Sustainable Development can Advance with the Support of Digital Public Technology

Technological advancements in the digital world help millions of individuals get greater access to public services, social protection, and economic prospects

FREMONT, CA: The digital technology in International forums on world wealth and stability is becoming more and more prevalent. The G-20 digital ministers outlined ways that digitalization may improve the capacity of the government and economy to support a "resilient, strong, durable, and inclusive recovery" after COVID-19 in August 2021. The Indonesian government pushed the G-20 Digital Economy Working Group to give priority to cross-border data flows, digital connectivity, and digital skills and literacy in May 2022 as part of their G-20 presidency this year. In the meantime, the German president has suggested that the theme of "stronger together" should stress "social justice, equality, and inclusive digitalization" for this year's G-7 Summit at Schloss Elmau.

In the ideal scenario, technological advancements in the digital world help millions of individuals get greater access to public services, social protection, and economic prospects. However, significant issues are brought up. The corporate ownership and control of digital platforms and infrastructure are one of these areas of concentration. Many of the fundamental digital systems in use today are owned and managed by huge private corporations, which have immense influence over the people who utilise these technologies and perhaps even the governments tasked with enforcing their regulation. Others emphasise how the development of digital technologies has allowed for new types of governmental monitoring, given repressive digital tools to autocrats, increased inequality, and fueled social divisions through the dissemination of misinformation.

An expanding global movement that emphasises the public aspect of digital technology is in reaction. In recent research, they examine how digital public technology (DPT), with a focus on extreme deprivation and fundamental requirements, could assist hasten progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By DPT, it means digital assets that, by being publicly owned, publicly regulated, or open source, level the playing field for widespread access or use. Discussion about DPTs for the SDGs must be grounded in an empirical analysis of the gaps. A trend assessment based on a separate, upcoming examination of multiple SDG indicators concludes that none are fully on track to be achieved by 2030. Some are on course to make improvements for more than half of the relevant populations that are in need, including child mortality, access to power, access to sanitation, and access to drinking water.