#IGF2020: From Internet to digital governance?

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th IGF meeting was convened completely online. With over 250 sessions, this year’s conference was dedicated to 4 thematic tracks: Data, Environment, Inclusion, and Trust, that, in addition to addressing some of the most pressing digital policy issues, also explored the interplay between digital technologies and sustainable development. According to the analysis conducted by Diplo’s Data and AI team, the largest number of sessions was dedicated to sustainable development goal (SDG) 9 that tackles industry, innovation, and infrastructure, followed by SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).

When it comes to the most popular topics at IGF 2020, development and sociocultural issues came first. Along these lines, sustainable development and related topics, including access and capacity development, featured as the main topic in more than 25 panels and workshops addressing the Environment and Inclusion tracks. Sociocultural questions pertaining to issues such as disinformation, trust, and online learning were at large discussed in the context of the pandemic.

Looking at the most popular terms at this year’s event, with more than 4000 appearances, ‘data’ was by far the most dominant term. It was mostly discussed in the context of privacy, environment, openness, and trustworthiness. Our analysis has also shown a growing use of the prefix ‘digital’ that signals a widening of the narrow focus on Internet governance to include digital literacy, digital divide, digital inclusion, to name but a few.

To learn more about IGF 2020, please consult Digital Watch.

The Digital Geneva Atlas: Mapping actors and approaches

On 30 November, the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) launched the Digital Geneva Atlas, a directory of more than 40 Geneva-based international organisations and actors involved in digital policy. As a living document, the Atlas provides a comprehensive overview of the digital governance scene in Geneva. More specifically, as per the Internet governance taxonomy, it carefully explores the actors’ scope of work in the domain of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital standards, data governance, and privacy, to name but a few.

The Atlas aims to make the connection between digital policy processes and actors involved, and ultimately help small and developing countries navigate the complex policy landscape in Geneva.

To explore the Atlas and identify how, among other things, humanitarian, human rights, and health organisations approach digital questions, click here.

Recent tech developments at Diplo and the GIP

In order to assist researchers in data analysis and result interpretation, Diplo’s Data and AI team has created the Data Sandbox. Developed as part of the Road to Bern process, and containing more than 700 datasets on 193 countries (such as GDP, CO2 emissions, number of hospital beds, and the rate of corruption), the Sandbox is part of the wider pilot Data Engine project. The tool allows users to compare datasets and spot variations in country ranking, and thus draw conclusions or trigger further research in order to understand potential discrepancies.

Diplo’s Country–Company Comparison Tool allows for an evaluation of countries’ GDP and how it measures to global tech companies.

Third in line of Diplo’s tech developments, the Speech Generator, smartly combines human and artificial intelligence to generate diplomatic statements on cybersecurity. The tool allows users to compare the official positions of actors involved in discussions within the UN Group of Governmental Experts (UN GGE) and the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), and retrieve answers to cybersecurity-related questions.

Socio-economic transformation through the digital prism

Basing itself on three elements: knowledge, technology and future readiness to embrace digitalisation, the Digital Competitiveness Index explores how 63 countries and territories rank in employing digital technologies for socio-economic transformation. Three countries, namely, the US (1), Singapore (2) and Norway (9) have maintained the same places from last year. The commonality between all top ten countries is investment in knowledge and talent development whereas the bottom ten countries, mostly located in Latin America, underperform on attracting foreign highly-skilled personnel and e-participation.