The discussion about the Global Digital Compact continues
The discussion about the Global Digital Compact (GDC) has once again stumbled over the last mile. After the third draft (GDC Rev.3) failed at the end of July 2024, the two co-coordinators initially scheduled another informal round of discussions with governments and a multi-stakeholder consultation on 22 August 2024. On 28 August 2024, a fourth version was published, again under the "Silence Procedure". GDC Rev.4 differed only slightly from the third version. However, before the deadline expired (29 August 2024, 15:00 ET), the "silence" was also broken for this version, this time by members of the Group of 77 (including India, Eritrea, Iran) and Russia, who primarily criticised the references to human rights and the condemnation of internet shutdowns. Further bilateral talks are now planned for early September to ensure that the GDC can be adopted by the heads of state and government of the 193 UN member states in New York on 23 September 2024. Non-state actors criticize especially the non-transparent procedure.
19th IGF with more than 100 sessions
On 28 August 2024, the host of the 19th IGF, Saudi Arabia, launched the local website. On the same day, the MAG also published the program with over 100 sessions in various formats. The "IGF Dynamic Coalition on Blockchain and Standardisation" has changed its name and is now called "IGF DC Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)".
Draft UN convention against cybercrime criticised
On 9 August 2024, the members of the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) agreed on a final text for a UN convention against cybercrime. The text was sharply criticised by representatives of business and civil society. They complained about a lack of safeguards for the protection of human rights and vague guarantees for constitutional procedures in criminal prosecution, which they feared would turn the treaty into a censorship and surveillance treaty. The negotiations were initiated by Russia in 2019. Western countries had initially pointed to the Budapest Convention of 2001 as a better alternative, but ultimately gave in to the pressure of countries from the Global South, which prioritised a UN instrument. The text must now be adopted by the 79th UN General Assembly. It will enter into force once the 30 instruments of ratification have been deposited.
Autonomous weapons systems and international humanitarian law
No progress was made at the 20th round of negotiations on internet-based autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) from 26 - 30 August 2024 in Geneva. The round discussed a "rolling text" presented by the current GGE LAWS Chair on 26 July 2024. On 26 August 2024, a group of ten states, including the USA, Estonia, Japan, Poland and the UK, presented a draft text for a possible agreement. The aim of this draft is to bind the use of LAWS to the Geneva Conventions on international humanitarian law. UN Secretary-General Guterres has been calling for a ban modelled on the B and C weapons for years. At Austria's initiative, Guterres presented a report on autonomous weapons to the 79th UN General Assembly on 1 July 2024 and repeated his proposal to negotiate a treaty on these weapons systems by 2026. Austria will also organise a session on this topic at the IGF in Riyadh.
Overcoming the digital divide
On 6 August 2024, Chinese expert Han Sam, member of the "Information and Cybersecurity, Digital Development Working Group of the BRICS Civil Forum", presented a six-point plan on how the BRICS countries can increase their influence on global digital policy. The paper focuses primarily on overcoming the digital divide and helping underdeveloped countries. The BRICS summit will take place in November in Kazan, Russia.
In preparation for the meeting of G20 Digital Ministers in Maceió (September 2024), the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) has launched a Digital Infrastructure Investment Initiative (DI³). At a virtual workshop with representatives from 69 countries (12 August 2024), which was also attended by UN Tech Envoy Amandeep Gil, the central topic was how to overcome the digital divide.
Focus on AI safety
During US Security Advisor Jack Sullivan's visit to China (26 to 28 August 2024), the meeting with Foreign Minister Wang focused on AI security and the prevention of "miscalculation and escalation in cyberspace". Following the last summit between Presidents Biden and Xi in San Francisco (November 2023), informal consultations on AI security took place in Geneva in May 2024; the outcome was not disclosed. AI security will be a priority of a new meeting between Biden and Xi, which will take place either on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru or the G20 meeting in Rio (November 2024).
