A strategic window for digital justice

The report argues that the period from 2026 to 2028 is a critical window to shape global digital governance before norms become entrenched. It focuses on the operationalisation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the WSIS+20 outcome document, urging a shift toward 'digital justice' to address structural inequalities, 'compute deserts' in Africa and the Pacific, and the environmental costs of AI. The author outlines specific advocacy pathways within the UN General Assembly, OHCHR, ITU, and UNESCO, while highlighting the unique role of faith-based organisations as trusted intermediaries in restricted civic spaces. It also assesses regional dynamics across Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, and the MENA region, noting the tension between security-driven policies and human rights.

• The period from 2026 to 2028 is identified as a strategic window to influence global digital governance before mandates become entrenched, specifically through the operationalisation of the Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 outcome document.
• Significant structural inequalities exist globally, including 'compute deserts' in Africa and the Pacific—where access to high-performance computing and sovereign cloud infrastructure is limited—and extractive pressures on minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper in Latin America.
• The WSIS+20 outcome document, adopted in December 2025, establishes WSIS as the institutional framework for implementation while the Global Digital Compact provides the political vision; however, the financing of digital development remains unresolved, creating an advocacy opening.
• The report proposes the creation of a participatory digital justice review mechanism, modelled on the Universal Periodic Review, where states would periodically report on their implementation of GDC and WSIS+20 commitments regarding algorithmic discrimination, surveillance, and environmental impacts.
• Faith-based organisations are positioned as critical actors in digital justice advocacy because they often maintain trust and operational capacity in regions where secular civic space is restricted, allowing them to document harms and provide 'grounded testimonies'.
• The report identifies specific UN mechanisms for influence: the Independent Scientific Panel on AI (providing evidence for the 2028 review) and the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance (first meeting scheduled for July 2026 in Geneva).
• Regional digital governance varies significantly: Africa focuses on sovereignty and development via the AU Data Policy Framework; Europe leads in rights-grounded regulation but faces internal pressure to reduce burdens via the 'Omnibus' initiative; and the Asia Pacific region is heavily influenced by national security priorities and biometric identity systems.

APA

Dahl-Jensen, C. (2026). A strategic window for digital justice. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/a-strategic-window-for-digital-justice/

Chicago

Dahl-Jensen, Christina. A strategic window for digital justice. World Association for Christian Communication, 2026. https://waccglobal.org/a-strategic-window-for-digital-justice/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dahl-Jensen |first1=Christina |title=A strategic window for digital justice |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=25 August 2026 |url=https://waccglobal.org/a-strategic-window-for-digital-justice/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dahljensen2026strategic, author = {Dahl-Jensen, Christina}, title = {{A strategic window for digital justice}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2026}, month = aug, url = {https://waccglobal.org/a-strategic-window-for-digital-justice/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }