Digital Rights

October 2024

In the digital age, the significance of digital rights is crucial, as technology increasingly influences various aspects of life. Digital rights ensure individuals’ entitlements in the digital domain, which is essential for a sustainable and prosperous digital economy. The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) places digital rights at the core of its vision for a global digital economy, promoting inclusive, safe, and ethical policies through its Strategic Roadmap 2030 and flagship initiative, “DCO Digital for Good.” The Roadmap identifies key challenges related to online harm, misinformation, data privacy, and AI bias that must be addressed to ensure user security and foster trust in digital technologies.

This policy paper defines digital rights, explores global approaches, and contextualizes these rights within DCO Member States. It delves into the significant challenges currently facing digital rights and identifies specific initiatives being pursued globally to address them. The paper identifies and characterizes the digital rights deemed most pertinent within the context of DCO which include: right to protection against online misinformation, right to digital literacy, online Privacy protection, right to digital security and safety, right to personal digital identity, and protection against algorithmic bias.

The paper concludes with furnishing policy recommendations aimed at fostering the digital economy, safeguarding human rights, and promoting inclusivity and human development.