APAC needs to treat new UN digital framework seriously

July 8, 2024

BEIJING – Every September, heads of state and governments convene in New York for the annual UN General Assembly to engage in diplomatic dialogues on global issues. In 2024, in addition to the regular agenda, presidents, monarchs, and prime ministers will gather for the Summit for the Future to assess the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) halfway towards the 2030 target.

A distinctive feature of this summit is expected to be the UN’s first Global Digital Compact (GDC). This pioneering international framework will guide nations worldwide in managing the rapid digital transformation and addressing its potential uneven impacts.

It will do this by outlining international standards on shared principles for an open, free, and secure digital future, addressing critical issues like digital connectivity, human rights online, and the prevention of Internet fragmentation globally.

The first revision of the recently published Zero-Draft of the GDC by the UN Tech Envoy’s Office includes compelling provisions for involving the private sector, such as the tech industry and developers, to contribute to and implement the framework once adopted by member states.

Article 29 (b) of the draft highlights the pivotal role of the private sector in fostering global digital inclusivity by urging digital technology companies and developers to co-create industry accountability frameworks. These frameworks should define responsibilities and establish standards, acknowledging the historical leadership of the corporations in technological innovation.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is home to 4.3 billion people — more than half the world’s population — but nearly 40 percent of them remain unconnected to the internet.