The United Kingdom hosted a virtual meeting with global government leaders on 18th November 2021. The meeting was held to discuss issues related to digital transformation and evaluation of technologies such as big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital identity, and technical design of digital government services.
According to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS), the main goal of the International Conference was to debate how the use of technology can help tackle challenges like climate change, pandemic, exclusion, and inequality.
The Conference attended by Canada, Estonia, Denmark, Mexico, Israel, Portugal, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and Uruguay was led by Digital Minister Chris Philip. Together, the nations released a joint statement around the commitment to digitization, using technology to enhance the relationship between the government and the citizens and drive social impact.
The joint statement also covered algorithms, algorithmic decision making, and AI development and use in government. Similarly, the statement reinforces the roles of data as a virtual asset for governments globally, and it emphasizes that digital identity can enhance security and drive decisions.
Considering the digital divide as a major issue, the countries have committed to implementing policies to reduce the digital divide. This includes driving inclusive innovation, enhancing digital infrastructure, designing for accessibility, and building digital skills and confidence.
The ministers' commitments also include better use of digital tools, technology, and data to reduce the impact on the environment by the government's operations. They also recognized the need to identify and manage potential sustainability risks associated with digital technology and reduce the carbon footprint of the lifecycle of software and hardware products.
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