Global coalition of tech, business groups offer recommendations for G7 to stimulate digital innovation

A global coalition of 17 tech and business groups called upon the G7 leaders to leverage free data flows among other substantial digital priorities, promote the digital economy, and address climate change to accelerate the global recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The coalition issued 2021 Recommendations for G7 Leaders to Stimulate Innovation in the Digital Economy ahead of the G7 Digital and Technology Ministerial on April 28-29 2021. It further urged G7 leaders to enable data flows, remove localisation barriers, facilitate trade, reach a long-term solution to digitalising economy taxation, promote trust and safe internet, ensure security in networks, and commit to common best practices. According to the coalition, ‘industry supports efforts to expand access to and accelerate the adoption of technologies to fully realise the benefits of a global digital economy as well as free and open internet, recognising the role digital technology can play in expanding economic inclusiveness and improving overall human well-being. G7 Members should continue to encourage open markets that drive groundbreaking innovations and creative solutions, including those that directly contribute to the economic and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.’