techUK and global partners issue recommendations for G20 governments

4 Jun 2020 01:58 PM

techUK, along with other leading international tech and business trade associations, have outlined priorities for promoting innovation, digital technologies and trade.

techUK, along with other leading international tech and business trade associations, have outlined priorities for promoting innovation, digital technologies and trade, as officials meet to discuss the role of digital technologies for economic growth. In the document, techUK, ITI, DigitalEurope, JEITA and 28 other trade associations call on G20 participants to focus on the facilitation of a global response to the COVID-19 outbreak; the advancement of global data free flows with trust; the promotion of cross-border innovation and the adoption of new technologies; and ensuring the benefits of technology are realized by all.

“Together with industry, the G20 should continue to encourage the open markets and accelerated technology adoption that will drive ground-breaking innovations and creative solutions, including those that directly contribute to the economic and public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will require reaffirmed commitments to reject protectionism, support rules-based multilateral organisations, best practices, processes, and obligations, embrace transparency in legislative and regulatory actions, and invest in the workforce.”

The global industry groups made the following recommendations to governments:

  1. Reaffirm commitment to free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environments, and keep markets open.
  2. Commit to facilitating the development of new technologies.
  3. Adopt clear and consistent guidance on essential workers that includes ICT workers.
  4. Strengthen their commitment to facilitate the free flow of data across borders.
  5. Adopt and maintain strong privacy protections.
  6. Ensure the availability of multiple transparent, non-discriminatory legal mechanisms for the cross-border transfer of personal data.
  7. Allow the cross-border movement of personal and non-personal data.
  8. Develop efficient, innovative, and rights respecting mechanisms for issuing and responding to cross-border requests for digital information.
  9. Enhance cybersecurity by using risk-based approaches grounded in global, consensus-based, industry-led standards and best practices.
  10. Negotiate trade agreements that promote digital trade and include robust obligations in respect of data that reflect global consensus frameworks.
  11. Support the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce.
  12. Provide technical assistance and capacity building tools to enable developing economies to pursue appropriate data governance policies and practices.
  13. Commit to achieving a multilateral solution to the taxation challenges arising from the digitalisation of the global economy.
  14. Ensure non-discriminatory treatment of digital products.
  15. Make permanent the WTO Moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.
  16. Recognize the need for protecting the essential role that online services and intermediaries of all sizes play in facilitating communications and transactions.
  17. Encourage the responsible and ethical design and deployment of AI systems in alignment with the OECD’s AI Principles.
  18. Support global standards development organisations and consortiums that are industry-driven and consensus-based.
  19. Follow international best practices in the adoption, application, and development of laws, regulations, and other policies relating to data and emerging technologies.
  20. Facilitate open format and machine-readable public data sets as well as flexible platforms such as cloud and multi-cloud to foster innovation and competitiveness in data-driven technologies.
  21. Oppose measures that require companies to transfer or otherwise subvert technologies such as forced disclosure of source code, algorithms, cryptography, or other sensitive information as a condition of doing business.
  22. Strengthen broadband infrastructure to ensure network resilience and connectivity required to enable benefits of technology to reach all citizens.
  23. Protect consumers from fraudulent or deceptive commercial activities on the internet.
  24. Create partnerships with industry to promote access to life-long learning opportunities.
  25. Encourage the creation of new jobs in emerging business areas and promote economic growth through the adoption of digital technologies.

The full set of recommendations can be found below. If members have any questions, please reach out to Sabina Ciofu.

MULTIASSOCIATION G20 2020 RECOMMENDATIONS_6-3-2020 (PDF)