Empowering the Digital Citizen of the Future: Towards an Integrated Digital Public Infrastructure

At the outset, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The targeting of civilians is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances.

I am honoured to address this important and timely event.

I extend my sincere appreciation to H.E. Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India, for the invitation to join you today.

I commend India on the success of its digital transformation and leadership in investing in digital public infrastructure.

Indeed, digital public infrastructure holds the key to inclusion in the global digital society.

And these technologies are evolving at breakneck speed. 

From the inception of the internet to advances in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, digital technologies are impacting every aspect of human life.

They are transforming economies – reducing costs, opening new doors to education and healthcare, and empowering citizens like never before.

In India, for example, it means “anywhere access” to “anytime vaccination” for any registered pregnant woman or child across the country. 

I was privileged to see the U-WIN digital initiative myself earlier this year and appreciate what happens when digital public infrastructure and women and girls are at the heart of the digital revolution.

These technologies hold vast potential to unleash progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Yet, their reach has not expanded in parallel to the pace of their development. 

2.6 billion people remain “offline”, with limited or no internet access.

This is especially true for women and girls in different parts of the world. 

In low-income countries, 9 out of every 10 young women and adolescent girls lack online access.  

As these technologies reshape how we live and work, and function as a society, the impacts of the digital divide are only becoming more pronounced.

Billions of people are effectively being left behind.

Clearly, we must do more, and we must do it faster.

The Global Digital Compact, adopted as part of the Pact for the Future, offers a road map for improved digital cooperation.

It recognises that resilient, safe, inclusive and interoperable digital public infrastructure has the potential to deliver services in scale and increase social and economic opportunities for all.

This has the possibility of creating an open, inclusive and safe digital space that protects and promotes human rights.

I call on Member States and the wide range of stakeholders – including media and technology companies, civil society actors and many others – to take ownership of the Global Compact’s implementation.

This means: 

-Supercharge efforts to bridge the digital divide

• Uphold international human rights law in the digital technology ecosystem,
• Strengthen internet governance,
• Build digital trust and safety, and
• Enhance efforts to protect information integrity.

One of my mandates is to implement the Global Digital Compact decision to establish an International Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and a Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence governance. 

For only at the United Nations can we pursue inclusive governance on Artificial Intelligence development. A development that will shape the future for all of us. 

Indeed, Artificial Intelligence can in fact unlock many of the solutions that we have been looking for over the past decade.

But we must be vigilant in mitigating the myriad risks, from the misinformation and disinformation to cybercrime to the increasing use of ransomware, which threatens the critical infrastructure needed to deliver public goods.

Our efforts must advance the Pact for the Future’s call for greater international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organised crime, including through the use of information and communications technologies. 

Recognizing that digital public infrastructure is the key to a connected future for everyone, everywhere – we must take all collective efforts to ensure it is accessible, safe, scalable and trustworthy.

I am committed to supporting Member States in strengthening international cooperation and promoting the agenda of multilateral reform amid current global disrtust and uncertaininty. 

And I reiterate my consistent call, that we must maintain our focus where it belongs: on the progress and sustainable development of all peoples, everywhere, leaving no one behind.  

Thank you.

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