The participants noted that the Global Digital Compact should provide a framework for fair regulation of the digital sphere, including support for entrepreneurship in developing economies. However, the current draft treaty, according to many, does not sufficiently address important aspects such as the liability of technology giants and measures against market monopolization.
Olga Makarova, Director of MTS, emphasized language barriers as one of the obstacles to digital development. She noted that 67% of content on the internet is created in English, which limits access to knowledge for people with a different language. Makarova also emphasized the risks of Internet fragmentation due to financial sanctions and suggested certification of telecom operators through the ITU to ensure uninterrupted services.
Discussing the development of local digital ecosystems, the participants emphasized the need for personal data protection and technological sovereignty. Semyon Tenyaev, founder of the TenChat business social network, presented a new model of a platform uniting people, business and government in one digital space. He noted that data is becoming the “new gold” and that personal information protection and national technology development are key challenges.
Miloš Jovanović (OpenLink Group) recalled the potential of the GDC: he noted that the Compact could help countries in the Global South, including Serbia, to narrow the digital divide. He identified three priorities: making the Internet accessible, attracting investment in local digital ecosystems, and international cooperation for the free exchange of technology. Jovanović also noted the risk of digital neocolonialism and called for the development of open standards and localized infrastructure to strengthen digital sovereignty.
Speaking about the Global South and the need to include its representatives in the dialogue on the digital environment, Dr. Roberto Zambrana, an expert from Latin America, recalled that 3 billion people, mostly in the Global South, remain without access to the Internet. He emphasized the need for joint regional solutions to improve infrastructure and combat the digital divide, especially in rural areas and among women.
Pavel Zakharov, a member of the Association of Internet Technologists, noted that the fight against disinformation requires a change of approach from restrictions and penalties to cooperation and sustainability. He emphasized that the strengthening of censorship under the pretext of fighting fakes only reduces the security of users. According to him, the key to countering misinformation is to increase knowledge and media literacy, as well-informed users are better able to recognize fakes and are less susceptible to their influence.
Bogdan Chernyshev (Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists, Rosatom State Corporation) spoke about the role of energy infrastructure in bridging the digital divide and developing remote regions. Access to digital technologies is impossible without a sustainable energy supply, and as an example, he cited Rosatom's projects to build small nuclear power plants in hard-to-reach areas, making it possible to provide local communities not only with energy but also with connectivity to digital services, creating conditions for social and economic development.
Aleksandra Kozina, lawyer at ART DE LEX Law Firm, spoke about court cases against large technology companies (e.g. Google) and called for the creation of transparent rules for Big Tech. She emphasized that global corporations should take into account the cultural and legislative particularities of the countries in which they operate.
The session focused on the role of youth in digital governance. Saba Tiku, an active member of the youth community and recent member of the IGF Multilateral Advisory Group, noted the importance of balancing multilateralism and state participation in digital governance. She emphasized that young people, being the largest group of Internet users, should be actively involved in decision-making processes. In her view, the Global Digital Compact can play an important role in integrating youth initiatives and ensuring an equitable and inclusive digital future.
At the end of the discussion, Vadim Glushchenko, Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation, noted that it is important to maintain a dialog between different generations, especially in the context of digital literacy. He emphasized the need to create educational programs to prepare young people to be leaders in digital governance and ensure equality of access to technologies for all segments of society.
The session concluded with a call for stronger international cooperation and equitable digital solutions for the Global South. Experts emphasized that only through multilateral dialogue digital neocolonialism could be avoided and an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem be created. The outcome of the session outlined steps that the international community should take to ensure that the voices of the Global South would be heard.
The day also included a networking session, Friends for Internet: Creating a Better Digital World, which provided a unique opportunity for young leaders from the Global South to present their digital projects addressing key issues in their communities. These projects help overcome challenges such as inequality in access to digital technologies, lack of infrastructure and limited resources to participate in the digital economy.
The Friends for Internet initiative brings together young entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world to become a platform for their ideas regarding Internet governance. Technologies can be a catalyst for social and economic growth, as well as for inclusion and sustainable progress.
