The Copenhagen Pledge on Tech for Democracy is a commitment to make digital technologies work for, not against, democracy and human rights. It underlines the joint responsibility of governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, and technology companies to develop and use digital technologies to the benefit of democracy and human rights.
You can also sign the Pledge via this direct link if the below questionnaire does not appear.
We believe that the future of democracy relies on our ability to leverage and steer the digital transformation of society in ways that capitalize on its opportunities, while also confronting the challenges. We stand at a crucial junction in the history of democracy, and we need to jointly, responsibly, and proactively develop and use digital technologies and online spaces to cultivate and strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law around the world.
We consider digital technologies, when developed and used responsibly, to be of great potential for supporting democratic institutions, increasing transparency and accountability in governance, and for protecting and promoting human rights. A human rights-based approach to digital technologies and responsible handling of data can help foster a democratic culture, broaden civic engagement in democratic processes, and enhance the open and free exchange of ideas so vital to democracies.
Nevertheless, our expectations and aspirations for the use of digital technologies to work for – and not against – democracy and the enjoyment of human rights have not been fully met. We condemn the exploitation of digital technologies by State and non-State actors to repress and undermine democracy and the enjoyment of human rights, and we recognize that some digital technologies may be exploited to control and infringe upon civic spaces both online and offline.
We remain deeply concerned about any approaches to the development and use of digital technologies or to governance that are inconsistent with international human rights law, free and fair elections, and the vision of an open, accessible, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet.
We have an opportunity and a joint obligation to develop, use, and promote technology in a manner that strengthens democracy. Therefore, we, a multi-stakeholder alliance of governments, multilateral organizations, civil society, and technology companies, hereby commit to working together on promoting a vision for the digital age – based on democratic values and principles.
We believe that the human rights and fundamental freedoms that people have offline must also be protected and promoted online, and we therefore pledge to:
Ensure that the development and use of digital technologies support democratic institutions and processes and contribute to an open and democratic debate online that allows for the free exchange and expression of ideas, by:
Make use of digital technologies to enhance the digital resilience and mobilization of civil society, including journalists, pro-democracy activists, and human rights defenders worldwide, by:
We call upon all interested parties to join the spirit of this pledge.
Copenhagen, 18 November 2021
We must ensure that our vision is translated into concrete action. That is why civil society has launched an Action Programme that puts forward 8 concrete recommendations on how to act in line with the Pledge.
The Action Programme is a key output from the Days of Action, which took place in the run-up to the Tech for Democracy conference on 18 November 2021. It is a global document that consolidates the findings from the Days of Action and sets out a clear path for actions needed. The programme provides a strong basis for civil society advocacy, and will contribute to raising the bar for real action amongst decision makers all over the world as part of the Tech for Democracy initiative.
Click here to read more and dive into the Action Programme and the 8 recommendations for action.