UN Global Digital Compact (GDC): AI Governance and Digital Infrastructure
Following our input to the open consultation on the UN’s Global Digital Compact, we’ve participated the 19th edition of the UN IGF (Internet Governance Forum) to further explore how AI systems can support public systems, assistive technologies, and related digital infrastructure. During the Summit, we took part several sessions, including presenting a chapter for the book - AI from the Global Majority. This builds on our previous contributions and feedback submitted to open calls and consultations: UN, UNDP, OHCHR, AIFod.
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Connectivity and Access Targets
The Compact highlights the critical digital divide affecting 2.6 billion people worldwide who remain unconnected to the Internet [§11(b)]. By 2030, member states commit to connecting this population through innovative financing mechanisms and infrastructure deployment [§11(b)]. While earlier drafts aimed to set entry-level broadband subscription costs at less than 2% of the average income for the bottom 40% of national populations, Rev.4 revised this language, emphasizing affordability that is "accessible to the widest section of the population," allowing greater flexibility for national adaptation [§11(b)].
Universal connectivity extends beyond individual access to institutional infrastructure. The initiative builds upon the Giga program (ITU–UNICEF collaboration) to map and connect all schools and hospitals globally to Internet services by 2030 [§11(d)]. This represents a systematic approach to bridging educational and healthcare digital gaps across developed and developing nations.
Digital Skills, Literacy and Capacity Development
The Compact originally proposed ambitious benchmarks—80% of populations with basic digital skills and 60% with intermediate or advanced competencies by 2030. In Rev.4, these figures were revised with a commitment to pursue "maximum coverage of basic digital skills for as many as possible," while continuing to advance more specialized capabilities [§13(a)]. This approach provides national governments with flexibility to scale digital education according to local needs.
Data frameworks call for systematic disaggregation across key demographic dimensions—income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migration status, disability, and geographical location—enabling precision targeting of capacity-building initiatives and monitoring progress across vulnerable populations [§13(d)].
Sustainable Development Goals Integration
The Compact reinforces data-driven development, committing to improved tracking and targeting of the SDGs [§45(b)]. Earlier drafts referenced a 50% increase in data availability for SDG monitoring, which Rev.4 rephrases as a pledge to "scale up predictable financing" for sustainable development data and to significantly expand disaggregated datasets [§45(a)]. These enhancements support evidence-based policymaking and accelerate measurement of progress across all 17 SDGs.
Environmental sustainability targets emphasize lifecycle approaches to digital infrastructure [§11(e)]. Whereas earlier versions mentioned achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Rev.4 shifts toward ensuring digital infrastructure and equipment are sustainably designed to address environmental challenges, particularly for resource use, emissions, and e-waste generation [§11(e)].
Artificial Intelligence Governance Structure
The Compact introduces two primary governance mechanisms for AI under UN leadership [§56]:
Independent International Scientific Panel on AI – promoting scientific understanding through evidence-based assessments with balanced geographic representation and annual reporting [§56(a)]
Global Dialogue on AI Governance – convening all 193 UN member states and relevant stakeholders for inclusive policy discussion and knowledge-sharing [§56(b)]
To reduce global AI disparities, the Compact outlines key AI capacity-building goals [§60-62]:
Development of representative, high-quality datasets across developing countries [§62]
Affordable access to compute resources [§60]
Local AI models and tools that reflect linguistic and cultural diversity [§59, §62]
Narrowing of AI divides through inclusive technology transfer [§61]
Support for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to engage in the digital economy [§60]
Data Governance and Cross-Border Flows
Development of Data Standards and Interoperable Frameworks (by 2030) [§42]:
National data governance frameworks that are interoperable and rights-based [§39(b)]
Standardized data and metadata classifications [§42(b)]
Common definitions for the public-benefit reuse of data [§42(c)]
Mechanisms for trusted cross-border data flows with privacy protections [§46-47]
While earlier versions proposed a 50% increase in SDG-related data financing, Rev.4 now commits to "scaling up predictable financing" for sustainable development data under SDG 17 [§45(a)].
Data Disaggregation Requirements
The framework mandates comprehensive demographic disaggregation—by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migration status, disability status, and geographic location—ensuring inclusion in data systems and enabling equitable digital policy implementation [§13(d), §45(b)].
Financial and Implementation Commitments
The Compact outlines innovative funding structures, including the proposed Global Fund for AI for Sustainable Development [§63], blended public-private financing mechanisms [§67], and cooperation with multilateral development banks [§67]. Implementation will leverage existing UN platforms such as the Digital Window of the Joint SDG Fund [§67] while integrating philanthropic and private-sector pledges [§67].
Institutional Framework:
Strengthened coordination through a proposed UN-wide digital cooperation office, building on the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology [§72]
High-level review meeting during the 82nd UN General Assembly (2027) [§74]
Annual implementation mapping [§71]
Integration into WSIS+20 review (2025) [§68]
Regional and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement
Priority Country Categories [§8(b)]:
46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
38 Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Middle-income countries facing digital capacity challenges
UN Agency Coordination:
Implementation leverages specialized agencies including ITU, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, and OHCHR [§69]. Coordination extends through the UN's five Regional Economic Commissions and over 130 UN Country Teams worldwide [§69].
Conclusion
The Global Digital Compact represents a historic multilateral consensus on the future of digital cooperation [§1-4]. It articulates measurable commitments across AI governance, data stewardship, infrastructure access, and inclusive digital transformation—framing technology not as an end in itself, but as a shared means to achieve sustainable development for all [§7].
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References
¹ United Nations. "Global Digital Compact." Adopted at the Summit of the Future, September 22, 2024. UN Headquarters, New York.
² United Nations. "Global Digital Compact - United Nations Summit of the Future." 2024.
³ United Nations, Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. "Global Digital Compact." September 22, 2024.
⁴ United Nations Secretary-General. "Our Common Agenda: policy brief 5: a Global Digital Compact - an open, free and secure digital future for all." UN Digital Library, 2023.
⁵ United Nations General Assembly. "Pact for the Future." Adopted September 22, 2024. A/RES/79/1.
⁶ United Nations. "Internet Governance Forum." Official IGF website. 2024.
⁷ United Nations. "19th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum." December 15-19, 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ United Nations News. "Internet Governance Forum: Shaping a safe and equitable digital future." December 16, 2024.
⁹ United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. "Internet Governance Forum closes with call for stronger multistakeholder action." December 19, 2024.
¹⁰ United Nations. "19th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum: Overview." Indico.UN. December 2024.
¹¹ Inter-Parliamentary Union. "Parliamentary Track at the Internet Governance Forum 2024." December 2024.