AC360 Panel | Investing in a secure, democratic digital future for all

Atlantic Council 360/Open Summit | Investing in a secure, democratic digital future for all

The pandemic has highlighted the dire consequences for the three billion people who have no access to the internet and are increasingly unable to work, learn, engage in civic life, or access healthcare online. How the world responds will have major implications for international development, national security, and human rights. Will internet have-nots be left to fall further behind just by staying where they are? Will democratic nations make the investments in digital equity needed to expand access to health and education, political participation, and economic opportunity? Or will this space be ceded to digital authoritarians who are already investing billions in infrastructure, hardware, and software giving them unparalleled power to limit, control, and surveil people’s online lives. Join global leaders to explore what’s needed to secure global digital equity in a way that holds up democratic values and human rights.

Speakers

Mark Gitenstein, Ambassador of the United States to the European Union, US Mission to the EU Catalina Escobar, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Makaia Malavika Jayaram, Executive Director, Digital Asia Hub Jochai Ben-Avie, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Connect Humanity (Moderator)