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April’s Digital Matters—our monthly round-up of news, research, events, and notable uses of tech—explores areas of opportunity and challenge for the field of tech and democracy. This month we look at how we can advance better outcomes through cross-sector collaboration, develop safer and more effective public services, and strengthen digital public infrastructure.

The Summit for Democracy (March 29-30) highlighted several opportunities for collective action towards a stronger, safer, rights-respecting digital ecosystem. Technology’s impact on democracy is simultaneously global and local – improving connectivity, financial inclusion, and facilitating access to public services. Around the world, cross-sector groups are working together to address challenges like digital authoritarianism, access to the internet, surveillance, and online human rights violations. One essential solution at the intersection of these endeavors and at the root of digital public infrastructure is digital identity.

What are the key opportunities and challenges in public interest tech and innovation identified through the 2023 Summit for Democracy?

and brought together stakeholders across sectors to discuss challenges and build momentum around opportunities for a safer and more inclusive digital future.

by Alex C. Engler, Tech Policy Press (March 31, 2023)

The Summit prioritized eight key topics for challenge and growth for tech and democracy: (1) improving digital public services; (2) expanding internet access; (3) ; (4) countering the use of surveillance technologies; (5) advancing democracy affirming technologies; (6) facing emerging AI challenges; (7) governing platforms better; and (8) facilitating civil society and multi-stakeholder efforts.

Event Recap: Championing Digital Democracy for All by Sarah Forland, Digital Impact and Governance Initiative at ������Ƶ (April 4, 2023)

On March 30, the Technology for Democracy Cohort co-leads , the , and were joined by DIGI, , , the at the Atlantic Council, and for a convening hosted at ������Ƶ. The event highlighted priority action areas identified by the cohort—supporting open and secure access to the Internet, strengthening digital public infrastructure, and advancing technology for good governance. Watch a recording of the event .

by Katie LaRoque, Freedom House (April 13, 2023)

At the second Summit for Democracy, 73 of the 120 participating countries signed the , dedicating themselves to 17 principles for strengthening democracy. To accompany this government-led initiative, 130 civil society organizations, including DIGI, signed the showing shared support for foundational democratic values such as human rights, free speech, and free and fair elections. Stakeholders also provided updates on commitments from the previous Summit and outlined new goals, helping align civil society and governments around priority action areas. Explore this to see progress on commitments.

by Katherine Walla, Atlantic Council (March 29, 2023)

During this year’s Summit, the (FOC), a group of 36 countries working together to advance democratic technology development and human rights online, outlined four priority areas for upcoming work: (1) protecting fundamental freedoms online; (2) improving resiliency against digital authoritarianism; (3) addressing the potential harms of AI; and (4) expanding digital inclusion.

How can digital solutions and DPI be effectively harnessed to improve public services?

In some circles, as stakeholders focus on using digital systems and solutions to improve public services and openly address shared global challenges. In the U.S., federal agencies are taking action to of digital solutions and . Administrators continue to grapple with , and procuring better solutions to meet user needs, and ensuring user . On the international development front, , but also help advance the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

by Tech Talent Project, ������Ƶ, the Beeck Center, and American Enterprise Institute (April 2023)

To build momentum in state digital transformation efforts in the first 200 days of 2023 and beyond, this collaborative memo series outlines opportunities and best practices for using digital solutions to better deliver government services and benefits. The recommendations cover (1) building technical capacity and talent in the government, (2) improving cybersecurity measures, (3) strengthening the public procurement process, (4) integrating data into decision-making, (5) improving , (6) advancing unemployment systems, and (7) expanding broadband access.

by Priya Vora and George Ingram, Brookings Institute (April 5, 2023)

Progress toward some SDGs is often dependent on digital capabilities. DPI is a tool that can be used to accelerate digital development. However, without the appropriate accompanying safeguards and regulations, digital solutions can exclude vulnerable groups, put user privacy and data at risk, and lead to monopolistic tendencies. To combat this, the authors suggest maximizing participation, agency, choice, and trust (PACT) in foundational digital infrastructure.

by the Ford Foundation (April 4, 2023)

The Ford Foundation published a framework for evaluating digital solution proposals for the public sector, with an emphasis on technology’s impact on human rights, equity, justice, and democracy-affirming values. The framework provides critical questions for proposal evaluators to ask in seven key areas from a digital solution’s value proposition to its design, development, and maintenance to community engagement. Funders, procurement officers, advocates, and vendors across the public and private sector can use these questions to evaluate digital solution proposals to ensure people-centric outcomes.

by Achim Steiner and Amitabh Kant, Devex (April 5, 2023)

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of DPI, particularly for administering government services and benefits. Open, accessible, and inclusive DPI solutions can accelerate digital development and access, increase resiliency in communities and countries, and advance SDGs.

How can digital identities strengthen safe and equitable access to public services and what are the risks?

Digital identities are a foundational element in digital public service transformation. Appropriate regulations and safeguards, such as data protections and privacy- and security-by-design measures, are needed. Governments around the world are wrestling with balancing the need to verify identities digitally, safeguard users, and not marginalize those who lack connectivity or choose another way to consent to verification methods. , , , and governments are exploring digital identity solutions and systems, amongst others; but offers a guiding example of successful implementation with 98% of its population connected to digital IDs.

by Kim Albrecht et al, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (March 30, 2023)

As governments face crises, digital identities can have a critical impact on residents’ access to services. But without the appropriate guardrails in place, digital identities can also open users up to increased surveillance, data insecurity, and discrimination. Together with the the , and , Berkman Klein shared findings from their 10 week research sprint to explore digital identities, the breadth of issue areas they touch upon, and risks.

by Brian Chidester, Washington Technology (April 12, 2023)

Both the White House and are showing growing interest in developing digital identities to help improve government service delivery. In order to create a trustworthy digital identification system, users must be put first at every step—design, development, implementation, and governance. To help guide agencies that are already testing digital identity solutions, such as the , the National Institute of Standards and Technology recently released a of its digital identity standards and guidelines to better center equity, choice, and fraud prevention, as well as a for implementation.

by Andrew Sever, Forbes (April 12, 2023)

With more interactions moving online, verifiable and reusable digital identities can help streamline user access across services. behind these solutions, especially as the world recovers and implements lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sever takes a look at how three developing countries—India, Nigeria, and Brazil—are integrating digital identity solutions into their government services.

Mark Your Calendars

At (June 5 – 8), DIGI will host a roundtable with PIT-UN collaborators “Code Word: Ethics, Collaborating on Guiding Principles for Technologists,” sharing updates from and soliciting feedback on the ethics workstream launched at last year’s conference.

At (May 16 – 17), New Practice Lab at ������Ƶ’s Deputy Director Ayushi Roy will speak on a panel, “Beyond heroics: Burnout in public interest tech and what we can do about it,” (May 16, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET).

In addition, former ������Ƶ Director of Engineering with Public Interest Technology, Afua Bruce will participate on the panel, “Ending the blame game: How government vendors can leverage procurement to co-create solutions and deliver better outcomes” to discuss how collaboration between stakeholders during the procurement process can improve people-centric outcomes and the effectiveness of government digital solutions (May 17, 11:30 – 12:30 pm ET).

Please let us know what you think and consider sharing this post. You can reach us at DIGI@newamerica.org or . Want more? Check out the Digital Matters from March and February. Make sure to check back next month for a new Digital Matters round-up or sign up to have DIGI's Digital Matters round-up sent straight to your inbox each month.