Key Takeaways from the U.N. Global Digital Compact ProcessVeni Markovski

On 22 September 2024, the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly adopted the Global Digital Compact (GDC) as an annex to the Pact for the Future, a document addressing a range of topics beyond the digital space, such as sustainable development, international peace, and security.

On Internet governance issues, it is a positive development that the parts of the GDC align with the positions of participants in the multistakeholder model of Internet governance by reinforcing key principles. These include recognizing that "Internet governance must continue to be global and multi-stakeholder in nature" with full involvement of all stakeholders and that the Internet "must be open, global, interoperable, stable and secure." It also includes supporting the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and recognizing the technical community as a distinct stakeholder.

The GDC's commitment to promoting "international cooperation among all stakeholders" to address risks of Internet fragmentation could be interpreted as aligning with ICANN's ongoing efforts to ensure a unified and cohesive global Internet through its mission to maintain the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. It is unclear whether such a cooperation will take place, or in what form. However, numerous workshops and sessions at the IGF have focused on Internet fragmentation.

ICANN has discussed the GDC process and the revisions to its text in several webinars organized through ICANN's WSIS+20 Outreach Network. Last year, we published a blog in response to statements by the U.N. Secretary-General and his Envoy on Technology, which claimed that the technical community is part of civil society. The blog was supported by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) and American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). The technical community is now formally recognized as a distinct stakeholder in the GDC. Additionally, ICANN organized and co-hosted informational briefings for U.N. diplomats in New York and in Geneva, providing insights into the functioning of the Internet, the role of Internationalized Domain Names in the development of the domain name space, and other related topics.

The GDC process, which lasted nearly two years, involved numerous formal meetings and informal consultations. Despite the co-facilitators' efforts to engage diverse stakeholders, the U.N. General Assembly's rules of procedure severely limited these attempts. As a result, valuable feedback from prominent organizations and individuals involved in the development of the Internet was lost due to the absence of recordings, transcripts, or even note taking.

Five revisions of the GDC were produced, yet each faced objections from U.N. Member States, leading to prolonged discussions and negotiations behind closed doors. In retrospect, the GDC process highlighted the limitations of the multilateral negotiations at the U.N.

It is critically important that we learn from the GDC process, and avoid its replication in the upcoming WSIS+20 review, scheduled for 2025 at the U.N. Governments may find that fostering inclusive, meaningful participation from allstakeholders in the WSIS+20 review could help create an outcome document that captures diverse ideas and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive and balanced approach to Internet governance.

Achieving meaningful and diverse participation requires proactive effort. Building on the lessons of the GDC, ICANN encourages those entities participating in ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees, as well as the broader Internet community to collaborate with their national governments. By providing subject-matter experts to participate as delegates in the U.N. negotiations or at least contribute to the formulation of national positions on the WSIS+20 Review, stakeholders can play a crucial role. Their involvement will help ensure that the WSIS+20 outcome document reflects diverse perspectives, which is essential to maintaining a single, global, interoperable, stable, and secure Internet.

ICANN's Government and Intergovernmental Organization engagement team will continue to interact with all parts of the ICANN community, while also working closely with diplomats at the U.N. in New York, Geneva, and national capitals to support this effort.