The World Internet Conference (WIC), along with 15 companies and institutions, submitted five proposals to the office of the UN tech envoy on digital connectivity, data protection, the governance of discrimination and misleading content, AI regulation and digital commons, under the framework of the Global Digital Compact (GDC).

The World Internet Conference (WIC) holds a symposium on study of the proposals on the Global Digital Compact (GDC) in Beijing on March 2, 2023. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

Proposed by the UN in September 2021, the GDC, a top-level initiative for global digital cooperation, is expected to “outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all”.

By collecting suggestions from relevant parties around the world and building consensus on global digital development, the GDC strives to establish a platform for the more open, safer and freer development of digitalization.

The GDC will be deliberated at the ministerial meeting for the UN Summit of the Future in September 2023, and is expected to be agreed at the Summit of the Future in September 2024.

While collecting proposals for the GDC, the UN will organize a series of symposiums to have in-depth discussions on all proposals. You can sign up to participate online in the symposiums through the UN website.

Website where you can sign up for the symposiums
https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-compact/intergovernmental-process

Schedule for the symposiums
April 24, 2023
Data Protection

May 8, 2023
Human Rights online

May 25, 2023
Digital trust and security

June 2, 2023
Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies

June 9, 2023
Global digital commons

June 14, 2023
Accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

We welcome all parties to join us in formulating the UN’s GDC, in a bid to contribute wisdom and strength to the development and governance of the global Internet and to enable everyone to benefit from the opportunities brought by digitalization.