Record STMT-M001Aspirational

Global Digital Compact

Pastoral letter International lawGlobaladoptedNot AI-specific

The United Nations Global Digital Compact establishes an international framework for digital cooperation aimed at closing digital divides, expanding digital economic inclusion, protecting human rights online, ensuring responsible data governance, and enhancing international AI governance. It outlines concrete objectives, cross-cutting principles, and commitments for UN member states and multi-stakeholder partners to be achieved by 2030. Key governance mechanisms include the creation of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance within the United Nations.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

United NationsIntergovernmental

Lead issuer

Legal forceAspirational

Under whose authorityInternational law

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

International communityGeneral publicNational governmentState or provincial governmentCompaniesAI developers and providersAI deployers and usersResearchers and academics

Governments, international organizations, private sector entities, civil society, and academic communities should read this to guide multi-stakeholder digital cooperation and AI governance.

Sectors

Cross-sectorTelecommunications and digital services · digital and emerging technologiesResearch and science · artificial intelligence and data systems

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses international digital cooperation across five core objectives: closing digital divides and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, expanding digital economic inclusion, protecting human rights in the digital space, advancing data governance, and enhancing international governance of artificial intelligence. It sets forth specific targets for connectivity, digital literacy, open-source development, online safety, information integrity, data privacy, and AI oversight.

What's missing

Binding international legal penalties or enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance by states or private technology corporations are not established in this text.

Key takeaways

Universal and meaningful connectivity should be achieved for all persons by 2030, supported by innovative financing and resilient infrastructure.
Digital public goods and open-source infrastructure are recognized as key drivers of inclusive digital transformation and sustainable development.
International human rights law must be respected and upheld across the entire life cycle of digital and emerging technologies.
Interoperable data governance approaches and secure cross-border data flows are essential to foster innovation and protect privacy.
An Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance will be established within the United Nations.

Principles it states

The inclusive participation of all States and other stakeholders is the cornerstone of this Compact.This Compact is development-oriented and rooted in the 2030 Agenda.This Compact is anchored in international law, including international human rights law.Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and their full, equal and meaningful participation in the digital space are essential.Our cooperation will leverage digital technologies for sustainability while minimizing their negative environmental impacts.Equitable and meaningful inclusion in the digital economy requires tackling existing concentrations of technological capacity and market power.Accessible and affordable data and digital technologies and services are essential.Our cooperation will advance interoperability between digital systems and compatible governance approaches.Our cooperation will advance a responsible, accountable, transparent and human-centric approach to the life cycle of digital and emerging technologies.Our cooperation will foster innovation and the potential for societies and businesses to reap the benefits of digitalization.Our cooperation will be multi-stakeholder and harness the contributions of all.We will enhance partnerships to ensure the provision of the required means of implementation to developing countries.Our cooperation must be forward-looking and capable of identifying, anticipating, assessing, monitoring and adapting to emerging technologies.

Outline

· Objectives
· Principles
· Commitments and actions
  - Objective 1. Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
  - Objective 2. Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all
  - Objective 3. Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
  - Objective 4. Advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches
  - Objective 5. Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity
· Follow-up and review

IssuedSeptember 2024

Length7,188 words · 16 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scopeglobal

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Fairness

4/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

Foster an open, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory digital environment for all that enables micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to access and compete in the digital economy

Objective 2, paragraph 21(a)

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Promote transparency, accountability and robust human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in compliance with international law

Objective 5, paragraph 55(d)

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

4/5

Protection of personal data and private life

Empower individuals and groups with the ability to consider, give and withdraw their consent to the use of their data and the ability to choose how those data are used

Objective 4, paragraph 39(c)

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

1/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

To track and monitor progress, we request the Secretary-General to provide a Compact implementation map

Follow-up and review, paragraph 71

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Establish appropriate safeguards to prevent and address any adverse impact on human rights arising from the use of digital and emerging technologies

Objective 3, paragraph 23(b)

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

digital_inclusion artificial_intelligence data_governance human_rights international_cooperation