Listen to DigitalDots Talks podcast episodes

Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Head of the Geneva Internet Platform, discusses with Nathalie Olijslager, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva, the impact of digital technologies on our everyday lives, the importance of the digital policy discussion happening in Geneva and the impact of the current geopolitical situation on the ongoing negotiations.

In this episode Ambassador Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs of France, sheds light on the risks of a fragmented Internet and debates on the responsible behaviour of actors in cyberspace, especially in case of cyber conflicts. The discussion is led by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Head of the Geneva Internet Platform.

In this episode, Stephane Duguin, Chief Executive Officer at the CyberPeace Institute gives us an original and quick overview of the security challenges encountered in cyber space, with specific angles on the health and humanitarian fields. In discussion with Nathalie Olijslager, former Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

In this episode, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), gives us an original overview on how to address the digital divide and the gender digital divide. How to address development challenges in the digital era? How to ensure meaningfull connectivity and ensure that no one is left behind? These are some of the questions discussed with Nathalie Olijslager, former Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

In this episode, Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression, gives us an original overview of the benefits and challenges of freedom of expression in the digital environment.

How can we address the concerns of our modern society – bullying, disinformation, etc. – without unintended consequences on the enjoyment of freedom of expression? Is regulation the way forward? How can regulation have unintended consequences on freedom of expression? These are some of the questions discussed in this episode.

The interview is conducted by Lars Tummers, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

For more information on this podcast series, and to register for email notifications for new episodes, go to: DigitalDots Talks Podcasts.

DigitalDots Talks is presented by the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands in Geneva and the Geneva Internet Platform.

In this 6^th episode of DigitalDots Talks podcast we discuss trends and developments in the digital world with Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology. He connects the many dots on different digital topics that the UN covers.

Why is it necessary and important to have a UN Tech Envoy? In 2021 the UN Secretary General presented Our Common Agenda to rebuild the world and secure a better and more sustainable future for our people and our planet. For the digital part of Our Common Agenda, a Global Digital Compact will be established. But what is this Global Digital Compact? Who participates and what is its intended outcome? And what role will the private sector and other stakeholders play?

In this podcast you will find the answers for these and many more questions. The interview is conducted by Lars Tummers, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

In the 7^th episode of DigitalDots Talks, we discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the security- and military domain. For this, we invited Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli of the United Nations Institute on Disarmament Research (UNIDIR). He researches the challenges and opportunities of using AI in the military domain and explains what the international community can do to ensure that this happens responsibly. 

On the 15^th and 16^th of February, the Netherlands and South Korea are hosting the REAIM Summit, REAIM being the acronym for Responsible AI in the Military Domain. The aim of this Summit is set a common international agenda for the responsible development, deployment and use of AI in the military. What does Dr. Persi Paoli expect will come out of this Summit and why is it important? And why is it so essential that not just states, but also the private sector, NGOs, and academics participate in the discussions?

You will find the answers to these questions in this 7^th episode of DigitalDots Talks. The interview is conducted by Lars Tummers, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

In the 8th episode of DigitalDots Talks, we discuss the different ways in which our worldwide economy is going digital. For this, we have invited Torbjörn Frederiksson, Head of E-commerce and Digital Economy at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). We talk about big and familiar platforms like Google, Facebook and Amazon, about the power of big data, but also about many other ways in which our economies are influenced by increasing digitalisation.

What is the digital economy and how do we include everyone in it?  How can we make sure that anyone can benefit from the quick developments in this domain? These are questions we will cover in this new episode of DigitalDots Talks.

The interview is conducted by Lars Tummers, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

March is the worldwide gender month. Therefore, the 9^th episode of DigitalDots Talks has the position of women in the digital world at its core. Together with Monica Ferro, Director of the Geneva office of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), we go into the risks that exist for women in the online environment and what UNFPA is working on to fight these forms of online violence. What is the role that International Geneva plays in this, and how do we make sure that women and girls remain able to also benefit from the digital and technological transformation?

The interview is conducted by Lars Tummers, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.

In our 10th DigitalDots Talks podcast we have the honour to have Her Excellency Emilija Stojmenova Duh, the Slovenian Minister for Digital Transformation as guest. Visiting Geneva to chair this year’s World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum, she speaks about the main outcomes of this Forum – the world largest annual gathering the Information and communication technology for development' community.
What role does she see for International Geneva in bridging the digital divide? And what work is she doing on this herself in her role as Minister for Digital Transformation? The Minister shows some refreshing insights, from a policy level to useful tips on the use of new technologies for young people.

The Minister gets into a conversation about these questions and more with Lars Tummers, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Geneva.