As digital technologies expand their influence across borders, a new global coalition is sounding the alarm on the urgent need to protect human rights in the digital age. On July 8, the United Nations reported that a diverse group of stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, and tech industry leaders, has united to demand binding principles to ensure that emerging technologies serve humanity rather than exploit it.
The coalition emphasizes that while AI and other digital tools offer tremendous development opportunities, they also pose growing risks, including surveillance, misinformation, discrimination, and exclusion. Without a shared ethical framework, digital innovation may deepen inequality and undermine democratic governance.
Among the key demands are transparency in algorithmic decision-making, protection of personal data, and the right to digital inclusion. The group aims to integrate these principles into the Global Digital Compact, a UN initiative slated for finalization during the Summit of the Future in September 2025.
As momentum builds toward that summit, this coalition’s call marks a pivotal moment. The digital era must not be a lawless frontier, but a realm governed by human dignity, justice, and accountability. Read the full story on the UN News website.