G7 tech leaders agree bold new proposals to boost online safety worldwide

Saturday 01st May 2021 06:06 EDT
 

A declaration has been signed in a digital and tech ministerial meeting ahead of June G7 Leaders Summit which included principles to improve online safety including commitments on human rights and protecting young people. It’ll serve as a roadmap to digitise outdated paper-based systems for global trade among other agreements.

Leaders from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and EU signed a declaration containing a series of shared principles on how to tackle the global challenge of online safety, including that online firms should have systems and processes in place to reduce illegal and harmful activity and prioritise the protection of children.

 

The joint ministerial declaration was signed  at a virtual meeting hosted by UK Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden to fire the starting gun at this year’s G7 Summit. The agreements are part of the first of seven ministerial declarations due to be signed this year.

 

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a coalition of the world’s leading democracies and technological powers, we want to forge a compelling vision of how tech should support and enhance open and democratic societies in the digital age. Together we have agreed a number of priorities in areas ranging from internet safety to digital competition to make sure the digital revolution is a democratic one that enhances global prosperity for all.”

 

As is tradition for the host nation to highlight their culture, over the two days of the ministerial track (28 - 29 April) G7 ministers and invited guests will enjoy performances from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and National Theatre. These organisations, and over 5,000 others, have benefitted from the unprecedented £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.


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