At its last meeting in Bordeaux on October 2023, the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights defined an ambitious path to put digital rights on the global agenda. With this plan, the coalition seeks to lay the foundations for a digital future that is people-centred, human-rights minded, ethically concerned and with an informed and empowered citizenry.
- The Coalition of Cities for Digital Rights participates in the Cities and Digital Rights Platform, joining its members in a global project for the digital transformation of people-centred cities.
- In defining its missions for the coming years, the CC4DR defined six tasks to achieve a people-centred digital transformation through multi-stakeholder collaboration, citizen empowerment and a strong influence on the digital agenda worldwide.
- The Coalition’s missions are designed to advance digital transformation with a rights-based approach for the next ten years, generating specific actions for the diversity of urban contexts and cities around the world.
10 years.
This was the horizon set by the Cities for Digital Rights Coalition to chart a path to enable people-centred digital transformation around the world. Its members, leading cities united under a shared vision in urban contexts, outlined six missions that will guide their collective efforts between 2023 and 2033.
Mission 1: Boost transparency and participation in the governance of digital technologies.
In an increasingly digital world, trust in technologies is essential. The first mission focuses on strengthening transparency and participation in decision-making on digital technologies, especially when they affect people. This mission, led by the cities of Amsterdam and Barcelona, seeks to ensure that citizens trust their institutions through the use of digital technologies.
Mission 2: Provide proactive digital services that meet residents’ needs.
Led by Porto and Helsinki, the second mission focuses on empowering people in the use and protection of their data by spreading the use of analytical methods that allow users to decide how they want their data to be used according to standards and principles that protect them.
To fulfill this mission, the CC4DR will include principles to strengthen citizens’ consent to data use, identify use cases aligned with EU funding and regulation, link the development of these initiatives to the Sustainable Development Goals, and incorporate digital rights as an inherent practice of digital governance in urban contexts.
Mission 3: Promote the use of digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence for the common good.
Establishing policies that promote the ethical use of digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence is the main objective of mission three, led by New York and Toronto. The explosive use of Artificial Intelligence in recent times requires shaping public policies that take a digital rights approach. Cities have a crucial role to play in this, especially in promoting equity as a privacy principle for a more ethical and just digital future.
Among other actions, the Coalition proposes to advance guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence in cities, to defend the essential role of cities in using artificial intelligence with a rights-based approach and to build a public space of knowledge based on collaboration, learning-by-doing and the needs, ideas and tools that people may have in this area.
Mission 4: Demonstrating tangible solutions to champion digital inclusion in cities.
London and Portland lead the fourth mission, focused on addressing the digital divide and fostering community participation. This mission seeks to build a repository of practical tools to drive people-centred, rights-based digital transformations.
The development of guidelines for the incorporation of human rights in the digital transformation of cities and collaboration with institutions such as universities, City Labs, NGOs and other organisations are some of the proposals to achieve this goal.
Mission 5: Empower cities and residents to support digital rights.
The advancement of digital rights requires the development of capacities to understand and address their implementation in urban contexts. Dublin and Vienna are leading this mission, which puts people at the centre and seeks to deliver solid knowledge and build capacity across the citizenry.
From contributing to online academies on digital humanism to establishing summer schools dedicated to digital rights training, these leading cities seek to build a solid foundation of understanding and support for digital rights through collective research projects, local ambassadors for digital transformation or educational workshops on the topic.
Mission 6: Make digital rights part of the global agenda.
In the sixth and final mission, the cities of Bordeaux and Maceió seek to bring digital rights to the forefront of the global agenda. To do so, they propose to strengthen links with multilateral institutions, localising human rights frameworks in people-centred smart city initiatives. In addition, they seek to establish an International Digital Rights Day as an annual milestone for reflection, citizen dialogue and global advocacy on digital rights.
Together, these six missions represent a long-term collective commitment of the Cities for Digital Rights Coalition. But they are also an invitation to shape a digital future that is more ethical, inclusive, people-centred and reflective of the values and aspirations of those who live in it.
