Advancing Data Privacy: G20 Leaders' Commitment at the New Delhi Summit
The G20 leaders recently recommitted to collaboration on privacy matters. They acknowledged the importance of data flows for economic growth and innovation while respecting applicable legal frameworks
The G20 Summit, held recently in New Delhi, India, brought together leaders from around the world to address crucial global issues. Data privacy, digital infrastructure and AI were among the various topics discussed. In their leaders' declaration, G20 leaders renewed their commitment to collaboration on privacy matters, emphasizing the importance of free data flow with trust and cross-border data flows while respecting applicable legal frameworks.
Technological Transformation and Digital Public Infrastructure
In the era of rapid technological advancement, leaders acknowledged the transformative power of technology in bridging digital divides and driving inclusive and sustainable development. They highlighted the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a means to facilitate societal-scale service delivery. DPI represents a set of shared digital systems collaboratively developed and utilized by both the public and private sectors. It is based on secure and resilient infrastructure, open standards, specifications, and open-source software. Within this context, data privacy plays a pivotal role.
The Role of Data Privacy in DPI
G20 leaders recognize that a safe, secure, trusted, accountable, and inclusive digital public infrastructure must be built while respecting human rights, personal data, privacy, and intellectual property rights. To this end, they endorsed several initiatives:
G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure: This voluntary framework provides guidance for the development, deployment, and governance of DPI, emphasizing the importance of data privacy and protection.
Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR): India's plan to establish and maintain GDPIR, a virtual repository of DPI shared voluntarily by G20 members and beyond, aligns with the commitment to open and transparent data sharing.
One Future Alliance (OFA): This voluntary initiative, proposed by the Indian Presidency, aims to build capacity, offer technical assistance, and provide funding support for implementing DPI in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). It recognizes that data privacy and protection are essential elements of DPI implementation.
Safety, Security, Resilience, and Trust in the Digital Economy
In today's interconnected world, a secure and resilient digital economy is crucial. Leaders emphasized the need for inclusivity, openness, fairness, non-discrimination, and security while respecting legal frameworks. They committed to sharing their approaches and best practices in building a safe and trusted digital economy. Two notable initiatives in this regard are:
G20 High-level Principles: Leaders welcomed the non-binding G20 High-level Principles that support businesses in enhancing safety, security, resilience, and trust in the digital economy. These principles emphasize the importance of data protection and privacy as fundamental components of trust.
G20 Toolkit on Cyber Education: Acknowledging the significance of cyber education and awareness, leaders appreciated the G20 Toolkit on Cyber Education and Cyber Awareness of Children and Youth. Educating the younger generation about online safety and privacy is crucial for building a secure digital future.
In conclusion, the G20 leaders' commitment to data privacy and digital infrastructure reflects the growing recognition of the pivotal role that privacy plays in the digital age. Their dedication to building secure and inclusive digital public infrastructure, fostering a resilient digital economy, and safeguarding personal data sets a positive direction for global data protection efforts. This reaffirms the importance of collaboration and cooperation on privacy matters in our increasingly interconnected world.
Source: https://www.g20.org/content/dam/gtwenty/gtwenty_new/document/G20-New-Delhi-Leaders-Declaration.pdf
Verbatim Text
E. Technological Transformation and Digital Public Infrastructure
55. Technology can enable rapid transformations for bridging the existing digital divides and accelerate progress for inclusive and sustainable development. Digital public infrastructure (DPI), as an evolving concept and as a set of shared digital systems, built and leveraged by both the public and private sectors, based on secure and resilient infrastructure, and can be built on open standards and specifications, as well as opensource software can enable delivery of services at societal-scale. In our voluntary efforts to make digital public infrastructure interoperable, we recognize the importance of data free flow with trust and cross-border data flows while respecting applicable legal frameworks. We also reaffirm the role of Data for Development.
Building Digital Public Infrastructure
56. We recognize that safe, secure, trusted, accountable and inclusive digital public infrastructure, respectful of human rights, personal data, privacy and intellectual property rights can foster resilience, and enable service delivery and innovation. To this end, we:
i. Welcome the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure, a voluntary and suggested framework for the development, deployment and governance of DPI.
ii. Welcome India’s plan to build and maintain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), a virtual repository of DPI, voluntarily shared by G20 members and beyond.
iii. Take note of the Indian Presidency’s proposal of the One Future Alliance (OFA), a voluntary initiative aimed to build capacity, and provide technical assistance and adequate funding support for implementing DPI in LMICs.
Building Safety, Security, Resilience and Trust in the Digital Economy
57. An enabling, inclusive, open, fair, non-discriminatory and secure digital economy is increasingly important for all countries and stakeholders while respecting applicable legal frameworks. We will share our approaches and good practices to build a safe, secure and resilient digital economy. To this extent, we:
i. Welcome the non-binding G20 High-level Principles to Support Businesses in Building Safety, Security, Resilience, and Trust in the Digital Economy.
ii. Welcome the G20 Toolkit on Cyber Education and Cyber Awareness of Children and Youth.