Global Digital Compact
In plain wordsA 2024 agreement among United Nations member countries setting shared goals for the digital world — closing digital divides, protecting rights online, governing data and AI — and creating new UN bodies on AI.
A non-binding framework for global digital cooperation adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September 2024 as an annex to the Pact for the Future, the outcome document of the Summit of the Future in New York. Its five objectives cover connectivity and other digital divides, a wider share in the digital economy, human rights and security online, responsible and interoperable data governance, and international governance of AI. On AI, member states committed to create an Independent International Scientific Panel on AIIndependent International Scientific Panel on AI, prop. n.: A group of 40 independent experts set up by the United Nations in 2025 to give every country a shared, science-based picture of what AI can do, its risks and its benefits. and a Global Dialogue on AI GovernanceGlobal Dialogue on AI Governance, prop. n.: A yearly United Nations meeting, launched in 2025, where all countries — joined by companies, researchers and civil society — discuss how to cooperate on governing AI. within the UN — both established by the General Assembly in August 2025 — and to explore ways of financing AI capacity-building in developing countries. Unlike the Assembly's first resolution on AI (March 2024), it committed all member states to new UN bodies on AI, though its commitments are political rather than legal.
The ministry's AI strategy cites the Global Digital Compact's pledge to close the AI capacity gap.
Origin
Proposed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his 2021 report Our Common Agenda and negotiated in 2023–2024 under co-facilitators from Sweden and Zambia, drawing on recommendations of the High-level Advisory Body on Artificial IntelligenceHigh-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, prop. n.: A group of experts set up by the UN Secretary-General in 2023 to advise on governing AI worldwide; its 2024 report led to the UN's AI science panel and global dialogue.. It was adopted without a vote with the Pact for the Future, after the Assembly voted to take no action on a Russian amendment.
Usage note
Like most General Assembly outcomes it is voluntary. Supporters value its universality; critics, including some civil-society groups, faulted its general language and the limited role it gives non-governmental stakeholders. A high-level review of its implementation is planned for the Assembly's 82nd session.
Related
- Independent International Scientific Panel on AIIndependent International Scientific Panel on AI, prop. n.: A group of 40 independent experts set up by the United Nations in 2025 to give every country a shared, science-based picture of what AI can do, its risks and its benefits.
- Global Dialogue on AI GovernanceGlobal Dialogue on AI Governance, prop. n.: A yearly United Nations meeting, launched in 2025, where all countries — joined by companies, researchers and civil society — discuss how to cooperate on governing AI.
- High-level Advisory Body on Artificial IntelligenceHigh-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, prop. n.: A group of experts set up by the UN Secretary-General in 2023 to advise on governing AI worldwide; its 2024 report led to the UN's AI science panel and global dialogue.
- AI governanceAI governance, n.: The rules, institutions and habits that shape how AI is built and used — from laws and treaties to technical standards and a company's own review processes.
- AI Safety SummitAI Safety Summit, prop. n.: A series of international meetings of governments, AI companies and researchers, begun in England in 2023, to agree on how to handle the risks and benefits of the most advanced AI.
Sources
- United Nations General Assembly (2024). The Pact for the Future, with the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations as annexes (A/RES/79/1).