April Digital Matters

April’s Digital Matters—our monthly round-up of news, research, events, and notable uses of tech—explores areas of opportunity and challenge for the field of tech and democracy. This month we look at how we can advance better outcomes through cross-sector collaboration, develop safer and more effective public services, and strengthen digital public infrastructure.

The Summit for Democracy (March 29-30) highlighted several opportunities for collective action towards a stronger, safer, rights-respecting digital ecosystem. Technology’s impact on democracy is simultaneously global and local – improving connectivity, financial inclusion, and facilitating access to public services. Around the world, cross-sector groups are working together to address challenges like digital authoritarianism, access to the internet, surveillance, and online human rights violations. One essential solution at the intersection of these endeavors and at the root of digital public infrastructure is digital identity.

What are the key opportunities and challenges in public interest tech and innovation identified through the 2023 Summit for Democracy?

The 2023 Summit for Democracy and adjacent technology events brought together stakeholders across sectors to discuss challenges and build momentum around opportunities for a safer and more inclusive digital future.

Eight Takeaways on Tech from the Summit for Democracy by Alex C. Engler, Tech Policy Press (March 31, 2023)

The Summit prioritized eight key topics for challenge and growth for tech and democracy: (1) improving digital public services; (2) expanding internet access; (3) addressing internet shutdowns; (4) countering the use of surveillance technologies; (5) advancing democracy affirming technologies; (6) facing emerging AI challenges; (7) governing platforms better; and (8) facilitating civil society and multi-stakeholder efforts.

Event Recap: Championing Digital Democracy for All by Sarah Forland, Digital Impact and Governance Initiative at New America (April 4, 2023)

On March 30, the Technology for Democracy Cohort co-leads Estonia, the United Kingdom, and Access Now were joined by DIGI, Open Data Charter, Accountability Lab, the Digital Forensic Research Lab at the Atlantic Council, and Internet Society for a convening hosted at New America. The event highlighted priority action areas identified by the cohort—supporting open and secure access to the Internet, strengthening digital public infrastructure, and advancing technology for good governance. Watch a recording of the event here.

At the Second Summit for Democracy, Governments and Civil Society Pledge to Take Action by Katie LaRoque, Freedom House (April 13, 2023)

At the second Summit for Democracy, 73 of the 120 participating countries signed the Declaration of the Summit for Democracy, dedicating themselves to 17 principles for strengthening democracy. To accompany this government-led initiative, 130 civil society organizations, including DIGI, signed the Declaration of Democratic Principles showing shared support for foundational democratic values such as human rights, free speech, and free and fair elections. Stakeholders also provided updates on commitments from the previous Summit and outlined new goals, helping align civil society and governments around priority action areas. Explore this dashboard from International IDEA to see progress on commitments.

What to expect from the world’s democratic tech alliance as the Summit for Democracy unfolds by Katherine Walla, Atlantic Council (March 29, 2023)

During this year’s Summit, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), a group of 36 countries working together to advance democratic technology development and human rights online, outlined four priority areas for upcoming work: (1) protecting fundamental freedoms online; (2) improving resiliency against digital authoritarianism; (3) addressing the potential harms of AI; and (4) expanding digital inclusion.

How can digital solutions and DPI be effectively harnessed to improve public services?

In some circles, civic tech optimism is growing as stakeholders focus on using digital systems and solutions to improve public services and openly address shared global challenges. In the U.S., federal agencies are taking action to improve the security of digital solutions and increase digital and cyber capabilities. Administrators continue to grapple with modernizing digital systems, designing and procuring better solutions to meet user needs, and ensuring user data privacy and security. On the international development front, DPI can not only help address these challenges, but also help advance the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Memos for a Tech Transition – Building State Digital Capacity in the First 200 Days by Tech Talent Project, New America, the Beeck Center, and American Enterprise Institute (April 2023)

To build momentum in state digital transformation efforts in the first 200 days of 2023 and beyond, this collaborative memo series outlines opportunities and best practices for using digital solutions to better deliver government services and benefits. The recommendations cover (1) building technical capacity and talent in the government, (2) improving cybersecurity measures, (3) strengthening the public procurement process, (4) integrating data into decision-making, (5) improving safety-net benefits services, (6) advancing unemployment systems, and (7) expanding broadband access.

A PACT to sustain digital public infrastructure for the SDGs by Priya Vora and George Ingram, Brookings Institute (April 5, 2023)

Progress toward some SDGs is often dependent on digital capabilities. DPI is a tool that can be used to accelerate digital development. However, without the appropriate accompanying safeguards and regulations, digital solutions can exclude vulnerable groups, put user privacy and data at risk, and lead to monopolistic tendencies. To combat this, the authors suggest maximizing participation, agency, choice, and trust (PACT) in foundational digital infrastructure.

A Guiding Framework for Vetting Technology Vendors Operating in the Public Sector by the Ford Foundation (April 4, 2023)

The Ford Foundation published a framework for evaluating digital solution proposals for the public sector, with an emphasis on technology’s impact on human rights, equity, justice, and democracy-affirming values. The framework provides critical questions for proposal evaluators to ask in seven key areas from a digital solution’s value proposition to its design, development, and maintenance to community engagement. Funders, procurement officers, advocates, and vendors across the public and private sector can use these questions to evaluate digital solution proposals to ensure people-centric outcomes.

Opinion: Why digital public infrastructure matters more than you think by Achim Steiner and Amitabh Kant, Devex (April 5, 2023)

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of DPI, particularly for administering government services and benefits. Open, accessible, and inclusive DPI solutions can accelerate digital development and access, increase resiliency in communities and countries, and advance SDGs.

How can digital identities strengthen safe and equitable access to public services and what are the risks?

Digital identities are a foundational element in digital public service transformation. Appropriate regulations and safeguards, such as data protections and privacy- and security-by-design measures, are needed. Governments around the world are wrestling with balancing the need to verify identities digitally, safeguard users, and not marginalize those who lack connectivity or choose another way to consent to verification methods. American, European, Rwandan, and Ugandan governments are exploring digital identity solutions and systems, amongst others; but Estonia offers a guiding example of successful implementation with 98% of its population connected to digital IDs.

Digital Identity During Times of Crisis by Kim Albrecht et al, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (March 30, 2023)

As governments face crises, digital identities can have a critical impact on residents’ access to services. But without the appropriate guardrails in place, digital identities can also open users up to increased surveillance, data insecurity, and discrimination. Together with the metaLab at Harvard, the Edgelands Institute, and Access Now, Berkman Klein shared findings from their 10 week research sprint to explore digital identities, the breadth of issue areas they touch upon, and risks.

What’s next for digital identity in the federal market? by Brian Chidester, Washington Technology (April 12, 2023)

Both the White House and Congress are showing growing interest in developing digital identities to help improve government service delivery. In order to create a trustworthy digital identification system, users must be put first at every step—design, development, implementation, and governance. To help guide agencies that are already testing digital identity solutions, such as the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recently released a draft update of its digital identity standards and guidelines to better center equity, choice, and fraud prevention, as well as a draft roadmap for implementation.

Digital Identity in Developing Countries: What Lessons Can be Learned? by Andrew Sever, Forbes (April 12, 2023)

With more interactions moving online, verifiable and reusable digital identities can help streamline user access across services. Momentum is growing behind these solutions, especially as the world recovers and implements lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sever takes a look at how three developing countries—India, Nigeria, and Brazil—are integrating digital identity solutions into their government services.

Mark Your Calendars

At RightsCon 2023 (June 5 - 8), DIGI will host a roundtable with PIT-UN collaborators “Code Word: Ethics, Collaborating on Guiding Principles for Technologists,” sharing updates from and soliciting feedback on the ethics workstream launched at last year’s conference.

At Code for America Summit 2023 (May 16 - 17), New Practice Lab at New America’s Deputy Director Ayushi Roy will speak on a panel, “Beyond heroics: Burnout in public interest tech and what we can do about it,” (May 16, 4:00 - 5:00 pm ET).

In addition, former New America Director of Engineering with Public Interest Technology, Afua Bruce will participate on the panel, “Ending the blame game: How government vendors can leverage procurement to co-create solutions and deliver better outcomes” to discuss how collaboration between stakeholders during the procurement process can improve people-centric outcomes and the effectiveness of government digital solutions (May 17, 11:30 - 12:30 pm ET).

Please let us know what you think and consider sharing this post. You can reach us at DIGI@newamerica.org or @DIGI_NewAmerica. Want more? Check out the Digital Matters from March and February. Make sure to check back next month for a new Digital Matters round-up or sign up here to have DIGI's Digital Matters round-up sent straight to your inbox each month.