The German Federal Cabinet adopted the first-ever Strategy for International Digital Policy, submitted by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). The federal government will use the document as a framework that promotes more proactive policymaking on digital issues while being attentive to 'the protection of human rights and access to a free Internet without censorship.'

With this strategy, the German federal government aims to create a vision for a global digital order that upholds democracy and freedom, prosperity, sustainability and resilience. The document is based on the following nine guiding principles:

1. Protecting fundamental and human rights online and offline
2. Advocating for a global, open, free and secure internet.
3. Enhancing value-based technology partnerships.
4. Promoting human-centric and innovation-friendly rules for the digital space.
5. Supporting secure cross-border data flows with trust.
6. Actively helping to shape international standards.
7. Strengthening a secure and sustainable global digital infrastructure.
8. Mitigating risks along technology value chains.
9. Using digitalisation to tackle global challenges.

The strategy was conceived via an inclusive consultation process involving over 100 bodies from civil society initiatives, digital associations, research establishments, industry representatives, and international organisation stakeholders.

BMDV will continue to intensify its commitment to international digital policy, including expanding its bilateral Digital Dialogues with African states and creating posts at the Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

Why does it matter?

With negotiations and consultations for the UN Global Digital Compact (GDC) underway, how national governments position their strategy and vision for a global digital order can inform us where the priorities and snags might be. The BMDV will base its input on the GDC consultations, starting 12 February 2024, on the just-released strategy.