Building a Fair Digital World: PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro
Building a Fair Digital World
In November 2024, world leaders from the G20 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss some of the most important challenges facing the world today. The G20 Troika—consisting of India, Brazil, and South Africa—came together to release a statement, or Joint Communiqué, that highlighted how technology could help solve these challenges.
One of the main topics was the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in making the world a better place for everyone. This declaration emphasised that technology could be a powerful tool to boost economic growth, reduce inequality, and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to create a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable world.
PM Narendra Modi and the leaders of Brazil and South Africa recognised that while technology has advanced quickly, it has not benefited everyone equally. Many people still do not have access to digital tools, and without careful planning, the digital gap might grow wider. This G20 message focused on how we can make technology accessible and fair for everyone, regardless of their background or location.
Understanding the Global Economic Situation
Right now, the global economy is not doing as well as it used to. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s economy grew by nearly 4% each year, but now it has slowed down, with growth rates just above 3%. This slowdown affects everyone, as it means fewer jobs, less income, and fewer opportunities for people around the world.
The G20 leaders pointed out that technology—especially DPI and AI—could help boost the economy by creating jobs, improving healthcare and education, and making governments more efficient. By using technology wisely, we can make sure that everyone has access to the same opportunities, no matter where they live. This vision of digital fairness is at the heart of the G20 Troika’s message.
Digital Public Infrastructure and AI: Tools for Change
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is a foundation of systems that allow people to connect digitally. DPI includes things like digital identification systems, digital payment platforms, and access to the internet. When we combine DPI with Artificial Intelligence (AI), we can make these systems even more powerful and useful. AI, which allows computers to learn from data and make decisions, can help analyse data to provide better services and create new opportunities for people.
The Joint Communiqué explained how several G20 countries have already successfully used DPI and AI to make people’s lives better. For example, India’s digital ID system, called Aadhaar, allows millions of people to access government services easily and securely. In Brazil, a digital payment system called PIX has made it easy for people to send money to each other quickly and safely, even if they do not have a bank account. These examples show that DPI and AI can make life simpler, more secure, and fairer for everyone.
By focusing on creating and improving DPI, governments can make sure everyone has equal access to digital services. For instance, with DPI and AI, schools can use data to understand students’ learning needs and improve education, healthcare providers can use technology to make treatments more personalised, and small businesses can connect with customers easily through digital platforms.
Designing Technology for Everyone
For DPI and AI to truly benefit everyone, these systems need to be designed in a way that includes all people, protects their privacy, and keeps their data secure. The G20 Troika’s message suggests four important design principles for building technological systems:
- Open: This means that everyone should be able to see how these digital systems work. Openness builds trust because people know that there is no hidden agenda.
- Modular: This means that systems are built in small parts or “modules,” which makes it easier to update or change them when needed.
- Interoperable: This means that different systems should be able to work together smoothly. For example, a healthcare system should connect easily with an education system if needed.
- Scalable: This means that as more people start using a system, it should be able to grow without breaking down.
These design principles make sure that DPI and AI systems are flexible, adaptable, and fair. Another important aspect that the G20 Troika emphasised is creating a “technology-neutral” environment. This means that no single company or technology gets an unfair advantage. When there is fair competition, everyone has a chance to succeed, which encourages new ideas and innovations.
Building Trust Through Data Governance
Data is a huge part of how DPI and AI work. When people use digital systems, their information is often collected and stored. This data can be used to improve services, but it must be managed carefully to protect people’s privacy and rights. This is where data governance, or the way we manage and protect data, becomes important.
The G20 Troika emphasised that for people to trust digital systems, there must be clear rules about how data is used. When companies and governments are transparent about their data practices—meaning they are open about how they collect, store, and use data—it builds public trust. People need to feel confident that their personal information is safe and that it will not be misused. For example, rules on data privacy and security can protect individuals from identity theft or unauthorised access to their information.
Data governance also includes protecting intellectual property, which refers to the rights of people who create original content or inventions. By respecting intellectual property rights, countries can encourage creativity and innovation because people know their work will be protected.
Making AI Culturally Sensitive
One of the most unique points in the G20 Troika’s communiqué was the idea that AI systems should be culturally sensitive. This means that AI should not just reflect the culture of one region or country, but should instead be inclusive of all cultures, languages, and traditions. Often, AI systems are trained on large sets of data, but if this data only includes information from a few cultures or languages, the AI might not work well for everyone.
For example, an AI system that only understands English would not be very helpful to someone who speaks Portuguese or Hindi. Similarly, an AI trained on data from only one country might make decisions that do not fit with the customs or beliefs of people in other countries. By training AI on diverse datasets, we can make sure it is fair and beneficial for people everywhere. This inclusive approach makes AI more useful and respectful, helping it to serve a broader range of people around the world.
Conclusion
The G20 Troika’s Joint Communiqué is a forward-looking statement that sets out a path for making technology work for everyone. By emphasising Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as tools for change, the G20 leaders are calling for a world where digital transformation is fair, inclusive, and respectful of individual rights. The declaration recognises that technology can drive economic growth and social progress, but only if it is designed to be accessible and fair for all.
To achieve this, the G20 Troika has laid out clear guidelines: DPI and AI systems must be open, modular, interoperable, and scalable. Data governance must be strong to build trust and protect privacy, and AI must be inclusive of all cultures and languages. These principles create a vision of a digital world that respects diversity and promotes fairness, ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.
By following this roadmap, countries around the world can build a digital future that empowers people, strengthens economies, and fosters global cooperation. The G20 Troika’s message serves as a reminder that while technology holds great power, it must be guided by fairness, transparency, and respect for all.
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