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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.

2


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

3


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.

4

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

5


Mapping

As you flip through the pages,

wander around the city

6


the actors

where technology

meets humanity...

7


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?


01

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

01

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

02

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

04

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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05

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

06

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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07

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

08

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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09

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

10

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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24


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?


01

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.

26


DIGITAL PASSPORT

01

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

02

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

04

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

06

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

08

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.

36


DIGITAL PASSPORT

10

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.

37


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

38


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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