The Age of Digital Interdependence

Who’s behind it? – UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation

How can it help? – Digital technologies are rapidly transforming societies and economies, simultaneously advancing the human condition and creating profound and unprecedented challenges. In this report to the UN Secretary-General, the Panel on Digital Cooperation addresses the following questions, among others: How well are we managing the complex impacts on our individual and collective lives? How can we use digital technologies to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals? What are current best practices and gaps in digital cooperation? What new ways of working together are needed, and who should be involved?

After an introduction which highlights the urgency of improved digital cooperation and invites readers to commit to a Declaration of Digital Interdependence, the report focuses on three broad sets of interlocking issues, each of which is discussed in one subsequent chapter. These chapters deal broadly with the areas of economics, society and governance, while noting that many issues – such as capacity, infrastructure and data – are relevant to all.