WACC Partner Recommendations on the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC)

WACC partners argue that the Global Digital Compact (GDC) lacks a focus on communication rights and fails to adequately address the environmental impacts of technology, gender intersectionality, and the specific vulnerabilities of migrants. They recommend transitioning from a market-oriented digital model to one based on public interest, where digital resources are treated as public utilities and governance prioritizes human rights over private profit.

• The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is criticized for omitting the concept of communication rights and the democratization of communication, focusing instead on digital technologies and AI without mentioning media or press freedom.
• WACC partners recommend that the implementation of the GDC shift away from a market-oriented model toward one that prioritizes the public interest, treating media, computing, data, and AI as public utilities rather than commodities.
• The GDC is viewed as failing to acknowledge the significant environmental costs of digital technologies, including greenhouse gas emissions, mineral extraction, and high energy and water consumption, particularly regarding AI expansion.
• Regarding gender justice, the document argues that the GDC treats 'women' as a monolithic category and fails to use an intersectional approach to address the specific needs of rural women, Indigenous women, and women with disabilities.
• The document highlights a gap in the GDC concerning migrants, noting that digital platforms often enable human trafficking and amplify xenophobic or racist discourse, necessitating support for migrant-led digital content producers.
• WACC partners call for a review of the multistakeholder model of digital policymaking to address power imbalances and provide civil society with better funding and capacity to influence decision-making.

APA

World Association for Christian Communication (2024). WACC Partner Recommendations on the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). https://waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WACCPartners-GDCRecommendations-EN.pdf

Chicago

World Association for Christian Communication. WACC Partner Recommendations on the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). 2024. https://waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WACCPartners-GDCRecommendations-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Association for Christian Communication |title=WACC Partner Recommendations on the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) |date=2024 |url=https://waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WACCPartners-GDCRecommendations-EN.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldassociationforchristiancommunication2024wacc, author = {{World Association for Christian Communication}}, title = {{WACC Partner Recommendations on the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC)}}, publisher = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2024}, url = {https://waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WACCPartners-GDCRecommendations-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }