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TOPIC: INTERNET GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL POLICY
Internet governance, also referred to as digital policy, deals with the policy
issues associated with digital technology.
Diplo has been providing capacity development support for many years. This
includes online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion, and
community support. Since many small and developing countries have limited
resources and institutional capacity in this sector, Diplo provides special
assistance to practitioners from these countries.
What is internet governance?
Internet governance refers to the shared principles, norms, rules,
decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of
the Internet. Governments, the private sector, and civil society each contribute
to developing these principles, rules, and processes, in their respective roles.
(WGIG, 2015)
Although internet governance deals with the core of the digital world, the
digital-binary logic of true and false, or good and bad, is inadequate when
talking about technology. Instead, there are many subtleties and shades of
meaning and perception. In order to shape and engage in internet governance,
practitioners require an analogue approach. Such approach needs to cover a
continuum of options and compromises.
The book An Introduction to Internet Governance (7th ed.), by Dr Jovan
Kurbalija, needs no introduction. In fact, today it is one of the most
widely-used books by digital policy professionals and across universities. It
has also been translated into 10 languages.
The book provides a comprehensive overview of the main issues and actors in the
field through a practical framework for analysis, discussion, and resolution of
significant issues.
Download the latest edition, or any of the translated versions.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: WHO
Established: 1948
Address: Av. Appia 20 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Website: https://www.who.int/en/
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
WHO is a specialized agency of the UN whose role is to direct and coordinate2
international health within the UN system. As a member state organization, its
main areas of work include health systems, the promotion of health,
non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases, corporate services,
preparedness, and surveillance and response.
WHO assists countries in coordinating multi-sectoral efforts by governments and
partners (including bi- and multilateral meetings, funds and foundations, civil
society organizations, and the private sector) to attain their health objectives
and support their national health policies and strategies.
DATA AND DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
WHO is harnessing the power of digital technologies and health innovation to
accelerate global attainment of health and well-being. It uses digital
technology intensively in its development of activities, ranging from building
public health infrastructure in developing countries and immunization to dealing
with disease outbreaks.
WHO has strengthened its approach to data by ensuring this strategic asset has
two divisions: (1) the Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact. This
has helped strengthen data governance by promoting sound data principles and
accountability mechanisms, as well as ensuring that the necessary policies and
tools are in place that can be used by all three levels of the organization and
can be adopted by member states. Digital health and innovation are high on WHO’s
agenda; it is recognized for its role in strengthening health systems through
the application of digital health technologies for consumers/ people and
healthcare providers as part of achieving its vision of health for all. (2) WHO
also established the new Department of Digital Health and Innovation in 2019
within its Science Division. Particular attention is paid to promoting global
collaboration and advancing the transfer of knowledge on digital health;
advancing the implementation of national digital health strategies;
strengthening the governance for digital health at the global, regional, and
national levels; and advocating for people-centred health systems enabled by
digital health. These strategic objectives have been developed in consultation
with member states throughout 2019 and 2020 and will be submitted for adoption
to the upcoming 2021 World Health Assembly.
The Division of Data Analytics and Delivery for Impact and the Department of
Digital Health and Innovation work closely together to strengthen links between
data and digital issues, as well as data governance efforts. Digital health
technologies, standards, and protocols enable health systems to integrate the
exchange of health data within the health system. Coupled with data governance,
ethics, and public health data standards, digital health and innovation enable
the generation of new evidence and knowledge through research and innovation and
inform health policy through public health analysis.
More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated WHO’s digital response,
collaboration, and innovation in emergencies. Some examples include
collaborating to use artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in analyzing
and delivering information in response to the COVID-19 ‘infodemic’ (i.e.
overflow of information, including misinformation, in an acute health event,
which prevents people from accessing reliable information about how to protect
themselves); promoting cybersecurity in the health system, including hospitals
and health facilities; learning from using AI, data science, digital health, and
innovation in social science research, disease modelling, and simulations, as
well as supporting the epidemiological response to the pandemic; and producing
vaccines and preparing for the equitable allocation and distribution of
vaccines.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
WHO is a leader among Geneva-based international organizations in the use of
social media, through its awareness-raising of health-related issues. It was
awarded first prize at the Geneva Engage Awards in 2016, and second prize in
2017.
The WHO/International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Focus Group on Artificial
Intelligence for Health (WHO/ITU FG-AI4H) works to establish a standardized
assessment framework for the evaluation of AI-based methods for health,
diagnosis, triage, or treatment decisions.
DATA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The response to COVID-19 reinforced the centrality of data and AI for the health
sector and WHO’s activities. Data and AI policies are covered by the following
instruments:
* Data policy: Guideline on data integrity
* Data standardization: Resolution WHA66.24: eHealth Standardization and
Interoperability (May 2013)
* Data sharing during health emergencies: Policy Statement on Data Sharing by
WHO in the Context of Public Health Emergencies (as of 13 April 2013) (May
2016) | Best Practices for Sharing Information through Data Platforms:
Establishing the Principles (April 2016)
* Data and member states: Text for Inclusion in Data Collection Forms in all
Data Collection Tools (Paper-based, Electronic, or Other) used by WHO to
Collect data from Member States
* Data sharing: FAQs on WHO Data Sharing Policy in Non-Emergency Contexts |
Policy on the Use and Sharing of Data Collected in Member States by WHO
Outside the Context of Public Health Emergencies (August 2017) | WHO
Statement on Public Disclosure of Clinical Trial Results (April 2015).
DIGITAL STANDARDS
* Integration of Health Information Exchange (HIE): WHO collaborates with
health information exchange standardisation bodies and organisations, such as
HIE and Health Level Seven International (HL7®), to promote sustainable
investment in interoperable digital health technologies and systems. Digital
health technologies, standards, and protocols enable health systems to
integrate the exchange of health data within the health system. Coupled with
data governance, ethics, and public health data standards, digital health and
innovation enable the generation of new evidence and knowledge through
research and innovation and inform health policy through public health
analysis. Promoting Better Integration of Health Information Systems: Best
Practices and Challenges (2015).
* SMART Guidelines – Digital Adaptation Kits: Implementation Research and
Technical Support: Digital adaptation kits (DAKs) are software-neutral,
operational, and structured documentation based on WHO clinical, health
system, and data use recommendations to systematically inform the design of
digital systems. DAKs include the package of business process workflows, core
data needs, decision support algorithms, linkages to indicators, and
functional requirements for a health domain area, which can then be
incorporated more easily in a digital system. In creating these operational
tools derived from WHO guidelines, DAKs provide a unique way to reinforce
recommendations and ensure adherence to clinical guidelines and standards
within digital systems for improved service delivery.
* WHO Guideline: Recommendations on Digital Interventions for Health System
Strengthening: Recommendations based on a critical evaluation of the evidence
on emerging digital health interventions that are contributing to health
system improvements, based on an assessment of the benefits, harms,
acceptability, feasibility, resource use, and equity considerations.
* Classification of Digital Health Interventions v2.0 – A Shared Language to
Describe the Uses of Digital Technology for Health: The classification of
digital health interventions categorises the different ways in which digital
and mobile technologies are being used to support health system needs. A
shared and standardised vocabulary was recognised as necessary to identify
gaps and duplication, evaluate effectiveness, and facilitate alignment across
different digital health implementations.
* Electromagnetic Field and Health Protection: As the digital reality moves
from ‘cable’ to wireless traffic (Wi-Fi and mobile), a growing number of
concerns are emerging on the impact of electromagnetic fields on human
health. This technology has become part of the wider public debate and has
given rise to conspiracy theories such as those that claim 5G spreads
COVID-19. These concerns increase the importance of WHO’s research and
policymaking within a broader evidence-based discussion on the impact of
Wi-Fi and mobile devices on health. Model Legislation for Electromagnetic
Field Protection (2006); Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’
(IEEE) Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio
Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
Online gaming: Since 2018, gaming disorder has been included in WHO’s
International Classification of Diseases (ICD). While the negative impacts of
online gaming on health are being increasingly addressed by national health
policies, it has been recognized by some authorities, such as the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), that some game-based devices could have a therapeutic
effect. Given the fast growth of online gaming and its benefits and
disadvantages, the implications on health are expected to become more relevant.
The health top-level domain name: Health-related generic top-level domain (gTLD)
names, in all languages, including ‘.health’, ‘.doctor’, and ‘.surgery’, should
be operated in a way that protects public health and includes the prevention of
further development of illicit markets of medicines, medical devices, and
unauthorized health products and services. Resolution WHA66.24: eHealth
Standardization and Interoperability (2013).
NET NEUTRALITY
The issue of net neutrality (the equal treatment of internet traffic) could
affect bandwidth and the stability of digital connections, especially for
high-risk activities such as online surgical interventions. Thus, health
organizations may be granted exceptional provisions, as the EU has already done,
where health and specialized services enjoy exceptions regarding the principle
of net neutrality. Resolution WHA66.24: eHealth Standardization and
Interoperability (2013).
WHO has dedicated cybersecurity focal points, who work with legal and licensing
colleagues to provide frameworks for the organization to not only protect WHO
data from various cyber-risks, but also provide technical advice to WHO and
member states on the secure collection, storage, and dissemination of data.
Health facilities and health data have always been the target of cybercriminals;
however, the COVID-19 crisis has brought into sharp focus the cybersecurity
aspects of digital health.
Ransomware attacks threaten the proper functioning of hospitals and other
healthcare providers. The global Wannacry ransomware attack in May 2017 was the
first major attack on hospitals and disrupted a significant part of the UK’s
National Health System (NHS). Ransomware attacks on hospitals and health
research facilities accelerated during the COVID-19 crisis.
Considering that data is often the main target of cyberattacks, it should come
as no surprise that most cybersecurity concerns regarding healthcare are centred
on the protection of data. Encryption is thus crucial for the safety of health
data: It both protects data from prying eyes and helps assuage the fears
patients and consumers may have about sharing or storing sensitive information
through the internet.
DATA GOVERNANCE
The 2021 Health Data Governance Summit brought together experts to review best
practices in data governance, sharing, and use. The result was a call to action
to tackle the legal and ethical challenges of sharing data, ensure data is
shared during both emergency and non-emergency situations, and encourage data
and research stewardship that promotes tangible impact. Key WHO resources
include WHO’s Data Sharing Policies, the UN Joint Statement on Data Protection
and Privacy in the COVID-19 Response, and GATHER (Guidelines for Accurate and
Transparent Health Estimates Reporting).
WHO’s SCORE technical package (Survey, Count, Optimize, Review, and Enable)
identifies data gaps and provides countries with tools to precisely address
them. SCORE has been developed in partnership with the Bloomberg Data for Health
Initiative. As part of SCORE, WHO completed the first ever global assessment of
health information systems capacity in 133 countries, covering 87% of the
world’s population.
The project Strengthening National Nutrition Information Systems1 is running in
five countries in Africa and Asia – Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Laos, Uganda, and
Zambia – for a period of four years (2020–2024). Demographic and Health Surveys
(DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and national nutrition surveys
are the major sources of nutrition data for many countries, but they are complex
and expensive undertakings that cannot be implemented with the required
frequency. It is, therefore, critical to strengthen or establish integrated
nutrition information systems (NIS) of countries to enhance the availability and
use of routine nutrition data to better support policy development, programme
design and monitoring.
* Data and digital health in the WHO European Region in 2022: a year in review
* How can digital technologies be used to enhance health financing? Claims
management in Estonia
* Digital Health in the European Region: the ongoing journey to commitment and
transformation
DATA-DRIVEN DELIVERY APPROACH
A data-driven delivery approach sharpens WHO’s focus to address gaps, close
inequalities, and accelerate progress towards national and regional priorities
from WHO regions. The WHO Regional Office for the Americas is working to create
open data platforms for evidence-based decisions and policymaking. The Core
Indicators Portal provides a dataset of around 200 health indicators for 49
countries across the region from 1995 to 2021. The WHO Regional Office for the
Eastern Mediterranean is conducting harmonized health facility assessments and
tracking 75 indicators through the Regional Health Observatory (RHO). The WHO
Regional Office for Africa has prioritized investments in civil registration and
vital statistics (CRVS) and digital health. Its integrated African Health
Observatory (iAHO) offers high-quality national and regional health data on a
single platform and District Health Information Software (DHIS2) is now
implemented in all but four African countries. The WHO Regional Office for
South-East Asia is focused on promoting health equity through workshops that
introduce member states to WHO’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT).
High-quality data on health indicators is available on the Health Information
Platform (HIP). The WHO Regional Office for Europe is prioritizing support for
countries’ national health information systems (HIS) through more robust data
governance frameworks. Member states also have access to the European Health
Information Gateway, a one-stop shop for health information and data
visualization. The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has released a
progress report on each member state’s journey to achieving universal health
coverage (UHC). Additionally, the Western Pacific Health Data Platform provides
a single destination where countries can easily monitor and compare their
progress towards national and global health objectives.
ACCESS
WHO is working with Facebook and Praekelt.Org to provide WHO’s COVID-19
information to the world’s most vulnerable people through Discover and Free
Basics in a mobile-friendly format. Though over 85% of the world’s population
lives in areas with existing cellular coverage, many people can’t afford to
purchase mobile data consistently and others have not yet adopted the internet.
This initiative enables underserved communities to access life-saving COVID-19
health information through participating operators in more than 55 countries.
Strengthening Health Information Systems for Refugee- and Migrant-Sensitive
Healthcare: Health information and research findings can provide a platform for
understanding and responding to the health needs of refugees and migrants and
for aligning the efforts of other sectors and sources of international
assistance. However, the systematic national data and evidence comparable across
countries and over time available for policy- and decision-making on health of
refugees and migrants from around the world are inadequate. The WHO Health and
Migratio
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3): To achieve a healthier population,
improvements have been made in access to clean fuels, safe water, sanitation
(WASH), and tobacco control. Greater focus is being placed on leading indicators
for premature mortality and morbidity, such as tobacco, air pollution, road
injuries, and obesity. Due to COVID-19, 94% of countries experienced disruption
to essential health services. while 92 countries experienced little change or
worsening trends in financial protection– exacerbated by the continuing
pandemic. Emphasis on primary health care is essential to equitable recovery.
Climate change (SDG 13): The 10 recommendations in the COP26 Special Report on
Climate Change and Health propose a set of priority actions from the global
health community to governments and policymakers, calling on them to act with
urgency on the current climate and health crises. The 2021 Global Conference on
Health & Climate Change, with a special focus on Climate Justice and the Healthy
and Green Recovery from COVID-19, convened on the margins of the COP26 UN
climate change conference.
The SIDS Summit for Health in 2021 brought together small island developing
states (SIDS) heads of states, ministers of health, and others to discuss the
urgent health challenges and needs they face. It helped amplify SIDS voices,
promote collaborative action, and strengthen health and development partnerships
and financing. It included steps to advance ongoing health initiatives, and to
help drive results at the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021, the 26th
Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021, and the Nutrition for Growth
Summits in December 2021 and the years following.
Strengthening Health Information Systems for Refugee- and Migrant-Sensitive
Healthcare: Health information and research findings can provide a platform for
understanding and responding to the health needs of refugees and migrants and
for aligning the efforts of other sectors and sources of international
assistance. However, the systematic national data and evidence comparable across
countries and over time available for policy- and decision-making on health of
refugees and migrants from around the world are inadequate. The WHO Health and
Migratio
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UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: UNCTAD
Established: 1964
Address: Palais des Nations, Av. de la Paix 8-14, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Website: https://unctad.org/
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
UNCTAD is a UN body dedicated to supporting developing countries in accessing
the benefits of a globalised economy more fairly and effectively. It provides
analysis, facilitates consensus building, and offers technical assistance, thus
helping countries use trade, investment, finance, and technology to support
inclusive and sustainable development.
UNCTAD also works to facilitate and measure progress towards achieving the
sustainable development goals (SDGs), through a wide range of activities in
areas such as technology and innovation, trade, investment, environment,
transport and logistics, and the digital economy. It places special emphasis on
supporting the most vulnerable developing countries, including least developed
countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), small island
developing states (SIDS), and African countries to build resilience to economic
shocks and to achieve structural economic transformation.
UNCTAD’s work often results in analyses, statistics, and recommendations that
inform national and international policymaking processes, and contribute to
promoting economic policies aimed at ending global economic inequalities and
generating human-centric sustainable development.
DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
UNCTAD is particularly active in the field of e-commerce, trade, and the digital
economy, carrying out a wide range of activities from research and analysis to
providing assistance to member states in developing adequate legislative and
regulatory frameworks and facilitating international dialogue on the development
opportunities and challenges associated with the digital economy.
UNCTAD also works to facilitate and measure progress towards achieving the SDGs,
in particular through (but not limited to) its activities in the field of
science, technology, and innovation (STI) for development. Consumer protection,
gender equality, productive capacity building, and privacy and data protection
are other digital policy areas where UNCTAD is active.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
DATA GOVERNANCE
As data has become a key resource in the digital economy, data governance is a
fundamental part of the work of UNCTAD. This is illustrated, for example, in the
research and analysis work of the Digital Economy Report 2019, which focused on
the role of data as the source of value in the digital economy and how it is
created and captured and the Digital Economy Report 2021, which analysed
cross-border data flows and development. Moreover, some of UNCTAD’s work on
e-commerce and digital trade touches specifically on privacy and data protection
issues. For instance, the eCommerce and Law Reform work dedicated to supporting
developing countries in their efforts to establish adequate legal frameworks for
e-commerce also covers data protection and privacy among the key issues
addressed. The Global Cyberlaw Trackers offers information on data protection
laws in UNCTAD member states.
Also relevant for data governance discussions is UNCTAD’s work on statistics, as
the organisation collects and analyses a wide range of data and statistics on
issues such as economic trends, international trade, investment, development,
and the digital economy. UNCTAD’s statistical capacity development activities
help countries enhance their statistical and data infrastructures and often
address issues of data governance, such as statistical confidentiality, access
to data, and privacy protection. UNCTAD also contributes actively to global work
to enhance data governance in statistics and beyond and to develop universal
principles to guide the collection, dissemination, use, and storage of data.
UNCTAD makes its data and statistics available as open-source in the UNCTADstat
data centre. Statistics underpin UNCTAD’s analytical work and are featured in
many publications. The UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics disseminates key messages
from UNCTAD’s statistics including infographics and UNCTAD’s SDG Pulse offers
statistical information on developments related to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. In addition, Development and Globalization Facts and
Figures publications provide thematic updates on topical issues with the latest
number focusing on SIDS. To provide timely information on the global economy and
trade, UNCTAD Statistics publishes a weekly Trade and Economy Nowcast.
UNCTAD is also running several projects focused on improving the efficiency of
data management for example by developing a plug-and-play system to compile
Trade in Services Statistics, its activities in the Digitising Global Maritime
Trade project, and by supporting customs operations with the Automated System
for Customs Data. UNCTAD’s own statistical activities are governed by the UNCTAD
Statistics Quality Assurance Framework, which is aligned with principles
governing international statistical activities.
* Digital Economy Report 2019
* Data Protection Regulations and International Data Flows: Implications for
Trade and Development (2016)
* UNCTAD Statistics Quality Assurance Framework
* UNCTADstat Data Centre
* UNCTAD’s SDG Pulse
* UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics
* Trade and Economy Nowcast
* Development and Globalization Facts and Figures
E-COMMERCE AND TRADE
UNCTAD’s work programme on e-commerce and the digital economy (ECDE Programme),
encompasses several research and analysis, consensus-building, and technical
assistance activities, as follows:
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
UNCTAD conducts research and analysis on e-commerce and the digital economy and
their implications for trade and development. These are mainly presented in its
flagship publication, the Digital Economy Report (known as the Information
Economy Report until 2017), and in its Technical Notes on ICT for Development.
The Technology and Innovation Report, another flagship publication, highlights
the need to build science, technology, and innovation capabilities as
prerequisites to enabling developing countries and LDCs to adopt and adapt
frontier technologies, including digital technologies.
CONSENSUS BUILDING ON E-COMMERCE AND DIGITAL ECONOMY POLICIES
UNCTAD’s Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital
Economy meets regularly to discuss ways to strengthen the development dimension
of e-commerce and the digital economy. The group’s meetings are usually held in
conjunction with UNCTAD eWeek an annual event hosted by UNCTAD
featuring discussions on development opportunities and challenges associated
with the digital economy.
UNCTAD also serves as a knowledge partner to the deliberations of the G20
Digital Economy Working Group on Data Free Flow with Trust and Cross-border Data
Flows.
Under the auspices of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for
Development (CSTD), UNCTAD provides substantive work on the follow-up to the
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) – a unique two-phase UN summit
that was initiated to create an evolving multistakeholder platform to address
the issues raised by information and communications technologies (ICTs) through
a structured and inclusive approach at the national, regional, and international
levels.
To that end, the CSTD:
* Reviews and assesses progress at the international and regional levels in the
implementation of action lines, recommendations, and commitments contained in
the outcome documents of the Summit.
* Shares best and effective practices and lessons learned and identifies
obstacles and constraints encountered, and actions and initiatives to
overcome them alongside important measures for further implementation of the
Summit outcomes.
* Promotes dialogue and fosters partnerships, in coordination with other
appropriate UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies, to contribute to
the attainment of the Summit.
* Monitors objectives and the implementation of its outcomes and the use of
ICTs for development and the achievement of internationally agreed
development goals, with the participation of governments, the private sector,
civil society, the UN, and other international organisations in accordance
with their different roles and responsibilities.
E-COMMERCE ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGY FORMULATION
The eTrade Readiness Assessments (eT Readies) assist LDCs and other developing
countries in understanding their e-commerce readiness in key policy areas to
better engage in and benefit from e-commerce. The assessments provide
recommendations to overcome identified barriers and bottlenecks to growth and
enjoying the benefits of digital trade.
UNCTAD’s work on ICT policy reviews and national strategies involves technical
assistance, advisory services, diagnostics, and strategy development on
e-commerce, and national ICT planning at the request of governments. Through an
analysis of the infrastructural, policy, regulatory, institutional, operational,
and socio-economic landscape, the reviews help governments to overcome
weaknesses and bureaucratic barriers, leverage strengths and opportunities, and
put in place relevant strategies.
LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR E-COMMERCE
UNCTAD’s e-commerce and law reform work helps to develop an understanding of the
legal issues underpinning e-commerce through a series of capacity-building
workshops for policymakers at the national and regional levels. Concrete actions
include assistance in establishing domestic and regional legal regimes to
enhance trust in online transactions, regional studies on cyber laws
harmonisation, and the global mapping of e-commerce legislation through its
Global Cyberlaw Tracker.
MEASURING THE INFORMATION ECONOMY
UNCTAD’s work on measuring the information economy includes statistical data
collection and the development of methodology, as well as linking statistics and
policy through the Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital
Economy, established by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-Commerce and
the Digital Economy. Figures are published in the biennial Digital Economy
Report and the UNCTADstat Data Centre. Technical cooperation here aims to
strengthen the capacity of national statistical systems to produce better, more
reliable, and internationally comparable statistics on the following issues: ICT
use by enterprises, size and composition of the ICT sector, and e-commerce and
international trade in ICT-enabled services.
Smart partnerships through eTrade for all
The eTrade for all initiative (eT4a) is a global collaborative effort of 35
partners to scale up cooperation, transparency, and aid efficiency towards more
inclusive e-commerce. Its main tool is an online platform (etradeforall.org), a
knowledge-sharing and information hub that facilitates access to a wide range of
information and resources on e-commerce and the digital economy. It offers a
gateway for matching the suppliers of technical assistance with those in need.
Beneficiaries can connect with potential partners, and learn about trends, best
practices, up-to-date e-commerce indicators, and upcoming events all in one
place. The initiative also acts as a catalyst of partnership among its members
for increased synergies. This collaboration has concretely translated into the
participation of several eT4a partners as key contributors to the various UNCTAD
e Week organised by UNCTAD and in the conduct and review of eTrade Readiness
Assessments.
MARKET ACCESS AND RULES OF ORIGIN FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
LDCs are granted preferential tariff treatment in the markets of developed and
developing countries under several schemes and arrangements. Since its
inception, UNCTAD has assisted governments in developing preferential rules of
origin (RoO). UNCTAD assists governments and regional economic communities, as
well as the AfCFTA Secretariat, in negotiating and drafting their RoO. Most
recently, UNCTAD’s technical assistance has focused on the implementation of the
World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) 2005 Hong Kong decision on Duty-free,
Quota-free (DFQF) market access, and understanding and drafting RoO.
UNCTAD has undertaken extensive research on DFQF and RoO. The UNCTAD Database on
the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides information on trade
statistics, rules of origin, and tariff offers under AfCFTA at the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) subheading (6-digit) level The
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System – commonly known as the
Harmonized System or HS – is an internationally standardised nomenclature for
the description, classification, and coding of goods.. The database enables
automatic data visualisation to create a snapshot of the object of interest and
matching trade statistics within the AfCFTA tariff offers, and product-specific
rules of origin where available.
The UNCTAD Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) utilisation database provides
information on the utilisation of the GSP schemes as well as other trade
preferences granted to developing countries and LDCs under GSP, DFQF
arrangements, and trade preferences under reciprocal free trade agreements
(FTAs).
* Digital Economy Report 2019 – Value Creation and Capture: Implications for
Developing Countries (2019)
* Towards E-commerce Legal Harmonization in the Caribbean (2018)
* eTrade Readiness Assessments for Least Developed Countries
* Handbook on Duty-Free and Quota-Free Market Access and Rules of Origin for
Least Developed Countries (Part I)
* Handbook on Duty-Free and Quota Free Market Access and Rules of Origin for
Least Developed Countries (Part II)
* Handbook on Preferential Market Access for ASEAN Least Developed Countries
(Part III)
* Compendium of Technical Notes Prepared for the LeastDdeveloped Countries WTO
Group on Preferential Rules of Origin
* Getting to Better Rules of Origin for LDCs Using Utilization Rates
* eCommerce and Law Reform
* Global Cyberlaw Tracker
* eTrade for all initiative
* eTrade for Women programme
* Rapid eTrade readiness assessments
* ICT policy reviews
* Measuring e-commerce and the digital economy
* Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy
* Database on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
* Database on the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP),
* The Digital Economy Report counts on collaboration with organisations such as
ITU, ITC, WTO, the World Bank, and UN regional commissions.
* UNCTAD partners with various organisations in the context of the eT4a
initiatives. Examples include ILO, WIPO, the World Economic Forum, UN
regional commissions, etc.
* Compendium of technical notes II prepared for the LDC WTO Group on
preferential rules of origin
* The Utilization of Trade Preferences by COMESA Member States
UNCTAD serves as co-lead of the
CONSUMER PROTECTION CONSUMER PROTECTION AND COMPETITION ARE JOINTLY ADDRESSED IN
THE WORK OF UNCTAD
Through its Competition and Consumer Policies Programme, UNCTAD works to assist
countries in improving their competition and consumer protection policies. It
provides a forum for intergovernmental deliberations on these issues; undertakes
research, policy analysis and data collection; and provides technical assistance
to developing countries. The Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer
Protection Law and Policy monitors the implementation of the UN Guidelines for
Consumer Protection, and carries out research and provides technical assistance
on consumer protection issues (including in the context of e-commerce and the
digital economy). UNCTAD’s work programme on consumer protection is guided,
among others, by the UN Conference of Competition and Consumer Protection (held
every five years).
Given the significant imbalances in market power in the digital economy,
competition policy is becoming increasingly relevant for developing countries.
UNCTAD addresses this issue in the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on
Competition Law and Policy.
UNCTAD also runs the Research Partnership Platform, aimed at contributing to the
development of best practices in the formulation and implementation of
competition and consumer protection laws and policies.
UNCTAD serves as co-lead of the
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WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: WTO
Established: 1995
Address: Centre William Rappard, Rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva 21,
Switzerland
Website: https://www.wto.org/
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
WTO is an intergovernmental organisation that deals with the rules of trade
among its members. Its main functions include administering WTO trade
agreements, providing a forum for trade negotiations, settling trade disputes,
monitoring national trade policies, providing technical assistance and training
for developing countries, and ensuring cooperation with other international
organisations.
WTO members have negotiated and agreed upon rules regulating international
trade, fostering transparency and predictability in the international trading
system. The main agreements are the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO,
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the General Agreement on
Trade in Services (GATS), and the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
Several internet governance and digital trade policy-related issues are
discussed in WTO. E-commerce discussions are ongoing under the Work Programme on
Electronic Commerce and among a group of 90 WTO members currently negotiating
e-commerce rules under the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce.
Discussions focus on several digital issues, including data flows and data
localisation, source code, cybersecurity, privacy, consumer protection, capacity
building, and customs duties on electronic transmissions.
As part of its outreach activities, WTO organises numerous events such as the
Aid for Trade Global Review and an annual Public Forum, which brings together
governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics, businesses, and
other stakeholders for discussions on a broad range of issues, including many
relating to the digital economy.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
In 1997, WTO members successfully concluded negotiations on market access for
basic telecommunications services, which resulted in new specific commitments in
the sector for a significant part of WTO membership. These negotiations also
resulted in the Reference Paper, a set of regulatory principles for basic
telecommunication services that various members have inscribed in their
schedules of commitments. Since 1997, the number of members that have undertaken
market access commitments on telecommunications and subscribed to the Reference
Paper has continued to increase as a result of new governments joining WTO
through the process of accession. Under the JSI negotiations, participants are
discussing a proposal that seeks to update the provisions of the Reference
Paper.
DIGITAL STANDARDS THE ISSUE OF DIGITAL STANDARDS IS ADDRESSED AS ‘STANDARDS AND
REGULATIONS’ WITHIN THE WORK OF WTO.
International standards are important to the global digital economy as they can
enable interconnectivity and interoperability for telecommunications and
internet infrastructures. The WTO Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT
Agreement) aims to ensure that technical regulations, standards, and conformity
assessment procedures affecting trade in goods (including telecommunications
products) are non-discriminatory and do not create unnecessary obstacles to
trade. The TBT Agreement strongly encourages that such regulatory measures be
based on relevant international standards. The TBT Committee serves as a forum
where governments discuss and address concerns with specific regulations,
including those affecting digital trade. Examples of relevant TBT measures
notified to or discussed at the TBT Committee include (1) measures addressing
the internet of things (IoT) and related devices in terms of their safety,
interoperability, national security/cybersecurity, performance, and quality; (2)
measures regulating 5G cellular network technology for reasons related to, among
others, national security and interoperability; (3) measures regulating 3D
printing (additive manufacturing) devices; (4) measures regulating drones (small
unmanned aircraft systems) due to risks for humans/consumers, interoperability
problems, and national security risks; and (5) measures dealing with autonomous
vehicles, mostly concerned with their safety and performance.
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity issues have been addressed in several WTO bodies. For example, the
TBT Committee has discussed national cybersecurity regulations applicable to
information and communications technology (ICT) products and their potential
impact on trade. In the TBT Committee, WTO members have raised specific trade
concerns related to cybersecurity regulations. Some of the specific issues
discussed include how cybersecurity regulations discriminating against foreign
companies and technologies can negatively impact international trade in ICT
products. Proposals on cybersecurity have also been tabled in the JSI on
e-commerce where negotiations are ongoing.
DATA GOVERNANCE
The growth of the global digital economy is fuelled by data. Discussions on how
provisions of WTO agreements apply to data flows are ongoing among WTO members.
In this context, is particularly relevant, as it applies to trade in services
such as (1) data transmission and data processing by any form of technology
(e.g. mobile or cloud technologies); (2) new ICT business models such as
infrastructure as a service (IaaS); (3) online distribution services e.g.
(e-commerce market platforms); and (4) financial services such as mobile
payments. The extent to which members can impose restrictions on data or
information flows affecting trade in services is determined by their GATS
schedules of commitments. Under the JSI, proposals on cross-border data flows
have been submitted and are being discussed. These proposals envision a general
rule establishing the free flow of data for commercial activities. Proposed
exceptions to this general rule are, to a large extent, similar to the existing
GATS General and Security Exceptions and relate to, for example, protection of
personal data, protection of legitimate public policy objectives, national
security interests, and exclusion of governmental data. Issues related to data
flows have also been raised by members in other contexts at the WTO, such as in
the Council for Trade in Services, for instance, when national cybersecurity
measures adopted have been considered by some members as trade barriers.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
The TRIPS Agreement is a key international instrument for the protection of IP
and is of relevance to e-commerce. The technologies that underpin the internet
and enable digital commerce such as software, routers, networks, switches, and
user interfaces are protected by IP. In addition, e-commerce transactions can
involve digital products with IP-protected content, such as e-books, software,
or blueprints for 3D-printing. As IP licences often regulate the usage rights
for such intangible digital products, the TRIPS Agreement and the international
IP Conventions provide much of the legal infrastructure for digital trade.
These conventions include:
* Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1967)
* Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic works (1971)
* International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of
Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations (the Rome Convention) (1961)
* Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits (1989)
The role of IP in promoting innovation and trade in the digital age has been
highlighted in recent WTO World Trade Reports.
* WTR 2018 – The Future of World Trade – How Digital Technologies are
Transforming Global Commerce;
* WTR 2020 – Government Policies to Promote Innovation in the Digital Age.
IP-related issues are also being discussed in the JSI. Submitted proposals
include text on limiting requests to the access or transfer of source code. The
source code or the data analysis used in the operation of programmes or services
is often legally protected by IP law through copyright, patent, or trade secret
provisions. The main goal of the JSI proposals on access to source code is to
prevent members from requiring access or transfer of the source code owned by a
national of another member state as a condition for market access. Some
exceptions to this general prohibition have also been proposed. For example, for
software that is used for critical infrastructures and public procurement
transactions.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
WTO agreements cover a broad spectrum of trade topics, including some related to
e-commerce, which has been on the WTO agenda since 1998 when the ministers
adopted the Declaration on Global Electronic Commerce. The Declaration
instructed the General Council to establish a Work Programme on electronic
commerce. In that Declaration, members also agreed to continue the practice of
not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions (the ’moratorium’). The
Work Programme provides a broad definition of e-commerce and instructs four WTO
bodies (Council for Trade in Goods; Council for Trade in Services; TRIPS
Council; and the Committee on Trade and Development) to explore the relationship
between WTO Agreements and e-commerce. The Work Programme and the moratorium on
customs duties on electronic transmissions have been periodically reviewed and
renewed. At its recently concluded 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June
2022, WTO members agreed to reinvigorate the Work Programme, particularly in
line with its development dimension, and to intensify discussions on the
moratorium, including on its scope, definition, and impact. Furthermore, members
agreed to extend the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions
until MC13. WT/MIN(22)/32; WT/L/1143
At MC11 in 2017, a group of members issued the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI)
on E-Commerce to explore work towards future WTO negotiations on trade-related
aspects of e-commerce. Following the exploratory work, in January 2019, 76
members confirmed their ‘intention to commence WTO negotiations on trade-related
aspects of electronic commerce’ and to ‘achieve a high standard out- come that
builds on existing WTO agreements and frameworks with the participation of as
many WTO members as possible’. Negotiations are continuing among 90 members 90
Members as of end of October 2023: Albania; Argentina; Australia; Austria;
Bahrain, Kingdom of; Belgium; Benin; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria;
Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte
D’Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Ecuador; El Salvador;
Estonia; Finland; France; Gambia, Georgia; Germany; Greece; Guatemala;Honduras;
Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; Indonesia; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan;
Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Kuwait, the State of; Kyrgyz Republic;the
State of; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania;
Luxembourg; Malaysia; Malta; Mauritius; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia;
Montenegro; Myanmar; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; North
Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Poland; Portugal;
Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Slovak
Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Arab
Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; and Uruguay and are structured under
five broad themes, namely enabling e-commerce, openness and e-commerce, trust
and e-commerce, cross-cutting issues, and telecommunications. JSI participants
have reached a high degree of convergence on e-authentication and e-signatures,
e-contracts, open government data, online consumer protection, unsolicited
commercial electronic messages (spam), transparency, open internet access,
paperless trading, cybersecurity, electronic transactions frameworks,
e-invoicing and single windows. Negotiations on electronic transactions
frameworks, source code, cybersecurity, electronic invoicing, privacy,
telecommunications, and customs duties on electronic transmissions continue. On
the margins of the MC12, the co-convenors of the JSI (Australia, Japan, and
Singapore), issued a statement underlining the importance of developing global
rules on e-commerce and, together with Switzerland, launched the E-commerce
Capacity Building Framework to strengthen digital inclusion and to help
developing and least developed countries to harness the opportunities of digital
trade.
ACCESS THE ISSUE OF ARBITRATION IS REFERRED TO UNDER THE ISSUE OF ‘MARKET
ACCESS’ WITHIN THE WORK OF WTO.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT (ITA-I AND ITA-II)
The ITA-I was concluded by 29 participants in 1996. Through this agreement,
participating WTO members eliminated tariffs and other duties and charges (ODCs)
on hundreds of ICT products – including computers, laptops, servers, routers,
communication devices (i.e. mobile telephones), semiconductors, semiconductor
manufacturing equipment and parts thereof – to foster the development of ICT
global value chains and facilitate greater adoption of the ICT products that lie
at the core of a global digital economy and power the downstream innovative and
competitive capacity of every industry that deploys them. Currently, 83 WTO
members are participants in ITA-I, accounting for approximately 97% of world
trade in ITA-I products. As technology continues to evolve, ICT is found at the
core of an ever-increasing range of products. At the MC10 in Nairobi in 2015,
over 50 WTO members concluded ITA-II negotiations and agreed to expand the ITA
product coverage by around 200 products. ICT products such as GPS navigation
equipment, satellites, and medical equipment were included and tariffs on these
products have been eliminated among ITA-II participants. At present, the ITA-II
consists of 55 WTO members, representing over 90% of world trade in ITA-II
products. The ITA is being discussed in the JSI under the market access focus
group.
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GENEVA CENTRE FOR SECURITY POLICY
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: GCSP
Address: Chemin Eugene-Rigot 2D, CH - 1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland
Website: https://gcsp.ch
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is an international foundation
governed by a 54-member State Foundation Council serving a global community of
individuals and organisations. Our mission is to advance peace, security, and
international cooperation. We provide the knowledge, skills and network for 360°
effective and inclusive decision-making.
The GCSP believes that effective and forward-thinking leaders and organisations
need to build a broad picture of what is happening in an increasingly connected
world. We unravel the intricacies of geopolitics and help leaders develop new
skills and the agility to lead in times of tumultuous change. The GCSP creates
an inclusive environment for their global community from 174 nations and across
sectors who come together to exchange ideas and develop sustainable solutions
for a more peaceful future. Building Peace Together through Education, Dialogue,
Policy, Creativity and Community since 1995.
DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
The GCSP provides analysis that covers several digital topics, including
cybersecurity and transformative technologies. Its executive education is
offered online and in blended formats. In response to COVID-19, the GCSP
launched a series of webinars titled Global Crisis, GlobalRisk and Global
Consequences.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
As part of its Transformative Technologies cluster, the GCSP looks at AI and
several ‘disruptive technologies’; the term refers to synthetic biology,
neuro-morphic chips, big data, quantum computing, 3D and 4D printing,
brain-computer interfaces, hypersonic technology, and cognitive enhancement. In
particular, the GCSP focuses on the dual-use character of these technologies,
their potential use in warfare and the future of warfare, and the existing legal
provisions among warfare and humanitarian rules in relation to such
technologies. Overall, activities as part of this cluster aim to alert
policymakers to both the challenges and opportunities associated with these
technologies. These aims are also reflected in associated educational
activities, such as the course on Transformative Technologies and the Future of
Geopolitics.
As part of its Global Risk and Resilience Cluster (GRRC), the GCSP has
positioned itself as a thought leader on risks at the nexus of geopolitics and
technology. To that purpose, it particularly monitors, analyses, and interprets
the impact that emerging technologies such as AI, synthetic biology,
neuroscience, quantum computing, and nanotechnologies will have on international
politics, geopolitics, warfare, and conflicts. In addition to identifying
emerging risks and future trends that will impact international security and
warfare, the GRRC also promotes new responses that can be brought to deal with
these emerging risks, notably through the concept of resilience.
* The Impact of Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence on Strategic Stability
* Perils of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems Proliferation: Preventing
Non-State Acquisition
* Geopolitical Leadership for Organisational Impact
* Looking at the Edge: Understanding the Frontiers of Geopolitical Risk
CYBERSECURITY
The GCSP tackles cybersecurity issues through education and training activities,
as well as policy analysis and events. It also provides a platform for dialogue
and exchanges on cyber challenges among cyber experts from the public, private,
and civil society sectors. The training and education activities cover areas
such as cybersecurity strategy formulation, international law relating to cyber
issues, cyber diplomacy, and broader capacity-building initiatives (e.g.
workshops and student challenges). Policy papers published by the GCSP focus on
the nature of cybersecurity, developing norms in the digital era, international
legal analyses, and developing holistic solutions. The flagship course is Cyber
Security in the Context of International Security; other bespoke courses cater
to public and governmental staff and private and non-governmental employees. The
GCSP’s flagship annual cybersecurity event is the Cyber 9/12 Strategy
Challenge. In partnership with the Atlantic Council, this strategy and policy
competition pits over 200 students from around the world in a strategy and
policy competition. Teams are judged by experts, high-level policymakers,
thought leaders from industry and the public sector (including NATO and the EU),
and government representatives. The challenge normally takes place at the GCSP
headquarters in Geneva, but in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022
competition took place entirely online.
* Podcast: The Battle for Cyberspace
* The World Health Organisation: The New Cyber Target During a Global Health
Crisis and What we can Learn
* Technology in the Time of COVID-19
* A Snapshot Analysis of the Crypto AG Revelations
* Going Digital Testimonials
* Why Cybersecurity Matters More than Ever During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
* The Increasing Importance of Hybrid Politics in Europe: Cyber Power is
Changing the Nature of Politics
* Spying in a Transparent World: Ethics and Intelligence in the 21st Century
* Why Should We Care about 3D-Printing and What are Potential Security
Implications?
* Cyber Jihad: Understanding and Countering Islamic State Propaganda
* Cybersecurity Challenges in the Middle East
* Cyber Security in the Context of International Security
* Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge 2022
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Many of the GCSP’s activities fall into the category of capacity development
activities. The GCSP offers courses and other educational and training
programmes related to the internet and digital policy, such as cybersecurity,
transformative technologies, and strategic foresight.
In addition to capacity building through its executive education programmes, the
GCSP leverages its considerable intellectual and networking resources (i.e. its
fellows and alumni) to engage with communities worldwide and foster trust
between regions. The GCSP’s cybersecurity dialogues aim to remove barriers to
communication and encourage the uptake of the opportunities today’s digital
landscape has to offer.
In partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the
GCSP convenes a Track 1.5 dialogue process to ensure there is as much
communication as possible between parties who are often in conflict with one
another. This process provides a platform and a mechanism for the exchange of
ideas to build consensus on topics as diverse as international norms, agreement
on legal paradigms, and regional socio-economic development.
DIGITAL TOOLS
Several other events organised by the GCSP also have a capacity development
focus; one example is the annual Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, a student
competition in international cybersecurity strategy and policy. The challenge
was held entirely online in 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In
addition, the publications produced by the organisation can help inform various
stakeholders about the challenges and concerns in the area of cyber governance.
* Cyber Security in the Context of International Security
* Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge 2022
* Global and Emerging Risks
* Geopolitics and Global Futures Symposium 2022
GCSP offers online courses, webinars, and an online dialogue series.
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INTERNET GOVERNANCE FORUM
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: IGF
Established: 2006
Address: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Website: https://www.intgovforum.org
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
The IGF provides the most comprehensive coverage of digital policy issues on the
global level. The IGF Secretariat in Geneva coordinates both the planning of IGF
annual meetings (working together with the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG)
and the wider IGF community) and a series of intersessional activities (run all
year long). These activities could be summarised in three ‘multi’ initiatives:
* Multistakeholder participation: It involves governments, business, civil
society, the technical community, academia, and other actors who affect or
are affected by digital policy This diversity is reflected in IGF processes,
events, and consultations.
* Multidisciplinary coverage: It relates to addressing policy issues from
technological, legal, security, human rights, economic, development, and
sociocultural perspectives. For example, data, as a governance issue, is
addressed from standardisation, e-commerce, privacy, and security
perspectives.
* Multilevel approach: It spans IGF deliberations from the local level to the
global level, through a network of over 165 national, subregional, and
regional IGF (as of November 2023). They provide context for discussions on
digital policy like the real-life impact of digitalisation on policy,
economic, social, and cultural fabric of local communities. The IGF
Secretariat supports such initiatives (which are independent) and coordinates
the participation of the overall network.
The IGF ecosystem converges around the annual IGF, which is attended by
thousands of participants. The last few IGFs include Paris (2018), Berlin
(2019), online edition due to the pandemic (2020), Katowice (2021), Addis Ababa
(2022), and Kyoto (2023), which engaged over 11,000 participants, and more than
1,000 speakers in over 300 sessions.
The intersessional work includes best practice forums (on issues such as
cybersecurity, local content, data and new technologies, and gender and access);
dynamic coalitions (on issues such as community connectivity, network
neutrality, accessibility and disability, and child safety online etc.); policy
networks (on AI, environment, meaningful access and Internet fragmentation); and
other projects such as Policy Options for Connecting and Enabling the Next
Billion(s) (which ran between 2015 and 2018) as well as a number of capacity
development activities.
IGF MANDATE
The IGF mandate was outlined in the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society of
the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, November 2005). It was
renewed for another 10 years by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 16 December
2015, (70/125).
The main functions of the IGF are specified in Article 72 of the Tunis Agenda.
The mandate of the Forum is to:
* Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance
in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability, and
development of the internet.
* Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with different cross-cutting
international public policies regarding the internet and discuss issues that
do not fall within the scope of any existing body.
* Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organisations and other
institutions on matters under their purview.
* Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this
regard, make full use of the expertise of the academic, scientific, and
technical communities.
* Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the
availability and affordability of the Internet in the developing world.
* Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or
future internet governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing
countries.
* Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant bodies
and the general public, and where appropriate, make recommendations.
* Contribute to capacity building for internet governance in developing
countries, drawing on local sources of knowledge and expertise.
* Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS principles in
internet governance processes.
* Discuss, inter alia, issues relating to critical internet resources.
* Help to find solutions to the issues arising from the use and misuse of the
internet, of particular concern to everyday users.
* Publish its proceedings.
In fulfilling its mandate, the Forum is institutionally supported by the UN
Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum placed with the Department of
Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Its working modalities also include MAG and
most recently the Leadership Panel, both appointed by the UN Secretary-General.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
Until 2019, IGF annual meetings used to host sessions tackling a wide range of
digital policy issues (for instance, IGF 2018 had eight themes: cybersecurity,
trust, and privacy; development, innovation, and economic issues; digital
inclusion and accessibility; human rights, gender, and youth; emerging
technologies; evolution of internet governance; media and content; and technical
and operational issues). In 2019, in an effort to bring more focus within the
IGF, the MAG decided (considering community input) to structure the IGF
programme around a limited number of tracks: security, safety, stability, and
resilience; data governance; and digital inclusion. This approach was kept for
IGF 2020, which saw four thematic tracks: data, environment, inclusion, and
trust. The thematic approach did not mean that the IGF saw some digital policy
issues as being less relevant than others, but rather that it encouraged
discussions at the intersection of multiple issues. The Geneva Internet Platform
(GIP) Digital Watch hybrid reporting (IGF 2023) illustrates this trend, showing
that the IGF discussed a wide range of policy issues (across all seven internet
governance baskets of issues) within the limited number of thematic tracks.
THE LEADERSHIP PANEL
In line with the IGF mandate and as recommended in the Secretary-General’s
Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the UN Secretary-General established the IGF
Leadership Panel as a strategic, empowered, multistakeholder body, to address
urgent, strategic issues, and highlight Forum discussions and possible follow-up
actions to promote greater impact and dissemination of IGF discussions.
More specifically, the Panel provides strategic inputs and advice on the IGF;
promotes the IGF and its outputs; supports both high-level and at-large
stakeholder engagement in the IGF and IGF fundraising efforts; exchanges IGF
outputs with other stakeholders and relevant forums; and feeds input from these
decision-makers and forums to the IGF’s agenda-setting process, leveraging
relevant MAG expertise.
The 15-member Panel with ex-officios meet at least three times a year in person,
in addition to regular online meetings.
FUTURE OF MEETINGS
Since its first meeting in Athens (2006), the IGF has been a pioneer in online
deliberation and hybrid meetings. In addition to individual online
participation, the IGF has encouraged the development of a network of remote
hubs where participants meet locally while following online deliberations from
the global IGF. In this way the IGF has created a unique interplay between local
and global deliberations through the use of technology. For hybrid meetings
delivered in situ and online, the IGF developed the function of remote
moderator, who ensures that there is smooth interplay between online and in situ
discussions.
The 19th annual IGF meeting will be hosted by the Government of Saudi Arabia in
Riyadh in December 2024. The 2025 host is yet to be announced.
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INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: ITU, UIT
Established: 1865
Address: Place des Nations, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Website: https://www.itu.int
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communications
technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 member states
and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, research institutes, and
international organisations. Established nearly 160 years ago in 1865, ITU is
the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of
the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite
orbits, improving communications infrastructure in the developing world, and
establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a
vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge
wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, intelligent
transport systems, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based Earth
monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, internet, cable television
and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. For
more information, visit www.itu.int.
See also: Africa’s participation in the International Telecommunication Union
DIGITAL ACTIVITIES
Some of ITU’s key areas of action include radiocommunication services (such as
satellite services, and fixed/mobile and broadcasting services), developing
telecommunications networks (including future networks), standardisation of
various areas and media related to telecommunications, and ensuring access to
bridge the digital divide and addressing challenges in ICT accessibility. ITU’s
work supports emerging technologies in fields such as 5G, artificial
intelligence (AI), Intelligent Transport Systems, disaster management,
agriculture, smart sustainable cities, and the internet of things (IoT); access
and digital inclusion; the accessibility of ICTs to persons with disabilities;
digital health; ICTs and climate change; cybersecurity; gender equality; and
child online protection, among others. These and many more ICT topics are
covered both within the framework of radiocommunication, standardisation, and
development work, through various projects, initiatives, and studies carried out
by the organisation.
DIGITAL POLICY ISSUES
TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Information and communication infrastructure development is one of ITU’s
priority areas. The organisation seeks to assist member states, sector members,
associates, and academia in the implementation and development of broadband
networks, wired (e.g. cable) and wireless technologies, international mobile
telecommunications (IMT), satellite communications, the IoT, and smart grids,
including next-generation networks, as well as in the provision of
telecommunications networks in rural areas.
ITU’s International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) have as an overall aim
the facilitation of global interconnection and interoperability of
telecommunication facilities. Through the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R),
ITU is involved in the global management of the radio frequency spectrum and
satellite orbits, used for telecommunications services, in line with the Radio
Regulations.
The international standards developed by ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization
Sector (ITU-T) enable the interconnection and interoperability of ICT networks,
devices, and services worldwide. It has 11 technical standardisation committees
called Study Groups (SGs), with mandates covering a wide range of digital
technologies:
* SG2 – Operational Aspects
* SG3 – Economic & Policy Issues
* SG5 – Environment, EMF & Circular Economy
* SG9 – Broadband Cable & TV
* SG11 – Protocols, Testing & Combating Counterfeiting
* SG12 – Performance, QoS & QoE
* SG13 – Future networks and emerging network technologies
* SG15 – Transport, Access & Home
* SG16 – Multimedia & Digital Technologies
* SG17 – Security
* SG20 – IoT, Smart Cities & Communities
The work on standards is complemented by short-term exploration/incubation ITU-T
Focus Groups (FGs) whose deliverables guide the ITU-T SGs in new areas of
standardisation work:
* ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things
(IoT) for Digital Agriculture (FG- AI4A)
* ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (FG-AI4H)
* ITU-T Focus Group on Environmental Efficiency for Artificial Intelligence and
other Emerging Technologies (FG-AI4EE)
* ITU-T Focus Group on Vehicular Multimedia (FG-VM)
* ITU-T Focus Group on AI for Autonomous and Assisted Driving (FG-AI4AD)
* ITU-T Focus Group on AI for Natural Disaster Management (FG-AI4NDM)
* ITU-T Focus Group on Autonomous Networks (FG- AN)
* ITU-T Focus Group on Testbeds Federations for IMT- 2020 and Beyond (FG-TBFxG)
Collaboration among various standards bodies is a high priority of ITU-T.
Various platforms were established to support coordination and collaboration on
various topics, for example:
* eCollaboration on Intelligent Transport SystemsCommunication Standards (CITS)
* Global Standards Collaboration (GSC)
* World Standards Cooperation (WSC)
* Digital Currency Global Initiative
* Financial Inclusion Global Initiative (FIGI) Symposium
* United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) initiative
* Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H)
The Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) establishes an enabling
environment and provides evidence-based policy-making through ICT indicators and
regulatory and economic metrics, and implements a host of telecommunications/ICT
projects.
In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, ITU-D launched the Global
Network Resiliency Platform (REG4COVID) to address the strain experienced by
telecommunication networks, which are vital to the health and safety of people.
The platform pools experiences and innovative policy and regulatory measures.
Discussions involving the World Bank, Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSMA), and the World Economic Forum identified how to bring together
communities to support ITU membership in their response to COVID-19. The
Speedboat Initiative issued a COVID-19 Crisis Response:
Digital Development Joint Action Plan and Call for Action to better leverage
digital technologies and infrastructure in support of citizens, governments, and
businesses during the pandemic.
Connect2Recover provides country-specific support to reinforce digital
infrastructures – using telework, e-commerce, remote learning, and telemedicine
to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to support recovery and preparedness for
potential future pandemics. ITU worked with the Government of Japan and the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on this initiative. ITU/WHO Focus Group on AI for Health
worked on a standardised assessment framework for the evaluation of AI-based
methods for health, diagnosis, triage, or treatment decisions and in early 2020
it created an Ad-hoc Group on Digital Technologies for COVID-19 Health
Emergencies (AHG-DT4HE) to review the role of AI (and other digital
technologies) in combatting COVID-19 throughout an epidemic’s life cycle; it
also delivered guidance on digital technologies for COVID health emergency. The
Group also developed AI guidance specifically for health on ethics, regulatory
considerations, clinical evaluation, and data quality and continues work with
ITU, WHO, and WIPO on the Global Initiative on AI for Health.
The impact statement for the Telecommunications Development Bureau’s (BDT)
thematic priority on Network and Digital Infrastructure is ‘Reliable
connectivity to everyone’.
ITU-D SG1 also focuses on various aspects related to telecommunications
infrastructure, in particular, Question 1/1 on ‘Strategies and policies for the
deployment of broadband in developing countries’; Question 2/1 on
‘Strategies, policies, regulations, and methods of migration and adoption of
digital broadcasting and implementation of new services’; Question 4/1 on
‘Economic aspects of national telecommunications/ICTs’; Question 5/1 on
‘Telecommunications/ICTs for rural and remote areas’; Question 6/1 on ‘Consumer
information, protection and rights’; and Question 5/2 on ‘Adoption of
telecommunications/ICTs and improving digital skills’.
5G
ITU plays a key role in managing the radio spectrum and developing international
standards for 5G networks, devices, and services, within the framework of the
so-called IMT-2020 activities. ITU-R SGs together with the mobile broadband
industry and a wide range of stakeholders established the 5G standards.
The activities include the organisation of intergovernmental and
multistakeholder dialogues, and the development and implementation of standards
and regulations to ensure that 5G networks are secure, interoperable, and
operate without interference.
ITU-T is playing a similar convening role for the technologies and architectures
of non-radio elements of 5G systems. For example, ITU standards address 5G
transport, with Passive Optical Network (PON), Carrier Ethernet, and Optical
Transport Network (OTN), among the technologies standardised by ITU-T expected
to support 5G systems. ITU standards for 5G networking address topics
including network virtualisation, network orchestration and management, and
fixed-mobile convergence. ITU standards also address ML for 5G and future
networks, the environmental requirements of 5G, security and trust in 5G, and
the assessment of 5G quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE).
SATELLITE
ITU-R manages the coordination, notification, and recording of frequency
assignments for space systems, including their associated earth stations. Its
main role is to process and publish data and carry out the examination of
frequency assignment notices submitted by administrations towards their eventual
recording in the Master International Frequency Register.
ITU-R also develops and manages space-related assignment or allotment plans and
provides mechanisms for the development of new satellite services by determining
how to optimise the use of available and suitable orbital resources.
Currently, the rapid pace of satellite innovation is driving an increase in the
deployment of non-geostationary satellite systems (NGSO). With the availability
of launch vehicles capable of supporting multiple satellite launches,
mega-constellations consisting of hundreds to thousands of spacecraft are
becoming a popular solution for global telecommunications.
To this end, during the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), ITU
established regulatory procedures for the deployment of NGSO systems, including
mega-constellations in low Earth orbit.
Regarding climate change, satellite data today is an indispensable input for
weather prediction models and forecast systems used to produce safety warnings
and other information in support of public and private decision-making.
ITU develops international standards contributing to the environmental
sustainability of the ICT sector, as well as other industry sectors applying
ICTs assembling technologies to increase efficiency and innovate their service
offer. The latest ITU standards in this domain address sustainable power-feeding
solutions for IMT-2020/5G networks, energy-efficient data centres capitalising
on big data and AI, and smart energy management for telecom base stations.
* Disruptive Technologies and Their Use in Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management, a 2019 report.
* Disruptive Technologies and Their Use in Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management, a 2019 report.
* Disruptive Technologies and Their Use in Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management, a 2019 report.
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UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
* Post date March 1, 2022
Acronym: UNHRC
Established: 2006
Address: Palais Wilson 52, rue des Pâquis, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Website: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/HRCIndex.aspx
Stakeholder group: International and regional organisations
The Human Rights Council is a United Nations intergovernmental body whose
mandate is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the
globe, and to make recommendations on cases of human rights violations. The
Council is made up of 47 member states, as elected by the UN General Assembly.
The Council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR), headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is the
principal human rights official of the United Nation.
Freedom of expression and privacy in the online space are two of the issues
covered by the Council in its activities. These have been discussed at
UNHRC sessions, and covered in resolutions adopted by the Council, as well as in
reports elaborated by the special rapporteurs appointed by the Council.
The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom
of opinion and expression has issued reports on issues such as: the use
of encryption and anonymity to exercise the rights to freedom of opinion and
expression in the digital age; states’ surveillance of communications on the
exercise of the human rights to privacy and to freedom of opinion and
expression; the right to freedom of opinion and expression exercised through the
Internet; etc. The Special Rapporteur on the righ to privacy has within its
mandate the responsibility to make recommendations for the promotion and
protection of the right to privacy, including in connection with challenges
arising from new technologies.
See also: Africa’s participation in digital rights debates at the UN Human
Rights Council
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[BRIEFING #83] INTERNET GOVERNANCE IN MARCH 2022
* Post date February 16, 2022
EVENT RECORDING
The next Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing is scheduled for Tuesday,
26th April, at 12.00 UTC (14.00 CEST). Register here!
EVENT DESCRIPTION
The conflict in Ukraine has taken centre stage, and the magnitude of its digital
impact is only rising.
In our monthly Internet Governance Briefing, we will discuss the digital side of
conflict: decisions taken by authorities and private companies in reaction to
the ongoing conflict, as well as their impact on the internet. How are sanctions
and the restriction of freedoms affecting the global internet – and is there a
future for a truly global internet as we know it?
Register and join the Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing on Tuesday,
29th March, at 12.00 UTC (14.00 CEST).
In the meantime you can also visit the dedicated page Ukraine conflict: Digital
and cyber aspects.
For the latest developments, we encourage you to visit the updates page, and
register for the Digital Watch weekly newsletter which is sent by email every
Friday.
The monthly Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing is organised by
the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP)’s Digital Watch Observatory,
a Diplo initiative. Keep up with the most recent digital policy and internet
governance updates, in-time reports from major global digital policy
events, existing and emerging policy trends and much more! Subscribe to the
Digital Watch Observatory newsletters here to receive in-time and in-depth
analysis on digital policy.
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