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Global Access, Global Progress: Managing the Challenges of Global Digital Adoption

Time
Monday, 16th December, 2024 (10:30 UTC) - Monday, 16th December, 2024 (12:30 UTC)
About this Session
The rapid spread and adoption of new and emerging technologies is a matter of intense interest, particularly given these technologies' potential to increase productivity and build cost-effective, impactful, and sustainable solutions across numerous sectors. However, while significant progress has been made, adoption of emerging technologies is threatening to exacerbate gaps, especially as one third of the global population remains offline. The rapid development and adoption of data-driven technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other technologies threatens to widen the gap, pushing those without meaningful access even further behind. These technologies, while offering potential benefits in terms of social, economic and environmentally sustainable development, pose a double-sided challenge to all Internet stakeholders - how to manage the rapid pace of change that is now occurring in some societies, while working to ensure the digital divide is closing rather than widening. International and multistakeholder cooperation is key in pushing the access and knowledge frontiers, and the only avenue to extend the benefits of connectivity to all, ensuring that no one is left behind. In turn, emerging technologies can also be leveraged to better understand and address divides, as well as acting as drivers of access.

This Main Session will consider the necessary steps to connect the next billions, as a stepping stone to ensure that all emerging technologies, including AI and data exchange can be inclusive, and their benefits are harnessed by everyone, everywhere. The speakers will exchange best practices and recommendations to address the persisting divides (across all its dimensions, including geographic, gender, skills, abilities, etc), with a holistic view that considers both the challenges and opportunities offered by emerging technologies.

 

Policy questions:
- How can the multistakeholder community effectively address persisting challenges to ensure that the benefits of emerging technologies are universally accessible and inclusive?
- What are the practical considerations to unlocking the transformative potential of emerging technologies, and how can those support connecting the next billions?
- What are the existing and emerging best practices to consider in the development of a global policy approach that enables trust in innovation and fosters socioeconomic growth?
- How can investment in diverse technologies accelerate universal connectivity and bridge gaps, and what elements are essential to create an environment that promotes and enables such investment?
- As the digital economy develops, how can we get the most contributions from the different actors of the internet ecosystem to tackle digital connectivity and inclusion and affordability  without closing opportunities for different businesses models and preserve Internet openness for all?
- What are the benefits for people in gaining access to digital, and emerging technologies, and what are the existing examples to build skills to engage and harness those benefits? What are the risks that accompany these benefits?
- What common strategic elements, including software resources and training, may help local communities to develop their own digital government policies and systems?

Expected outcomes:
This Main Session will shed light on the existing barriers and opportunities in expanding meaningful access and connectivity, and addressing persisting digital divides. Speakers will share substantive recommendations to mitigate risks and identify best practices to ensure that the benefits of emerging digital technologies are accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Reference documents:
OECD (2024), Framework for Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/0248ead5-en 

Speakers:

  1. Mr Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative (PIN)
  2. Ms Thelma Quaye, Director of Digital Infrastructure, Skills and Empowerment, Smart Africa
  3. Ms Sally Wentworth, President and Chief Executive Officer, Internet Society (ISOC)
  4. Dr Takuo Imagawa, Vice Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan (MIC-Japan)
  5. Ms Alaa Abdulaal, Chief of Digital Economy Foresight, Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
  6. Mr José Renato Laranjeira de Pereira, Co-Founder of the Laboratory of Public Policy and Internet — LAPIN and a Researcher at the University of Bonn's Sustainable AI Lab
  7. Mr Shivnath Thukral, Vice President, Public Policy India, Meta
  8. Ms Tami Bhaumik, Vice President, Civility and Partnerships, Roblox, Chairperson of the Board, Family Online Safety Institute

Moderator:
Ms Timea Suto, Global Digital Policy Lead, International Chamber of Commerce

Theme
Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in digital space
Session Time
Monday, 16th December, 2024 (10:30 UTC) - Monday, 16th December, 2024 (12:30 UTC)