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The United Nations says as the Internet user growth increases with growing online commerce of goods and services, protection of privacy must be a top priority.
The UN agency dealing with the economics of globalization says the privacy concerns raised after the revelation that a political data firm gained access to millions of Facebook users without their consent “vividly illustrates that most countries are ill prepared for the digital economy.”
About 90 per cent of new Internet users over the last five years live in developing countries – about half of which currently lack legislation to protect their privacy, the world body said.
The global e-commerce is estimated to have reached $26 trillion in 2016, the world body says while emphasizing that ensuring that no one is left behind in enjoying its benefits is vital.
“We know that the digital economy can bring great benefits to developing countries, but we need to address some critical questions to ensure that digitalization leads to the future we want,” said Mukhisa Kituyi, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The UN call comes ahead of the agency’s E-Commerce Week – the leading forum for Governments, private sector, development banks, academia and the civil society to discuss development opportunities and challenges before the evolving digital economy.
To be held from April 16-20 in Geneva, under the theme Development Dimensions of Digital Platforms, the E-Commerce Week will look into the role of evolving technologies to strengthen sustainable development, the UN said in a statement.
