. The gender gap represents the difference between the Internet user penetration rates for males and females relative to the Internet user penetration rate for males, expressed as a percentage. Source: ITU as addressing intersectionality, social norms, language barriers, structural barriers and risks, recognizing the importance of locally relevant content. Public-private cooperation will also be important in collecting disaggregated and anonymized data across demographic groups. Sound measurement and improved coordination and information-sharing are best done together with guidelines on policies and actions that can help to mitigate the multiple digital gaps. The United Nations system has begun to develop guidance in that regard, 24 though it would benefit from wider advocacy. It is also critical to apply a gender lens to all interventions on digital cooperation and technologies. This includes acknowledging gender-differentiated vulnerabilities to digitalization and identifying adequate risk mitigation actions. Digital divides reflect and amplify existing social, cultural and economic inequalities. The gender gap in global Internet use is a stark example – in two out of every three countries, more men use the Internet than women. Moreover, greater attention needs to be given to the situation of people on the move, including migrants, or those facing emergency and conflict-affected situations, given that these most vulnerable communities are often absent from digital cooperation discussions and face additional challenges in achieving connectivity.25 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 11 © Pulse Lab Jakarta DIGITAL CAPACITY BUILDING 26 The need for digital capacity-building is substantial. Achieving real and sustained progress in the various dimensions of digitalization requires skills development and effective training, in particular in developing countries. This is necessary to has to be tailored to individual and national circumstances. Given variances within and among countries and regions, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and better evidence is therefore needed of which capacity-building approaches are most effective, considering political, economic and social contexts. unlock the benefits of technology, including the To overcome these challenges, two aspects are more effective use of emerging technologies and central: greater coherence and coordination in ensuring that individuals stay safe, protected and capacity-building efforts; and a concerted effort productive online. For example, it is estimated that at scaling up solutions. there will be 230 million “digital jobs” in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 that could generate nearly $120 billion in revenue, but this would require some 650 Holistic, inclusive approaches that bring together existing initiatives, United Nations entities, million training opportunities by 2030.27 regional and subregional bodies and other rele- One of the primary challenges to date is that a ity-building are necessary to improve support large part of digital capacity-building has been for Governments and other stakeholders. In its supply-driven as opposed to needs-based. report, the Panel proposed “digital help desks” Insufficient investment also remains a significant as one potential solution that could leverage limiting factor. Moreover, digital capacity-building regional institutions and platforms. Since the 12 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION vant organizations that promote digital capac- issuance of the Panel’s report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have begun an initial mapping exercise of existing digital capacity-building initiatives to assess gaps and inform forward-looking solutions. The exercise will be expanded to include a detailed needs assessment component to support capacity-building providers in targeting their services more effectively to meet stakeholder needs. The need for digital capacitybuilding is substantial. Achieving real and sustained progress in the various dimensions of digitalization requires skills development and effective training, in particular in developing countries. The coordination work set out above requires matching efforts at the national level, especially through the United Nations presence on the ground. United Nations country teams, through their resident coordinators, could serve as the system’s in-country focal points on digital cooperation. Country-level support could also be amplified through engagement with local college graduates and other young professionals who could work closely with United Nations actors in launching and managing various rural-centric initiatives to advance broadband access, adoption and meaningful usage. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 13 © Charlotte Butcher, @charbutch DIGITAL HUMAN RIGHTS 28 Digital technologies provide new means to advocate, defend and exercise human rights, but they can also be used to suppress, limit and violate human rights. As the Panel noted, existing human rights treaties were signed in a pre-digital era. In today’s world, where online violations can lead to offline abuses, the Internet cannot be an ungoverned or ungovernable space – human rights exist online as they do offline and have to be respected in full (see A/70/174). Effective due diligence is required to ensure that technology products, policies, practices and terms of service comply with human rights principles and standards. To that end, the Secretary- vulnerable people and human rights defenders, and calling for these technologies to be used to provide new means to advocate, defend and exercise rights. Greater efforts are needed to develop further guidance on how human rights standards apply in the digital age, including through the Human Rights Council, and to build upon work by the special procedures and treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and diverse stakeholders. There remains a need to address possible protection gaps created by constantly evolving digital technologies. In that regard, the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide a useful tool. General, in his call to action for human rights, 29 Blanket Internet shutdowns and generic block- addresses new frontiers of technology and hu- ing and filtering of services are considered by man rights, emphasizing that new technologies United Nations human rights mechanisms to be are too often used for surveillance, repression, in violation of international human rights law. In censorship and online harassment, especially of addition to appropriate law enforcement, other 14 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION means need to be found through consultation between Governments, industry and civil society, in accordance with international human rights law, including to deal with the spread of disinformation and, in particular, harmful, life-threatening content while avoiding disruptive blanket Internet Digital identity For over 1 billion individuals worldwide, their lack of recognized identification bars them from having access to basic goods and services.31 A “good” digital identity that preserves people’s privacy and shutdowns. control over their information can empower them Of particular concern are the areas outlined be- Initiatives such as Identification for Development low, in which technologies can be, and increas- and the United Nations Legal Identity Task Force ingly are, used to violate and erode human rights, can help countries to realize the transformative deepen inequalities and exacerbate existing dis- potential of digital identification systems. to gain access to these much-needed services. crimination, especially of people who are already vulnerable or left behind. Data protection and privacy Data protection has failed to keep up with advances in hacking and espionage. In 2019, more than 7,000 data breaches were recorded, exposing more than 15 billion records.30 Effective personal data protection and the protection of the right to privacy in line with internationally agreed standards are imperative. Human rights-based domestic laws and practices for the protection of data privacy, including enforcement mechanisms such as access to judicial review, or fully independent and well-resourced data protection authorities, are needed to address the use of data by private companies The Internet has to provide a safe space for information-sharing, education, expression, mobilization and participation. Addressing the legitimate concerns underlying the need for encryption without undermining legitimate law enforcement objectives is possible, along with human rights-based laws and approaches to address illegal and harmful online content. It is nonetheless problematic that some digital identity programmes have been designed outside the frameworks of privacy and data protection. If digital identity is to become a trusted force or Governments. for good and used for everyone, it has to be built The importance of protecting the right to priva- informed consent, recognition of multiple forms cy in the digital space and to take clear actions of identity, space for anonymity and respect for to do so is fundamental for private sector actors. privacy, ensuring that there is transparency when More systemically, the current financing model an individual’s data are used by government and for social media platforms effectively encourag- other entities. es the collection of personal data for commercial upon a foundation of user agency and choice, purposes, so that content and advertising can be The adoption of safeguards related to digital iden- more effectively tailored to individuals’ consump- tity is critical for Governments and the United tion patterns. Changes to this model will need to Nations as they strive to realize its full utility and po- be considered in order to reverse the trend. tential while building trust in its use. This includes, ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 15 for instance, efforts such as decentralized data storage, identification and authentication, encrypted communications and considering the incorporation of “privacy by design” principles.32 Online harassment and violence and the need for content governance In 2018, it was reported that women and girls were 27 times more likely to be harassed online Surveillance technologies, including facial recognition than men. 39 In addition the impacts on health Researchers have observed that surveillance uating and entrenching inequalities in the space. technologies have, in many situations, allowed for serious breaches of privacy, by Governments, individuals and the private sector.33 Surveillance technologies, where used in accordance with applicable international human rights law, can be effective law enforcement tools. However, there are reports of targeted communications surveillance and facial recognition software that could result in human rights violations and lead to arbitrary arrests or detentions and violation of the right to peaceful protest.34 These technologies may also misidentify certain minority groups 35 and cement existing social biases, leading to situations in which marginalized people and members of minority communities may be more likely to be identified as the wrong gender36 or be discriminated against, 37 for instance, in being denied loans.38 It is critical that legislation and safeguards are in place to protect people from unlawful or unnecessary surveillance, including any arbitrary surveillance that may be carried out by State actors in cyberspace, as well as in the physical world. Any such policies have to be fully in line with countries’ human rights obligations. This is relevant also for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: a careful and considered approach is required to ensure that responses are aligned with human rights obligations. 16 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION and dignity, the threat of online abuse is leading many women to “log off” of social media, perpetThey are joined by human rights defenders, environmental defenders, journalists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, young people, religious groups and civil society organizers in facing persistent harassment and violence online, including death threats, threats of sexual and gender-based violence and defamation and disinformation campaigns. Harassment and hate speech online can lead to physical violence offline. Increased digitalization owing to the current global health crisis has increased such threats. The Internet has to provide a safe space for information-sharing, education, expression, mobilization and participation. Addressing the legitimate concerns underlying the need for encryption without undermining legitimate law enforcement objectives is possible, along with human rightsbased laws and approaches to address illegal and harmful online content. Member States and businesses, including cross-industry initiatives, should advocate transparent and accountable content governance frameworks that protect freedom of expression, avoid incentives for overly restrictive moderation practices and protect the most vulnerable. © Robynne Hu, @robynnexy ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 40 Today, artificial intelligence is ubiquitous in its applications, ranging from navigation and content recommendations to being at the forefront of explorations of genome sequencing. Its use is forecast to generate nearly $4 trillion in added value for global markets by 2022, 41 even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which experts predict may change consumer preferences and open new opportunities for artificial intelligence-led automation in industries, businesses and societies. Artificial intelligence can also significantly compromise the safety and agency of users worldwide. For example, lethal autonomous weapons systems may be able to make life and death decisions without human intervention, while artificial intelligence tools such as synthetic media – also known as “deepfakes” – have been used to influence public opinion. While interest in artificial intelligence is overwhelmingly high – the Panel’s recommendation elicited hundreds of responses – there is a gap in international coordination, collaboration and governance. The artificial intelligence-related issues highlighted by the Panel are important areas on which to engage, in particular its recommendation that “life and death decisions should not be delegated to machines”, which matches with the Secretary-General’s call for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems. Member States have taken up the matter within the context of their participation in the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. While interest in artificial intelligence is overwhelmingly high, there is a gap in international coordination, collaboration and governance. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 17 Though many artificial intelligence initiatives (c) Public sectors would benefit from addi- have been launched in recent years, the following tional capacity and expertise to engage three challenges remain: on artificial intelligence and bring national (a) There is currently a lack of representation and inclusiveness in global discussions.42 Developing countries are largely absent from or not well-represented in most prominent forums on artificial intelligence, despite having a significant opportunity to benefit from it for their economic and social development. The work done by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the ethics of artificial intelligence is an example of the role that the United Nations can play to ensure inclusiveness; (b) Current artificial intelligence-related initiatives lack overall coordination in a way that is easily accessible to other countries outside the existing groupings, other United Nations entities and other stakeholders. There are currently over 160 organizational, national and international sets of artificial intelligence ethics and governance principles worldwide. However, there is no common platform to bring these separate initiatives together; 18 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION oversight or governance to the use of such technologies. In that connection, additional understanding of how artificial intelligence can best be deployed to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals would be beneficial. The Artificial Intelligence for Good Global Summit, convened annually by ITU in partnership with other United Nations entities, is aimed at filling this gap. However, without a broader, more systematic attempt to harness the potential and mitigate the risk of artificial intelligence, opportunities to use it for the public good are being missed. As stated in the Secretary-General’s call to action for human rights, advances in artificial intelligence-related technologies, such as facial recognition software and digital identification, must not be used to erode human rights, deepen inequality or exacerbate existing discrimination. © Markus Spiske, @markusspiske DIGITAL TRUST AND SECURITY 43 The General Assembly has a long history of steering the use of technology for good while curtailing the dangers of its misuse, beginning with its first resolution, adopted in 1946, to address challenges raised by the discovery of atomic energy. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the collective vulnerability to disruption and abuse. In one week in April 2020, there were over 18 million daily malware and phishing emails related to the disease reported by a single email provider, in addition to more than 240 million COVID-19-related daily spam messages.44 Global data breaches have cost countries and companies trillions of dollars, while malware attacks have caused billions of dollars in lasting damage to computer systems necessary for key economic and societal functions. Meanwhile, health-care facilities have been targets of serious cyberattacks during the COVID-19 crisis, with the International Criminal Police Organization reporting a rise in global ransomware attacks. The World Health Organization has faced severe cyberattacks and impersonation attempts. Civilian hospitals and critical health-care infrastructure have to be inviolable, not only in times of armed conflict, but at all times. Terrorist groups and violent extremists have exploited the Internet and social media to cause harm in both the digital and physical worlds. Cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns targeting election infrastructure, political parties and politicians are undermining political participation, as well as the legitimacy of essential institutions, while sowing discontent and mistrust. States and non-State actors are rapidly increasing their cybercapabilities and developing increasingly sophisticated cyberarsenals. Nevertheless, close to half of all countries in ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 19 the world do not have a Computer Emergency Within the United Nations system, the Group Response Team, of Governmental of Experts 45 which would give them the on Advancing organizational and technological capacity to re- Responsible State Behaviour in the Context spond to cyberthreats. of International Security and the Open-Ended Over the past few years, important efforts have been under way to address the rising threats to the online world. Encouraging voluntary efforts have been seen, including the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, the Global Commission on Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security seek to advance how international law applies in the use of ICT, norms of responsible State behaviour and related capacity-building efforts and confidence-building measures, as well as the establishment of regular the Stability of Cyberspace and the Contract for institutional dialogue on the issue. These process- the Web, many of which are multi-stakeholder, as es are focused on the use of ICT in the context of well as initiatives on specific issues, such as the international security, working under the auspices Christchurch Call to Action to address terrorist of the First Committee of the General Assembly. and violent extremist narratives. The initiatives have helped to bring about important progress for multi-stakeholder engagement. However, these efforts are not yet universal, and their reach, though broad in some cases, does not yet cover large swathes of the world. The digital technologies that underpin core societal functions, often referred to as critical infrastructure, including supporting access to food, water, housing, energy, health care and transportation, need to be safeguarded. 20 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION Recognizing the value of these initiatives and processes, it will be important for the international community to also prioritize broader issues of trust and security to reap the benefits of the digital domain in collective efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. A universal statement, endorsed by Member States, in which elements of common understanding are set out, could help to shape a shared vision for digital cooperation based on core values. The digital technologies that underpin core societal functions, often referred to as critical infrastructure, including supporting access to food, water, housing, energy, health care and transportation, need to be safeguarded. © UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe GLOBAL DIGITAL COOPERATION 46 To address gaps in global digital cooperation, marginalized groups and other stakeholders with limited budgets and expertise to make their voices heard. the Panel suggested three potential models: a Discussions among relevant stakeholders on strengthened and enhanced Internet Governance the Panel’s three proposed models are ongoing, Forum Plus, a distributed co-governance archi- given the complexity and significance of the is- tecture and a digital commons architecture. sues and the need to ensure a comprehensive The existing digital cooperation architecture has become highly complex and diffused but not nec- representation of global voices. While there appears to be momentum in support of the Internet Governance Forum Plus model, some have high- essarily effective, and global discussions and lighted the need to continue examining the other processes are often not inclusive enough. This two architectures, including how various features situation is exacerbated by the lack of a common may complement that model. Member States entry point into the global digital architecture, are considering working with a multi-stakeholder which makes it especially hard for developing task force to pilot the distributed co-governance countries, small and medium-sized enterprises, model at the national or regional levels. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 21 IV. The Way Forward In 2020, the General Assembly marks the seven- The High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation was ty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the United convened to advance proposals to strength- Nations and the beginning of the decade of action en cooperation in the digital space among for the Sustainable Development Goals. Effective Governments, the private sector, civil society, digital cooperation is instrumental in achieving international organizations, academic institu- the “future we want” and the ambitious goals of tions, the technical community and other relevant the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. stakeholders. This is not something that any country, company or institution can achieve alone. Digital cooperation is a multi-stakeholder effort and, while Governments remain at the centre, the involvement of the private sector, technology companies, civil society and other stakeholders is essential. It is vital to engage with the private sector, the technical community and civil society from the beginning if realistic and effective decisions and policies are to be made. After close consideration of the Panel’s proposals, and with input from the multi-stakeholder round tables, the actions set out below are envisaged to accelerate global digital cooperation, seizing on the opportunities that are presented by technology – while mitigating the risks – so that progress towards achieving the Goals by 2030 can be made collectively. UNITED NATIONS AS CONVENER AND PLATFORM The United Nations is ready to serve as a platform for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on the emerging technologies outlined above. Digital cooperation is a multi-stakeholder effort To facilitate such a dialogue, I intend to appoint and, while Governments remain at the centre, an Envoy on Technology in 2021, whose role will the involvement of the private sector, technology be to advise the senior leadership of the United companies, civil society and other stakeholders Nations on key trends in technology, so as to guide is essential. It is vital to engage with the private the strategic approach taken by the Organization sector, the technical community and civil society on such issues. The Envoy will also serve as an from the beginning if realistic and effective deci- advocate and focal point for digital cooperation – sions and policies are to be made. so that Member States, the technology industry, 22 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION civil society and other stakeholders will have a and find other new models for invest- first port of call for the broader United Nations ment in connectivity, in particular, system. in hard-to-reach and rural areas; The Organization will map the technology and c) Promote new and potentially trans- digital parts and functions throughout the United formative models to accelerate connec- Nations system, so as to encourage a more co- tivity, such as the GIGA initiative of ITU herent and strategic approach and assess where and the United Nations Children’s Fund; there is room for consolidation and strengthening. The strategy on new technologies, which was issued in 2018, is also being updated with a view to supporting different parts of the United Nations system in better harnessing digital technologies to fulfil their mandates. The upcoming d) Promote the development of enabling regulatory environments for smaller-scale Internet providers, along with local and regional assessments of connectivity needs; report of the Task Force on the Digital Financing e) Accelerate discussions on connectiv- of the Sustainable Development Goals will pro- ity as part of emergency preparedness, vide further insight. responses and aid, including working Digital technology has profound implications for the Organization’s work in other areas. For example, it can improve humanitarian action across the humanitarian programme cycle. Similarly, digital technologies can support United Nations peace- through the inter-agency Emergency Telecommunications Cluster. DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS keeping efforts globally, including by ensuring the If the benefits of increased Internet connectivity safety and security of peacekeepers. are to be realized, it is important that all actors, including Member States, the United Nations sys- GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY In order to ensure that every person has safe and affordable access to the Internet by 2030, including meaningful use of digitally enabled services, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations will: tem, the private sector and other stakeholders, promote open-source software, open data, open artificial intelligence models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international and domestic laws, standards and best practices and do no harm. Member States, the United Nations and other stakeholders can amplify these global initiatives a) Support efforts to establish a baseline by deploying digital public goods as part of their of digital connectivity that individuals immediate efforts to respond to the COVID-19 need to access the online space, as well as a definition of “affordability”, including universal targets and metrics; pandemic and, in the future, as part of their approaches to achieving the Goals. To accelerate this movement, I welcome the b) Convene a global group of investors formation of the Digital Public Goods Alliance and financing experts to consider the and ask it to continue to work closely with other development of a financing platform emerging digital public goods initiatives. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 23 DIGITAL INCLUSION To ensure that the voices of those who are not fully benefiting from digital opportunities are heard, I will establish a multi-stakeholder digital inclusion coalition – an informal network of like-minded Member States, civil society groups, the private sector and other stakeholders on digital inclusion. The development of annual scorecards on digital inclusion and the establishment of metrics to measure both digital inclusion and literacy will accelerate the promotion of an inclusive digital The network could also provide a clearing-house function to help to direct specific requests for support to potential providers of guidance, funding and advice on digital readiness and needs assessments, digital strategy support and digital literacy and skills training. This function would be embedded within the broader United Nations system to ensure relevance, impact and a focus on the Goals, for instance, by encouraging collaboration with resident coordinators to assess digital capacity-building needs and identify suitable service providers and knowledge products. ecosystem. In that regard, I call upon donors to At the country level, initiatives will be pursued that consider funding such detailed data collection strengthen capacity-building support, in particu- as part of larger investments in ICT and other in- lar in areas such as increasing Internet connec- frastructure. Public-private cooperation will also tivity and growing digital economies. For exam- be important in collecting disaggregated and an- ple, opportunities to build on the existing United onymized data across demographic groups, with- Nations Volunteers programme will be explored. in ethical, privacy protection frameworks and in accordance with data protection laws. DIGITAL HUMAN RIGHTS In addition, the Secretariat and, where possible, other entities of the United Nations system, will To address the challenges and opportunities of undertake a mapping exercise of digital inclusion protecting and advancing human rights, human initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, which dignity and human agency in a digitally interde- will be provided online. Resident coordinators will pendent age, the Office of the United Nations be tasked with working with host Governments to High Commissioner for Human Rights will devel- develop action plans to improve digital inclusion. op system-wide guidance on human rights due diligence and impact assessments in the use of DIGITAL CAPACITY-BUILDING Building on the mapping of existing digital capac- new technologies, including through engagement with civil society, external experts and those most vulnerable and affected. ity-building initiatives undertaken by UNDP and I also call upon Member States to place human ITU, which they intend to expand, I will work with rights at the centre of regulatory frameworks and United Nations entities to launch a broad mul- legislation on the development and use of digital ti-stakeholder network to promote holistic, inclu- technologies. In a similar vein, I call upon technol- sive approaches to digital capacity-building for ogy leaders urgently and publicly to acknowledge sustainable development, including a new joint the importance of protecting the right to privacy facility for digital capacity development, which and other human rights in the digital space and will be led by ITU and UNDP. take clear, company-specific actions to do so. 24 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE b) Digital technologies must be deployed in a safe and trustworthy manner that narrows the digital divide. Promoting To address issues raised around inclusion, co- this through a universal document would ordination, and capacity-building for Member ensure the engagement of all countries, States on artificial intelligence, I intend to estab- in particular developing countries; lish a multi-stakeholder advisory body on global artificial intelligence cooperation to provide guidance to myself and the international community on artificial intelligence that is trustworthy, human-rights based, safe and sustainable and promotes peace. The advisory body will comprise Member States, relevant United Nations entities, interested companies, academic institutions and civil society groups. Such a body could also serve as a diverse forum to share and promote best practices, as well as exchange views on artificial intelligence standardization and compliance efforts, while taking into account existing mandates and institutions. The body could also help to disseminate work be- c) The statement would raise the global profile and level of engagement with digital trust and security issues among Member States, in a principled way, in areas that do not duplicate the important technical work being done in the Open-ended Working Group and the Group of Governmental Experts. Following adoption by Member States, the statement could also be open to endorsement by stakeholders, such as those in the private sector, including technology companies, and civil society. GLOBAL DIGITAL COOPERATION ing done by other United Nations entities. While discussions on the different digital archi- DIGITAL TRUST AND SECURITY tecture models proposed by the Panel are ongoing amongst stakeholders, the following ideas have emerged with a view to making the Internet A broad and overarching statement, endorsed by Governance Forum more responsive and relevant all Member States, in which common elements to current digital issues. These include: of understanding on digital trust and security are outlined, could help to shape a shared vision for (a) Creating a strategic and empowered digital cooperation based on global values. The multistakeholder high-level body, building Secretariat will continue to explore with Member on the experience of the existing mul- States whether and how to take such a statement ti-stakeholder advisory group, which would forward. address urgent issues, coordinate follow-up Such a statement could be beneficial for the fol- posed policy approaches and recommen- lowing reasons: dations from the Forum to the appropriate action on Forum discussions and relay pro- normative and decision-making forums; a) The strong linkage between principles of digital trust and security and the (b) Having a more focused agenda ability to realize the 2030 Agenda must for the Forum based on a limited be acknowledged at the highest level; number of strategic policy issues; ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 25 (c) Establishing a high-level segment and While consultations on digital architecture mod- ministerial or parliamentarian tracks, els will continue in the coming months, I support ensuring more actionable outcomes; these measures to enhance the Forum and intend to implement them as appropriate. (d) Forging stronger links among the global Forum and its regional, national, In this unprecedented moment, the power, prom- sub-regional and youth initiatives; ise and peril of digital technology cannot be un- (e) Better integrating programme ternational community to ensure that technology and intersessional policy develop- is harnessed for good, seek the opportunity to ment work to support other priority manage its impact and ensure that it presents a areas outlined in the present report; level playing field for all. (f) Addressing the long-term sustainability Future generations will judge whether the present of the Forum and the resources necessary for increased participation, through an innovative and viable fundraising strategy, as promoted by the round table; (g) Enhancing the visibility of the Forum, including through a stronger corporate identity and improved reporting to other United Nations entities. 26 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION derestimated. Coming together will allow the in- generation seized the opportunities presented by the age of digital interdependence. The time to act is now. ANNEX: Roundtable Participants The High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation of 20 independent experts was convened by the UN Secretary-General to provide recommendations on how the international community could work together to optimize the use of digital technologies and mitigate the risks. In June 2019, the Panel published their report “The Age of Digital Interdependence” and with it a series of recommendations to improve digital cooperation. In follow-up to the report, eight virtual Roundtable groups were convened to discuss if and how the recommendations can be advanced. Members of the virtual Roundtable groups are listed below. For more information, visit: https://www.un.org/en/digital-cooperation-panel/ GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY Champions > The Government of Uganda > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > UNICEF Key Constituents > The Government of Egypt > The Government of Kazakhstan > The Government of Malaysia > The Government of Niger > The Government of Rwanda > European Union (EU) > Chair of the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment body (STOA) > ACTAI Global > Alibaba > Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development > Econetwireless > Ethereum > Facebook > Gates Foundation > Global Compact > GSMA > Internet Society (ISOC) > Mastercard > Microsoft > M-Pesa > Lemann Foundnation > OneWeb > Viasat > UPenn/1WorldConnected > Web Foundation > World Economic Forum (WEF) ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 27 > Office of the Deputy SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations > United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, International Trade Law Division > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) > United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) > World Bank > World Food Programme (WFP) DIGITAL PUBLIC GOODS Champions > The Government of Norway > The Government of Sierra Leone > Indian Software Product Industry Roundtable (iSPIRT) > UNICEF > UN Global Pulse Key Constituents > The Government of Belize (Alliance of Small Island States Chair) > The Government of Chile > The Government of Finland > The Government of Niger > The Government of the United Arab Emirates > The Government of the United Kingdom > African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) > ARM > Botnar Foundation > Cisco > Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) 28 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION > Digital Impact Alliance > European Broadcasting Union > Global Partnership to EndViolence Against Children > Chair of the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment body (STOA) > Facebook > Future Society > Graduate Institute Geneva > International Trade Centre (ITC) > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > Mozilla > World Economic Forum (WEF) > Wikimedia Foundation > Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) > United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) > United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > World Health Organization (WHO) > World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) > World Meteorological Organization (WMO) > World Bank DIGITAL INCLUSION AND DATA Champions > The Government of Mexico > UN Women Key Constituents > The Government of Denmark > The Government of France > The Government of Japan > The Government of Malawi (Least Developed Country Group Representative) > The Government of Sweden > The Government of Switzerland > European Union (EU) > African Development Bank (AFDB) > Data2x > Digital Future Society > Global Partners Digital > GSMA > International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > International Trade Centre (ITC) > Internet Society (ISOC) > Microsoft > National Autonomous University of Mexico > Omidyar > OHCHR Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy > Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) > UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) > United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) > UN Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA) > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on DIGITAL HELP DESKS Champions > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Key Constituents > The Government of the Netherlands > The Government of Russia > The Government of Singapore > The Government of the United Arab Emirates > The Government of Uganda > The Government of the United Kingdom > European Union (EU) > ARM > Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) > DiploFoundation > IndustriALL Global Union > Overseas Development Institute (ODI) > Oxford Blavatnik School of Government > International Trade Centre (ITC) > United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) > UN-HABITAT > United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > World Health Organization (WHO) > World Bank Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > Web Foundation > World Bank ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 29 DIGITAL HUMAN RIGHTS Champions > The Government of the Republic of Korea > European Union (EU) > Access Now > Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Key Constituents > The Government of Denmark > The Government of New Zealand > The Government of Switzerland > Amnesty International > Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRL) > Carnegie UK Trust > Coding Rights > Derechos Digitales > Facebook > Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul > Freedom Online Coalition > Global Partners Digital > ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) > Google > GovTechLab Lithuania > Graduate Institute Geneva > International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) > United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, International Trade Law Division > ICT4Peace Foundation > Internet Commission > Korea University 30 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION > Microsoft > MITRE > Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) > New America > OpenNet Korea > Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) > Paradigm Initiative > Tech Policy Tank > OHCHR Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy > UN Global Pulse > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > Verizon > Web Foundation ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Champions > The Government of Finland > The Government of France > Future of Life Institute (FLI) > UN Global Pulse > UNESCO > The Office of Special Adviser Hochschild Key Constituents > The Government of Brazil > The Government of Canada > The Government of Ghana > The Government of Italy > The Government of the Republic of Korea > The Government of Malaysia > The Government of Singapore > The Government of Slovenia > The Government of Switzerland > European Union > ARM > Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) > Article 19 > Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence > Centre for Artificial Research Intelligence (CAIR) > Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) > Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) > Council of Europe > DATACTIVE > Data Protection Commission of Ghana > DeepMind > Element AI > Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul > Future Society > Graduate Institute Geneva > GSMA > ICT4Peace Foundation > Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > Jozef Stefan Institute > Makerere University > Microsoft > Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) > OpenAI > Oxford Internet Institute > Partnership on AI (PAI) > Tsinghua University > Wadhwani Institute for AI > Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) > International Organization for Standardization (ISO) > Office of the President of the General Assembly > United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) > United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) > United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, International Trade Law Division > UNESCO > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) DIGITAL TRUST AND SECURITY Champions > The Government of Estonia > The Government of the Netherlands > The Government of Uruguay > Microsoft > United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) > The Office of Special Adviser Hochschild Key Constituents > The Government of Bangladesh > The Government of Canada > The Government of Finland ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 31 > The Government of France > The Government of Japan > The Government of Kenya > The Government of Kiribati > The Government of the Republic of Korea > The Government of Mexico > The Government of New Zealand > The Government of Switzerland > The Russian Federation > Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) > Facebook > Future of Life Institute (FLI) > GovTech Lab Lithuania > GSMA > International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) > ICT4Peace Foundation > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > Internet Commission > Internet Society (ISOC) > Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) > The State University of New York (SUNY) > Web Foundation > World Economic Forum (WEF) > World Bank > World Food Programme (WFP) > United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) > United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) > World Health Organization (WHO) 32 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION DIGITAL COOPERATION ARCHITECTURE Champions > The Government of Germany > The Government of the United Arab Emirates > The Office of Special Adviser Hochschild Key Constituents > The Government of Canada > The Government of Denmark > The Government of France > The Government of Japan > The Government of Malawi (Least Developed Country Group Representative) > The Government of Paraguay (Landlocked Developing Countries Chair) > The Government of Switzerland > The Government of the United Kingdom > European Union (EU) > Association for Progressive Communication (APC) > Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) > DiploFoundation > European Broadcasting Union > Ford Foundation > GSMA > Global Partners Digital > Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) > Internet Governance Forum-Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF-MAG) > Internet Governance Forum-Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF-MAG) -Representative of the Russian Federation > International Chamber of Commerce Business Action to Support the Information Society (ICC BASIS) > Internet Society (ISOC) > International Telecommunication Union (ITU) > JSC National ICT Holding Zerde > New America > Robert Bosch Stiftung > United States Council for International Business (USCIB) > Uruguayan Chapter – Internet Society > Ushahidi > World Economic Forum (WEF) > World Bank > United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, International Trade Law Division > United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) > United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) > United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) > UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (DFTF) ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 33 Notes 1 International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Measuring Digital Development. Facts and figures 2019 (Geneva, 2019). 2 Ibid. 3Juniper Research, “Business losses to cybercrime data breaches to exceed $5 trillion by 2024”, 27 August 2019. 4Nicola Jones, “How to stop data centers from gobbling up the world’s electricity”, Nature, vol. 561, No. 7722 (September 2018). 5 See https://www.missingkids.org/footer/media/keyfacts. 6A list of participants in the round-table discussions is available from www.un.org/en/digital-cooperation-panel. 7The Panel recommends that, by 2030, every adult should have affordable access to digital networks, as well as digitally enabled financial and health services, as a means to making a substantial contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Provision of these services should guard against abuse by building on emerging principles and best practices, one example of which is providing the ability to opt in and opt out, and by encouraging informed public discourse. 8 ITU, Measuring Digital Development. Facts and figures 2019. 9 Ibid. 10 Alliance for Affordable Internet, The 2019 Affordability Report (Washington, D.C., 2019). 11Elizabeth Stuart and others, Leaving No One Behind: A Critical Path for the First 1,000 Days of the Sustainable Development Goals (London, Overseas Development Institute, 2016). 12These examples have been endorsed by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development in its targets for 2025. See mobile broadband pricing in section 4.3 of the ITU Measuring the Information Society Report 2018, vol. 1 (Geneva, 2019). Section 4.4 also provides data on fixed broadband pricing. 13Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, ITU and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Connecting Africa Through Broadband: A Strategy for Doubling Connectivity by 2021 and Reaching Universal Access by 2030 (Geneva, 2019). 34 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 14GIGA is an initiative aimed at creating a package of layered financial services and public and private instruments to help Governments to finance and provide affordable connectivity, in a partnership between the United Nations Children’s Fund and ITU; see https://gigaconnect.org. 15The Panel recommends that a broad, multi-stakeholder alliance, involving the United Nations, create a platform for sharing digital public goods, engaging talent and pooling data sets, in a manner that respects privacy, in areas related to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. 16United Nations, “Shared responsibility, global solidarity: responding to the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19” (March 2020). 17See www.dhis2.org/covid-19. 18They can be defined as open-source software, open data, open artificial intelligence models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international and domestic laws, standards and best practices and do no harm. 19The Alliance is led by the Governments of Norway and Sierra Leone, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the non-governmental organization iSPIRT, working with other stakeholders; see https://digitalpublicgoods.net. 20The Global Data Access Framework is co-led by the Global Pulse initiative, the Artificial Intelligence initiative of The Future Society and the Noble Intelligence initiative of McKinsey and has over 70 stakeholders, including major technology firms, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. 21The Panel calls upon the private sector, civil society, national Governments, multilateral banks and the United Nations to adopt specific policies to support full digital inclusion and digital equality for women and traditionally marginalized groups. International organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations should strengthen research and promote action on barriers that women and marginalized groups face to digital inclusion and digital equality. The Panel further states that it believes that a set of metrics for digital inclusiveness should be urgently agreed, measured worldwide and detailed with sex-disaggregated data in the annual reports of institutions such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, other multilateral development banks and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. From this, strategies and plans of action could be developed. 22In 2019, the regional gender gap was largest in the least developed countries (43 per cent) and smallest in the Americas (1 per cent). ITU, Measuring Digital Development. Facts and figures 2019. 23The coalition will be launched by the Governments of France and Mexico and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in 2021. The EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age has also done important work. 24For example, ITU has developed guidelines and strategies for persons with disabilities and other groups. See www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Digital-Inclusion/Pages/ Digital_Inclusion_Resources/Policies_strategies_toolkits.aspx. 25The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees global strategy on connectivity for refugees, available at www.unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-refugees. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 35 26The Panel recommends the establishment of regional and global digital help desks to help Governments, civil society and the private sector to understand digital issues and develop capacity to steer cooperation related to social and economic impacts of digital technologies. 27International Finance Corporation, Digital Skills in Sub-Saharan Africa: Spotlight on Ghana (Washington, D.C., 2019). 28The Panel, given that human rights apply fully in the digital world, urges the Secretary-General to institute an agencies-wide review of how existing international human rights accords and standards apply to new and emerging digital technologies. Civil society, Governments, the private sector and the public should be invited to submit their views on how to apply existing human rights instruments in the digital age in a proactive and transparent process. In the face of growing threats to human rights and safety, including those of children, the Panel further calls upon social media enterprises to work with Governments, international and local civil society organizations and human rights experts around the world to fully understand and respond to concerns about existing or potential human rights violations. 29Available at www.un.org/sg/sites/www.un.org.sg/files/atoms/files/The_ Highest_Asperation_A_Call_To_Action_For_Human_Right_English.pdf. 30Risk Based Security, “2019 year-end report: data breach QuickView.” 31World Bank, “1.1 billion ‘invisible’ people without ID are Priority for new highlevel advisory council on identification for development”, 12 October 2017. 32Ann Cavoukian, “Privacy by design: the 7 foundational principles – implementation and mapping of fair information practices”, May 2010; Shirin Nilizadeh and others, “Cachet: a decentralized architecture for privacy preserving social networking with caching”, in Association for Computing Machinery, CoNEXT ’12 Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Emerging Networking Experiments and Technologies (New York, 2012); and Access Now, “National digital identity programmes: what’s next?”, May 2018. 33Jackie Wang, Carceral Capitalism, Semiotext(e) Intervention Series, No. 21 (South Pasadena, California, Semiotext(e), 2018, pp. 228–252. 34Kristine Hamman and Rachel Smith, “Facial recognition technology: where will it take us?”, Criminal Justice, vol. 34, No. 1 (Spring, 2019), p. 10; and Monique Mann and Marcus Smith, “Automated facial recognition technology: recent developments and approaches to oversight, University of New South Wales Law Journal, vol. 40, No. 1 (2017). 35Patrick Grother, Kayee Hanaoka and Mei Ngan, Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT): Part 3 – Demographics, Internal Report, No. 8280 (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2019. 36Joy Buolamwini and Timnit Gebru, “Gender shades: intersectional accuracy disparities in commercial gender classification”, Proceedings of Machine Learning Research, vol. 81 (February 2018). 37Anya E.R. Prince and Daniel Schwarcz, “Proxy discrimination in the age of artificial intelligence and big data”, Iowa Law Review, vol. 105, No. 3 (2020). 38Aaron Klein, “Credit denial in the age of AI”, 11 April 2019. 39Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Human Rights Council holds panel discussion on online violence against women human rights defenders”, 21 June 2018. 36 ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 40The Panel states that it believes that autonomous intelligent systems should be designed in ways that enable their decisions to be explained and humans to be accountable for their use. Audits and certification schemes should monitor compliance of artificial intelligence systems with engineering and ethical standards, which should be developed using multi-stakeholder and multilateral approaches. Life-and-death decisions should not be delegated to machines. The Panel calls for enhanced digital cooperation with various stakeholders to think through the design and application of these standards and principles, such as transparency and non-bias in autonomous intelligent systems in different social settings. 41Gartner, “Gartner says global artificial intelligence business value to reach $1.2 trillion in 2018”, 25 April 2018. 42Currently, there are a number of global initiatives that set norms for the development and use of artificial intelligence. Some, such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, are led by a coalition of mainly like-minded Member States; others, like the Artificial Intelligence Policy Observatory of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, seek to support Member States’ efforts; technical initiatives such as the Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers set technical norms and standards, while the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence acts as a convening platform between its corporate founders and civil society partners. 43The Panel recommends the development of a global commitment on digital trust and security to shape a shared vision, identify attributes of digital stability, elucidate and strengthen the implementation of norms for responsible uses of technology, and propose priorities for action”. 44Neil Kumaran and Sam Lugani, “Protecting businesses against cyber threats during COVID-19 and beyond”, Google Cloud, 16 April 2020. 45 ITU, Global Cybersecurity Index 2018 (Geneva, 2019). 46The Panel recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the Secretary-General facilitate an agile and open consultation process to develop updated mechanisms for global digital cooperation, with the options discussed in chapter 4 of its report as a starting point. It suggests an initial goal of marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 with a global commitment for digital cooperation to enshrine shared values, principles, understandings and objectives for an improved global digital cooperation architecture. As part of this process, the Panel states that it understands that the Secretary-General may appoint an Envoy on Technology. The Panel states that it supports a multi-stakeholder “systems” approach for cooperation and regulation that is adaptive, agile, inclusive and fit for purpose for the fast-changing digital age. ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 37