12 July 2018: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has established a High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, to inform on the benefits of digital technology and investigate how to protect against unwanted impacts and negative externalities. The panel, announced on 12 July 2018, is to be co-chaired by Melinda Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Jack Ma, Alibaba Group, and is comprised of 20 members representing industry, civil society and academia.

Speaking about the panel, Guterres said that digital technology is changing economies and societies “at warp speed” and pointed out that the UN can provide a unique platform for the dialogue and international cooperation critical to realizing the full potential of digital technologies, safeguarding against risks, and contributing to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. He talked about the daily emergence of new technological developments related to artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and robotics, but also highlighted the “dark side of innovation,” mentioning cybersecurity threats, the risks of cyberwarfare, the magnification of hate speech, and violations of privacy.

Gates said technology is neither good nor bad but rather a “powerful tool” that can improve the lives of all people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, if they have equal access.

Indian Ambassador Amandeep Singh Gill, Executive Director, Secretariat of the High-level Panel, said the panel seeks to avoid a competitive approach to digital issues, which can hinder the potential of digital technology to contribute to the SDGs. He highlighted the need to address potential positive and negative effects on people’s social, economic and human rights, and cited subversion of democracy as a potential negative impact. Gill highlighted the interlinkages among technologies such as ‘web 3.0’ (a new paradigm in web interaction), blockchain and AI, and expressed hope that the panel would identify common principles and strengthen cross-border cooperation.

The Panel will:

• map trends in digital technologies, identify gaps and opportunities, and outline proposals for strengthening international cooperation;
• have a “modest” budget and administrative support, and will maximize its impacts by undertaking a cross-cutting approach;
• compile views and proposals of Member States, relevant industries, civil society and academia through a consultation process; and
• call for contributions from the general public through virtual hubs and online participation platforms.

The panel has a nine-month mandate and will meet twice, in September 2018 during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, US, and in January 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. It will also convene two regional consultations in Asia and in Africa.

The Panel is expected to submit a final report, including actionable recommendations, to the Secretary-General. The report is expected to: raise awareness about the transformative impact of digital technologies across society and the economy; identify policy, research and information gaps as well as ways to improve interdisciplinary action on digital technologies; and present concrete proposals to strengthen cooperation in the digital space in an effective and inclusive manner. [UN News Story] [UN Press Release from Office of the Secretary General] [Remarks by the UN Secretary-General] [High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation Website]