RIPE Cooperation Working Group Interim Session: The Global Digital Compact

WG Co-Chairs: Achilleas Kemos, Johan Helsingius, Desiree Miloshevic

On 19 April 2023 from 12:00 to 13:00 (UTC), the RIPE Cooperation Working Group will hold a remote session via Zoom.

Recording

Session Description

There are currently multiple community consultation activities underway to contribute to development of a United Nations Global Digital Compact. The RIPE Cooperation Working Group will host a one-hour remote session to discuss the issues at stake in this process, to hear from the RIPE NCC on its draft response to current consultations, and to consider the RIPE community’s position and role in relation to these processes. 

Background Information

What is the Global Digital Compact?

The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is a document proposed by the Office of the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology, which aims to “outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all”’. It is planned that it will be finalised in September 2024 at the United Nations Summit of the Future. The GDC represents the latest step in a long policy journey to develop a shared understanding of key digital principles globally and common rules that will guide the development of our digital future.

Why is this relevant? 

The GDC has the potential to inform and guide public policy making at the national and supra-national levels in relation to Internet operations and other technology governance issues. At the same time, the GDC’s development offers an opportunity to strengthen the UN commitment  to the multistakeholder approach to decision-making on Internet governance and digital public policy. Such an approach is critical to ensuring that the Internet technical community (alongside the private sector, civil society, and academia) have a voice in Internet governance processes.

How are we contributing?

The United Nations has an open survey to gather feedback and insight from all GDC stakeholders in a structured way. This survey seeks input on eight general areas, each further divided into core principles and key commitments/pledges/actions.

The RIPE NCC has prepared a contribution to three of these themes most relevant to its work and remit: Connect All People to the Internet, Avoid Internet Fragmentation, and Digital Commons as a Global Public Good. This session will be an opportunity for the RIPE community to comment on the current draft and approach.