On September 22, the United Nations Member States agrees upon a ground-breaking document Global Digital Compact (GDC), which sets the framework and principle about how the digital world should be governed in terms of at least five dimensions: digital divide, digital economy, digital rights, data flow, and artificial intelligence.
The first achievement of GDC is that it strengthens the legitimacy and authority of the United Nations in global digital governance. United Nations remains the one place on Earth where all the world's nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. As the most authoritative international organization consisting of 193 Member States, its authority certainly should not stop at the industrial age and should naturally extend into the digital world. GDC is yet another victory of the United Nations after the August agreement of the UN Cybercrime Convention.
Secondly, the rules and norms contained in GDC have special implications for the Global South and developing countries. Facing a dominating position of the United States, the only digital and cyber superpower, EU for example has been quite successful in producing a plethora of laws and regulations to protect the privacy of the EU citizens and its digital economic interests. However, the developing world often lacks the legal tools, policy guidelines for self-protection. And in many cases, developing countries do not have any leverage against super digital platforms. GDC provides a governance framework that can benefit not only the digital have-nots, but also the countries with rapid digital development will also benefit because they may face a dark scenario of fragmented and incompatible digital rules if United Nations does not take actions.
Thirdly, the summit provided a vital opportunity for initiating global dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) and establishing common standards for data security. Participants supported the UN's role as a central channel in AI governance, advocating for an international framework that ensures equitable benefits from AI advancements for developing nations and the Global South. This approach aims to bridge the digital divide while maintaining a balance between development and security in AI applications. It also prevent individual countries from setting up rules and barriers to the development of the AI industry and establishing exclusive groups to hinder the technological development of other countries, and ensure that all countries fully enjoy the right to technological development and peaceful use. The establishment of an International Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance were highlighted as essential steps towards achieving these goals. In terms of data security, the GDC gives the opportunity for all stakeholders and even individual to prevent stealing important data and destroying critical infrastructure from other countries.
However, beyond this moment, the further success of GDC depends on how it is quoted and interpreted, and how it is implemented. The digital world we are now living in is increasingly affected and haunted by geopolitics and powers competitions. Decades ago, the international debates about Mass Media Declaration of UNESCO and international information flow almost crippled a key UN institution with the withdrawal of the United States from UNESCO. Nowadays, the rules, norms about the digital and emerging technologies are far more compassing and comprehensive than the age of traditional media.
Looking ahead, there is optimism about the effective implementation of the summit's outcome documents. The summit's achievements lay a foundation for future cooperation, ensuring that all nations can contribute to and benefit from an increasingly interconnected world.