With the right national policies, digital technology can give \u201can unprecedented boost to sustainable development\u201d, particularly for the poorest countries, the UN chief told the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis calls for more connectivity; and less digital fragmentation. More bridges across digital divides; and fewer barriers. Greater autonomy for ordinary people; less abuse and disinformation\u201d, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored during a session devoted to the theme of Digital Transformation.<\/p>\n
From the suppression of free speech to malicious interference across borders, and the online targeting of women, he spelt out that \u201cwithout guidance and guardrails\u201d, digital technology has \u201chuge potential for harm\u201d.<\/p>\n
To counter this, he proposed that during the UN Summit of the Future, in September 2024, governments should endorse a Global Digital Compact for an \u201copen, free, inclusive and secure digital future for all\u201d \u2013 with input from technology companies, civil society, academia and others.<\/p>\n
Firmly anchored in human rights as \u201cthe only coherent approach for a technology that affects every aspect of our lives\u201d, the UN chief elaborated on the three areas outlined in the Digital Compact.<\/p>\n
First, he explained that universal connectivity means reaching the three billion people who still have no access to the internet, the majority of whom live in the Global South.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must close the digital divide by promoting digital literacy and giving access to the digital world to women and girls, migrants, rural and indigenous people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Secondly, Guterres reminded that a human-centred digital space begins with the protection of free speech, freedom of expression and the right to online autonomy and privacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut free speech is not a free pass\u201d, he argued, saying that the Digital Compact must consider the responsibility of Governments, tech companies and social media platforms to \u201cprevent online bullying and deadly disinformation that undermines democracy, human rights and science\u201d.<\/p>\n
The top UN official also called for a global code of conduct that promotes public information integrity to enable people to \u201cmake choices based on fact, not fiction\u201d.<\/p>\n
Finally, he observed that data has \u201cimmense and unexplored potential\u201d to boost sustainable development.<\/p>\n
However, while we have only half the data needed to understand progress and measure the impact of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), people\u2019s personal data is being used without their knowledge and consent, \u201csometimes for political control, sometimes for commercial profit\u201d, Mr Guterres maintained.<\/p>\n
He said the Digital Compact should focus on ways in which governments, working with technology companies and others, could foster the \u201csafe and responsible use of data\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support of G20 countries can help ensure the digital age is safe, inclusive, and transformational\u201d, Guterres added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the right national policies, digital technology can give \u201can unprecedented boost to sustainable development\u201d, particularly for the poorest countries, the UN chief told the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday. \u201cThis calls for more connectivity; and less digital fragmentation. More bridges across digital divides; and fewer barriers. Greater autonomy for ordinary people; less […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":290586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3217],"class_list":{"0":"post-295743","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-un-chief"},"yoast_head":"\n