Q1/2019 - UN High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation

Geneva, 21 - 22 January 2019

At the second and originally last session of the UN Panel, the basic structure of the closing report expected to be available at the end of May was discussed.

On the basis of the more than 300 comments handed in from stakeholders across all groups within the framework of the public consultations, the Panel defined nine so-called “enablers”^[1] for an extended digital cooperation. The report is grouped into six sections and contains a series of recommendations^[2].

However, the Panel was unable to achieve consensus about various critical aspects. Therefore, a third meeting was agreed to be held in Helsinki on 3 and 4 April. Nevertheless, the report is planned to be completed by 31 May 2019. Then the decision what to do with the Panel’s report will rest with the UN Secretary-General. It is assumed that he will put the report up for discussion at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Mehr zum Thema

[1] Meeting Summary, 2nd Meeting, Geneva, 22 January 2019: “The following nine key “enablers” of digital cooperation surfaced from consultations across stakeholder groups, geographies and thematic areas:1. Leadership and political will, 2. Incentive alignment; 3. Implementation of guiding values and principles; 4. Shared meanings;5. Clear roles and responsibilities; 6. Coherence in action; 7. Inclusiveness; 8. Trust, 9. Capacity”, see: https://digitalcooperation.org/meeting-summary-consultation-insights-next-steps/

[2] Meeting Summary, 2nd Meeting, Geneva, 22 January 2019: Areas for Potential Receommendations: “1. Inclusiveness: How can we ensure that digital technologies are inclusive, especially for the most vulnerable parts of society? Can inclusiveness become the lens through which we create and assess digital policy? These were among the questions Panel members explored as they discussed ideas like Internet access as a human right; increasing participation in the digital economy; and education systems that ensure everyone develops skills for the digital age. 2. Digital Public Goods: Panel members felt that greater conceptual clarity on the term “digital public goods” would help us understand how they could serve as the backbone of inclusive participation in the digital economy. They explored ways in which digital public goods could be fostered, maintained, and shared on possible platforms. 3. Values and Principles: Many organizations and initiatives have put forth lists of values and principles to guide behavior in the digital age. But how can these values be implemented in practice? The Panel discussed potential mechanisms for helping organizations and governments embed values and principles in business practices and policy. 4. Governance: What mechanisms can we put in place to help us govern digital technologies and their impact on society? The Panel explored a range of possibilities, from reforming existing institutions to creating a global council for ethics and training public sector leaders. 5. Safety and Security: How can we encourage various stakeholders to come together to promote greater security and stability when it comes to digital technology? The Panel considered the major challenges of digital security and explored potential solutions, including stronger authentication and improving mechanisms for traceability and attribution. 6. Data: Some Panel members invoked the metaphor of data as the “life-blood” of the 21st century economy. In this context, Panel members asked: How do we ensure that data and data-driven technologies work for all? They also discussed ideas for managing the concentration of data, promoting the sharing of data, and potential parameters for treating data, such as anonymized health research data, as a public good”. https://digitalcooperation.org/meeting-summary-consultation-insights-next-steps/