It was a relatively quiet week in digital policy last week. The main highlights were: lawmakers kickstarting negotiations on platform workers; online companies gearing up for the EU’s new Digital Services Act; investigations around market dominance, and more tech lay-offs. Plus, a ransomware attack during the weekend, the extent of which is still unknown. Let’s get started.
Stephanie and the Digital Watch team
Digital policy round-up (30 January–6 February)
// CYBERCRIME //
Italy: Global cyber attack unlikely to have come from state entity
The attack is more likely to be the responsibility of cybercriminals whose main aim is to hold targets ransom for monetary gain.
Thousands of computer servers have been targeted by the ransomware hacking attack targeting VMware ESXi servers, the French and Italian cyber incident response teams announced.
// GIG WORK //
EU lawmakers will start negotiations on new law to protect platform workers
The European Parliament has agreed to start negotiations on new measures to improve conditions for workers on digital platforms. The decision was approved in plenary, with 376 votes in favour and 212 against. It is expected that the draft rules will be hotly debated.
The new draft rules are expected to regulate how to determine the employment status of platform workers. They will also specify how AI management can be used to monitor and evaluate workers.
// JOBS //
Layoffs continue: Dell, PayPal, and Tinder employees next
Dell Technologies will lay off 6,650 employees, or 5% of its workforce, the company has just announced. The company is reportedly ‘experiencing market conditions that continue to erode with an uncertain future’.
About 2,000 PayPal employees will also lose their jobs in the coming weeks, the company disclosed. That’s 7% of PayPal’s workforce. Online dating company Tinder is also laying off employees: 200 jobs with mother company Match Group will be lost, equivalent to 8% of its workforce.
// DSA //
EU tells Twitter: ‘The next few months will be crucial’
EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said the next few months would be crucial for Twitter to get in line with the requirements of the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA), after a video call with Twitter’s CEO Elon Musk.
‘I take note of the path that Twitter is committed to take in Europe to comply with DSA rules,’ Breton tweeted after his ‘constructive exchange’ with Musk.
Implementing the DSA: The first deadline is looming: Online platforms (and search engines) have until 17 February 2023 to report their average number of active recipients (the so-called AMARs) under the new rules. This number will determine the companies’ obligations under the DSA.
Campaigns 6
// CONTENT POLICY //
Russian court fines Twitch over failure to remove fakes
A Russian court fined US video streaming service Twitch Interactive, an Amazon subsidiary, 4 million rubles (USD56,100; EUR52,300) for failing to remove fake content about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
In addition, the magistrates’ court in Moscow’s Tagansky district also found Twitch guilty of failure to remove prohibited content, including an interview of former lawyer Mark Feigin (designated as a foreign agent in Russia) and former advisor to the Ukrainian Presidential Office Alexei Arestovich from the platform.
// TIKTOK //
TikTok CEO to testify before US Congress over security concerns
Scrutiny into the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok continues. The company’s chief, Shou Zi Chew, will appear before the US Energy and Commerce Committee in March, the committee announced.
In his first appearance before a US congressional committee, TikTok’s CEO will be quizzed on the company’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.
Meanwhile, Michael Bennet, a US Senator on the intelligence committee, said that TikTok should be removed from Apple and Google app stores since the social media app poses a risk to national security.
// DATA PROTECTION //
Facebook seeks to block $3.7 billion UK mass action over market dominance
Facebook is seeking to block a UK lawsuit over alleged market dominance that could set the company back by up to GBP 3 billion (USD 3.7 billion, EUR 3.58 billion). The class action lawsuit, filed in 2022, argues that the company abused its dominant position to monetise users’ personal data.
Behind the lawsuit is Liza Lovdahl Gormsen, a senior adviser to Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) watchdog. She says she’s bringing the case on behalf of people in Britain who had used Facebook between 2015 and 2019, and who were not properly compensated for the value of personal data that they had to provide to use the platform.
The week ahead (6–12 February)
7 February: The 19th edition of Safer Internet Day, an initiative organised by the Insafe and INHOPE networks, will take place once again in countries across the world. The event’s aim is to promote the safe and positive use of digital technologies, especially among children and youth.
9 February: The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) will vote on several key legislative files, including the Data Act and the European Digital Identity framework.
10 February: The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology has invited stakeholders to a series of open consultations on shaping the Global Digital Compact, an initiative of the UN Secretary-General. This week, it’s the private sector and technical community’s turn to participate. These consultations form part of an intergovernmental process led by co-facilitators Rwanda and Sweden.
7 February: Will AI take over diplomatic reporting? Reports are the lifeblood of diplomacy. Every day, thousands of reports, also known as diplomatic cables, are produced by diplomats around the world. With the evolution of AI, and in particular the release of ChatGPT, we have to ask ourselves: Will AI take over diplomatic reporting? Join Diplo experts for an online webinar on 7 February, 14:00 UTC.
#ReadingCorner
Report: Spamming the regulator
A new report by the Corporate Europe Observatory looks into the lobbying practices of Big Tech in Brussels. The largest tech companies – Google, Amazon, Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, and Microsoft – are the biggest lobby sector by spending. What’s worrying is that according to the report, the EU’s competition branch ‘enjoys a regular revolving door’ with lobbyists. Full report.
Welcome to the 13th edition of our annual predictions in digital governance and diplomacy, we predict the following trends in the year ahead:
1. Technologies
Each year usually starts with promises on how the latest tech will save the world. Not this year, though. This will create the opportunity for existing tech – such as the metaverse, blockchain, and AI – will have to show its real impact beyond mere hype.
2. Digital geopolitics
Geopolitical tensions have dominated much of last year. In the digital sphere, tensions show no sign of easing, either. In 2023, they will play out most intensely in at least three main digital policy areas: the protection of submarine cables and satellites, the production of semiconductors, and the free flow of data across borders.
3. IBSA digital moment(um)
The IBSA trio – India, Brazil, and South Africa – is likely to play a prominent role in reforming digital governance by linking development, democracy, and multilateral diplomacy. The first tangible results from IBSA’s digital momentum could be expected during India’s G20 presidency, which, among others, will promote ‘a new gold standard for data’.
4. Digital cooperation
Digital cooperation processes will accelerate the build-up for 2025 when the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) implementation will be revisited, including the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The Osaka Track on Data Governance, initiated during Japan’s G20 presidency in 2019, will likely be given new life as Japan is set to host the next IGF (Kyoto, October 2023). September 2023 will see a ministerial meeting dedicated to preparing the 2024 Summit of the Future, where the Global Digital Compact (GDC) will be agreed on.
5. Human rights online
We can expect deeper implementation of the first generation of human rights online, such as freedom of expression and privacy protection. A holistic approach to digitalisation and human rights will put the second (economic, social and cultural rights) and third generations (environmental and intergenerational) of human rights in the spotlight. The fourth generation of human rights will also become more relevant, triggered by risks due to developments in AI, bio, and nanotechnologies.
6. Content governance
Countries and companies will intensify their search for better ways to govern content. They will look for a balance between social media platforms’ legal status (private businesses with little legal liability for the content they publish) and their social role (public information utilities that affect how people perceive society and politics). The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) approach to content governance will probably serve as an example for many other nations. The outcome of Elon Musk’s Twitter experiment will significantly impact the future of content governance in the business sector.
7. Cybersecurity
Many organisations and governments have improved their cyber resilience against the geopolitical backdrop of the Ukraine war. The cybersecurity agenda is gaining more traction in developing nations, which are taking part in more global processes like the UN Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity and the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime. These global processes could put pressure on the top cyber powers to behave more responsibly.
8. Digital economy
Digital economy governance will focus on digital trade, the implementation of the new global tax deal, and the regulation of cryptocurrencies. The World Trade Organization (WTO) will double down on digital trade negotiations, trying to bridge positions on data flows, data localisation, and privacy. The implementation of the new global tax deal from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will continue to be negotiated, with multilateral conventions to implement the deal, expected to be finalised by mid-2023. States will continue to adopt digital asset regulations, in particular, related to consumer protection and the clear involvement of the financial institutions in control of the industry.
9. Digital standardisation
The relevance of digital standards as a soft governance approach will increase. We can expect intensified cooperation on digital standardisation between like-minded countries, acceleration of standardisation of new tech, and more discussions on the human rights implications of the standards under development.
10. Data governance
Data governance will mature with the realisation that we need as many governance approaches as there are types of data. Stakeholders will have to adopt a holistic approach that takes into account the standardisation, security, human rights, and legal perspectives.
11. AI governance
As AI becomes increasingly applied in real-world settings, arguments about ethics in general (such as how to ensure that AI solutions are created and deployed following ethical standards) will give way to more practical concerns (such as the links between AI and education).
12. The future of work
The hybrid format of office work and diplomatic negotiations, combining elements of online and in situ interactions, will be the new normal. In addition to Zoom and online meetings, new virtual reality tools will be developed to facilitate seamless online interaction.
What to watch for: Global digital policy events in 2023
We look ahead at the digital policy calendar to highlight some of the main digital policy discussions in 2023 across the globe. As is customary, the DW team will deliver just-in-time coverage of major events throughout the year while also focusing on mainstream events addressing digital issues.
UNESCO will host a global multistakeholder conference on regulating digital platforms from 21 to 23 February in Paris, France. The event will facilitate discussion on challenges and modes to ensure that regulatory approaches targeting digital platforms support freedom of expression and the availability of accurate and reliable information in the public sphere. The conference will feature debates and consultations on the draft Guidance on regulating digital platforms: a multistakeholder approach, issued by UNESCO for public consultation in December 2022. Read more.
UNESCO will host a global multistakeholder conference on regulating digital platforms from 21 to 23 February in Paris, France. The event will facilitate discussion on challenges and modes to ensure that regulatory approaches targeting digital platforms support freedom of expression and the availability of accurate and reliable information in the public sphere. The conference will feature debates and consultations on the draft Guidance on regulating digital platforms: a multistakeholder approach, issued by UNESCO for public consultation in December 2022. Read more.
The first of three annual sessions of the Human Rights Council will be held from 27 February to 4 April and will consider and discuss the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General. Reports on the human rights situation in Eritrea, Sudan, Cyprus, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, among others, will be shared with the Human Rights Council and taken into consideration.Of particular importance to digital-related issues will be high-level discussions and considerations of reports on: ‘Privacy and personal data protection in Ibero-America: A step towards globalization?’; ‘Rights of the child and the digital environment’; ‘Negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights’; and ‘Promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Read more.
The first of three annual sessions of the Human Rights Council will be held from 27 February to 4 April and will consider and discuss the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General. Reports on the human rights situation in Eritrea, Sudan, Cyprus, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, among others, will be shared with the Human Rights Council and taken into consideration.Of particular importance to digital-related issues will be high-level discussions and considerations of reports on: ‘Privacy and personal data protection in Ibero-America: A step towards globalization?’; ‘Rights of the child and the digital environment’; ‘Negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights’; and ‘Promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. Read more.
Organised by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), under the theme ‘Use Of ICTs By States: Rights And Responsibilities Under The UN Charter’, the conference focus will be on how international law applies to the use of ICTs by states. The conference will explore the rights and obligations of the UN Charter applicable to cyberspace with an aim to facilitate future-focused deliberations and contribute to the advancement of multilateral negotiations. Read more.
Organised by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), under the theme ‘Use Of ICTs By States: Rights And Responsibilities Under The UN Charter’, the conference focus will be on how international law applies to the use of ICTs by states. The conference will explore the rights and obligations of the UN Charter applicable to cyberspace with an aim to facilitate future-focused deliberations and contribute to the advancement of multilateral negotiations. Read more.
The first ITU Forum on Embracing the metaverse, co-organised by the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), will begin ITU’s endeavour to promote metaverse pre-standardisation initiatives. The forum’s objective is to facilitate global dialogue on the metaverse, provide inputs, and discuss relevant topics that can aid the work of the newly established ITU-T Focus Group on the metaverse. The forum will explore the challenges and opportunities for an accessible, sustainable, and inclusive metaverse, how to develop interoperability standards, and how metaverse can be used to achieve the SDGs and accelerate digital transformation. The forum will be held on 7 March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and it will be followed by the first meeting of the ITU-T Focus Group on the metaverse. Read more.
The first ITU Forum on Embracing the metaverse, co-organised by the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), will begin ITU’s endeavour to promote metaverse pre-standardisation initiatives. The forum’s objective is to facilitate global dialogue on the metaverse, provide inputs, and discuss relevant topics that can aid the work of the newly established ITU-T Focus Group on the metaverse. The forum will explore the challenges and opportunities for an accessible, sustainable, and inclusive metaverse, how to develop interoperability standards, and how metaverse can be used to achieve the SDGs and accelerate digital transformation. The forum will be held on 7 March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and it will be followed by the first meeting of the ITU-T Focus Group on the metaverse. Read more.
Thetheme of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2023 is ‘WSIS Action Lines for Building Back Better and Accelerating the Achievement of the SDGs’. The WSIS Forum is a global multistakeholder platform for advancing sustainable development through the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines. The forum facilitates information and knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships with UN organisations and WSIS Action Line co-facilitators.Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), with the support of Permanent Missions of Djibouti, Kenya, and Namibia, are co-organising a session during the WSIS Forum to discuss Africa’s digital diplomacy. The session explores how Africa can enhance its participation in global digital governance, considering its growing digital economies, start-up ecosystems, and dynamic digital transformation. It aims to identify digital policy priorities, improve Africa’s participation in global digital governance processes, and offer practical insights to strengthen Africa’s digital diplomacy in international processes related to cybersecurity, AI, data governance, and access and infrastructure. Ultimately, the session will propose practical steps for developing African digital diplomacy. Read more.
Thetheme of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2023 is ‘WSIS Action Lines for Building Back Better and Accelerating the Achievement of the SDGs’. The WSIS Forum is a global multistakeholder platform for advancing sustainable development through the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines. The forum facilitates information and knowledge sharing, knowledge creation, identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships with UN organisations and WSIS Action Line co-facilitators.Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), with the support of Permanent Missions of Djibouti, Kenya, and Namibia, are co-organising a session during the WSIS Forum to discuss Africa’s digital diplomacy. The session explores how Africa can enhance its participation in global digital governance, considering its growing digital economies, start-up ecosystems, and dynamic digital transformation. It aims to identify digital policy priorities, improve Africa’s participation in global digital governance processes, and offer practical insights to strengthen Africa’s digital diplomacy in international processes related to cybersecurity, AI, data governance, and access and infrastructure. Ultimately, the session will propose practical steps for developing African digital diplomacy. Read more.
The Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will hold its 26th session under the main themes: Technology and innovation for cleaner and more productive and competitive production; Ensuring safe water and sanitation for all: a solution by science, technology and innovation. The commission will focus on analysing how science, technology, and innovation can serve as enablers of the 2030 Agenda, especially in crucial areas like economic, environmental, and social development. The CSTD will also review the progress made in the implementation of and follow up on the outcomes of the WSIS Forum on regional and international levels; and hear presentations on ongoing science, technology, and innovation policy reviews. Read more.
The Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) will hold its 26th session under the main themes: Technology and innovation for cleaner and more productive and competitive production; Ensuring safe water and sanitation for all: a solution by science, technology and innovation. The commission will focus on analysing how science, technology, and innovation can serve as enablers of the 2030 Agenda, especially in crucial areas like economic, environmental, and social development. The CSTD will also review the progress made in the implementation of and follow up on the outcomes of the WSIS Forum on regional and international levels; and hear presentations on ongoing science, technology, and innovation policy reviews. Read more.
The fifth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime will touch upon the new negotiating consolidated document on the preamble, provisions on international cooperation, preventive measures, technical assistance, the mechanism of implementation, and the final provisions of the convention. The secretariat has also prepared a separate document on the mechanisms of implementation to facilitate the deliberations of member states on the implementation of mechanisms for the convention. Lastly, it is expected that states will further negotiate on the first negotiating consolidated document from the fourth session. Read more.
The fifth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime will touch upon the new negotiating consolidated document on the preamble, provisions on international cooperation, preventive measures, technical assistance, the mechanism of implementation, and the final provisions of the convention. The secretariat has also prepared a separate document on the mechanisms of implementation to facilitate the deliberations of member states on the implementation of mechanisms for the convention. Lastly, it is expected that states will further negotiate on the first negotiating consolidated document from the fourth session. Read more.
The 8th STI Forum will be held under the theme ‘Science, technology and innovation for accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels’. As in previous years, the theme of the STI Forum will be closely aligned with that of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The forum will be held from 3 to 5 May in New York, the USA. Read more.
The 8th STI Forum will be held under the theme ‘Science, technology and innovation for accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels’. As in previous years, the theme of the STI Forum will be closely aligned with that of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The forum will be held from 3 to 5 May in New York, the USA. Read more.
The AI for Good Global Summit will take place on 6-7 July 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit is the main event of the AI for Good platform organised by ITU in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies and co-convened with Switzerland. The event will feature keynote speakers, cutting-edge AI solutions, pitching sessions, and performances by AI-inspired artists. It will also feature interactive displays, debates, and demonstrations of 30+ cutting-edge robots and their human designers. Read more.
The AI for Good Global Summit will take place on 6-7 July 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit is the main event of the AI for Good platform organised by ITU in partnership with 40 UN sister agencies and co-convened with Switzerland. The event will feature keynote speakers, cutting-edge AI solutions, pitching sessions, and performances by AI-inspired artists. It will also feature interactive displays, debates, and demonstrations of 30+ cutting-edge robots and their human designers. Read more.
The HLPF will be held under the theme ‘Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels’ from 10 to 19 July in New York, the USA. The HLPF meets annually to discuss the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs. Read more.
The HLPF will be held under the theme ‘Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels’ from 10 to 19 July in New York, the USA. The HLPF meets annually to discuss the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs. Read more.
The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) will open on Tuesday, 12 September 2023 in New York, the USA. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Monday, 25 September 2023. Read more.
The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) will open on Tuesday, 12 September 2023 in New York, the USA. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Monday, 25 September 2023. Read more.
The Government of Japan will host the 18th annual gathering of the IGF in Kyoto from 8 to 12 October. The call for thematic issues that the meeting will tackle was open until 31 January 2023. The next step in the process is the first meeting of the multistakeholder advisory group (MAG) 8–10 March 2023, which will start planning the inter-sessional work and the programme of IGF 2023. Read more.
The Government of Japan will host the 18th annual gathering of the IGF in Kyoto from 8 to 12 October. The call for thematic issues that the meeting will tackle was open until 31 January 2023. The next step in the process is the first meeting of the multistakeholder advisory group (MAG) 8–10 March 2023, which will start planning the inter-sessional work and the programme of IGF 2023. Read more.
The 2023 edition of UNCTAD’s eCommerce Week will be held from 4 to 8 December in Geneva, Switzerland, and online, under the theme ‘Shaping the future of the digital economy’. It will focus on the widening of the digital gap and the danger that data-driven digitalisation could exacerbate inequalities. During UNCTAD eWeek, high-level stakeholders will focus on concrete and tangible solutions in key policy areas that must be addressed to achieve an inclusive and sustainable digitalisation, as well as answer three main questions: What does the future we want for the digital economy look like, what is required to make that future come true and how can digital partnerships and enhanced cooperation contribute to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes? Read more.
The 2023 edition of UNCTAD’s eCommerce Week will be held from 4 to 8 December in Geneva, Switzerland, and online, under the theme ‘Shaping the future of the digital economy’. It will focus on the widening of the digital gap and the danger that data-driven digitalisation could exacerbate inequalities. During UNCTAD eWeek, high-level stakeholders will focus on concrete and tangible solutions in key policy areas that must be addressed to achieve an inclusive and sustainable digitalisation, as well as answer three main questions: What does the future we want for the digital economy look like, what is required to make that future come true and how can digital partnerships and enhanced cooperation contribute to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes? Read more.
The Digital Watch observatory maintains a live calendar of upcoming and past events.
Digital policy developments that made global headlines
The digital policy landscape changes daily, so here are all the main developments from December and January. We’ve decoded them into bite-sized authoritative points. There’s more detail in each update on the Digital Watch Observatory.
Global digital architecture
Rwanda and Sweden, co-facilitators leading the intergovernmental process on the GDC, announced the roadmap for the GDC process, including informal consultations with stakeholders and member states, thematic discussions, an issue paper based on the discussions, the presentation of said paper, and negotiations on the GDC.
China issued guidelines for building basic data systems: a data property rights system, a circulation and trading system, an income distribution system, and a security governance system, all with the aim of strengthening its digital economy.
Ireland has fined Meta €5.5 million for forcing users to consent to process their personal data ‘for service improvement and security’, in breach of the EU’s data protection rules.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and eight states filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of abusing its dominant position in the internet advertising business and of limiting fair competition.
India’s Supreme Court upheld a decision by the country’s Competition Commission of India (CCI) that Google is abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device ecosystem and abusing its monopoly through its Play Store, prompting the company to make changes such as allowing users to choose their default browser, uninstall the Google browser, and allowing device makers in India to license its individual apps for pre-installation.
Cybercrime Ad Hoc Committee: Takeaways from its 4th Session
The Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime kicked off 2023 with its fourth session in Vienna and focused on amending its consolidated document (CD). States negotiated and made amendments regarding the general provisions, provisions on criminalisation, procedural measures, and law enforcement.
Ensuring that the provisions are in line with international human rights law treaties while including additional protocols and other applicable international human rights instruments was emphasised by the majority of states.
States have divergent views on criminalisation provisions. One group of states aims to narrow the content of the convention strictly to cyber-dependent crimes. Another group of states would remain open to including both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crimes, while a third group aims to expand criminalisation offences and include provisions on the criminalisation of terrorism and extremism, among others. Most states agreed on the inclusion of the criminalisation of online child abuse.
So far, all provisions in the CD regarding cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crimes, such as illegal access, computer-related forgery, and illicit use of electronic payment instruments, among many others, have been amended. However, provisions on ‘violation of personal information, infringement of copyright, incitement to subversive or armed activities, extremism-related offences, terrorism-related offences, offences related to the distribution of narcotic drugs, arms trafficking, and distribution of counterfeit medicine,’ are under informal consultations.
Defining cybercrime offences under the CD raises concerns over potential human rights violations. For example, the inclusion of the criminalisation of the dissemination of false information states that: ‘The definition of false information and serious social disorder shall be defined in accordance with domestic laws of each State Party.’
Regarding procedural measures and law enforcement provisions, provisions on jurisdiction are still under informal consultations. Cooperation between national authorities and service providers when retaining traffic and content data was added to the CD. Again, the issue is that the circumstances under which the state could obtain such data from the service providers, and the extent to which personal data are being protected, are left to the discretion of each state.
Some states emphasised the need to harmonise the content of the provisions in question with the ones in the Budapest Convention. And while the Ad Hoc Committee in January has made progress in drafting some parts of the convention, there are still many contentious issues that need to be addressed. Human rights protection, the definition of offences, and the implementation of such provisions need to be carefully addressed to ensure effective protection when combating cybercrime on an international level.
The fifth session will be held from 11–21 April 2023 in Vienna, when states will be called to further negotiate on the current CD and on a new consolidated document.
Last week was marked by a spike in criminal investigations, a major anticompetition lawsuit and Trump’s return to Facebook and Instagram after his two-year ban was lifted. Plus, it’s a busy time for legislators who are negotiating new rules, especially on AI and data.
Let’s get started.
Stephanie and the Digital Watch team
Digital policy round-up (23–29 January)
// CYBERCRIME //
UK raises concern over Russian and Iranian hacking groups
A hacking group called Cold River, based in Russia, and another group called Yellow Garuda, based in Iran, are attacking the UK government with phishing campaigns that both target and impersonate government officials, journalists, and academics.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a division of the British government’s GCHQ spy agency (short for Government Communications Headquarters), warned that the groups are conducting their phishing campaign using false email accounts and social media profiles. The two groups are separate and are not collaborating.
US authorities shut down Hive ransomware networks
The US Department of Justice announced that it seized the networks of a major international ransomware variant named Hive. The Hive ransomware was responsible for extorting and attempting to extort millions of dollars from victims in the USA and around the world, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. More than 1,500 victims worldwide were targeted, including hospitals, schools, financial firms, and critical infrastructure, with an estimated loss of more than $150 million.
Lazarus group responsible for virtual currency theft
The FBI confirmed that the DPRK cybercriminal group, Lazarus, is responsible for stealing $100 million of virtual currency from Harmony’s Horizon Bridge. The FBI found that the portion of the stolen Ethereum laundered during the June 2022 heist was sent to virtual asset providers and converted to bitcoins.
// CYBER DIPLOMACY //
USA, EU deepen collaboration on cyber resilience
The USA and EU have launched a series of workstreams and deliverables as part of the ongoing US-EU cyber dialogue. The deliverables involve (a) information sharing, situational awareness, and crisis response; (b) cybersecurity of critical infrastructure; and (c) cybersecurity of hardware and software.
One of the deliverables includes deepening structured exchanges of information on threats, threat actors, vulnerabilities, and incidents, to support a collective response to defend against global threats involving crisis management and support of diplomatic responses.
// SOCIAL MEDIA //
Trump’s return to Facebook and Instagram
Meta has decided to lift its Facebook and Instagram ban on former US President Donald Trump. The ban was placed two years ago after Trump publicly praised people engaged in violence at the Capitol, Washington DC, on 6 January 2021.
In usual circumstances, ‘the public should be able to hear what politicians are saying so they can make informed choices,’ the company announced. In Trump’s case, Meta said it had to take unprecedented action due to Trump’s social media messages posing a serious risk to public safety, in breach of the platform’s community rules. The first decision was upheld by the Oversight Board, an independent body set up by Meta to review the company’s decisions on moderated content.
Trump won’t be returning to Facebook or Instagram with a clean state. There are increased penalties in case of repeat offences and the risk of a new suspension.
In a statement, the Oversight Board said: ‘Today’s decision to reinstate Mr Trump on Meta’s platforms sat with Meta alone – the Board did not have a role in the decision’.
// ANTITRUST //
Google faces antitrust lawsuit for abusing its dominance in ad business
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) and eight states filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing it of illegally abusing its dominant position in the internet advertising business, and of limiting fair competition. Google allegedly used anti-competitive methods to eliminate or drastically reduce competition.
There’s a long list of aggravations. The DoJ said: ‘Google now controls the digital tool that nearly every major website publisher uses to sell ads on their websites; it controls the dominant advertiser tool that helps millions of large and small advertisers buy ad inventory; and it controls the largest advertising exchange, a technology that runs real-time auctions to match buyers and sellers of online advertising.’
Its relevance. This lawsuit will be the second complaint filed by the DoJ against Google. The first case was filed in 2020.
// DATA GOVERNANCE //
Swedish presidency proposes new compromise text for Data Act
The Swedish presidency of the EU Council has circulated a new compromise text on the Data Act, a draft EU law that will regulate how data is accessed and shared. The text was obtained by news portal EurActiv.
Two main issues relate to the scope of the new rules and the interplay with the EU’s existing data protection regulation. The new text resolves the first issue by proposing that the rules focus on the function of data, rather than the product the data is used for. As for any overlaps with the GDPR, the next text does not create any new legal basis for processing data – that’s a purely GDPR aspect.
By the way. We’re opening a bracket here: The EU’s General Court ruled that EU Council working groups should grant people access to documents drawn up as part of the legislative negotiation process, if so requested. People ‘need to follow in detail the decision-making process within the institutions taking part in the legislative procedures and to have access to all relevant information.’
The week ahead (30 January–5 February)
31 January: Will IGF 2023 focus on a theme you feel strongly about? The IGF Secretariat’s call for thematic inputs for IGF 2023 is open until tomorrow, Tuesday, 31 January 2023. The themes we suggest will be discussed during the first open consultations and MAG meeting in March and could become one of IGF 2023’s main themes. Send your suggestions.
1–3 February: The Council of Europe’s Committee on AI (CAI) is meeting in plenary for the fourth time to negotiate a revised zero draft, which lays the groundwork for the world’s first binding international framework convention on AI and human rights democracy and the rule of law.
3 February: The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology has invited stakeholders to a series of open consultations on shaping the Global Digital Compact, an initiative of the UN Secretary-General. The consultations with civil society, youth, and academia will take place online on 3 February. These consultations form part of an intergovernmental process led by co-facilitators Rwanda and Sweden.
3 February: Deadline for tax pros to comment on the OECD’s Pillar Two consultations related to compliance and tax certainty aspects of the global minimum tax: GloBE Information Return and Tax Certainty for the GloBE Rules. Pillar Two sets a global minimum tax of 15% for multinationals earning more than €750 million a year and forms part of the new two-pillar global tax deal, which over 130 countries have signed.
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Freedom of expression: An index of indexes
Threats to freedom of expression show no signs of slowing down. This interactive map, an initiative of the nonprofit Index on Censorship, reconfirms which countries safeguard individual freedoms and which countries obstruct the right.
Welcome to this week’s digest. We bring updates from last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos and the fourth Ad Hoc Committee meeting in Vienna, which ran 9–20 January. In other updates, Ukraine called for a Cyber United Nations; Microsoft and Google employees were in for shocking layout announcements; and an AI training software landed in a UK court.
Let’s get started.
Stephanie and the Digital Watch team
Digital policy round-up (16–22 January)
// WEF IN DAVOS //
Talk of the town: Cybersecurity, ChatGPT, and the state of our world
The Swiss Alps were host to one of the major mostly-rich-countries’ meetings last week. Several key people made an appearance, including the UN Secretary-General and the European Commission chief, amid the launch of new WEF reports. The main highlights:
A Category 5 hurricane: In his remarks in Davos, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was unsurprisingly harsh about the ‘sorry state of our world’. One of the major global rifts – the East-West divide, that is, USA-China – risks creating ‘two different sets of trade rules, two dominant currencies, two internets and two conflicting strategies on artificial intelligence’. It’s essential that the USA and China resolve their differences on climate issues, trade, and technology.
Boosting clean tech: European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who focused mainly on the EU’s climate plans, applauded technology’s growing role: ‘The next decades will see the greatest industrial transformation of our times – maybe of any time. And those who develop and manufacture the technology that will be the foundation of tomorrow’s economy will have the greatest competitive edge.’
Economic progress: China’s vice-premier Liu He touted his country’s economic progress, which is down to five reasons. These include pursuing innovation-driven development, allowing the market and government to work together, and opening China’s door to the outside – which He says ‘will only open wider’.
Cybersecurity trends: WEF’s newly launched Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2023, which assesses the private sector’s attitudes towards cybersecurity and risk,speaks of three trends: (1) Company chiefs believe that the aim of cyberattackers has turned towards disrupting business and inflicting reputational damage. (2) The companies’ security levels are as good as the level of security of other companies in their supply chain. (3) Since companies think the likelihood of a cyberattack is higher than ever, they’re directing resources to day-to-day defences rather than longer-term plans.
More bad news: Speaking of cybercrime, the WEF’s Global Risks Report 2023 identified ‘widespread cybercrime and cyber insecurity’ as a new entrant on the list of the ten most severe risks in the next decade.
A new ville in the metaverse: The Global Collaboration Village – a WEF initiative, in partnership with Microsoft, Accenture, and 80 other organisations – hosted its first meeting during Davos week.
More digital from Davos: There were several digital-related sessions during Davos week, including a conversation between WEF’s Klaus Schwaab and Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella on AI’s golden age and ChatGPT’s potential (one of many sessions on ChatGPT), and a session with – among others – ITU’s new Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and Microsoft President Brad Smith on the rising threats in cyberspace. Read the WEF’s digests from Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.
The USA, UK, and the EU, among others, want a stronger provision for protecting human rights in accordance with international human rights law (Article 5); China, Russia, India, and others are opposed to the entire article.
The so-called ‘clusters’ of offences are still an issue of contention, with one camp in favour of limiting the convention to cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes (clusters 1 and 2), while the other wants to expand the convention’s competence to other offences (clusters 3 to 11).
One exception is the criminalisation of child sexual abuse (cluster 5), which attracted the most changes to the text. Negotiations indicate that the issue is not whether to extend the convention to include these crimes, but how to word the provisions. For instance, CARICOM is in favour of the original text; the EU, UK, and others want the convention to allow countries to change the definition of a child to include persons younger than 16 (currently, it’s below 18).
The procedural measures and law enforcement sections saw proposed changes to Article 43, which requires countries to enact laws that mandate the retention of traffic data and metadata for criminal investigation purposes, and a new Article 55, a loosely-worded provision for encouraging cooperation between national authorities and service providers.
Mark your calendars: Next up is an intersessional stakeholder consultation 6-7 March, and the next (that is, the fifth) session of the committee 11–21 April, in Vienna.
// UKRAINE //
Ukraine calls for a ‘Cyber United Nations’
Ukraine has called for a Cyber United Nations – a global entity which would help share threat information and prepare for future attacks. The call was made by Yurii Shchyhol, the head of Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, in a media interview.
‘We need the Cyber United Nations, nations united in cyberspace in order to protect ourselves, effectively protect our world for the future, the cyber world, and our real, conventional world,’ he said, with reference to Russia’s continuous cyber-menacing. ‘What we really need in this situation is a hub or a venue where we can exchange information, support each other and interact.’
// JOBS //
Microsoft announces job cuts for 10,000 workers
Microsoft announced that it would lay off 10,000 workers – nearly 5% of its global workforce – this year. The announcement was made by Satya Nadella, the company’s CEO. The backdrop? Cautious spending by customers and organisations due to the post-pandemic recession, and new advances in AI.
As for those whose jobs are safe, pressure is mounting: ‘Every one of us and every team across the company must raise the bar and perform better than the competition to deliver meaningful innovation that customers, communities, and countries can truly benefit from.’
The singer Sting during The Big Challenge Science Festival in Trondheim Solsiden, 19 June 2019. Photo: Zoe Strimbeck Bazilchuk/NTNU, The Big Challenge Science Festival
It Sting-s!
Microsoft’s invitation-only event during last week’s WEF in Davos, featuring singer Sting, has been heavily criticised by the company’s staff. The mini-concert, attended by around 50 guests, including Microsoft’s top executive, took place the night before Microsoft’s headquarters announced the layoff of 10,000 employees.
It’s bad press and bad timing for the company, which has otherwise sailed through major controversial issues on antitrust (GAFA facing the brunt), and labour (Amazon’s woes) and earned the ‘Microsoft diplomacy’ title for its contribution to discussions at the UN. The company needs a lesson or two from Jacinda.
The reasons Google’s CEO Sindar Pichai gives in his announcement are similar to Microsoft’s: ‘Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today.’
There’s less pressure on the rest, though: ‘If you are just starting your work day, please feel free to work from home today,’ Sandella concludes.
// AI & IPR //
Getty Images sues Stable Diffusion AI image generator for copyright infringement
Getty Images has sued Stability AI, the company that produced AI art software Stable Diffusion, in the UK. The complaint is that the AI image generator scraped millions of images, infringing intellectual property rights in the process. The issue is not the software itself, but that Stability AI failed to obtain a licence from Getty Images to train its AI system.
The Irish data protection authority has fined Meta €5.5 million for breaches of the EU’s data protection regulation by its instant messaging platform WhatsApp. In addition, WhatsApp Ireland must make its operations compliant within the next six months.
The main issue: The authority said that WhatsApp Ireland was forcing users to consent to processing their personal data ‘for service improvement and security’, in breach of the rules.
The other issue: In reaching this decision, the Irish data protection authority was following a binding decision by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), required to be consulted by Ireland when it failed to bring its European peer regulators to agree with its decision. But the two are now at loggerheads: The EDPB has directed the Irish body to conduct fresh investigations on its WhatsApp cases; the Irish body says EDPB doesn’t have the authority to order it to do so. The case continues.
The ITU is hosting the second edition of the DC3 Conference, which will include a thematic track on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), and another on stablecoins and cryptocurrencies, plus high-level discussions.
26 Jan: Can we beat the chimps with data and statistics? Hans Rosling, the Swedish physicist behind Project Rosling, the organiser of this Geneva event, has often said that experts know statistically significantly less about the world than chimpanzees.
A Happy New Year to you all! After a gap of a few months, we’ve restarted our weekly newsletter to bring you the latest in digital policy from around the world, plus a new week-ahead section. We’re glad to be back – every Monday, this time around.
Our digital policy round-up from last week includes the growing debate (mostly in Europe) on whether Big Tech should contribute to telecoms infrastructure costs and the start of the fourth round of cybersecurity convention discussions at the Ad Hoc Cybercrime Committee. US President Biden doesn’t mince words on the need to hold Big Tech accountable, while Germany has found fault in Google’s data processing practices.
The week ahead will see world leaders convene in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. And on the same forward-looking note, we’ve included a summary of our digital policy predictions for the year.
Stay safe,
Stephanie and the Digital Watch team
Digital policy round-up (9–15 January)
// INFRASTRUCTURE //
EU plans to ask Big Tech and telecoms: What are your investment plans?
There’s a major debate in the making: The European Commission plans to require Big Tech to pay their share of costs related to the digital infrastructure. The main argument: If Big Tech is reaping tons of profit from the infrastructure, they should help maintain it.
The commission’s plan is to launch a 12-week questionnaire as early as this week, before proposing draft rules. Policymakers are also thinking ahead about the metaverse’s expected increase in data flows and linking this to the demand for Big Tech to contribute to the infrastructure cost.
// CYBERCRIME //
Ad Hoc Cybercrime Committee continues its work
The fourth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime started last week in Vienna (ongoing till 20 January), with a second reading of some of the provisions in the consolidated negotiating document. One of them is the provision on the criminalisation of offences.
One group of states supports the proposal that the convention be limited to criminalising cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes, while a second group wants to expand the convention’s competence to other offences, including cyberterrorism. We’ll have more on this next week.
// BIG TECH //
US president, German authority tough on Big Tech
US President Joe Biden is urging Congress to ‘pass strong bipartisan legislation to hold Big Tech accountable’. In an op-ed, the President expressed concern ‘about how some in the industry collect, share and exploit our most personal data, deepen extremism and polarization in our country, tilt our economy’s playing field, violate the civil rights of women and minorities, and even put our children at risk.’
Biden is now pushing three priority areas: federal privacy protections, reform to Section 230 of the US’ Communications Decency Act, and competition.
Meanwhile, Germany’s competition authority has ordered Google to revise its data processing terms and practices. ‘Users are not given sufficient choice as to whether and to what extent they agree to this far-reaching processing of their data across services,’ the Bundeskartellamt ruled. ‘The choices offered so far, if any, are, in particular, not sufficiently transparent and too general.’
// CHINA //
China kickstarts implementation of deepfake rules
The Cyberspace Administration of China has started implementing China’s new rules that prohibit the use of AI-generated content for spreading fake news or information deemed disruptive to the economy or national security – a notion which leaves wide room for interpretation.
The rules regulating deep synthesis (deepfake) technology were published in December, after being announced last August. They have now put China at the forefront of regulating deepfake content generated by AI.
// SEMICONDUCTORS //
Dell to stop using chips made in China by 2024
US computer-maker Dell is the latest company to announce it will stop using Chinese-made semiconductor chips. Although the company cited diversification plans without going into detail, it all seems to point to the US’ ongoing crackdown on China’s semiconductor sector.
All eyes are on one main event this week: The 53rd World Economic Forum’s meeting, taking place in Davos, Switzerland, themed Cooperation in a Fragmented World, and bringing together 50+ heads of state and government and around 600 business leaders and hundreds of other stakeholders.
Why it’s relevant. With the bulk of discussions from Tuesday to Thursday, expect digital policy discussions to take a place alongside conversations on the global economic recession and the spiralling climate crisis.
What to expect.You can expect some well-known policy issues to be discussed, such as, how to leverage 5G, AI, and IoT to drive sustainable transformation and economic growth; how to scale examples of data collaboration for public good internationally; how to mobilise a collective response to safeguard critical assets; and how to better collaborate to tackle disinformation and online harms and build safer digital spaces.
Expect a heavier focus on emerging technologies, with sessions on the anticipated impact of AI’s ability to create new content (think ChatGPT); on lessons learned from implementing central bank digital currencies (expect a heavy presence of central bank heads); and the launch of two publications on the metaverse – one on interoperability, and the other on the consumer-driven metaverse. We’ve grown accustomed to a blue-sky narrative at Davos, but when it comes to quantum technologies, one of the sessions will be asking how close we really are to a true quantum revolution.
Expect some familiar faces from Big Tech – the CEOs of Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Qualcomm, Paypal, and SWIFT will be there – with others notably missing (Facebook, Google, Apple…).
Expect the now-customary warnings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, plus a strong EU institutional presence, with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen attending with a handful of other commissioners, together with European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola, who will no doubt remind us of the EU single market’s 30th anniversary this year.
The year ahead (2023 – what a year!)
Crystal ball or no crystal ball, we’ve been predicting the year ahead for the past 13 years. Here’s our 14th.
1. Technologies: If previous years started with big promises from emerging tech, this year’s more sombre start will finally give existing tech the space to show its real impact beyond mere hype.
2. Digital geopolitics: Amid the relentless geopolitical tensions, there are at least three main digital policy areas where the tensions will play out more intensely: submarine cables and satellites, the production of semiconductors, and the free flow of data. In Europe, expect considerable debate on who should pay for infrastructure costs.
4. Digital cooperation: We’ll see a build-up for 2025 when the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) implementation will be revisited (including the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)) and UN cybersecurity discussions will evolve from the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) towards the Programme of Action (PoA).
5. Human rights online: The main challenge is to strengthen the application of existing human rights rules online while charting well-balanced regulations for new areas (such as regulations that encourage ethical neuroscience developments while protecting human dignity and integrity).
6. Content: In 2023, stakeholders will intensify their search for better ways to govern content. Expect countries to apply more pressure on companies through legislative reform (updating Section 230, for instance – see last week’s updates).
7. Cybersecurity: Countries worldwide, especially in Africa and Asia, are increasing their cybersecurity protection. It’s also promising to see UN negotiations on cybersecurity continuing.
8. Digital economy: With an economic recession on the way, there will be less money for the next big tech – whatever it may be. Eyes will be on digital trade, data flows, implementing the new global tax deal, and the regulation of cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency predictions painted a gloomy outlook for bitcoin this year. But the start of the year brought a rise in value. Will bitcoin defy all predictions for 2023?
9. Digital standardisation: Standards will show us that as a soft governance approach, they provide effective alternatives to the lack of multilateral policy agreements.
10. Data governance: We’re finally moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach to conversations on regulating the different types of data, including personal, corporate, public, and health data. India, Japan, and of course, the EU, will be this year’s champions at custom-fit policy.
11. AI governance: ChatGPT raised everyone’s curiosity, but we’ll need to look closer at its impact. The regulatory wave of AI assistance is rising swiftly, too.
12. The future of work: With hybrid becoming the new normal, we’ll be focusing on establishing new routines, procedures, and regulations, from office work to diplomatic negotiations.
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Stronger digital voices from Africa: Building African digital foreign policy and diplomacy
As Africa’s digital dynamism grows, its participation in global digital policy must increase. During this transition, African countries have to navigate the geopolitical realities of our times.While most African countries are in the early phase of their digital diplomacy journey, there are many practices and initiatives that could power a faster take-off of digital diplomacy in Africa. We capture these practices and initiatives in Diplo’s latest study from Africa.
What will 2023 bring for digital geopolitics, AI, data, and cryptocurrencies?
Will the ‘1998 deal’ on digital government still hold?
What digital issues will dominate the United Nations and multilateral agenda in Geneva, and beyond?
All these, and numerous other questions that will shape the digital landscape in 2023 will be discussed online on Thursday, 12 January 2023 at 13.00 UTC (14.00 CET).
Join Jovan Kurbalija and his guests and contribute to the foresight discussion!
12 digital governance and diplomacy trends of 2023
In 2023, we will revisit the “1998 deals”, which laid the foundation for current Internet/digital governance. After 25 years, we can see which governance arrangements have stood the test of time and which need to be altered to reflect the Internet’s evolution from 147 million Internet users (3.6% of the world’s population) in 1998 to 5.473 million Internet users (69% of the world’s population) in January 2023.
In the digital governance timeline, 2025 is the next important year in the digital governance timeline when the WSIS arrangement will be revisited and UN PoA in the wider context of using digital tools for the ‘mile’ for the realisation of the Agenda 2030 and 17 SDGs. An important stop on the way to 2025 will be the adoption of the Global Digital Compact during the UN Summit of the Future, to be held in 2024.
In 2023 predictions, you can read on digital geopolitics, vulnerability of submarine cables, next steps in digital cooperation, challenges for data governance, cybersecurity and much more.
2023 marks a quarter of a century since much of today’s digital governance structure was set. The ‘1998 internet governance architecture was developed in a few months: in September, Google and ICANN were established; discussions under the UN ‘information security’ track that led to UN GGE and OEWG were initiated; the WTO placed itself a player in the discussions of economic aspects related to the digital economy, notably with the adoption of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. In November, ITU Plenipotentiary conference in Minneapolis decided to host the World Summit on Information Society, initiating a process of digital policy discussions which is active today with the work of the IGF and WSIS Forum.
Currently, there is growing pressure to reform this architecture by creating mechanisms to make decisions and recommendations on digital policy issues (potentially through a strengthened IGF), by creating holistic mechanisms of global data governance, by preserving and advancing the shift towards more inclusive cybersecurity discussions, and by avoiding fragmentation trends in the digital economy, currently being brewed by disparate national laws, or by trade agreements which do not include a large number of developing countries and LDCs.
Why is it easy to predict digital governance?
The last 12 annual predictions show that digital governance has changed much slower than digital technology. With the exception of a few major policy earthquakes, such as the Snowden revelation and the digital dimensions of the Ukraine war, most other changes were rather slow and predictable.
Following 10 years of providing predictions (link), we notice that digital governance has been changing much slower than digital technology. Thus, it was rather easy to predict future developments. On the one hand, tech companies have been effectively lobbying for the status quo and as little regulation as possible. On the other hand, for a long time, governments were timid as any attempt to regulate the tech sector, including reasonable ones, was often bashed.
These two dynamics are likely to change. For tech companies, regulation can create a more predictable business environment, especially on the global level, where fragmented regulations increase compliance complexity. In parallel, governments – especially during the pandemic – have been less ‘shy’ in digital governance. As digital permeated every segment of real-world and stakes became higher, they started doing what they should: protecting the public interest and internet of citizens in the digital realm. It is happening intensively in Brussels, Beijing, Washington and many capitals worldwide. Thus, for the first time in decades, we can expect an acceleration of digital governance in 2023 and the following years.
2023 won’t start with the ‘next big thing’ in the tech sector. Last year in January, it was Web 3.0, which during the year lost momentum with the slow take-off of the metaverse and crypto crisis. Only AI kept steady momentum out of 3 leading Web 3.0 technologies.
Quantum computing, one long-term technology, will likely enter in ‘quantum winter’ with less investment enthusiasm.
As tech development slows done in 2023, it will be the right moment to discuss digital governance and our overall digital future.
2022 started with a big promise of Web 3.0, combining metaverse, blockchain, and AI in a decentralised network. Enthusiasm for a new type of web started losing momentum towards the end of the year.
Metaverseis not taking off as envisaged by Meta company, formerly Facebook, which centred its future business model around Metaverse. An initial monthly target of 500.00 active users on Horizon Worlds – Meta’s metaverse platform – was reduced to 280.000 new users. Currently, there are fewer than 200,000. Out of all socialising, play, and workspaces on Horizon, only 9% have more than 50 visitors, while some of them have never visited.
Slow take off of metaverse is a temporary slow down. Metaverse or virtual/extended/augmented reality is here to stay. In addition to Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Google are investing heavily in metaverse applications and tools. A new generation of users with gaming experience will dominate the internet population in the coming years. Thus, 2023 will be the year of background developments and regrouping ahead of future growth in this field.
Linkage: Digital identity, Metaverse standardisation
Blockchain lost momentum with a negative spillover from the recent cryptocurrency market. How the technical capabilities of blockchain technology can be abused to achieve the exact opposite of the proclaimed benefits is vividly demonstrated by the demise of FXB and the subsequent collapse of bitcoin. FXB harmed bitcoin’s credibility.
Blockchain technology’s potential for decentralisation can be easily transformed into centralised control by those who control access to blockchain platforms and systems.
Blockchain enthusiasts often list the following use cases: a supply chains, financial transactions, verifying identities, electronic medical records, conducting elections, and real estate transactions. Blockchain technology has technical promise. Whether or not these possibilities materialise in 2023 is still up in the air.
AI is gaining maturity both in the realisation of AI potentials and governance. At the end of 2022, ChatGPT attracted a lot of attention with new possibilities for generating texts and images. In this spirit, in 2023, AI will have to move towards productive use (see Gartner hype cycle). Crossing this bridge for AI will require less technology and more organisational and management changes for optimal interaction between humans and machines.
Metaverse and blockchain will lower in visibility. Quantum computing, one long-term technology, will likely enter in ‘quantum winter’ with less investment enthusiasm. As the tech sector will take one step backwards, it will be the right moment to discuss digital governance ad our overall digital future.
Quantum computing has raised a lot of interest, but all promises are far from being realised. ‘Quantum winter is coming’ according to Sabine Hossenfeider, who said: ‘This buble of inflated promises and eventually burst. It’s just a matter of time.’
2. Digital geopolitics: from submarine cables to semiconductors and free flow of data
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The underlying question is if geopolitical tensions will accelerate internet fragmentation in 2023. The China-USA digital rivalry will certainly continue. The main question is at what level of internet fragmentation will accelerate from submarine cables to tech platforms. Many countries will have to navigate the interplay between digital interdependence and sovereignty. Some new developments may strengthen internet infrastructures, such as IBSA Digital momentum and UN digital cooperation.
There are no signals of easing digital geopolitical tensions in 2023, especially between the USA and China. As the Economist argues, ‘The tech war between America and China is just getting started’. The main test in relations between the USA and China will be the status of TikTok in the USA.
In the worst scenario, these tensions could trigger the fragmentation of the internet. In the most likely scenario, it will be a series of small tensions that will deteriorate digital flows. The Ukraine war will increase divides further.
Sovereignty will remain high on the agenda in 2023, framed in different ways as digital, data, AI, or cyber sovereignty. The push for digital sovereignty will be motivated by governments’ drive to have legal jurisdiction over digital activities on their territory and to reduce negative spillovers from integrated digital networks.
However, full sovereignty will be much more difficult to achieve in the digital realm due to the internet’s networked nature and the tech companies’ power.
Approaches to digital sovereignty will vary, depending on a country’s political and legal systems. Legal approaches include national regulation and court judgements, while technical ones can vary between data filtering and total internet shutdowns.
The term sovereignty will also be used more often in the context of digital self-determination of citizens and communities, mainly related to control over data and future AI developments.
Digital interdependence will continue to be tested in 2023. It is supported by a strong drive of citizens, companies, and countries to be connected across national borders. Digital interdependence can even survive wars. During the Ukraine war, many interdependencies between the two countries were cut. However, it is still possible to exchange messages between Russia and Ukraine via the internet.
still can exchange messages via the internet. due to can be witnessed in very practical and tangible ways, from families communicating across continents via instant messaging and voice-over-IP (VOIP) services such as WhatsApp and Viber to using Amazon and Alibaba for online trade and shopping.
Protection of submarine cables, the semiconductors industry, and data flows will play an important role in digital geopolitics in 2023.
Submarine cables are the most vulnerable part of global digital infrastructure. A major disruption of internet cables, as happened in the past, could cut countries from the internet. As happened with the North Stream gas pipeline, more than XXX submarine cables on the ocean seabed can be easily disrupted. While possibilities for physical support are limited by sophisticated new generations of submarines operated by naval powers, there is surprisingly little legal protection for this critical infrastructure of modern society. Satellites, which may offer some comfort but can’t replace fibre in its role as a global backbone, have also been shown to be susceptible to geopolitics (from the hacking of ViaSat to Musk’s caprice).
Semiconductors are at the centre of the geopolitical battle between the USA and China. The process of reducing China’s access to cutting-edge microchips and technology for their production started with President Trump and continued with the Biden presidency. China will require years to grasp technology for the production of the sophisticated microprocessor of a new generation. These geopolitical tensions will have a few side impacts. First, Taiwan, with its TSMC as the main manufacturer of microchips, is in the centre of the China-US tension. Second, the USA, Europe, and India started ‘reshoring’ of semiconductors industry on their territory in order to avoid future vulnerabilities, especially in the case of the Taiwan war or economic blockade. The USA will invest 280 billion dollars in domestic research and production, both through boosting Intel’s capabilities and setting up TSMC factories; Europe’s Chips Act looks at mobilising close to 50 billion Eur in public and private investments in production, research and innovation. You can consult more on geopolitics and semiconductors.
Data flows will shape emerging geopolitics. An overall trend is that countries will try to preserve more and more data on their territory, especially critical data such as health records and digital identities of citizens. Many countries will have to strike a trade off between data sovereignty and integration in the global economy. The more data they keep nationally, the less they can benefit from the international digital economy and growth. Free flow of data will be essential for a small and export-oriented economy. Data sharing will be critical for dealing with global issues such as climate change. At the same time, locally collected and processed data can enable innovations related to AI and open data services on national or regional levels, possibly eating into the revenue cake of some big tech. Dive deeper: Data governance
Position of the main actors
In 2023, geopolitical tensions between China and the United States will continue following the trend of the previous few years. The main tensions will be on China’s access to semiconductors technology and telecommunications infrastructure for 5G, where Huwaie still has leadership but is being challenged by the open 5G architectures known as OpenRAN. A new crisis could be triggered by the status of the Tik-Tok platform, owned by a Chinese company, which gained much popularity worldwide.
The Indian presidency of the G20 presidency could mark IBSA Digital Momentum, which can spread over 3 years during subsequent G20 chairmanships. of India (2023), Brazil (2024) and South Africa (2025). India will also chair SCO Summit in 2023
Digital cooperation has a chance for a new start with negotiations of the UN Digital Compact, a new leadership of ITU, and Geneva dynamics.
Sweden and Rwanda will be an interesting bridge between global and regional negotiations. In addition to being co-facilitators of the UN GA process on Digital Compact, the two countries have a prominent regional role. Sweden will chair the Council of the EU for the year’s first half. Rwanda is involved in most digital initiatives at the African continent.
In 2023, new dynamism is expected in Africa with major digital actors strengthening or initiating new initiatives and projects.
3. Start of IBSA Digital momentum around development, democracy, diplomacy
India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) are democracies and developing economies with a vibrant digital scene. They are strong supporters of multilateral and multistakeholder approaches with many examples of inclusion in the digital governance of the tech community, academia, the private sector, civil society, local communities, and other actors. Can India, Brazil and South Africa foster new digital governance dynamism around their shared 3d priorities: development, democracy, and diplomacy?
In 2023, India will start chairing G20, followed by Brasil (2024) and South Africa (2025). The three countries – which collaborate via the IBSA Forum – are likely to play a prominent role in the process of reforming digital governance.
Three keywords – development, democracy, diplomacy – can shape IBSA Digital Momentum. India, Brazil, and South Africa are developing economies from the Global South with functional democracies and support for mulilateral diplomacy.
Development
Digitalisation is the engine of growth in IBSA economies. India is a leader with vibrant outsourcing and digital economy.
IBSA countries use digitalisation to address development problems. They have major digital divides in countries. They also embrace future issues such as daata governance
The three countries also face major societal tension exacerbated by digitalisation, including the digital divide, inequalities, and the need to have digital governance that will reflect local cultural, political and economic specificities. In IBSA countries, future digital growth will happen due to the big and young populations and economic dynamics.
On digital inclusion, three countries have been involved in ‘cable inclusion’ (technical infrastructure) towards holistic inclusion of ensuring that their societies can benefit from the Internet by making it affordable to citizens to digital skills and governance framework. For example, Aadhar is seen by many as a successful digital identity initiative, inspiring similar systems in other countries. South Africa has been a leader in the inclusion of women and youth. Brasil focuses a lot on other marginalised groups from people with disabilities to indigenous people.
On data, IBSA embraces the free flow of data as the basic principle. For India, with a strong ICT sector, it is a vital economic principle. However, all three countries argue for data sovereignty over critical data for governments and citizens. With a big population, they also see data as their national resource. It is precisely in this nexus between the free flow of data and data sovereignty that the next data governance deal will be made.
Democracy
India, Brazil, and South Africa are functional democracies with regular elections and a vibrant civil society scene. In India, civil society action with 1 million signatures preserved net neutrality and stopped Facebook’s ‘Free Basic’ project. Brazil has pioneered a unique national multistakeholder model around the Internet Governance Steering Committee (CGI.br). India hosted one of the biggest initiatives. South Africa made major successes in youth and female inclusion in digital processes on a national level.
IBSA countries also have to deal with digital aspects of societal and political problems. India had the most Internet shutdowns in 2022 according to XYZ. Brazil has witnessed major misuse of social media platforms in elections. South Africa experiences most online women violence.
South Africa has been one of the critical actors since WSIS 2005. India and Brazil hosted the Internet Governance Forum. Both countries strongly support policy inclusion of academia, civil society, business and other significant actors. Brazil hosted the 2014 NetMunidal meeting, a unique experiment in multistakeholder decision shaping. India’s civil society staged one of the most prominent citizens’ protests on net neutrality when one million citizens petitioned to stop tech companies from providing limited internet access to unserved regions.
Diplomacy
India, Brazil, and South Africa are supporters of multilateral diplomacy. They have coalition and conveying capacity as they are members of various international coalitions, processes, and organisations. They can also bring wider regional and global partnerships by involving countries sharing similar digital strengths and dilemmas. Many countries share IBSA strengths and challenges, such as Indonesia and Singapore in Asia, Mexico and Argentina in Latin America, and Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda in Africa. IBSA dynamism could resonate well with many digital priorities of EU, Switzerland, Turkey, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, which are, for example, looking to enhance digital autonomy, promote a more fair division of benefits of the data economy and encourage the creation of data infrastructures.
We are wrapping up our anniversary year, which has been full of breakthroughs and achievements. With a record number of courses and students, groundbreaking research and publications, and a new generation of AI-driven apps, we have contributed to the digital transformation of diplomacy and governance worldwide.
We celebrated our achievements with two anniversary events in Geneva and Malta.
Our Diplo Week in Geneva (7-11 November) brought together diplomats, academics, and tech professionals in a series of interactive workshops on AI, data, humanitarian diplomacy, the Geneva Digital Atlas, and African digital diplomacy.
The Summit on Digital Diplomacy and Governance in Malta (17-19 November) was a landmark event attended by 220 in situ and 290 online participants, including heads of state, ministers, diplomats, tech professionals, and students.
Thank you for being with us during this special year!
We wish you a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year!
Les développements de la politique numérique qui ont fait la une
Le paysage de la politique numérique évolue quotidiennement. Voici donc les principaux développements du mois de novembre. Vous trouverez plus de détails dans chaque mise à jour du Digital Watch observatory.
Architecture de gouvernance numérique mondiale
La déclaration des dirigeants du G20 à Bali s’est engagée à faire progresser la transformation numérique, le développement des compétences et de la culture numériques, la numérisation au service de l’économie et l’accès aux technologies numériques.
Le 17e Forum sur la gouvernance de l’Internet (FGI) s’est tenu à Addis-Abeba du 28 novembre au 2 décembre 2022. Lisez nos impressions à la page 4.
La troisième réunion du Conseil du commerce et des technologies UE–États-Unis (TTC) a abouti à un accord sur un système d’alerte précoce pour les pénuries de semi-conducteurs, ainsi qu’à un engagement de coopération sur les technologies émergentes, l’utilisation de la numérisation pour faciliter le commerce transatlantique et la promotion des compétences numériques.
Développement durable
La Chine s’est engagée à utiliser le big data, la biotechnologie et l’IA pour résoudre les problèmes environnementaux, notamment la pollution, le changement climatique et la destruction des écosystèmes.
La Maison-Blanche a accueilli le deuxième sommet de l’initiative de lutte contre les rançongiciels, au cours duquel les membres ont réaffirmé leur engagement à coopérer contre eux
Le commerce électronique et l’économie de l’internet
La Bourse cryptographique FTX s’est effondrée, affectant gravement le marché des cryptomonnaies au sens large.
Pour de nombreux passionnés de l’Internet et du numérique, le Forum annuel sur la gouvernance de l’Internet (FGI) est le point marquant de l’année. Avec un total de 5 210 participants sur place et en ligne, le FGI 2022 (qui s’est tenu à Addis-Abeba du 28 novembre au 2 décembre 2022) a effectivement été l’un des principaux événements de cette année. Mais comme les chiffres ne révèlent que la moitié de l’histoire, voici les raisons pour lesquelles nous pensons que le FGI 2022 s’est hissé au sommet de la liste.
Le Pacte était en effet le « petit nouveau », d’autant plus que les discussions du FGI y seront intégrées dans le cadre des consultations ouvertes en cours facilitées par l’Envoyé du Secrétaire général des Nations unies pour la technologie.
Dans les sujets qui ont fait écho à plusieurs reprises au cours des sessions, certaines discussions ont montré des signes forts de maturité. Les discussions sur la gouvernance des données sont passées de la notion générique de « données » aux spécificités des données personnelles, d’entreprise et publiques, et à la manière dont celles-ci nécessitent des solutions de gouvernance spécifiques.
Une connectivité significative va au-delà des câbles et des satellites, et nécessite de s’attaquer à la fracture des compétences numériques et de prendre des mesures inclusives en faveur des femmes et des filles, des personnes âgées et des personnes handicapées. La vie privée et la sécurité, souvent opposées, sont fortement considérées comme une fausse dichotomie. Nombre de ces discussions ont permis d’articuler un programme de développement florissant.
Quant aux problèmes qui rendent l’espace en ligne peu sûr, les experts ont réitéré quelques avertissements virulents : la violence sexiste est particulièrement préoccupante, certaines régions connaissant une recrudescence ; les documents relatifs aux abus sexuels sur les enfants circulant en ligne sont en progression ; la protection des droits de l’Homme se dégrade, notamment chez la jeune génération d’internautes.
Et pourtant, bien que les discussions aient été nombreuses, le FGI 2022 n’a guère apporté de solutions ni de nouvelles dynamiques – à l’exception des discussions sur la Déclaration pour le futur de l’Internet (qui a suscité une bonne part de critiques quant au manque de consultation dans la préparation de son format actuel) et des débats animés entre les parlementaires au cours de leur session dédiée.
La procédure
En ce qui concerne les procédures, le développement le plus remarquable a été la participation active des membres du Parlement. C’est un résultat direct de la sensibilisation du FGI, qui visait à engager plus efficacement les parlementaires dans les procédures et les discussions du FGI.
En conséquence, cette trajectoire est allée de mieux en mieux depuis sa première tentative majeure en 2019, avec des parlementaires de pays en développement contribuant de manière assez significative cette année.
Trois appels forts ont été lancés tout au long des discussions.
Les parlements devraient contribuer à renforcer les dialogues nationaux multipartites sur les questions relatives à l’Internet et aux politiques numériques, et à faire en sorte que les intérêts et les priorités nationaux soient pris en compte dans les procédures internationales.
Des efforts supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour renforcer la capacité des parlementaires à travailler sur les questions de politique numérique, notamment par la formation et le renforcement des compétences. Cela contribuera à garantir le fait qu’ils s’engagent dans des débats pertinents avant d’adopter des lois affectant l’espace numérique.
Les parlements devraient avoir leur propre siège à la table des négociations dans les procédures régionales et mondiales traitant des questions numériques.
Parmi les autres sujets abordés lors du FGI 2022, citons ceux consacrés aux dirigeants de haut niveau, aux jeunes et aux travaux intersessions.
Le format
Organisé à Addis-Abeba et en ligne, le FGI 2022 a bénéficié du dynamisme de la communauté numérique africaine. L’événement a accueilli 5 210 participants sur place et en ligne, assistant à plus de 300 sessions.
Le format hybride arrive à maturité au FGI, s’appuyant sur la longue tradition de participation à distance du forum depuis le FGI 2007 au Brésil, avec une forte impulsion du groupe de travail sur la participation à distance de Diplo. Le FGI peut devenir un laboratoire de rencontres hybrides s’il s’attaque à certains problèmes relativement connus. Il s’agit notamment de réduire l’occurrence des problèmes techniques, de permettre une navigation plus directe et plus conviviale sur le site du forum, et d’offrir une formation plus poussée aux techniques de réunion hybride pour les modérateurs de session.
Testez vos connaissances sur tout ce qui concerne le FGI.Campaigns 71
Pour la 8e année consécutive, la veille numérique du Digital Watch de la Geneva Internet Platform a fourni un rapport en temps réel du FGI 2022.
Vous pouvez ensuite naviguer vers le deuxième niveau, composé des résumés de sessions et d’analyses de données du texte du corpus du FGI 2022.
Le troisième niveau contient des informations détaillées sur des sujets allant de l’IA à la cybersécurité, ainsi que sur les principaux acteurs de l’ONU, du secteur privé, du monde universitaire et de la société civile. Ce rapport holistique vous offre une couverture complète des principaux sujets, acteurs et tendances au-delà du FGI 2022 en tant qu’événement unique.
Rapport spécial
La diplomatie du tout numérique
Le sommet de novembre sur la diplomatie et la gouvernance numériques a fait le point sur les récents développements en matière de gouvernance numérique et a réfléchi à la manière dont nous devrions naviguer dans notre avenir numérique. Bien que le monde numérique évolue à une vitesse incroyable, une grande partie de ce qui a été discuté restera significatif pendant longtemps. Voici quelques-unes des principales conclusions du sommet.
Le numérique est partout
Ce qui était autrefois une discussion sur l’Internet et la technologie qui le supporte s’est étendu à presque toutes les facettes de la vie quotidienne. Il ne s’agit plus seulement de câbles. L’Internet a un impact sur nos vies sociales, notre santé, nos économies et l’environnement. Les avantages de la technologie numérique sont indiscutables et omniprésents. Facebook, Twitter et TikTok possèdent nos âmes.
Mais comme d’autres biens communs mondiaux, le bien commun numérique est la proie de la tragédie des biens communs. L’espace en ligne est truffé d’abus, de risques, de problèmes de sécurité, de violations de données et de cyber-armes. Les coûts peuvent rapidement dépasser les avantages.
L’initiative du Pacte numérique mondial du Secrétaire général des Nations unies, qui prévoit une consultation ouverte pendant le sommet, définira des principes communs pour un avenir numérique ouvert, libre et sûr pour tous.
Entrez dans la politique étrangère numérique
Dès les premiers jours de la disponibilité de l’Internet, il était clair que la diplomatie serait fortement influencée par cette avancée dans le domaine des communications. Internet et la technologie allaient introduire de nouveaux sujets dans les agendas diplomatiques ; ils allaient façonner l’environnement dans lequel la diplomatie est menée ; et ils allaient changer la manière même dont la diplomatie est pratiquée. (Cette approche en trois volets résume l’approche de Diplo en matière de diplomatie numérique et a constitué le cadre sous-jacent des discussions thématiques du sommet.)
Le numérique a également fait son entrée dans la politique étrangère – dans certains cas, par le biais d’une politique étrangère numérique spécifique.
Un rôle essentiel pour les diplomates numériques
En tant qu’acteurs clés, les gouvernements doivent agir avec confiance en protégeant les intérêts de leurs citoyens, de leurs communautés et de leurs entreprises dans le domaine numérique, et agir avec prudence en utilisant leur pouvoir pour contrôler le domaine numérique. Les diplomates, et en particulier les diplomates numériques – une nouvelle catégorie de fonctionnaires diplomatiques – peuvent aider à atteindre cet équilibre délicat.
Les diplomates devront donc acquérir de nouvelles compétences en matière de gouvernance numérique : une compréhension de la nouvelle géopolitique et du nouveau paysage géoéconomique, une connaissance de la technologie qui alimente ces développements, et les compétences pour s’engager avec d’autres acteurs, y compris les entreprises technologiques, le monde universitaire et la société civile.
Des voix plus fortes sont nécessaires
Les voix des petits pays et des pays en développement sont assez faibles dans les négociations numériques, d’autant plus que le reste du monde prend le train en marche de l’IA et d’autres technologies de pointe. Cela peut changer grâce à un renforcement durable des capacités institutionnelles ainsi qu’à l’acquisition des compétences numériques spécifiques nécessaires pour surmonter les limitations financières et institutionnelles afin de participer activement aux négociations mondiales.
Le Premier ministre maltais s’adresse aux participants du sommet de Malte.
Le sommet a été organisé par Diplo, opérateur de la Geneva Internet Platform, en coopération avec ses partenaires fondateurs, les gouvernements de Malte et de la Suisse.
L’OIF mobilise l’espace francophone lors du 17ème Forum sur la gouvernance de l’Internet à Addis Abeba (28 nov. – 2 dec 2022)
Rendez-vous annuel des Nations unies, le Forum sur la Gouvernance de l’Internet (FGI) joue un rôle essentiel dans l’élaboration des décisions qui façonnent l’Internet. La 17ème édition se tient du 28 novembre au 2 décembre 2022 à Addis Abeba en Ethiopie autour du thème « un internet résilient pour un avenir commun et durable partagé ».
L’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie s’est pleinement engagée dans ce forum mondial par différentes actions. Tout d’abord, en amont du FGI, en organisant une formation « Introduction aux enjeux et défis de la Gouvernance de l’Internet » en lien avec l’ISOC (Internet Society). Celle-ci avait pour objectif de sensibiliser et préparer les décideurs politiques et diplomates des Etats membres de la Francophonie à ces enjeux en leur donnant des éléments de base sur la gouvernance de l’Internet. La formation s’est tenue en ligne le 22 novembre 2022. Une soixantaine de haut-cadre issus de nombreux pays y ont participé.
Par la suite, la Direction de la Francophonie Economique et Numérique (DFEN) et la Représentation de l’OIF auprès de l’Union Africaine et de la Commission économique des Nations unies pour l’Afrique (RPUA), ont organisé une table-ronde pendant le Forum de la Gouvernance de l’Internet. Cet événement a eu lieu le 28 novembre sur le thème « les défis de la gouvernance de l’Internet dans l’espace francophone », et a regroupé une quarantaine de délégués des Etats membres de la Francophonie, et des Représentants du Groupe des Ambassadeurs francophones d’Addis-Abeba, qui ont pu échanger autour de ces enjeux.
Après une introduction de Madame Zahra Kamil, la Représentante sortante de l’OIF auprès de l’Union Africaine et de la Commission économique des Nations unies pour l’Afrique, Monsieur Henri Monceau, Directeur de la Francophonie Economique et numérique a présenté l’action de l’OIF dans le domaine de la gouvernance du numérique, a partagé les recommandations du Sommet de Djerba et ainsi réaffirmé la volonté des Etats membres de promouvoir un espace numérique inclusif et responsable, ainsi qu’un Internet, ouvert, sûr et interopérable. Monsieur Jovan Kurbalija, Directeur de la DiploFoundation et de la Geneva Internet Platform a quant à lui exposé les nombreux défis du continent africain dont fait état sa dernière publication : «Des voix africaines plus fortes dans le numérique : construire une politique étrangère et une diplomatie africaines du numérique ». Enfin, Monsieur Bernard Laurendeau, Associé Directeur chez Laurendeau et Associés, a fait part de l’expérience africaine sur l’accès à l’Internet, son ouverture et son contenu. Des échanges nombreux et fructueux avec les participants ont alimenté cette table ronde pendant plus de deux heures.
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Le numérique à l’honneur au XVIIIe Sommet des Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement membres de la Francophonie (19–20 novembre 2022, Djerba)
Le XVIIIe Sommet de la Francophonie s’est déroulé les 19 et 20 novembre 2022 à Djerba sur le thème « La Connectivité dans la diversité : le numérique vecteur de développement et de solidarité dans l’espace francophone ». Pendant ces deux jours, les Chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement francophones se sont réunis dans un format inédit et ont débattu des priorités de la Francophonie notamment sur la question du numérique : des tables rondes ont ainsi été organisées pour qu’ils réfléchissent autour de ce thème et élaborent des recommandations. A l’issue des travaux, la « Déclaration de Djerba » reflète les échanges et les engagements des Etats et gouvernements de l’OIF sur les grands enjeux mondiaux, dont ceux sur le numérique (plus particulièrement dans les articles 15 à 37). Ils y réaffirment notamment leur volonté d’intensifier la collaboration multilatérale et multi-acteurs visant à promouvoir un espace numérique inclusif et responsable, ainsi qu’un Internet, ouvert, sûr et interopérable.
Crédits photographiques : site internet du Sommet de la Francophonie www.francophoniedjerba2022.tn
Plusieurs textes ont également été adoptés lors de ce Sommet et engagent la Francophonie à l’horizon 2030, comme par exemple le « Cadre stratégique 2023-2030 », qui fixe de nouveaux objectifs stratégiques pour une coopération multilatérale francophone toujours plus pertinente et la « Déclaration sur la langue française dans la diversité linguistique de la Francophonie », dans laquelle les signataires s’engagent à promouvoir davantage l’usage du français dans l’espace francophone et au-delà.
En marge des rencontres des instances, le Village de la Francophonie a accueilli à Djerba des milliers de visiteurs dans les différents stands des pays francophones. Au sein du Pavillon de la Francophonie, l’OIF a proposé aux visiteurs sur place, et en direct sur ses réseaux sociaux, de nombreux contenus autour de la coopération francophone, notamment dans le domaine du numérique. Ainsi les parcours inspirants de jeunes francophones dans le cadre du projet « D-CLIC : Formez-vous au numérique ! » ont été présentés, une table ronde a été organisée autour de la thématique « La gouvernance du numérique : Afrique, continent numérique ».
Enfin, lors du Sommet, Madame Louise Mushikiwabo a été officiellement reconduite par les 88 Etats membres de l’OIF à son poste de secrétaire générale, pour un mandat de 4 ans et la France a été désignée pour accueillir le XIXe Sommet de la Francophonie en 2024.
Atelier conjoint entre les réseaux des régulateurs des médias (REFRAM) et des télécommunications (FRATEL) lors du Forum international des régulateurs de l’International
Le Forum international des régulateurs de l’International institute of communications (ICC) s’est tenu à Ottawa (Canada) les 1er et 2 novembre 2022. En marge de ce forum, le Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) organisait un atelier réunissant des représentants des réseaux francophones des régulateurs de médias (REFRAM) et des régulateurs des télécommunications (FRATEL) dont il fait partie.
Les interventions se sont concentrées sur l’adaptation des régulateurs face aux innovations des technologies de l’information et de la communication qui génèrent toujours plus de données dont l’exploitation peut s’avérer difficile au regard des moyens dont disposent les autorités de régulation nationales. En effet, les intervenants ont échangé dans un premier temps sur les défis et opportunités que représentent la collecte des données, l’analyse et le traitement des informations relatives aux marchés. Dans un second temps, la question des compétences et des capacités des régulateurs à traiter des données en masse a été abordée. Enfin, le sujet de la collaboration avec de nouveaux acteurs et entre régulateurs a clos les interventions. Dans une seconde partie, l’atelier a permis de nombreux échanges entre les intervenants et les représentants des régulateurs membres de l’IIC issus de tous les continents.
Crédits photographiques : brève du REFRAM sur le Forum international des régulateurs www.refram.org
Le FRATEL tient sa 20e réunion annuelle sur le thème de la résilience et la sécurité des réseaux de télécommunications
La 20e réunion annuelle du réseau s’est tenue les 10 et 11 novembre à Balaclava, en République de Maurice, et en ligne. Elle a permis aux membres du réseau d’échanger sur le thème « Enjeux et moyens d’améliorer la résilience et la sécurité des réseaux de télécommunications ». Près de 110 participants représentant 26 autorités de régulation, membres de FRATEL, des institutions internationales (UIT, Internet Society), des administrations, des universitaires et des acteurs du secteur ont assisté, soit en présentiel, soit en virtuel, à la réunion.
Cette thématique de la résilience et sécurité des réseaux a été déclinée en trois tables rondes : la première a abordé les mesures et technologies qui ont permis, lors d’évènements tels que la pandémie de Covid-19, de réduire les risques de congestion des réseaux ; la deuxième table ronde a été consacrée à l’amélioration de la résilience des réseaux, notamment au regard des enjeux climatiques ; enfin la troisième a traité des moyens pour assurer l’intégrité et la confidentialité des réseaux et services.
Crédits photographiques : brève du Fratel sur la Réunion annuelle du Fratel www.fratel.org
Au cours de la réunion annuelle, s’est déroulée l’élection du nouveau comité de coordination. C’est l’Agence nationale de régulation des télécommunications (ANRT) du Maroc qui prend la présidence du comité de coordination en 2023.
L’OIF organise à Genève un atelier de renforcement des capacités des experts numériques
Dans le cadre des travaux de la Coordination numérique du Groupe des Ambassadeurs francophones (GAF) de Genève, l’OIF, à travers sa représentation auprès des Nations unies (RPGV), a organisé, le 7 novembre 2022, un atelier de renforcement des capacités en faveur des experts des missions diplomatiques francophones.
Un expert rwandais a partagé les bonnes pratiques de son Etat membre en matière de numérisation des services publics. Deux experts bulgares ont quant à eux présenté les expériences de leur pays en matière de protection des droits des enfants dans l’environnement numérique. Par ailleurs, la Délégation de l’Union européenne à Genève a fait part des opportunités de coopération que cette Organisation pourrait déployer, à leur demande, pour soutenir de tels projets dans les Etats francophones.
Enfin, la DiploFoundation, partenaire de l’OIF, a saisi cette occasion pour porter à l’attention des diplomates francophones, le cours de formation en ligne qu’elle développe en français sur la gouvernance de l’Internet, en collaboration et avec le soutien de l’Organisation.
L’OIF contribue au cadre modèle de régulation pour les plateformes numériques de l’UNESCO
La Conférence mondiale de l’UNESCO « Pour un internet de confiance – Réguler les plateformes numériques pour l’information comme bien public » aura lieu du 21 au 23 février 2023 à Paris. L’OIF a été sollicitée par l’UNESCO pour contribuer au cadre modèle de régulation pour les plateformes numériques et sera présente lors de cet important événement sur la régulation du contenu de l’Internet en faveur de la protection des droits de l’Homme et de la liberté d’expression.
Événements à venir :
Formation conjointe des négociateurs climatiques, commerciaux et numériques des PMA de l’espace francophone (29 novembre-1er décembre 2022, en hybride)
Rencontre annuelle de l’alliance multipartite de l’UIT « Partner2Connect » (8 décembre 2022, Genève, Suisse)
Contribution de l’OIF au cadre modèle de régulation pour les plateformes numériques dans le cadre de la Conférence mondiale de l’UNESCO : Pour un internet de confiance – Réguler les plateformes numériques pour l’information comme bien public (21 et 23 février 2023, Paris)
GENÈVE
Mises à jour des politiques de la Genève internationale
De nombreuses discussions politiques ont lieu chaque mois à Genève. Les mises à jour suivantes couvrent les principaux événements du mois de novembre. Pour les rapports d’événements, visitez la section Événements passés sur le GIP Digital Watch Observatory.
La Semaine de la paix de Genève 2022 (GPW), intitulée « La paix est possible », s’est déroulée à la Maison de la Paix durant la première semaine de novembre. En tant qu’événement phare annuel de la Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, la GPW mène des discussions sur les tendances au sein de la communauté internationale de consolidation de la paix à Genève et de leurs partenaires à l’étranger afin de promouvoir le partage des connaissances et des meilleures pratiques. L’édition 2022 proposait quatre thèmes principaux pour guider les conversations, dont l’un portait sur la paix numérique. Des nouveaux défis que l’émergence des plateformes de médias sociaux pose dans le domaine de la médiation aux divers outils numériques qui pourraient être utilisés pour surveiller, contrôler et prédire les comportements des civils en période de turbulence, les décideurs politiques et les praticiens de la paix se sont réunis pour partager les leçons apprises sur le terrain et discuter des propositions pour aller de l’avant. Retrouvez la couverture multimédia de l’événement par les Séries Digitales.
Le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) a lancé son rapport intitulé Digitalising the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal Emblems: Benefits, Risks and Possible Solutions. L’emblème du CICR est traditionnellement utilisé lors d’un conflit pour signifier que la personne ou l’objet portant cet emblème relève des opérations humanitaires et ne doit pas être pris pour cible. Le concept de développement d’un « emblème numérique », qui empêcherait les infrastructures ou outils numériques utilisés par les organisations humanitaires et les installations médicales d’être la cible de cyberopérations malveillantes, est particulièrement pertinent dans le contexte de la guerre hybride. Regardez l’événement de présentation et les discussions d’experts ici.
Ce qu’il faut surveiller :événements mondiaux sur la politique numérique en décembre
8 décembre, Réunion annuelle de Partner2Connect (Genève, Suisse) La coalition numérique Partner2Connect (P2C) est une alliance multipartite visant à mobiliser des ressources, des partenariats et des engagements pour parvenir à une connectivité universelle et significative. Après sa formation en 2021 par l’UIT, le projet de feuille de route numérique du Secrétaire général des Nations unies et de l’Envoyé pour la technologie, la coalition a franchi des étapes importantes en 2022. La réunion annuelle, qui aura lieu au siège de l’UIT à Genève, permettra de discuter des succès et des défis de la coalition jusqu’à présent, ainsi que des plans pour connecter les non-connectés à travers le monde.
16 décembre, Conférence internationale sur la géopolitique du trafic et des infrastructures de l’Internet (Paris, France) La conférence internationale « The Journey, not the Destination, Matters: The Geopolitics of Internet Routes » se tiendra à Paris, en France, le 16 décembre. Faisant référence aux événements mondiaux de l’année, notamment la guerre en Ukraine et la menace de fragmentation de l’Internet, la conférence abordera les défis géopolitiques de l’infrastructure et du trafic Internet critique. Outre les défis passés et présents, les experts envisageront l’avenir de l’Internet et s’interrogeront sur les différentes possibilités de son évolution sous les prismes de l’architecture et de la gouvernance.
17-20 décembre, 2022 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Osaka, Japon) La conférence se tiendra du 17 au 20 décembre à Osaka, au Japon, et portera sur des sujets tels que la cybersécurité, l’analyse du big data pour les crises humanitaires, les données relatives aux soins de santé, les données spatiales, l’intelligence artificielle et l’éthique, les méthodes de recherche et d’exploitation du big data, et bien davantage.
15-18 janvier, PTC ‘23 (Honolulu, Hawaï) La conférence annuelle du Conseil des télécommunications du Pacifique (CTP) se tiendra du 15 au 18 janvier 2023 à Honolulu, à Hawaï. La communauté des télécommunications du Pacifique aura l’occasion d’interagir par le biais de groupes de discussion et d’exposés, mais aussi dans le cadre d’un format inédit – le Digital Infra Speed Dating – destiné aux détenteurs émergents de fibre optique, de centres de données, d’informatique périphérique ou d’actifs immobiliers de tours cellulaires, afin qu’ils puissent se présenter aux investisseurs institutionnels et aux sociétés de capital-investissement. Parmi les sujets abordés lors de l’événement figurent la réglementation, la politique et l’éthique, les technologies de pointe et le développement dans la région du Pacifique.
16-20 janvier,Réunion annuelle du FME 2023 (Davos, Suisse) La réunion annuelle du Forum économique mondial 2023 se tiendra sous le thème « Coopération dans un monde fragmenté » du 16 au 20 janvier. La 53e réunion annuelle revient à Davos, en Suisse, après avoir accueilli sa précédente édition en ligne. Chefs d’État et de gouvernement, chefs d’entreprise, organisations internationales et société civile se réuniront pour réaffirmer les valeurs du FME ainsi que l’impératif de dialogue et de coopération public-privé.
