Applying Human Right Online : my position regarding the Global Digital Compact (to be agreed at the Summit of the Future in September 2023)

 

We really had to make sure we are not missing An Opportunity to contribute to the Global Digital Compact that is going to be agreed at the Summit of the Future in September 2023 through a technology track involving all stakeholders: governments, the United Nations system, the private sector (including tech companies), civil society, grass-roots organizations, academia, and individuals, including youth.

Some of our ideas might have looked more "Radical", but let me tell you that's is what the Community feels from our Perspectives as Civil Society.

So, in the Digital Compact, what are our limitations?

During this consultation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), I have been assigned to develop my thoughts using this lens: Applying Human rights Online

My opinion at the 17th Internet Governance Forum (#IGF2022) in a nutshell...

What does Applying Human Rights Online imply?

Applying human rights online implies many aspects in current emerging technologies ...
And all of them are summarized in ways we can make the internet and all digital technologies "Human-Centered" because when we say "Digital", it's not only about technologies but "humanity" in general.

And as the world is moving towards digitalization, there are some questions that we should keep asking ourselves :
- Are digital technologies ACCESSIBLE?
- Are these technologies built upon TRUST?
- Are they SECURE
And above all, are they really INCLUSIVE?

Having this said, I would like to thank NDI for making this discussion Inclusive for the minority, especially those people who can not speak English Fluently and guess what, this can even be seen as a kind of Disability, Trust me :)

The Accessibility side of the Digital Technologies

By applying human rights online, as I said earlier,
First: we have to make sure Digital Technologies are accessible...

For this, we don't only need legal frameworks, because in some of our countries, there are policies that are stating that public authorities have to provide the population with electronic communication services at an affordable price, regardless of their geographical location in the national territory: And in my country, we call it THE PRINCIPE OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE...


But guess what, some governments are ready to make profits at the expense of PEOPLE and our planet by creating IMAGINARY TAXES (I am not pointing the Government of my country because they have created a tax on mobile devices at a time when the whole world was fighting with COVID-19 effects ), and I agree with the idea saying that when profits come at the expense of people, we are letting ourselves with an INCOMPLETE PICTURE OF TRUE COST OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.


Building Online Human rights through TRUST and SECURITY

When it comes to TRUST and SECURITY, we have to make sure Digital Technologies are safe for everyone.

Because I am afraid of achieving Digital Transformation and Connecting people worldwide in an UNSECURED PLACE.
I feel like we will be inviting people to the WRONG PARTY.

Making Digital Technologies work for everyone

Are digital technologies Inclusive?
How are we making sure marginalized community groups, people living with disability and those with special needs are not being left behind when it comes to designing Technologies (I mean Policies and Standards Behind)?

Are they really involved in the various processes upon which Digital Technologies are being built?

RECOMMENDATIONS

Definitely, in order to make sure we are making sure Digital Technologies are Human-Centered, I would rather recommend the Multi-Stakeholder Approach than the Multilateral.

Making sure Civil Societies are part of the processes Digital Technologies are going through before being implemented, I think it’s a pathway to Achieving Human Rights Online.

We should not let Big Tech Companies' Business model or Philosophy defines alone what the Digital future should look like; it might be VERY LATE for us (Civil Society) to address issues related to Digital human rights like Privacy, Freedom of Expression, Inclusivity, etc.


THANK YOU!