The charter will be used by the Government to modernise regulation and to lead the international development of digital standards
The initiative is based on five values
On 25 September 2023, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced the completion of a Digital Bill of Rights, which it states will establish the foundations for a "new digital order", in line with the President's vision. For the past year, the President has been engaged in discussions with academics and business leaders, and participated in several international events, including the G20 Summit. His speech at the recent Digital Vision Forum in New York outlined the five principles of the manifesto:
Ensuring freedom and rights in the digital environment, e.g. control over personal information;
Promoting fair and equitable access to opportunities, for example through better digital literacy;
Building a safe and trustworthy digital society, with ethical applications of technology and protections from digital threats;
Fostering digital innovation based on autonomy and creativity, as well as fit for purpose regulation, and
Enhancing the well-being of all humankind, including by reducing digital disparities between countries.
The charter will help with the introduction of new legislation
According to the Government, the Digital Bill of Rights codifies national-level standards and sets out a blueprint for a future digital society that could serve as a model for other countries. The charter reflects globally-shared values while incorporating experiences specific to South Korea, which the Government intends to use both to revise existing regulations and to introduce new legislation – in particular, a forthcoming AI Act and Digital Inclusivity Act. In this sense, it is reflective of efforts being taken around the world to steer the development of online markets and technologies. However, unlike debates ongoing elsewhere that often centre around AI, the Digital Bill of Rights encompasses a broader spectrum of issues. Amid a race for technology leadership, the Government is proactively looking to steer international discussions and cooperation around the development of digital norms and principles.
