Why is it in the news?

• In the recent “Summit of the Future” organized by the United Nations, member countries adopted the Global Digital Compact (GDC).
• This diplomatic instrument aims to harness and regulate digital technologies for the common good, acknowledging their transformative impact while addressing both the benefits and challenges they present.

Understanding the GDC

• The GDC serves as a framework outlining shared goals for governments, institutions, and other stakeholders. While it lacks binding legal force, it has the potential to evolve into soft laws as adherence increases.
• The UN has previously facilitated other compacts, such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. The GDC aims to ensure human oversight of technologies and promote sustainable development, grounded in international law and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
• To achieve its objectives, UN member countries have pledged to establish two key panels: an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
• The GDC seeks to close the digital divide, enhance access to data, and promote responsible data governance, prioritizing inclusive participation and sustainability within a competitive market.
• A significant proposal of the GDC is the creation of digital public goods, which encompass open-source software, open data, and open AI models, recognizing their potential to drive social change and establish shared digital infrastructure.

Challenges facing the GDC

• European experiences indicate that openness in public-private partnerships for digital projects may be constrained by contractual obligations.
• While the GDC encourages self-regulation by digital technology companies, this approach has often proven ineffective. Additionally, the emphasis on interoperable data governance raises privacy and protection concerns due to the increasing handling of data, particularly in AI contexts.
• The GDC makes optimistic assertions that may overlook underlying complexities, reflecting the UN’s desire to maintain a role in technology governance. While it highlights the value of data, it offers few concrete solutions for AI governance.
• Furthermore, the concept of “data flow with trust” faces resistance from countries prioritizing digital sovereignty, complicating its implementation.
• Although the GDC connects its goals to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the slow progress on these goals raises doubts about the Compact’s effectiveness.

Conclusion

• As UN member states navigate the challenges of regulating Big Tech while asserting digital sovereignty, the governance of digital technologies requires more than the GDC alone.
• A combination of multilateral and regional negotiations is essential to address diverse jurisdictional and local needs. While the GDC may not instigate a fundamental shift in digital governance, it can facilitate collaboration and capacity building, promoting partnerships in the development of digital public goods.
• Ultimately, the GDC has the potential to yield meaningful outcomes if member states engage earnestly with its objectives, even if it does not redefine global governance structures.