Digital Governance

Digital technologies shape how States cooperate, how people access information and how the benefits of innovation are shared. This page brings together research, events and interviews from the Global Governance Innovation Platform (GGI) on the governance of artificial intelligence, information integrity, and emerging technologies such as quantum computing. Contributors discuss the risks and opportunities these technologies present and the role of international cooperation in addressing them.

Featured

Interview · 7 July 2026

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance

The co-chairs of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance discuss its origins in the Global Digital Compact, the goals of its inaugural meeting in Geneva, and how to keep AI governance inclusive.

H.E. Egriselda López (El Salvador) and H.E. Rein Tammsaar (Estonia), Co-Chairs, with UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala

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An overview of the Global Governance Innovation Platform

Publications

Policy Brief

International Inequality and Post-Quantum Cryptography

A powerful quantum computer could break much of today’s encryption. This brief examines why low- and middle-income countries risk falling behind in the move to quantum-safe systems, and what international support could help close the gap.

📅 June 2026Michael P. A. Murphy

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Policy Brief

Misinformation, Disinformation and the Crisis of Trust in Public Institutions

Misinformation is a multilevel governance failure, not only a content problem. This brief argues that the UN has built the normative case but not the operational architecture, and sets out three priorities for the next five years.

📅 August 2026Simon Chesterman

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News and Events

2026 Digital Humanism Conference in Vienna

News

2026 Digital Humanism Conference, Vienna

Dr. David Passarelli joined a panel, “Digital Democracy and Freedom of Speech: Platforms, Power, and the Future of Democratic Debate,” at the 2026 Digital Humanism Conference in Vienna.

📅 26 June 2026📍 Vienna, Austria

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Events

International Inequality and Post-Quantum Cryptography

How the post-quantum transition could widen global digital divides, and what coordinated international action is needed to close the gap.

📅 11 June 2026📍 Virtual

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Digital Falsehoods and Global Risks policy dialogue

Events

Digital Falsehoods and Global Risks: Why the UN Must Respond

A Global Governance Policy Dialogue with Professor Simon Chesterman and Dr. David Passarelli on the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation for global governance.

📅 7 April 2026📍 New York City

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Events

Governance Architectures for our Digital Future

Exploring digital governance models at the inaugural Digital Humanism Conference.

📅 27 May 2025📍 Vienna, Austria

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GGI Videos

Governance in Practice

Interview

Misinformation, Disinformation and Information Integrity

David Passarelli speaks with Simon Chesterman about why wider access to information has not built greater trust, how false content spreads, and what this means for the UN and multilateral cooperation in an age of generative AI.

📅 21 April 2026🎙 Simon Chesterman, National University of Singapore

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Webinar

International Inequality and Post-Quantum Cryptography

This GGI webinar examined how the shift to post-quantum cryptography could widen digital divides, and the planning, financing and international cooperation needed for a fair transition to quantum-safe systems.

📅 11 June 2026🎙 Michael P. A. Murphy, Queen’s University

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Interview

Strengthening Data for Better Outcomes in Forced Displacement

Aissatou Maisha Dicko explains how the World Bank-UNHCR Joint Data Center builds and shares evidence to inform policy and financing for displaced people and their host communities.

📅 29 April 2026🎙 Aissatou Maisha Dicko, Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement

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Digital Frontier

Interview

Building Effective AI Governance

In this interview, recorded during “The Future of Global AI Governance” at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Lara Shane discusses the roles of company policies, industry standards, independent oversight, and regulation in building an effective AI governance ecosystem. She highlights the role of the United Nations in supporting international coordination and ensuring that AI governance protects people and their rights.

📅 23 September 2026🎙 Lara Shane, Oversight Board

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Interview

Broadening Participation in AI Governance

In this interview, recorded during “The Future of Global AI Governance” held by UNU-CPR and the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Philip Thigo discusses the need for more inclusive approaches to AI governance and the role of the United Nations in giving countries that have historically been left out of these discussions a voice. He considers the emerging coalitions seeking to address the risks and opportunities of AI and develop shared guardrails for the technology.

📅24 September 2026🎙 Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, Kenya

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Interview

Independent AI Evaluation and Sovereignty

In this interview, recorded during “The Future of Global AI Governance” held by UNU-CPR and the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Rumman Chowdhury discusses the potential for independent AI evaluators to give countries and communities greater control over how AI systems are assessed. She explores how this emerging profession could address questions of sovereignty, the future of work and public participation in decisions about AI.

📅 24 September 2026🎙 Rumman Chowdhury, Humane Intelligence

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Interview

From Responsible Innovation to AI Risk Prevention

In this interview, Nicolas Miailhe discusses the need to move beyond responsible innovation towards preventing risks from increasingly capable AI systems. He explores lessons from other regulated industries, the importance of testing, evaluation and verification, and the need for international cooperation on AI safety and governance. He also considers the role of the United Nations in building knowledge and capacity across countries.

📅 23 September 2026🎙 Nicolas Miailhe, AI Safety Connect

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Interview

A Global Framework for Advanced AI Risks

In this interview, Professor Stuart Russell discusses the need for a global framework to manage the risks posed by advanced AI systems. He explores licensing, post-market monitoring and common definitions and standards, as well as the challenges of regulating risks that can cross borders. He also considers the potential role of international institutions in building agreement around AI safety.

📅 23 September 2026🎙 Stuart Russell, University of California, Berkeley

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Interview

Trust, Education and Cooperation in AI

In this interview, Professor Yang Bin discusses the importance of public education and greater communication between countries and AI developers. He explores the role of trust in international cooperation, the need for greater information sharing, and the role of the United Nations in facilitating dialogue, building capacity, and narrowing the digital divide.

📅 September 2026🎙 Yang Bin, Tsinghua University

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