Next Steps in Digital Communications
Digital communication tools have advanced rapidly and are continuously transforming our way of connecting globally. However, in this newer frontier of technology-fueled interaction, there are several glaring issues including digital media literacy, misuse of data, and the lacking regulation of content across social and digital platforms. More than ever before, misinformation is a growing concern because of how quickly it spreads through digital means, and the lack of an ethical framework around data and content verification makes it essential for consumers to take responsibility for their own digital literacy. Digital literacy is a necessary skill in order to navigate the technology-reliant world, but not all access to digital infrastructures and information is equal. A recent brief from the Center for Strategic & International Studies explains that:
"Digital literacy has emerged as another critical life skill and is now, per the World Economic Forum, part of the twenty-first-century toolkit … acquiring the right set of digital skills is not only important for learning and workforce readiness: digital skills are also vital to fostering more open, inclusive, and secure societies. When people interact with digital infrastructure, they need to be aware of the privacy and data risks as well as cybersecurity challenges (e.g., ransomware and phishing attacks). Thus, digital literacy also includes handling security and safety challenges created by technology. At the same time, with the rise of digital authoritarianism, misinformation, and disinformation, as well as limitations on personal freedoms, it is equally important to maintain a values framework for digital transformation … Digitalization is no longer a sectoral issue but is all-encompassing across sectors and actors. In that regard, ‘the future is already here’—and investing in digital-literacy programs will be critical to establishing global leadership in the digital age. Meeting digital demands and supporting digital transitions worldwide will be essential for global development programming and progressing toward a free, sustainable, and equitable future. In a world that is increasingly online, accessing technologies and the proper digital skills will be critical for countries’ development, security, and inclusion." (Bandura & Méndez Leal, 2022).
Just as digital literacy has become a global necessity, there is also an imperative for safe and secure measures for digital communication. Cyber hacking, threats, and attacks are a predominant concern across government, business, and personal information, as the majority of our interactions and information storage are now through digital means. Incidents involving cyber security are only expected to grow, which has created measures of communication security like end-to-end encryption. However, these security measures have also generated international public safety concerns, as they create means that can cultivate and facilitate unethical and dangerous communications. A 2020 international coalition called for a ban on end-to-end encryption, citing that such a level of encryption creates safety risks including terrorism, child pornography, and other criminal activity (United States Department of Justice). Head of Whatsapp, Will Cathcart, discussed the "security trade-off" in data privacy and the future of digital communication during a 2020 virtual TED conference:
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