Current Happenings in the Internet Governance Context in in July 2024

Internet GovernancePolicyDENIC

Wolfgang KleinwächterAug 6, 2024 4 min read

New draft version of the Global Digital Compact

On 12 July 2024, a third version of the Global Digital Compact was distributed to the 193 UN states under the so-called "Silence Procedure" with a date line of 17 July 2024.[1] The "Silence Procedure" means that the text is considered adopted if no UN state raises an objection. On 17 July 2024, more than 10 states, including the EU, USA, Russia and the G77, broke the "silence". The text is therefore deemed to have been rejected. From a Western perspective, the chapters on data governance, artificial intelligence and follow-up with proposals to create new institutions and launch new processes and a lack of support for the IGF were criticised. The two co-coordinators (Sweden and Zambia) have scheduled informal consultations on the controversial paragraphs for 17 August 2024. Further consultations with non-governmental stakeholders are not planned. The GDC is to be adopted as an annex to the "Pact for the Future" on 21 September 2021 in New York. The second version of the "Pact for the Future" was presented on 17 July 2024.

The future of the IGF

Registration for the 19th IGF (December 2024 in Riyadh) has been open since 23 July 2024. The program is due to be published at the end of August. On 26 July 2024, an informal position paper on the future of the IGF after 2025 was presented in the "IGF WG Strategy".[2] One of the discussion items addresses the question whether the IGF should be transformed into a formal organisation and given a new name after 2025.

Cyber crime and cyber security

On 12 July 2024, the 8th meeting of the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cyber security ended with the adoption of the 3rd Annual Progress Report (APR)[3]. The APR contains, among other things, recommendations on the implementation of the new Point of Contact Directory (POC), on confidence- and capacity-building measures and on the creation of a new "permanent mechanism" for cyber security negotiations under the umbrella of the UN after 2025. Elements of such a new mechanism are proposed in the annex to the APR. The first meeting of the new mechanism is planned for May 2026.

On 29 July 2024, the currently last round of negotiations to draft a UN convention against cyber crime began in New York.[4]At an expert conference in Geneva on 2 July 2024, representatives of the private sector and civil society expressed criticism of the draft of 23 May 2024. It contained many vague formulations, particularly with regard to the definition of criminal offences, the safeguarding of human rights and the guarantee of constitutional procedures in criminal prosecution. No treaty is better than a bad treaty, argued various parties, including EEF and Microsoft, in unison. [5]

The summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) took placein Astana on 7 July 2024. The final declaration[6] refers to the key role of the UN in strengthening cyber security and calls for the conclusion of internationally binding treaties on both cyber crime and international cyber security. The principle of national cyber sovereignty must be reaffirmed as a fundamental principle.

Activities in the field of artificial intelligence

China made further efforts to implement its "Global AI Governance Initiative" presented in October 2023. On 2 July 2024, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution introduced by China entitled "Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity Building of Artificial Intelligence"[7] . Similar to the AI resolution initiated by the USA in March 2024, it is primarily aimed at the Global South and aims to avoid an AI divide similar to the digital divide. On 4 July 2024, China hosted a "World AI Conference" in Shanghai, at which a "Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance"[8] was adopted. The declaration contains very general demands on AI developments, AI safety, AI governance, AI skills and increasing the quality of life through AI.

On 2 July 2024, the final report of the High Level Body on AI (HLAB) appointed by UN Secretary-General Guterres, which was announced for August, was leaked.[9] The report is said to contain the following seven recommendations: 1. the establishment of an "International Scientific Panel on AI" similar to the International Climate Council, 2. a biannual intergovernmental and multistakeholder "Policy Dialogue on AI Governance", 3. the establishment of an "AI Standards Exchange" to ensure that AI developments remain interoperable worldwide, 4. the formation of an "AI Capacity Development Network", which, among other things, should also familiarise government representatives with knowledge about AI developments, 5. the launch of a "Global Fund for AI", which should finance AI projects in the global South, 6. a "Global AI Data Framework" and 7. a new "AI Office" in the UN Secretariat.

[1] https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-compact

[2]https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rz85BvhXzsp-PLI34DJP48yGBzakGTQm/edit

[3]https://docs-library.unoda.org/Open-Ended_Working_Group_on_Information_and_Communication_Technologies_-_(2021)/Letter_from_OEWG_Chair_11_July_2024.pdf

[4]https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/v24/036/33/pdf/v2403633.pdf?token=fCbfkEkkHExAiUmCLl&fe=true

[5] https://www.diplomacy.edu/event/un-cybercrime-convention-will-states-give-in-disagreements-for-the-sake-of-a-global-common-threat

[6] https://eng.sectsco.org/20240709/1438929.html

[7]https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n24/183/80/pdf/n2418380.pdf?token=C28gzqR1KV9qIDkJDV&fe=true

[8]https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202407/t20240704_11448349.html

[9] https://www.un.org/en/ai-advisory-body