THE TRUTH ABOUT DIGITAL GOVERNANCE: IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP
As the world teeters on the brink of a digital abyss, Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana has sounded the alarm: our choices in digital governance will either create a fairer, more ethical future or exacerbate the inequalities and mistrust that plague our societies.
THE DEVIL WE KNOW
The theme of this year’s International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGov) – "Trust and Ethical Digital Governance for the World We Want" – is a stark reminder of the consequences of our inaction. We’ve seen it time and time again: digital tools meant to improve our lives are instead used to manipulate and control us.
THE LIES WE TELL OURSELVES
The recent discussions at the 79th United Nations General Assembly highlighted the pressing global issues we’re facing, from climate change to pervasive inequalities and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. But let’s be real, we’re not doing enough to address these problems. We’re just paying lip service to the Sustainable Development Goals, while the digital divide widens and the African child is left behind in the digital transformation.
THE RISKS WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
We’re already witnessing alarming trends, where AI is deployed in ways that compromise personal privacy. Governments and corporations are profiling citizens, often without sufficient regard for fundamental human rights. And what’s the response? Crickets. It’s time to establish frameworks that ensure AI and other technologies are utilised in ways that uphold human dignity, rights and freedoms.
THE SOLUTION WE CAN’T IGNORE
Training institutions must prepare a generation of young people to read and interpret big data, guiding the information that AI models rely on. And it’s not just about the technology – it’s about the values we instil in our children. We must teach them to think critically, to question authority, and to demand transparency and accountability from those in power.
THE CALL TO ACTION
As South Africa prepares to assume the presidency of the G20, we must use this opportunity to make ethical digital governance a central focus of our leadership. We must carry the lessons learned and discussions from ICEGov into the G20, ensuring our collective insights lead to tangible action. It’s time to stop talking and start doing. The future of our world depends on it.
