My intervention at the ‘multistakeholder’ information session on the Global Digital Compact at the UN

Below is the speech I delivered on behalf of Manushya Foundation during the United Nations’ so-called multistakeholder information session on the GDC:

We appreciate the opportunity to speak as we critically evaluate the third and latest revision of the Global Digital Compact. This document, released under the silence procedure, has provoked considerable discourse, leading to member states breaking their silence due to contentious points within the draft.

We appreciate the opportunity to speak as we critically evaluate the third and latest revision of the Global Digital Compact. This document, released under the silence procedure, has provoked considerable discourse, leading to member states breaking their silence due to contentious points within the draft.

We are compelled to speak out because the subtle yet profound changes from the previous drafts signal a dangerous shift towards centralisation and bureaucracy that contradicts the decentralised nature that has made the Internet a bastion of freedom and innovation. This push towards centralisation mimics the heavy-handed governance models, which have only proven to stifle free expression and restrict access to information. Furthermore, the introduction of additional bureaucratic structures despite the existence of competent bodies already addressing these issues, is redundant.

We are particularly alarmed by the reliance on corporate self-regulation. This method has consistently failed us, serving corporate interests at the expense of privacy and ethical conduct. Moreover, the diluted language concerning human rights and the marginalisation of civil society’s role in this draft is unconscionable. Civil society is the guardian of public interest, yet this draft relegates it to the periphery, favoring instead a top-down approach that centralises power and silences dissenting voices. The weakening of the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights represents a profound failure of responsibility. It reduces a vital watchdog to a token participant, undermining its ability to challenge and address human rights abuses in the digital realm. This is not just a step back; it is a leap into dangerous territory where human rights are not the guiding principles but mere afterthoughts.

This compact, as it stands, is a recipe for increased surveillance, censorship, and repression under the guise of digital cooperation. It uses vague language that some countries can and will exploit to justify their crackdowns on digital freedoms.

We urge the co-facilitators and member states to amend this draft and to engage in a truly inclusive, transparent process that places human rights, transparency, and the global public interest at the core of digital governance. We owe it to the global citizenry to ensure that their rights are not traded away on the altar of expediency or political convenience.

Thank you for your attention. We look forward to engaging in a process that respects the voices of all stakeholders and not just states and protects the digital rights of every citizen, not just the interests of the powerful few.

And here’s my from a screenshot taken by WSIS :D