Summary:
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The need for worldwide digital rights international women’s rights organizations Equality Now and Women Leading in AI are advocating for universal digital rights that are grounded in human rights law and supported by an intersectional, feminist-informed, and anti-discrimination analysis to achieve a well-governed digital space.
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We cannot rely on different national laws and policies to direct, control, and maintain our global digital ecosystem, just as national efforts alone will never be able to address a global environmental problem.
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More than fifty nations have endorsed the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, which shows that there is still a desire to unite around a vision of how the digital world ought to operate, especially in this geopolitical unpredictability.
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Because of this, Equality Now and Women Leading in AI are attending the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa and are eager to network with other participants who wish to co-create ethical, legal, and technical solutions to address existing and potential problems in the digital sphere.
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To ensure that the Internet and digital technology serve everyone’s interests rather than those of a select few, we want to ensure that the perspectives of women, girls, and other groups subject to discrimination worldwide are included in the consultation on the Global Digital Compact.
An exceptional chance to guarantee that human rights are respected in common global standards for the digital world exists with the upcoming consultation on the Global Digital Compact.
A Global Digital Compact, a collection of universal principles for our digital future, has been suggested by the UN and is expected to be approved by Member States in September 2024. The UN Secretary-Envoy General on Technology is holding consultations as part of his mandate to “outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all,” and this provides a unique opportunity to make sure that these principles are grounded in human rights law and supported by an intersectional feminist, anti-discrimination analysis.
This is not the first time that several nations have contributed to a text outlining a more advantageous course for the future of the digital world. The Declaration for the Future of the Internet provides a code of conduct for how nation-states should conduct themselves in the digital arena and outlines priorities for an “open, free, global, interoperable, dependable, and secure” Internet. Although the participation of 61 nations is a positive development, it also serves as a reminder of how inadequately the world’s patchwork of rules and regulations protects and advances online human rights.
The Declaration envisions a well-governed digital space where censorship is outlawed, privacy is safeguarded, freedom of expression is respected, and human rights and democracy are upheld.
But none of this can be accomplished by merely declaring one’s intentions. Our human rights also apply in the digital realm, and these rights must be legally protected.
A vehicle for both immense benefit and terrible damage, the Internet
The promise of the Internet to break down borders, usher in freedoms, connect people around the world, and advance liberty, democracy, and equality has only partially come to pass.
Although the Internet has done a lot of good, it has also evolved into a potent weapon for harming, aiding in the spread of misinformation, spying, and divisiveness, as well as an upsurge in online crime, harassment, and abuse.
People do not receive the benefits of digital dividends in the manner that they ought to, and the widespread existence of exploitative and frequently low-paying jobs is hidden behind the façade of the digital world that most people see.
Because regulations are applied inconsistently across jurisdictions, and the private sector continues to rely on voluntary standards and guidelines, multinational IT corporations generally regulate themselves. However, they have been unable to stop the spread of false information, hate speech, and toxic narratives contaminating our digital ecology.
We must reconsider how we ensure everyone can access, use, and benefit from the Internet and other digital technologies.
The need for worldwide digital rights
International women’s rights organizations Equality Now and Women Leading in AI advocate for universal digital rights grounded in human rights law and supported by an intersectional, feminist-informed, and anti-discrimination analysis to achieve a well-governed digital space. Accountability on the side of governments and businesses would be ensured by stating clearly how human rights apply in cyberspace.
Some laws and rules, particularly those pertaining to data privacy and freedom of speech. However, a shared understanding of core online rights is required.
Clarifying what universal digital rights are would address the current grave problems brought on by the improper use of the Internet and digital technology. People would be protected from human rights abuses not covered by existing laws, such as when the law is applied in the Metaverse, a virtual reality. Additionally, it would promote equal and inexpensive access to the Internet and digital technology, contributing to a more inclusive digital environment.
Clarity overall digital rights would address the difficulties currently associated with protecting a person’s “digital twin” or digital representation. It will ensure reliable AI while addressing the inconsistent and inadequate Internet regulation that is currently in place.
Human rights also extend to the internet realm. Hence there needs to be legal protection for our digital rights.
Achieving universal digital rights is ambitious, but only global, multi-sectoral collaboration can ensure equal Internet and usage of digital technologies. We cannot rely on different national laws and policies to direct, control, and maintain our global digital ecosystem, just as national efforts alone will never be able to address a global environmental problem.
More than fifty nations have endorsed the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, which shows that there is still a desire to unite around a vision of how the digital world ought to operate, especially in this geopolitical unpredictability. The Digital Global Compact offers a chance for this ideal to be realized on a global scale.
Discussions among a variety of stakeholders at the global level about how to attain universal digital rights must include and give an ear to diverse viewpoints. Because of this, Equality Now and Women Leading in AI are attending the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa and are eager to network with other participants who wish to co-create ethical, legal, and technical solutions to address existing and potential problems in the digital sphere.
To ensure that the Internet and digital technology serve everyone’s interests rather than those of a select few, we want to ensure that the perspectives of women, girls, and other groups subject to discrimination worldwide are included in the consultation on the Global Digital Compact.
Analysis by: Advocacy Unified Network
