UN / DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Briefing journalists, a UN expert on economic development said, “1.37 billion people remain on the wrong side of the digital divide.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:03:16
• Production Date: 17 September 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS - DESA
• Subject Topical: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
• MAMS Id: 3255224
• Parent Id: 3255224
• Alternate Title: unifeed240917c

Description

STORY: UN / DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
TRT: 03:16
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters

17 SEPTEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, press room dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, UN DESA:
“The development of digital government has seen a significant upward trend. That's good news, and it's worldwide, with all regions leveraging technology to enhance government services and improve people's engagement. This shift has accelerated during the post pandemic recovery. The silver lining from the pandemic. But all regions have achieved progress in various areas, the pace of development has been uneven, and regional disparities in digital development persist. Still 1.37 billion people remain on the wrong side of the digital divide, have no access.”
4. Med shot, press room
5. UPSOUND (English) Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN DESA:
“These slides present a snapshot of the top, leading countries in the world in the highest rating class. This rating class include 18 countries, 10 from Europe, six from Asia and two from Oceania, making a net increase of three countries from the previous editions. Denmark remains the top global performer, followed by Estonia and Singapore. Germany, Norway and Spain joined the world leaders for the first time, aligning with other top European countries. In Asia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have advanced, joining the UAE and Australia. New Zealand maintains leadership in the Oceania, while the United States and Uruguay top in America's.”
4. Wide shot, press room dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN DESA:
“Countries and international institutions are quickly introducing regulation, and mechanisms to govern and develop of AI and other emerging technologies, and 90 out of the countries processed, report having some form of legislation or regulation in place for emerging technologies such as AI. About half of those countries have adopted legislation focusing on AI's ethical and responsible use in public administration. But while this progress is encouraging, it's important to note that the number of countries with AI legislation still falls significantly short of those with the well-established digital government strategies.”
6. Wide shot, press room dais
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government, UN DESA:
“We don't want to see the world divided by the riches and the poorest. Now it's important also to share with other countries, and to support as much as possible developing countries, LDCs and support especially Africa in their digital journey.”
8. Wide shot, press room dais, end of press conference

Storyline

UN experts highlighted the uneven progress in digital transformation globally, urging accelerated efforts to bridge the digital divide, especially in developing regions.

Navid Hanif, UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, stressed that while digital government advancements have accelerated post-pandemic, disparities remain across regions.

Briefing reporters on Tuesday (17 Sep) at UN Headquarters, Hanif said, "The development of digital government has seen a significant upward trend. That's good news, and it's worldwide, with all regions leveraging technology to enhance government services and improve people's engagement." However, he added, "the pace of development has been uneven, and regional disparities in digital development persist. Still, 1.37 billion people remain on the wrong side of the digital divide, with no access."

Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Digital Government Branch presented data on the world's top digital performers. He highlighted that 18 countries are currently classified in the highest digital government rating class, with Denmark leading globally.

Aquaro said, "this rating class includes 18 countries, 10 from Europe, six from Asia, and two from Oceania, making a net increase of three countries from the previous editions. Denmark remains the top global performer, followed by Estonia and Singapore.” He added that new entrants to the list include Germany, Norway, and Spain, alongside advances in Asia by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The briefing also shed light on the regulatory progress in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Aquaro pointed out that 90 countries have some form of AI legislation, though gaps remain.

Emphasizing the need for broader global cooperation in AI governance, he said, "while this progress is encouraging, it's important to note that the number of countries with AI legislation still falls significantly short of those with well-established digital government strategies."

Aquaro further called for increased support to developing nations, particularly in Africa, to ensure they are not left behind in the digital era. He said, "we don't want to see the world divided by the richest and the poorest. Now it's important to share with other countries and support as much as possible developing countries."