Geneva Digital Passport
Geneva Digital Passport is a guide that takes you on an expedition through the sprawling Genevan digital policymaking landscape.
Geneva Digital Passport is a guide that takes you on an expedition through the sprawling Genevan digital policymaking landscape.
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The Digital Geneva Atlas is a comprehensive mapping
of Geneva-based actors engaged in digital policy and
the internet governance scene. The Atlas provides
in-depth coverage of the activities of over 50 actors,
cataloguing their policy processes, core instruments,
and featured events.
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How to use this passport
LINKING THE PHYSICAL TO THE DIGITAL
Dear readers,
Before flipping through the pages, take a moment to
feel the weight of the passport.
It holds information distilled from more than 700 pages
of the Digital Geneva Atlas, institutional knowledge of
more than 50 global policy actors, Diplo’s 20 years of
experience and research, and more.
This passport is not a mere summary of the Atlas; it
is a guide that takes you on an expedition through the
sprawling Geneva digital policymaking landscape.
We will walk you through the cultural and philosophical
history that fostered the EspriTech de Genève; the lively
digital governance ecosystem; and the most salient
digital topics discussed in the city today.
The physical booklet is linked to the digital space where
knowledge knows no bounds.
Scan the QR codes and access the curated online
learning experience of the Digital Geneva Atlas and all
other resources. Have a safe journey!
Sincerely,
DiploFoundation / Geneva Internet Platform Team
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EspriTech de Genève
Why does technology meet humanity in Geneva, you
might ask.
More than 50% of global digital policy involves Genevabased
actors, with many discussions taking place in this
international hub.
Current relevance builds on the so-called EspriTech de
Genève (the tech spirit of Geneva), a collection of ideas
and values on tech-humanity interplay developed over
centuries by philosophers, writers and scientists.
Almost 500 years ago, John Calvin found refuge in this
city and began to spread his theology, teaching, and
thinking. His ideas, later known as Calvinism, travelled
from Europe to the United States; his notions of free
will and entrepreneurship became fundamental to
the formation of Silicon Valley and the development of
modern technology.
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Calvin
Bonnet
Rousseau
de Saussure
From Charles Bonnet’s intuition about neural networks
to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s conceptualisation of social
contracts; from Ferdinand de Saussure’s linguistic
research to Jorge Luis Borges’ search for meaning amid
the flood of information; from Mary Shelley’s challenge
of the ethics of progress to Voltaire’s philosophy that
underpinned the Enlightenment and scientific inquiries;
Geneva has been the thinking terroir of how humans and
technology interact.
Today, in Geneva and the world, we find ourselves at a
turning point facing changes and challenges triggered
by rapid technological growth. As humanity steps
out of its comfort zone into the unknown, certainty
ends, opportunities begin, and risks arise. Join us on a
historical and philosophical tour to explore Geneva’s
contribution to the critical interplay between technology
and humanity.
Borges
Shelley
Voltaire
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Mapping
As you flip through the pages,
wander around the city
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the actors
where technology
meets humanity...
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Global digital governance
architecture
1998 was a milestone year in the evolution of what we
now call the global digital governance architecture.
The idea of a World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) was born; the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN) was established; the
World Trade Organization (WTO) adopted a moratorium
on customs duties for electronic transactions. These
three elements had and continue to have direct
connections with Geneva.
Many Geneva-based UN agencies act as action line
facilitators in implementing WSIS outcomes. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other
agencies organise yearly WSIS Forums to facilitate
debates and share good practices that contribute
to sustainable development. The Commission on
Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
is the focal point for the UN system-wide followup
to the WSIS outcomes. The Internet Governance
Forum (IGF) Secretariat in Geneva convenes working
meetings to prepare for its annual forum and advance
its intersessional work. ICANN, though headquartered
in the USA, has a Genevan office to engage with the
dynamic digital governance community.
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About Geneva Internet
Platform and DiploFoundation
The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) is an initiative
supported by the Swiss Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the Swiss Federal Office of
Communications (OFCOM), and the Republic and Canton
of Geneva. It is operated by DiploFoundation (Diplo).
The GIP engages actors, fosters meaningful dialogues
on digital governance, and monitors digital policy
processes in Geneva. It also provides a neutral and
inclusive space for digital policy debates, recognised as
a platform where different views can be voiced and the
risks and vulnerabilities of technology addressed.
Diplo is a non-profit organisation established in 2002 by
the governments of Malta and Switzerland. It has offices
in Malta, Switzerland, Serbia, and the USA. With the
mission to increase capacities and strengthen voices of
actors from small and developing countries in diplomacy
and global governance, Diplo’s main activities are
dedicated to developing capacity, organising meetings
and events, delivering courses,
conducting research, publishing
analyses, and experimenting with
technological tools.
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10 technologies
From personal computers to large data centres; from the
conference room to outer space; what are the key technologies
enabling the digital world?
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the talk of the town in Geneva.
The year-round AI for Good initiative led by the ITU draws
a lot of media attention. In addition, AI as a topic and as
a tool has already begun a quiet revolution in many
organisations, transitioning their modus operandi and
becoming a strong focus in their work.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is cosponsoring
the AI Weather Quest, a global competition
organised to advance sub-seasonal weather forecasting
using AI and machine learning (ML)
The World Health Organization (WHO) hosts the Global
Initiative on AI for Health, a tripartite platform with ITU
and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
aimed to advance AI-based methods for diagnosis, triage
and other health treatment decisions.
The joint technical committee of Internetational
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on AI is
responsible for the development of standards in this area
and has published 34 standards specifically pertaining to
AI, with 41 others in development.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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The WIPO has adopted AI-enabled smart searches
and translations to facilitate intellectual property
documentation work.
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)
released its AI policy to guide ICRC’s practice and decisionmaking
in relation to the exploration, deployment, use, and
management of AI. The list of ‘someone doing something
about AI’ in Geneva is growing.
Believing in walking the talk, Diplo experiments with
digital technologies and builds its own AI tools for
research and educational purposes. DiploAI is a domainspecific
AI system that was fine-tuned for diplomatic
and policy-relevant texts; it enables Diplo researchers to
build customisable AI assistants for courses, diplomatic
training, and research. Furthermore, Diplo launched
an AI Campus for diplomats, policymakers, and other
stakeholders, delivering a series of
courses on AI governance, policies, and
practical AI tools.
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02
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Cloud computing
Since 2008, the largest particle accelerator in the world
– the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – has been working
tirelessly underground across the Switzerland-France
border, helping scientists at the European Organization
for Nuclear Research (CERN) in their efforts to crack the
secret of the universe.
The scale and complexity of data generated by the LHC
require tremendous processing power and storage.
How do CERN scientists analyse its data and share the
results seamlessly with collaborators across the world?
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Cloud (distributed) computing, the backbone of this
exercise, offers access to their data and services from
devices anywhere with an internet connection. The
technology allows CERN to move data stored on hard
disks to remote server farms and perform complex
computations beyond the capacity of a single laptop.
With this comes the possibility for individuals to develop
AI models and useful software. Find out how the ISO
and the IEC provide technical overview and service
agreement standards for distributed platforms.
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03
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Virtual reality
From 3 Body Problem by Liu Cixin to Ready Player One by
Ernest Cline, the notion of a digital alternative reality has
long been seared in the public mind. While an elaborate
metaverse is still more of a sci-fi concept, Geneva actors
have begun exploring the benefits of virtual reality (VR)
technologies.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Global
Collaboration Village, an extended reality platform
dedicated to public-private collaboration. Delivering an
immersive experience, the village enables participants
across the globe to jointly solve complex problems.
The UN Virtual Worlds Day is an annual event organised
by ITU and other 17 UN entities exploring AI-powered
virtual worlds, including the metaverse, to advance the
SDGs and the Pact for the Future.
The WIPO also regularly hosts virtual exhibitions to
guide visitors through different aspects of innovation,
research and development, and
intellectual property.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Blockchain
Blockchain reached the peak of the tech hype cycle
when non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrencies
became a hit in the 2022 market; it holds more potential
than being a lucrative token, though. Blockchain can
be applied to documenting supply chain performance
with increased efficiency; facilitating transparent
property transactions; preserving legal evidence; and
providing a secure and reliable structure for financial,
administrative, and health data.
The ITU and the ISO are heavily involved in standardising
this field, tackling issues from data protection to
security requirements. ITU also conducts studies on
the applicability of blockchain as the infrastructure
for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the
technology’s environmental impacts. The UN Joint
Inspection Unit (JIU) reviews the uses of blockchain in
the UN ecosystem. The UN Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE) is further exploring the possibility of
adopting blockchain in trade facilitation
processes.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
Internet of things
The internet of things (IoT) offers a new generation
of internet-connected devices and has the potential
to significantly impact environmental monitoring,
agriculture, and disaster recovery, among others. IoT’s
applications range from self-driving cars to smart
cities; it can benefit the energy, health, agriculture, and
manufacturing industries alike.
Ecma International, for example, is dedicated to
developing global standards for a wide range of
information and communication systems, which
includes the many interrelated developments in
consumer electronics and IoT. On the other hand, the
WEF convenes industry experts to explore connected
devices, smart technology applications, shared mobility,
connected cities, and industrial internet through a
myriad of engagement initiatives. Finally, the CERN has
long been running a complex IoT (or smart networking)
infrastructure on its kilometre-spanning campus; its
IT department has published multiple
resources to address the concern of
IoT network security.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Quantum computing
Computing systems are getting increasingly intricate,
with semiconductors shrinking to the nanometer scale
and central processing units running more complex
calculations. As the hardware approaches its physical
limit, current computing systems can only solve
problems up to a certain size and complexity. Quantum
computing has the potential to surpass that with quantum
bits (qubits).
Classical computers rely on individual bits to store and
process information as binary 0 and 1 states. Using
‘superposition’ and ‘entanglement’, qubits can represent
both states at the same time, exponentially increasing the
computational power of computers. Quantum computing
is not only used by scientists like those at the CERN but
– once sufficiently advanced – it could also help identify
solutions for critical global issues. The Geneva Science
and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) launched the Open
Quantum Institute in collaboration with CERN and other
partners to explore the possibility of
using quantum computing to advance
the sustainable development goals
(SDGs).
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
Satellite
Satellite constellations, such as SpaceX, are becoming
fast-growing communication networks that provide local
access, weather monitoring, emergency assistance,
and many other services of critical relevance to modern
society.
The ITU is involved in assigning frequencies and positions
for Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellites
and orbital characteristics for non-GEO satellites.
And there’s a growing number of space operations by
private actors, governments, and intergovernmental
organisations alike. For instance, WMO’s Global
Observing System (GOS) collects crucial weather data
from 23 geostationary and 223 polar-orbiting satellites.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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5G & 6G
The fifth-generation (5G) mobile network technology
provides more bandwidth and faster transfer of
data. Compared to previous generations, 5G comes
with significant improvements in speed, latency, and
bandwidth, enabling the real-time remote control of
automated processes and the greater optimisation of
network traffic.
5G is anticipated to unlock the full potential of IoT and
AI technologies, which makes it a hot topic today. The
ITU plays an especially crucial role in managing radio
spectrum and standardising 5G networks, including
compatible devices and necessary services; the
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) launched the
5G Media Action Group (5G-MAG) to explore a marketdriven
implementation of 5G technologies in content
creation, production, distribution, and consumption; and
the WEF facilitates discussions with industry experts on
the ripple effects of 5G networks across the business
sector.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
Conferencing technologies
While much of the world only learned about the power of
conferencing technologies when the COVID-19 pandemic
hit, such technologies have long been core to Geneva’s
daily activities.
The CERN developed the Indico event management
system, enabling stakeholders from all over the world
to join global conferences online. The IGF pioneered the
hybrid participation format at its 2006 Athens meeting:
Local IGF hubs met in person while following global
deliberations online; remote moderators then ensured
smooth interactions among those in situ and online.
Diplo took conferences to another level: During a UN
Security Council special session, Diplo deployed its
human-AI hybrid system, generating just-in-time
reports of country statements and key questions. The
hybrid system leverages AI’s real-time transcription
and summarisation capability along with human quality
control. The system is used during large
events such as the IGF, UN General
Assembly, World Economic Forum
Annual Meeting, and other international
and regional events.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Digital infrastructure
The smooth operation of the digital world depends on
several layers of infrastructure, the most relevant here
being the telecommunication layer that carries all digital
traffic on mediums like fibre cables or wireless signals,
and the transport layer which enables computers and
networks to communicate with each other and exchange
data (TCP/IP).
ITU’s work facilitates the global interconnection and
interoperability of telecommunication facilities, such
as devices, networks, and services. It’s the reason your
phone can connect to WiFi anywhere you go!
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable
Development advocates for achieving universal
broadband connectivity by advancing digital
infrastructure in underserved areas.
Giga, a joint ITU–UNICEF initiative, supports
governments in mapping, financing, and connecting
schools to the internet, helping build
the digital infrastructure needed to
transform education.
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10 policy issues
Data flows across borders every millisecond; malicious attackers
lurk in the background; our future of work and environment are on
the line. What are the policy issues humanity must face together?
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
Cybersecurity and cybercrime
The vulnerability of the internet is the vulnerability of
modern society.
Security, however, has mostly been an afterthought as
market-driven tech companies often employ a ‘release
now, patch later’ approach. The growing number of
cyberthreats challenges peace and security, erodes trust
in the digital economy, and dampens the potential for the
digital transformation of societies and economies.
Since 2018, Diplo and the Swiss Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs (FDFA) have been co-leading the Geneva
Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace.
In 2023, the international process led to the Geneva
Manual on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace which
clarifies the roles and responsibilities of non-state
stakeholders in implementing cyber norms.
The second chapter of the Geneva Manual, released in
2025, reflects stakeholder input on practical challenges,
cooperation, and opportunities in securing critical
infrastructure.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s (HD) Cyber
Programme supports bilateral and regional dialogue
tracks that both inform and complement broader
multilateral efforts aimed at establishing a global
framework for cyber stability
The CyberPeace Institute researches malicious cyber
operations that affect critical infrastructure and provides
capacity development for NGOs.
The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance
(DCAF) implements projects dedicated to improving
cybersecurity laws and policies, enhancing cybersecurity
actors’ capacity, and formalising cybersecurity
accountability.
The Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) provides
executive training and simulation exercises on various
issues related to cybersecurity and peacebuilding.
The UNIDIR features cyber issues in its research on
disarmament and international security issues, including
the impact of AI on the security landscape and the
protection of critical digital infrastructure.
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02
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Humanitarian protection
As the birthplace of the Geneva Conventions, Geneva
has nurtured the most established humanitarian
ecosystem in the world. International lawyers, mediation
experts, conflict researchers, and aid workers convene
in Geneva to address pressing humanitarian concerns
during armed conflicts. As the face of warfare and
military activities change with the evolution of digital
technologies, humanitarian actors must adapt, too.
The rise of hybrid warfare, involving both cyber and
physical attacks, prompted the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) to propose the concept of a
‘digital emblem’. Just as the distinct emblems under
international humanitarian law (IHL) marked on
humanitarian facilities protect them from being targeted
during an armed conflict, the digital emblem denotes the
digital infrastructure crucial to humanitarian operations
that should not be targetted by malicious cyber
operations.
In addition, the ICRC curated the Digital Dilemmas
immersive experience, available both as a website and
a VR experience. It guides users through dangerous AI
applications in armed conflicts, from swaying public
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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opinion via deep-faked propaganda to being integrated
into lethal autonomous weapons or other military
systems.
On the mediation side, Diplo initiated research and policy
discussions on cyber mediation in 2017, resulting in the
CyberMediation Network (CMN), currently coordinated
by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding
Affairs (UNDPPA).
The CMN meets quarterly to discuss common challenges
and facilitates sharing best practices for mediators in
dealing with mis/disinformation campaigns, malicious
cyber operations, attacks on digital infrastructure, etc.
CyberPeace Institute runs the Digital Risk Management
E-Learning Platform for Mediators; the Centre for
Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) co-produced the Digital
Mediation Toolkit.
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03
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Human rights
The same rights people have offline must also be
protected online. While the digital realm has opened
new possibilities for the advancement of human rights
and freedoms, it has also triggered and amplified
infringements of the very same rights. For example,
social media platforms have facilitated the exercise
of our right to freedom of expression and information,
but they have also contributed to censorship, violence
against journalists, and the spread of hate speech.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) provides UN system-wide human
rights due diligence guidance for digital technology.
It also launched a UN Hub that stores authoritative
guidance on using UN human rights mechanisms on the
use and governance of digital technologies. The Geneva
Academy of International Humanitarian Law and
Human Rights is another valuable resource for humanrights-related
digital issues, providing detailed legal
analyses and preparing future lawyers
for the challenges brought by emerging
technologies.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Digital economy and labour
The digital transformation of our modern society has
sent ripples in multiple dimensions; one particularly
contentious dimension is economy and trade.
The global digital flows of goods, services, and money are
challenged by the digital divide, regulatory fragmentation,
and unequal market power among players. Since 1998,
the WTO has been working on customs duties, taxation,
and trade barriers related to e-commerce. The UN Trade
and Development’s (UNCTAD’s) work programme on
e-commerce and the digital economy further offers
research analysis and assists with consensus-building
among governmental experts.
Digital platforms and advanced technologies like AI also
alter the nature of labour and challenge the livelihoods
of many. The International Labour Organization (ILO)
established a global commission to study such changes;
it called for a ‘human-centred agenda for the future of
work’ in the landmark report Work for a
Brighter Future, examining the impacts
on the gendered labour gap imposed by
increased automation and robotics.
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05
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Data governance
Data, a key enabler of advanced technologies, is now
produced in an unfathomable volume at an unthinkable
rate. Our growing reliance on data has ushered in a range
of policy issues from data’s effects on personal freedom
and security to the economy.
Leading up to the 2020 UN World Data Forum, Diplo
held six Road to Bern via Geneva dialogues to facilitate
data cooperation and introduced a mapping of Geneva
actors’ data activities in the SDGs, security, privacy, data
commons, health, and environment. To benefit from the
economic values of data, the UN Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) produces guidelines on managing
cross-border data flows, while the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) works with the EU on implementing
a single data market. Actors like the WMO, and the WHO
discuss domain-specific data issues, be it environmental,
humanitarian, or health.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Intellectual property
The internet has a rich repertoire of information and
knowledge; however, it’s not always straightforward to
establish the ownership of products of cognitive labour
when they can be copy-pasted, pirated, reproduced, and
redistributed digitally. The protection of knowledge and
ideas online through intellectual property rights (IPR) is
one of the main issues in the digital policymaking debate,
especially with the progress in generative AI and bordershattering
metaverse technologies.
The WIPO deals with these thorny issues by bringing
together governmental intellectual property (IP) services
with NGOs and industry leaders, fostering an effective
global IP ecosystem. WIPO produces digital tools for
IP officers worldwide to access its services. The WIPO
Conversation series further raises awareness of the
challenges frontier technologies pose to IPR and fosters
expert consensus. Other organisations like South Centre
and the Consumer Unit and Trust Society (CUTS) support
developing countries in harnessing
innovation and effectively using IP
systems in the digital era.
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07
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Content policy
Generative AI models alongside with the attentionmaximising
algorithms of digital platforms continue
to pose a challenge to the modern world with widely
disseminated hate speech and mis/disinformation.
Content policy touches on multiple human rights
subjects, from freedom of expression and gender
rights online to the rights of persons with disabilities.
The OHCHR reports on the need to combat violent
extremism online and account for the rights of human
rights defenders.
The Kofi Annan Foundation works with civil society,
electoral management bodies, and the private sector
to counter electoral-related disinformation and foreign
influences.
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DIGITAL PASSPORT
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Sustainable development
The 2030 Agenda and the 17 cross-cutting SDGs
underpin the work of all International Geneva actors
from health and humanitarian to the environment.
Geneva actors capitalise on a wide range of digital and AI
tools to achieve the SDGs and address policy challenges.
Led by UN Office in Geneva (UNOG), the BeyondLab is
a multistakeholder innovation space for the SDGs that
inspires and promotes system change through new
lenses to long-term sustainability. Other initiatives
supported by UNOG include SDG Acceleration Actions,
dedicated to mobilising Geneva-based actors towards
achieving the SDGs.
The ITU ‘Connect 2030 Agenda’ further outlines concrete
goals pivoting the organisation toward helping member
states make the best use of ICTs to close the digital
divide and advance the SDGs. On the more grassroots
level, the Geneva Foundation for Technology Innovation
(FONGIT) supports local tech start-ups
that directly or indirectly contribute to
the SDGs through their work.
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09
DIGITAL PASSPORT
Digital and environment
Despite evident opportunities, rapid digital transformation
also comes at a cost to our environment. Environmentally
conscious digital policies must address technology’s
adverse impacts on the atmosphere, biodiversity, energy
consumption, extraction of rare materials, pollution and
e-waste, and water.
The Geneva Environment Network (GEN) holds
workshops and roundtables on using high-quality data
to track the 2030 Agenda implementation progress,
mitigating the carbon footprint of digital tools, and
leveraging digital technologies like Earth observations
for data monitoring and collection. The Group on
Earth Observations (GEO) leads crucial information
and knowledge initiatives such as Land Degradation
Neutrality, the Biodiversity Observation Network, Global
Agricultural Monitoring, the Global Forest Observation
Initiative, and the Global Observation System for Mercury.
The Global Resource Information Database – Geneva
(GRID-Geneva) is a partnership
between UNEP, FOEN, and UNIGE,
whose main role is to transform data
(from satellite, GIS models, statistics
or in-situ stations) into knowledge to
support the decision-making process
related to environmental issues.
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Digital standards
Our digital reality is shaped by the standards guiding the
manufacture and use of digital devices and services. Such
standards foster interoperability, quality of service, and
safety. Thus, they have high importance for innovation,
economic growth, safety, and the sustainability of the
digital space. Increasingly, human rights and the public
interest are entering the focus of digital standards,
especially those dealing with data, AI, and biotechnology.
As policy implementation instruments, standards are
increasingly used to address topics where countries do
not agree on international conventions.
The global standardisation landscape is very complex,
consisting of a diverse set of organisations, working
methods, and procedures. Geneva is home to all three
major formal standardisation organisations: The ITU
for telecommunications standards, the ISO for business
and security standards, and the IEC for electronic device
standards.
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Education and Research
AI and digital issues are highly featured on the curriculum
and agenda of universities, international organisations,
think tanks, and other education and research actors in
and around International Geneva.
On the academic side, the Geneva Graduate Institute
(IHEID) hosts TechHub as a centre for providing digital
skill training and coordinating digital activities with
other Geneva-based actors. Digitalisation has become
a cross-cutting issue covered by the IHEID’s academic
departments focusing on development, trade, law,
security and other disciplines.
The University of Geneva (UNIGE) offers many
courses on digital issues from technical, legal, and
social perspectives. The university also conducts
comprehensive research on all facets of AI and digital
developments.
In an adjacent city, École polytechnique fédérale de
Lausanne (EPFL) is among the leading technical academic
institutions globally. In addition to its core research and
teaching on AI and computer science in general, EPFL
focuses on cybersecurity and digital humanities.
Among non-governmental actors, Diplo is a pioneer
in training and research on digital diplomacy. Ever
since its first ICT diplomacy course in 1994, Diplo has
been offering a wide range of courses, from digital
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diplomacy and cybersecurity to internet governance. The
AI Campus, established in 2024 features courses on AI
prompting and AI’s impact on diplomacy.
Other actors offering capacity development include:
the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) on
cybersecurity and geopolitics; the Simon Institute for
Longterm Governance on AI governance; the Centre
for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development (CSEND) on digital
development; and the ICT for Peace Foundation
(ICT4Peace) on cyber peacebuilding.
In the UN family, the UNITAR delivers courses on
digitalisation’s impact on diplomacy, security, and
international relations. The ITU also provides a wide
range of courses on technical subjects. Digital and AI are
also high on the curriculum of the WIPO academy.
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