1.3 Conceptual understanding It is hard to provide clear-cut definitions of terms relating to the topic of digitalisation. Technology is moving at a rapid pace and it permeates all areas of our lives. However, a common understanding of the most important concepts and terms is necessary and the following definitions are proposed in this strategy: Originally, digitalisation described the technical process for converting analogue information into digital formats. This is now referred to as digitisation. Continual technological developments have resulted in structural changes, new applications and systems, for example the creation of networks or the use of Al. Nowadays, the term digitalisation spans all of these developments, including opportunities for use as well as their social, economic and political impact, for example. In principle, the digital space refers to networks of devices which exchange data with each other. The most frequently used and by far the most global of these networks is the internet. Today, around 50 billion end devices are connected to the internet and according to the UN, 54% of the world’s population has active access to it.° Digital space not only includes networks and devices, but also the relevant actors, various processes and interactions. In the same way as land, sea and air are considered ‘spaces’ — and indeed as outer space has recently in the history of humankind been explored as a new ‘space’ — the digital space is also considered a new dimension which extends beyond national borders. 5 UN secretary-general’s roadmap, p. 5. DIGITALISATIOV ee a Strategy pat) oO «5 a roy eS Fourth thematic ATLL e a | Interests and values BOT TRE ie Pee an) 2020-25 gevelopment a a > Oo = focus areas Digitalisation a Tera aS Figure 2: Visualisation of the concepts and action areas for digital foreign policy (Source: FDFA). Background 3