07 July 2025
Delivered by: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk
Excellencies,
The World Summit on the Information Society, convened just over 20 years ago, was a milestone moment in digital cooperation.
It helped create a space for States, technology companies, civil society, and others to harness the power of information and communication technologies for development.
Digital technologies can drive progress and advance our rights to health, to education, and beyond.
But the unprecedented rate of change is also disrupting many of our foundations.
The risks are far-reaching: affecting privacy, the job market, the right to be free from discrimination, the right to access to information and express oneself - even our shared perception of reality.
It is precisely in the face of massive change, that we need more human rights, not less.
Last year, in the Global Digital Compact, States committed to fostering an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects human rights.
Our rights provide the blueprint to help us manage the enormous challenges thrown up by rapidly evolving technologies.
States’ legal obligations and companies’ duties to respect human rights offer guidance to tackle disinformation and protect our data from illicit use.
To bridge the digital divide and remove algorithmic bias.
To counter online hate speech and to foster trust in the digital sphere.
To expand decision-making beyond a select few.
Distinguished participants,
The coming months will see critical decisions about regulation, including new United Nations mechanisms on AI and data governance.
We have a window of opportunity to make a difference.
We must join forces - States, technology companies, international organisations, civil society, and others - to work towards an inclusive and open digital environment for everyone, everywhere.