Washington, DC, 8 September 2023 每 To reap the full benefits of the information age will require global cooperation. Technology*s formidable power has to be harnessed in ways that narrow the digital divide and uphold human rights. Too many people have been left out of the digital revolution.
In his Roadmap for Digital Cooperation in 2020, UN Secretary-General Ant車nio Guterres called on nations and tech companies to help connect the world by prioritizing universal, safe, inclusive and affordable Internet access for all by 2030 in order to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He urged respect for human rights and called on all stakeholders to help protect against online harms and rising threats to digital security.
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This week, Under-Secretary-General , the UN Secretary-General*s Envoy on Technology, was in Washington, DC, for meetings with Administration officials and others.
His focus was on implementation of the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, negotiation of a new ※Global Digital Compact§ ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Future, and the formation of an Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help countries cooperate in the face of pressing technical breakthroughs in AI technologies
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※The pace of tech innovation makes it essential that policymakers work together to make the most of the advances it promises§ Under-Secretary-General Gill said. ※The US is a key partner in this work. I was encouraged to hear the strong interest in the priorities laid down by the Secretary-General and am grateful for the US support on collaborative multistakeholder efforts in the UN to mitigate digital risks and harness opportunities to make progress on the SDGs.§