Development

Inclusive digital innovation: global experts call for action and collaboration

The ‘Fostering Inclusive Digital Innovation and Transformation‘ session at Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 brought together representatives from the UNDP, Italy’s Digital Agency, and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) to share insights and solutions for a more connected, equitable world. Global leaders and experts explored strategies to foster inclusive digital innovation, underscoring the urgency to close digital divides and empower underserved communities.

Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer of the UNDP, set the stage by emphasising capacity development as a critical foundation for digital transformation. ‘We need digital roads and bridges; public infrastructures that serve as enablers for innovation,’ he explained, highlighting the UNDP’s initiatives in 125 countries, including training civil servants in AI and digital skills in Kenya. Opp also advocated for a unified global framework, pointing to the Global Digital Compact as a guidepost for ensuring human rights and ethical governance in the digital age.

Italy’s progress in building robust digital public infrastructure provided a case study. Mario Nobile, Director of Italy’s Digital Agency, outlined achievements such as 36 million digital identity users and 2 billion e-invoices annually. Nobile stressed the importance of digital literacy by summarising that ‘Technology evolves faster than we can legislate. Empowering citizens with knowledge is key to ensuring inclusion, not exclusion.’

The role of engineering capacity in digital innovation emerged as a focal point. Gong Ke, President of the WFEO, highlighted a decade-long initiative to train 100,000 African engineers in AI. ‘Inclusive digital transformation requires tailored solutions that reflect local needs—whether cultural, linguistic, or economic,’ he said, adding that human oversight remains vital in managing AI’s ethical and factual risks.

Audience members raised pressing concerns, including the need for a UN declaration on AI ethics and strategies for unifying global digital literacy and inclusion efforts. Addressing these, Opp noted the UN’s commitment to ethical AI governance while calling on nations to back their commitments with resources.

At the end of the session, the panellists made clear that bridging the digital divide requires global cooperation, inclusive policies, and educational investment. As Gong summarised, ‘We must combine innovation with responsibility. Only then can digital transformation truly benefit all.’

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions and insightful session reports can be found on dig.watch.

Experts at the IGF explore strategies for closing digital divides and enhancing meaningful connectivity

Experts from various sectors gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss strategies for achieving meaningful connectivity worldwide, focusing on closing digital divides and ensuring internet access leads to tangible benefits. Vint Cerf, a member of the IGF Leadership Panel, emphasised the evolving definition of meaningful access, highlighting the need for safe, productive, and affordable online experiences.

Martin Schaaper from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shared data showing 67% global internet usage but noted that high broadband costs in some regions still exclude many, particularly underserved populations.

The digital divide remains a significant challenge, with gaps across gender, geography, and socioeconomic lines. Director of the Pakistan Telecom Authority, Syeda Shafaq Karim, highlighted Pakistan’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy, addressing the disparity in mobile broadband usage among women.

Meanwhile, Lina Viltrakiene, Ambassador-at-Large for Economic and Digital Diplomacy from Lithuania, showcased the ‘No One Left Behind’ initiative, providing free digital literacy courses to over 500,000 elderly citizens. These efforts illustrate the importance of targeted interventions alongside broader infrastructure development and skills training.

Panelists also explored innovative solutions to expand access. Mohamed Slim Alouini, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and chair of Education on Connected at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, discussed using non-terrestrial networks to improve rural connectivity, while Talant Sultanov, Chair and Co-Founder of the Internet Society ISOC Assistance Chapter, shared how IoT technologies are advancing climate monitoring in Central Asia.

Public-private partnerships and government investments were repeatedly cited as essential, with Alhagie Mbow, co-moderator of the session and a member of the African Union Parliament, stressing their effectiveness in bridging gaps. At the same time, Bobby Bedi from Content Follow Studios, LLC argued that entertainment and cultural engagement play a crucial role in driving internet adoption, expanding the conversation beyond purely functional uses.

The session concluded with calls for continued collaboration, data collection, and policy development to ensure inclusive and adaptive connectivity efforts. Vint Cerf stressed the need for accessibility features and ongoing initiatives like the IGF, while online moderator Judith Hellerstein highlighted concerns about data protection for vulnerable groups. Achieving meaningful connectivity, the panel agreed, requires a multifaceted approach that balances technological innovation with social and cultural considerations.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.

Challenges and opportunities in Africa’s digital transformation: Data governance and sharing under scrutiny

The ongoing digital transformation across Africa has put data governance and sharing at the forefront of economic growth and innovation. In an Internet Governance Forum session titled ‘Data Without Borders? Navigating Policy Impacts in Africa’, experts emphasised the importance of harmonised data policies to support the African Union’s (AU) Data Policy Framework.

Souhila Amazouz from the African Union Commission highlighted the framework’s principles of transparency and cooperation, while Thelma Quaye of Smart Africa stressed the urgency of aligning national policies to ensure seamless cross-border data flows. Lillian Nalwoga noted the need for robust national data strategies, noting that two-thirds of African countries have data protection laws, though challenges remain in unifying national and continental interests.

The conversation revealed critical hurdles to effective data governance, including gaps in legal frameworks, limited institutional capacities, inadequate infrastructure, and cybersecurity risks. Souhila Amazouz discussed efforts to address these gaps through regional data centres and capacity-building initiatives.

Meanwhile, the concept of data localisation sparked debate. Vincent Olatunji from the Nigeria Data Protection Commission argued for practical data categorisation over full localisation, which Paul Baker (International Economics Consulting Limited) warned could burden businesses with high costs.

The balance between localisation and cross-border data sharing remains a contentious issue, particularly with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aiming to boost trade and integration across the continent.

The panellists also highlighted the importance of trust and collaboration between governments and businesses. Transparent data practices and inclusive policy development were essential to fostering confidence in data-sharing initiatives. Paul Baker noted the vital role of cross-border data flows for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), though an audience member pointed out that many countries still rely on manual systems, hampering digital progress.

Ultimately, the discussion underscored the need for a unified approach to data governance, with capacity development, infrastructure investment, and multistakeholder collaboration as key priorities. While challenges like the digital divide and data fragmentation persist, the dialogue demonstrated a collective commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation through effective data governance strategies.  

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.

Australian Public Service to bolster digital transformation through new partnership initiative

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) have formed a partnership to strengthen the digital capabilities of the Australian Public Service (APS) and foster collaboration between government and industry. Rooted in communication, collaboration, and mutual benefit principles, the partnership seeks to maximise the efficient use of existing digital capabilities and investments in government services.

It also aims to drive innovation and the adoption of new technologies and promote the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) for digital skills classification. Additionally, the collaboration aims to build a world-class digital workforce, support diversity and inclusion initiatives, and enhance the APS’s digital transformation efforts.

The agreement will benefit ACS members, DTA staff, and digital professionals within the APS by providing enhanced opportunities for professional development and innovation. Starting on 12 December for two years, the ACS, representing over 49,500 technology professionals, will support initiatives that foster digital skills development, certifications, and collaboration with educational institutions.

Both the DTA and ACS are committed to leveraging this partnership to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of technological advancements, with an emphasis on improving government services and workforce capabilities.

Société Générale and Banque de France push blockchain innovation

Société Générale has achieved a milestone by conducting the first repo transaction using blockchain within the Eurosystem. The transaction carried out with Banque de France through Société’s digital asset subsidiary Forge, involved tokenised bonds issued on Ethereum in 2020 as collateral. Central bank digital currency (CBDC) issued by Banque de France was exchanged as cash, showcasing the potential of blockchain in modern financial operations.

The move highlights the feasibility of conducting interbank refinancing on-chain. Société Générale stated that using CBDCs for such transactions could improve liquidity for digital financial securities. Tokenisation, which converts traditional securities into digital tokens, offers faster settlement times and an immutable record of transactions, making it a promising technology for the financial sector.

Banque de France has been actively exploring CBDC use cases since 2021, including cross-border transactions and collaborations with global partners like the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Meanwhile, Société Générale continues to expand its digital asset operations, including launching its euro-denominated stablecoin EUR convertible. The bank’s innovative efforts reflect its position as one of the world’s largest financial institutions.

Google’s Willow quantum chip sparks multiverse debate

Google’s Willow quantum chip has ignited a debate about the multiverse theory, with Hartmut Neven from Google’s Quantum AI team suggesting that the chip’s performance supports the idea of quantum computation occurring across parallel universes. The chip’s ability to solve a computational problem exponentially faster than classical computers has raised the possibility that this speed is linked to the multiverse.

However, critics argue that Willow’s success can be explained by alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as the Copenhagen or pilot-wave theories, and that there is no direct evidence proving the existence of parallel universes. Despite its impressive computational achievement, Willow does not provide empirical proof for the multiverse.

The implications of this debate extend beyond the multiverse theory itself, offering an opportunity to explore more profound questions about quantum mechanics and the nature of reality. Whether or not Willow proves the multiverse, the discussion prompts further investigation into quantum computing’s potential and its transformative impact on fields such as cryptography, material science, and AI.

Additionally, the conversation around Willow encourages scientists to re-examine established theories and explore new possibilities, driving innovation and expanding the frontiers of scientific understanding.

Global South’s role in AI governance explored at IGF 2024

The inclusion of the Global South, particularly the MENA region, in AI governance emerged as a key focus in a recent panel discussion as part of the Internet Governance Forum 2024. Experts examined persistent challenges such as the technology gap, regulatory uncertainty, and limited local infrastructure, which hinder the region’s participation in the global AI ecosystem.

Nibal Idlebi from UN ESCWA emphasised that the lack of computational resources and access to local data significantly impedes AI development. Jill Nelson of the IEEE Standards Association stressed the need to improve AI literacy and foster talent pipelines, particularly in decision-making roles. Ethical considerations also featured prominently, with Jasmin Alduri highlighting concerns about the exploitation of click workers involved in AI data labelling.

Roeske Martin from Google MENA called for clearer regulations to boost private sector involvement, arguing that regulatory uncertainty holds back investment and innovation. He proposed accelerator programmes to support local AI startups, including those led by women. Panellists also urged better Arabic language integration in AI tools to increase accessibility and adoption across the MENA region.

Amid the challenges, opportunities for growth were identified, including leveraging synthetic data generation and creating public data-sharing initiatives. Collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society was deemed crucial to developing AI frameworks that address local needs while adhering to global standards.

The panel concluded with cautious optimism, underscoring the MENA region’s potential to become an AI innovation hub. With targeted investments in capacity building and infrastructure, the Global South can play a greater role in shaping the future of AI governance.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.

Reasoning AI to be unpredictable, says OpenAI co-founder

At the NeurIPS conference in Vancouver, Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, predicted that artificial intelligence will become increasingly unpredictable as its reasoning abilities grow. Speaking to thousands of attendees, Sutskever explained that while advancements in AI have relied on scaling data and computing power, this approach is nearing its limits due to finite resources like the internet.

To overcome these challenges, Sutskever suggested that AI could begin generating its own data or evaluating multiple responses to improve accuracy. He envisions a future where superintelligent machines, capable of reasoning like humans, become a reality. However, this reasoning power could lead to unexpected outcomes, as seen with AlphaGo’s famous move in a 2016 board game match or unpredictable strategies from advanced chess algorithms.

Sutskever emphasised that AI’s evolution will make it ‘radically different’ from what we know today, with deeper understanding and potential self-awareness. Yet, he warned that this reasoning could complicate predictability, as AI analyses millions of options to solve complex problems. This shift, he stated, marks the beginning of a new chapter in AI.

Parliamentarians urged to bridge the global digital divide

At the ‘IGF Parliamentary Track – Session 1’ session in Riyadh, parliamentarians, diplomats, and digital experts gathered to address persistent gaps in global digital governance. The session spotlighted two critical UN-led initiatives: the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the Global Digital Compact (GDC), underscoring their complementary roles in bridging the digital divide and addressing emerging digital challenges like AI and data governance.

Ambassador Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Chair of the Commission for Science and Technology for Development, stressed the urgency of digital inclusion. ‘Digital technologies are transforming our world at a remarkable pace, but we must confront the persistent divide,’ he said, remembering that twenty years after WSIS first set out a vision for an inclusive digital society, one-third of the world’s population remains unconnected, with inequalities deepening between urban and rural areas, genders, and socioeconomic groups.

The Global Digital Compact, introduced as a ‘refresh’ of WSIS priorities, emerged as a key focus of the discussion. From the UN Tech Envoy’s Office, Isabel de Sola presented the GDC’s five pillars: affordable internet access, tackling misinformation, data governance, fostering inclusive digital economies, and ensuring safe AI implementation. De Sola emphasised, ‘We need a holistic approach. Data governance, AI, and connectivity are deeply interconnected and must work in tandem to serve society fairly.’

Sorina Teleanu, the session’s moderator and Head of knowledge at Diplo, highlighted the need for urgent action, stating: ‘We have the Global Digital Compact, but what’s next? It’s about implementation—how we take global commitments and turn them into real, practical solutions at national and local levels,’ she urged parliamentarians to exercise their oversight role and push for meaningful progress.

The session exposed a growing disconnect between governments and parliaments on digital policy. Several parliamentarians voiced concerns about exclusion from international processes that shape national legislation and budgets. ‘We cannot act effectively if we are not included or informed,’ a delegate from South Africa noted, calling for better integration of lawmakers into global frameworks like the GDC and WSIS.

To close these gaps, speakers proposed practical solutions, including capacity-building programs, toolkits for mapping GDC priorities locally, and stronger regional parliamentary networks. ‘Parliamentarians are closest to the people’ Ambassador Kah reminded attendees, ‘they play a crucial role in translating global commitments into meaningful local action’

The discussion ended with a renewed call for collaboration: greater inclusion of lawmakers, better alignment of international frameworks with local needs, and stronger efforts to bridge the digital divide. As the world approaches WSIS’ 20-year review in 2025, the path forward requires a unified, inclusive effort to ensure digital advancements reach all corners of society.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.

Digital bridges unlock Africa’s private sector potential

Opportunities often need to be gathered in a single place to be easily accessible and visible, and that is the purpose of innovative digital platforms, which build bridges connecting Africa’s private sector with development opportunities. Egypt’s ‘Hafiz’ platform, introduced by Tamer Taha during the IGF 2024 session ‘Building Bridges in Africa in the Digital Age‘ in Riyadh, is the basis for this purpose. Hafiz addresses the persistent information and financial gaps plaguing Egyptian companies seeking to expand into Africa. ‘We gathered the right information and financial tools in a structured way so businesses can access opportunities and grow regionally,’ said Taha, highlighting its role as a game-changer for sectors like manufacturing and construction.

The discussion, moderated by Mahitab Assran, underscored how platforms like Hafiz and Uganda’s iVenture empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups. Manija Gardizi of GIZ emphasised inclusivity, saying ‘These platforms allow smaller players to participate in development projects traditionally dominated by larger corporations, fostering innovation and equal opportunity.’

Alan Ananulu of iVenture shared success stories from East Africa, including Maarifasasa, a startup offering job-market training. His solution to Africa’s infrastructure challenges was simple but effective: low-tech solutions like WhatsApp and Facebook allow platforms to reach underserved entrepreneurs with limited connectivity.

Despite progress, significant hurdles remain—regulatory barriers, such as inconsistent recognition of e-signatures, hamper cross-border trade. ‘Mutual agreements on digital signatures are vital for facilitating trade and reducing friction,’ Gardizi noted. Ananulu added that startups often struggle with market entry restrictions, citing visa challenges as obstacles to regional expansion, and Taha suggested introducing soft-landing programs to help entrepreneurs navigate regulatory landscapes and establish trust across borders.

The session also revealed growing optimism among stakeholders. An interactive poll showed that participants viewed South-South collaboration as key to improving Africa’s investment climate. Traditional industries emerged as the sector that needs the most solutions, reflecting a desire to modernise and connect legacy businesses with emerging opportunities.

As the conversation drew close, audience questions reinforced the need for awareness campaigns and venture capital integration. Taha confirmed plans for capacity-building initiatives and nationwide roadshows to help SMEs sharpen their competitive edge. ‘It’s not just about opportunities—it’s about ensuring businesses have the tools to succeed,’ he concluded.

What’s clearly emerging from this session is the consensus that digital platforms are more than tools; they are catalysts for change, enabling businesses to overcome systemic barriers and unlock Africa’s immense economic potential. These platforms hold the key to a more connected and prosperous future by fostering trust, inclusivity, and innovation.