The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is an opportunity for civil society to contribute to establishing agreed principles for digital governance that support human rights, social justice and sustainable development and that can form the basis of a longer-term framework for accountable and inclusive internet governance – and broader digital governance. Part of the process of drafting the GDC is a series of thematic deep dive sessions held from March to June 2023.
A deep dive session was held on 8 May 2023 on the theme of human rights online to discuss questions like:
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Digital technologies can greatly contribute to the protection of human rights. However, digital surveillance, censorship, algorithmic bias, online harassment, and other forms of abuse can suppress or violate human rights. How can women and girls, children, and persons in vulnerable situations such as persons with disabilities or persons belonging to linguistic minorities be supported in exercising their human rights online?
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What are the gaps in terms of existing mechanisms for protection and promotion of human rights in the digital domain? How can accountability of digital platforms – public and private – be strengthened?
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How can international organisations, member states and other stakeholders work together to ensure human rights offline are protected online?
The APC network's interventions at this session included:
Some message highlights from our intervention:
What is needed to ensure that the #GlobalDigitalCompact contributes to #HumanRightsOnline?
— APC (@APC_News) May 5, 2023
The internet must be operated, governed and regulated on the foundations of international human rights standards and the rule of law. pic.twitter.com/BBoN3dIqNs