On October 29, the Coordination Center Committee for Internet Governance convened an online meeting that included not only Committee members but also various experts. The primary discussion point was the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Vadim Glushchenko, Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation, stated that, according to Russia's official stance, the GDC in its current form fails to address the interests of developing countries, as it provides for self-regulation of global digital platforms owned by transnational corporations. He remarked that the GDC represents a new reality in which the expert community must navigate. “The GDC has maintained the status quo in internet governance, while the global expert community strives to not only prevent the termination of the IGF's mandate but also to significantly modify its multistakeholder nature. It is clear that the IGF has proven to be a valuable platform for discussing pressing issues; rather than creating new platforms, it is more sensible to utilize the existing format more effectively,” he added.
Arevik Martirosyan, Head of the School of International Information Security at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, pointed out that despite the GDC's ambitious goals, such as bridging the digital divide and ensuring security in the digital realm, the document has faced significant criticism. “It is based on several key factors, including a lack of binding legal force, insufficient commitment from IT companies, unequal conditions, a lack of transparency, disregard for existing initiatives, and duplication of efforts. However, it is important to note that the criticism of the GDC is not only rooted in the document's technical inaccuracies but also underscores the complex political dimensions of global digital governance,” she elaborated.
Natalia Mochu, the Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union for the CIS region, commented on the ITU's vision regarding the prospects of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). She noted that while the International Telecommunication Union was involved in its development, UN member states were the primary actors in the process. The ITU endeavored to represent its position on all subjects addressed within the GDC. Since the adoption of the GDC, the ITU has continued to work on all areas within the Union's mandate developing partnerships with other involved UN organizations and stakeholders.
Mikhail Anisimov, ICANN Stakeholder Engagement Senior Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, also attended the meeting and commented on the role of the technical community in developing the Global Digital Compact. He highlighted two positive aspects reflected in the final version of the document: the recognition of the technical community as a distinct group and the emphasis on the importance of using a multistakeholder approach.
Mikhail Yakushev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Digital Environment Law at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, in his speech, highlighted the effectiveness of the Global Digital Compact and its relevance to the current circumstances of internet development. Mr. Yakushev also drew attention to discrepancies between the original title and the Russian translation of the document. “The translation of ‘compact’ as ‘kontrakt’ is very conventional, as there is no suitable term in the Russian language. There is also a question about its ‘compactness’: the agreement, as amended, became more extensive, and subjects appeared therein that provoke ambiguous reactions from different stakeholders,” he said.
As a reminder, on September 23, 2024, the two-day Summit of the Future, organized by the UN General Assembly, concluded in New York. During the event, three important international agreements were executed, including the Global Digital Compact, which prioritizes providing accessible internet and developing joint approaches to the regulation of artificial intelligence. The GDC had been developed over three years and was accompanied by intense discussions.
