UN's Global Digital Compact Holds Off Authoritarian Influence on Internet Control

[Social Media]

 

The United Nations recently passed a landmark Global Digital Compact, aimed at regulating the Internet while safeguarding democratic values. Despite pressure from authoritarian states, the inclusion of human rights as a central tenet in the Compact represents a win for Western-backed, rights-oriented governance models. The resolution has not pleased Russia and China, both of whom have long advocated for “Internet sovereignty” — a concept that would grant countries complete control over their digital ecosystems, essentially allowing each state to regulate its corner of the Internet without international oversight.

 

For years, Russia and China have pushed for this shift, framing it as a means to protect national sovereignty. However, many argue that their real goal is to evade accountability in matters of censorship, surveillance, and digital control. By promoting a state-centric approach, these countries aim to limit outside influence over how they handle information and online platforms within their borders. Moscow, for instance, has historically resisted frameworks that would restrict its ability to control online content and Internet infrastructure, arguing instead that such efforts threaten state sovereignty.

 

The Compact’s emphasis on human rights is a victory for Western advocates, including the United States and the European Union, who have pushed back against state-centric control models. Nevertheless, the UN resolution is non-binding, leaving the door open for future challenges from dissenting nations. Both Russia and Argentina have dissociated themselves from the Compact, signaling resistance to its human rights-based approach and jeopardizing efforts to preserve a globally open Internet.

 

Argentina’s decision to distance itself from the Compact highlights a larger concern among developing countries, particularly in the Global South. Many nations in these regions resist global frameworks that they perceive as potentially encroaching on their national autonomy. Argentina’s stance reflects a broader unease, raising concerns that others might follow its lead. Should this happen, the already fragile consensus underpinning the Compact could weaken further, making future negotiations more complex and contentious.

 

The new Compact represents the latest chapter in the UN’s decades-long involvement with Internet governance. Back in 2001, the UN General Assembly established the World Summit on the Information Society, which eventually led to the creation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGF has served as a multi-stakeholder platform, bringing together governments, civil society, and the tech industry to foster dialogue on digital issues. However, recent technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, coupled with rising geopolitical tensions, led UN Secretary-General António Guterres to propose a more robust framework to meet these emerging challenges.

 

Guterres’ vision for the Global Digital Compact goes beyond Internet governance, aiming to bridge the digital divide, promote ethical AI, and align technology policies with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, as optimistic as this initiative may seem, the path forward is fraught with challenges. Russia and Argentina, among others, are expected to resist the Compact’s principles, setting the stage for future debates over the UN’s language on Internet governance and other key policies in the digital realm.

 

Russia and China may view their acknowledgment of the UN General Assembly’s role in digital governance as a victory. By engaging in this process, they have effectively shifted the conversation away from multi-stakeholder governance, which involves a range of actors, toward a state-centered model. This pivot away from a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach toward one prioritizing national sovereignty could, in practice, empower authoritarian regimes, which might use the pretext of sovereignty to curtail freedoms and shield themselves from international scrutiny.

 

For the European Union, however, the Compact represents an opportunity to assert democratic values and human rights in the digital space, offering a counter-narrative to China’s state-centric model. One potential avenue for the EU is to expand its Global Gateway initiative, which aims to invest in digital infrastructure projects in developing countries. By enhancing digital infrastructure worldwide, the EU could foster a more open and democratic digital landscape, reducing the appeal of authoritarian alternatives.

 

Based on a report by CEPA 2024-11-07