steered to combat climate change and advance
global sustainability, environmental stewardship
and human well-being.
The prevalence of child sexual exploitation and
abuse is also a major concern. In 2019, 70 million
pieces of child sexual abuse material were report-
Digital technology does not exist
in a vacuum – it has enormous
potential for positive change, but
can also reinforce and magnify
existing fault lines and worsen
economic and other inequalities.
ed to the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children of the United States, 5 while many more
The world is at a critical inflection point for tech-
went undetected. The international community
nology governance, made more urgent by the on-
has long stood united in its shared resolve to pro-
going pandemic. For example, according to the
tect children. Building on that resolve, coopera-
11 norms of responsible State behaviour, agreed
tion between national law enforcement agencies
upon in 2015, States should not conduct or know-
and major technology companies has increased,
ingly support ICT activity that intentionally dam-
but more can be done. Companies must embrace
ages critical infrastructure – an essential agree-
more robust scanning practices and accelerate
ment for the current global response. Such norms
detection methods focused on prevention. This
provide a foundation for significantly scaling up
approach must also be supported by important
and identifying innovative, ambitious initiatives
legislative steps. In that regard, multi-stakehold-
and opportunities for technology governance. It
er partnerships, such as the WeProtect Global
is important to redouble efforts to better harness
Alliance and the Global Partnership to End
the potential of digital technologies while mitigat-
Violence Against Children, are of great benefit.
ing the harm that they may cause.
ROADMAP FOR DIGITAL COOPER ATION 3