The United Nations (UN) has taken a significant step in addressing technology governance. It introduced its first comprehensive framework on digital cooperation and artificial intelligence (AI) governance. This comes as part of the “Pact for the Future” initiative, announced during the UN’s Summit of the Future. The framework sets out broad goals for enhancing global cooperation on AI, regulating tech companies, and closing the digital divide.
What the Pact for the Future Involves
The Pact for the Future aims to promote more effective and inclusive global cooperation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described it as a “step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism”. The Pact, which includes the Global Digital Compact, outlines the responsibilities of nations and companies in governing the development and use of AI and other technologies.
The UN General Assembly adopted without a vote, the Global Digital Compact, a key part of the Pact. It brings together major global stakeholders to discuss the future of AI governance. It sets out 56 actions to address various technological challenges. These actions focus on AI transparency, content moderation, digital access, and the protection of vulnerable groups online.
AI and Tech Company Responsibilities
One of the major highlights of the Global Digital Compact is its focus on governing AI. The document suggests creating an International Scientific Panel and hosting a Global Policy Dialogue on AI to guide future developments. The aim is to ensure AI is used responsibly and for the benefit of all.
Tech companies are asked to be more transparent and accountable about their systems. This includes content moderation, handling users’ personal data, and preventing potential harms like hate speech and discrimination. However, the Compact does not go into detail about whether companies should disclose the data sets used to train AI models. Instead, it encourages safeguards during AI training and the identification of AI-generated material, through labelling, watermarking, and other techniques.
The Compact also promotes open-source technology, meaning that companies would share their designs publicly to foster innovation. This could be a challenge for closed-source companies, such as OpenAI, but would help support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing nations.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The UN’s Pact also prioritises closing the global digital divide. It highlights the need to connect everyone to the internet, which is still a challenge in many developing countries. This effort would involve investment from governments and private sectors, including satellite and local network initiatives, to provide safe, secure internet coverage, even in rural and remote areas.
The Pact also proposes creating national digital skills strategies. These strategies aim to equip people with basic, intermediate, and advanced digital skills, helping to prepare populations for the digital age. The Compact encourages North-South and South-South cooperation, including partnerships between universities, research institutes, and the private sector, to build digital knowledge and capabilities.
The framework also commits to increasing opportunities for women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, ensuring that all genders have equal access to technological education.
Protecting Children and Vulnerable Groups Online
The Global Digital Compact highlights the importance of protecting children and vulnerable groups from online harm. It stresses the need to combat all forms of violence, including cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and gender-based violence. Social media platforms, which have faced growing criticism for their handling of online abuse, are urged to implement stronger measures.
For example, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had to apologise to families of abused children earlier this year. The UN’s Compact calls for better reporting mechanisms on tech platforms, especially for children and people with disabilities.
Tech companies are also urged to improve transparency around their content moderation processes, recommendation algorithms, and handling of user data in various languages. These measures are expected to help make online spaces safer for everyone.
Will the UN’s Plan Succeed?
Despite its ambitious goals, the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future are non-binding. This means that while the framework provides a roadmap, there is no guarantee that countries or companies will implement the proposals. The President of the UN General Assembly, Philémon Yunji, acknowledged this challenge, but remains hopeful that the Pact will “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order.”
It remains to be seen whether the ambitious goals set out in this framework will translate into real-world changes. However, the UN has successfully placed digital governance and AI at the forefront of the global agenda.
Top photo credit: UN Photo_Loey Felipe_The Summit of the Future
