The forum continued with a plenary session, WSIS+20: A Quarter Century in Building the Information Society – From Words to Action? Its participants discussed principles of international cooperation in digital development, practices of digital collaboration, tools for combating disinformation and harmful content, the need to regulate deepfake technologies, key areas of disagreement, and prospects for maintaining meaningful dialogue amid a shifting global agenda. The session was moderated by Maria Bolshakova of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications.
Artur Lyukmanov of the Russian Foreign Ministry outlined the preparation of the Global Digital Compact and the changes it underwent during its development. He emphasized that today global corporations must demonstrate respect for national interests and operate with due consideration for other countries and companies.
Alexey Borodin of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications noted that the world is increasingly facing internet fragmentation, as states recognize the difficulty of ensuring citizen security within a cross-border digital environment. In this context, nationally oriented regulation is required. He also highlighted the need to develop harmonized rules through dialogue with neighboring countries.
Alexander Shoitov pointed to the urgent need to regulate deepfake technologies, particularly in the areas where they pose risks. He noted their use in fraud, extremist activities, and the dissemination of false information. All this requires mandatory regulation, such as labeling of various types of content, while modern technologies are already capable of detecting up to 90 percent of deepfakes.
Alexey Goreslavsky of the Institute for Internet Development emphasized that the internet cannot be a “sterile” environment and nobody can make it so, as it will always contain diverse content.
“Our goal is to ensure that projects reflecting national values prevail in the competition for audience attention,” he said, noting the relevance of coordinated efforts between various elements of the government system to counter fraud.
“Content is part of this system and plays its own role. For instance, with support from the Institute, viral videos have been posted by popular bloggers, including those addressing fraud and manipulation. Three such videos have garnered over 2 million views on VK alone – which means at least several thousand people may have been protected,” Alexey Goreslavsky noted.
Dmitry Gulyaev of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications presented practical steps RAEC has taken, as an umbrella organization, for businesses to build a new architecture for international digital cooperation.
“Today, a significant shift is taking place in international dialogue. Some relatively old negotiating platforms remain, for example, at the UN, in which we also participate, but new formats based on BRICS, the SCO, the CIS, and the EAEU are gaining momentum,” Dmitry Gulyaev noted.
He added that RAEC had prepared a study, Technological Leadership and Russia’s Sovereignty: New Opportunities for Cooperation in the IT Industry in an Era of Change, outlining scenarios for the development of international ICT cooperation over the next three, five, and seven years.
“We believe that, by 2035, Russia will be actively involved – this process has already started – in building an alternative global digital infrastructure in cooperation with BRICS countries and the Global South. Today, we can see an emphasis on bilateral interaction with each individual state, which is entirely logical,” the RAEC head said.
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