Statement by Mr. Monwar Hossain, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York at the deep dive on the theme of Internet Governance under the Global Digital Compact, at Trusteeship Council Chamber on 13 April 2023

Distinguished Co- facilitators,

My delegation joins others in thanking you for convening the second thematic deep dive on Internet Governance. We also thank the briefers for sharing their important insights.

We align ourselves with the statement made by Cuba on behalf of G-77 and China.

As the internet becomes increasingly central to our daily lives, the need for effective governance becomes more and more pressing.

 

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

Bangladesh is going through a transition from an LDC to being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. This transition is embedded on the Smart Bangladesh Vision which envisages the digital transformation of Bangladesh to make it a developed country by 2041.

An uninterrupted, safe, secure, and inclusive internet is therefore of utmost importance for a country like Bangladesh. We strongly feel that considerations of openness, security, access, interoperability, cost, localization, data sovereignty, and individual agency should guide internet governance.

We acknowledge however that achieving an unfragmented, safe, global, secure, and inclusive internet is a complex undertaking. Because unless carefully managed, localization can lead to internet fragmentation which serves no one’s interest. While data sovereignty is important, so is the cross-border flow of data, requiring a delicate balance to ensure sovereignty does lead to unnecessary or excessive censorship harming innovation. At the same time, individuals must have protection against exploitation, without consent, of personal data for commercial purposes by businesses or large organizations affecting individual autonomy, choices, and decisions.

Similarly, the internet must be safe and free from cybercrimes of all sorts. We need to be careful though so that cybercrime legislation does not become a pretext or vehicle for excessive surveillance.

We support a rules-based internet governance regime, without which each country is left with its own devices to deal with cybercrimes in the absence of a transparent, accessible and accountable complaint redress mechanism operated by the concerned private sector actors.

 

Distinguished Co- facilitators,

In response to your guiding questions, let me highlight the following points which we deem critical for internet governance:

 

First, any future Internet governance framework must adequately address privacy, security, and consumer and data protection while ensuring personal freedoms, access, inclusion, and innovation. A delicate balance is necessary to avoid internet fragmentation, excessive censorship, and exploitation of personal data.

A universal agreement on digital governance must balance the interests of all stakeholders, with a special focus on the Global South, to ensure a free, open, and interoperable internet that benefits everyone.

 

Second, we reiterate our call for a collaborative and multi-stakeholder approach to internet governance that ensures transparency, accountability, and participation from all actors, including marginalized communities in the Global South.

We have made progress in multi-stakeholder collaboration since Tunis Agenda and a number of organizations have been established to address specific aspects of Internet governance. However, we need to do a lot more to fully realize the vision of the Tunis Agenda. To create a robust, inclusive, and transparent internet governance framework, we must strengthen these forums with increased participation, accountability, and transparency.

 

Third, the rapid pace, complexity, and uncertainty of emerging technologies emphasize the necessity for a common understanding of their implications in the internet domain. Many of these emerging technologies is primarily being developed in the private sector, therefore, we highlight the need for enhanced collaboration between governments and industry. We must utilize private sector expertise in identifying risks, developing technical standards, and promoting privacy and security in the internet domain.

 

Finally, Internet governance is a multifaceted issue that involves various fields such as technology, socioeconomic development, law, and politics. It affects multiple stakeholders, and therefore, continued dialogue and collaboration between these actors is essential. We recommend that forums be established to facilitate communication between different multilateral organizations in New York, Geneva, and other regions.

Internet paradigm is also constantly changing and shifted from old-real to new-cyber issues including privacy and surveillance. In this regard, we call for creating an Internet Trust Framework that reflects our shared goals of ensuring pragmatic as well as ethical use of Internet.

I thank you.