Digital Cooperation
Digital cooperation will be crucial if we want ICTs to focus on the public good, and this column outlines some opportunities, threats, and paths forward for this.
APC welcomes the process for the selection of a new UN Envoy on Technology and stands ready to support the new mandate holder, given their central role in promoting improved coordination for internet governance and global digital cooperation.
We believe that the IGF is a vital piece of the internet governance ecosystem, and view the IGF Leadership Panel as an effort towards consolidating the Forum as a platform for identifying viable ways to strengthen accountable, transparent, inclusive and participatory global digital cooperation.
The IGF is a key platform for identifying viable ways to shape, sustain and strengthen global digital cooperation, by mobilising collective intelligence and the potential of multistakeholder collaboration and action to respond to the persistent and emerging challenges in the digital age.
In the Roadmap on Digital Cooperation launched in 2020, the UN Secretary General proposes reforms to promote the strengthening of the Internet Governance Forum, so that it could become "more responsive and relevant to current digital issues."
APC congratulates and welcomes Fabrizio Hochschild to his new role as United Nations Envoy on Technology. APC sees the Tech Envoy role as crucial to promoting improved coordination and synergy among different spaces and processes concerning internet governance and global digital cooperation.
This document sets out the aspirations of non-state actors engaged in the digital cooperation process concerning the guiding principles, profile, roles and responsibilities, and working methods of the United Nations Technology Envoy to be appointed by the Secretary-General.
APC’s view is that global digital cooperation should aim to improve and democratise the governance of the internet at all levels, not only to establish more equitable influence for and among sovereign states, acknowledging that multilateralism and multistakeholderism are mutually reinforcing.
The coalition of civil society groups undersigned are committed to supporting the implementation of the vision in which “all stakeholders play a role in advancing a safer, more equitable digital world, one which will lead to a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”
APC is convinced that multilateralism and multistakeholderism are both necessary and can coexist, and both must be strengthened. We strongly support the IGF Plus model as the basis for establishing accountable, inclusive, participatory and effective global digital cooperation among all stakeholders.

Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2020
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