Data Talks - "Global Digital Compact: From Vision to Action - Key Takeaways and Future Directions"

On 22 September 2024, world leaders convened in New York for the Summit of the Future, where they adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact (GDC). GDC was introduced as “a comprehensive framework for global governance of digital technology and artificial intelligence”. Following this milestone, the pressing question arises: what comes next?
This edition of Data Talk on the GDC convenes experts, including representatives from the Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology and UNSG High-Level Advisory Body on AI, who were actively involved in shaping and adopting this critical agreement. Participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the GDC’s purpose, key commitments, and priorities, as well as insights into the negotiation and adoption processes. The session outlines the GDC’s roadmap and its practical implications, focusing on how to transform the GDC commitments into impactful action to address today’s digital challenges.
A key part of the discussion covers immediate steps to operationalize the GDC, particularly how it can serve as a guiding document for the future of AI governance. The session highlights recommendations for next steps in critical areas such as digital inclusion, ethical AI governance, and sustainable digital growth. It also examines topics that emerged through the GDC consultations, such as the role of trust as a central and essential element for meaningful and inclusive digital governance. Additionally, we explore connections to existing challenges - such as energy consumption, inequality, and digital access - as AI and other digital innovations continue to reshape these debates.
This Data Talk aims to give practitioners a clear understanding of the GDC commitments and practical strategies for future implementation. It also provides a more practical understanding of how the GDC can evolve alongside emerging digital technologies and help guide international efforts for an equitable digital future.
Speakers:
• Renata Dwan, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
• Nighat Dad, Executive Director of the Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan, Member of the UNSG High-level Advisory Body on AI
• Linda Bonyo, Founder of the Lawyers Hub, Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on Technology Policy
Moderator:
• Branka Panic, Senior Advisor, Data Innovation Lab, German Federal Foreign Office