DEEP DIVE - Episode 78: The UN’s Pact for the Future and why it is at Odds with American

The podcast discusses the UN's pact for the future and its potential conflict with American constitutional values. The pact includes the global digital compact, which aims to shape the future of the digital world, and the pact for the future, which proposes a UN emergency platform to handle complex global shocks. Critics raise concerns about the silence procedure used in the drafting process, potential power imbalances, lack of transparency, and financial accountability. The global digital compact addresses issues such as misinformation and bridging the digital divide, but raises concerns about censorship and reliance on profit-driven corporations. Welcome to Deep Dive, a podcast brought to you by National Defense Lab. At National Defense Lab, we are at the forefront of innovative technologies and strategies to safeguard our nation and its people. Episode 78, the UN's pact for the future and why it is at odds with American constitutional values. All right. Ready for a wild ride. We're talking global governance, folks, the future of it all. It's all happening right now, this week, actually. Yeah, this UN summit for the future has everyone buzzing September 22nd and 23rd. Mark your calendars. Mark them, circle them, highlight them. Because this isn't just some talk fest. We're wading through draft agreements, letters, even a press conference transcript, people, a transcript that's raising eyebrows. Let's just say this is a big deal. Big, like rewrite the rule book big. And guess what? We've got the inside scoop, the documents themselves. We're talking the global digital compact, the pact for the future. It's all here. I'm telling you, diving into these is like, well, imagine a thousand-piece puzzle. But instead of a pretty picture, it's the fate of nations at stake. It's complex, for sure. Complex is an understatement. We're talking Internet access, AI, even nuclear weapons. Where do you even start? Luckily, that's what we do here on the Deep Dive. Untangle the mess with an expert by our side. Always happy to help make sense of things. Let's start with the core, the bedrock of this whole summit. Two documents, global digital compact and the pact for the future. Now, these are drafts, works in progress. But here's where it gets really interesting. They're using something called a silence procedure. Silence procedure. Okay, that sounds ominous. I'm picturing backroom deals, secret handshakes. What are we talking about here? Nothing quite so dramatic, but it's definitely a unique approach. Basically, they send out revisions, give everyone a deadline to object. And if no one speaks up, boom, it's a done deal. So no debates, no filibusters, just deafening silence equals agreement. Essentially, yeah. It's about streamlining the process, making global decision-making more efficient, supposedly. Efficient, sure. But I can already see the headlines. World leaders governed by the sound of silence. Doesn't exactly scream transparency and open dialogue, does it? That's a key concern, and it's something that comes up in that press conference transcript we mentioned. Critics are calling it undemocratic, even unconstitutional, because it bypasses those typical treaty processes we're used to, the kind with public debate and parliamentary scrutiny. So potentially a recipe for some serious power imbalances. I mean, who benefits from this silence? Yeah. And who gets left out in the cold? Exactly. And that gets to the heart of this tension we see again and again in global politics, that push and pull between the need for international cooperation and the desire to maintain national sovereignty. These documents, they're trying to walk that tightrope, find a way for nations to work together without feeling like they're giving up their independence. It's a tough needle to thread, that's for sure. Yeah. But we've talked big picture. Now let's get down to brass tacks. What are they actually proposing in this patch for the future? Well, they want to equip the UN to handle not just your run-of-the-mill crises, like armed conflict, but also what they're calling complex global shocks. Complex global shocks, huh? Okay. Now you're just using buzzwords. What does that even mean? Think less about tanks and troops, more about the unexpected curveballs of the 21st century. Okay. Give me an example. Paint me a picture. What kind of curveball are we talking about? Pandemics, for one. After the past few years, that's a no-brainer, right? But it goes beyond that. We're talking large-scale climate disasters, cyberattacks that cripple entire countries, even, this is where it gets really interesting, major events in outer space. Space. Like aliens. Have they been watching too many sci-fi movies over at the UN? Not aliens, at least not that we know of, but think about that meteor that exploded over Russia a few years back. Imagine something like that, but with, well, a bigger impact. Okay, so a pretty broad definition of emergency, then. It's like they're preparing for a future where threats could come from anywhere at any time. Exactly. And to deal with these shocks, they're proposing what they call a permanent UN emergency platform. So like a global 911? Think of it more like a high-level task force ready to be activated at a moment's notice by the UN Secretary General. Hold on, hold on. The Secretary General, just one person, gets to decide when to activate this global task force. That seems like a lot of power resting in one person's hands. You see the potential issues there, and you're right. This isn't just some discussion group. This platform would have teeth. The power to coordinate action across the entire UN system, to mobilize resources, even issue recommendations to member states. Wow, so potentially cutting through a lot of red tape, which makes me wonder, who's paying for all of this? These grand visions don't come cheap. A million-dollar question, right. And the pact, it's a little vague on the specifics. Lots of talk about mobilizing funds from different sources, member states, obviously, but also the private sector, philanthropic organizations, even something called innovative financing mechanisms. Innovative financing mechanisms, eh? That has a distinct ring of both exciting potential and, wait, are they going to raise my taxes again? Right. It's one of those terms that could mean a lot of things. Taxes on financial transactions, levies on carbon emissions. They even mention potentially redirecting funds from existing aid budgets. So a lot of big ideas, but not a lot of concrete numbers yet. And maybe even more importantly, not a lot of clarity on who gets to make those decisions. This pact for the future could have some serious financial ramifications, both good and bad. Absolutely. And that lack of financial transparency is definitely something that has critics worried. Without clear accountability, it's hard to know what the real cost of this pact might be, and who ends up footing the bill. Okay, so we've got these big-picture agreements, some potential process issues, and a whole lot of questions about money. Before we get totally lost in this maze of global governance, let's shift gears for a second and talk about the other big player in the room, the global digital compact. And something tells me this isn't just about making sure everyone has high-speed Internet for streaming cat videos. You'd be right. This document, it wants to shape the entire future of the digital world, how data flows across borders, the role of artificial intelligence. It's ambitious. All right, so from global power dynamics to the digital frontier. This deep dive is taking us everywhere. But let's not rush into the matrix just yet. We'll take a quick break, grab some popcorn, and be back in a flash to unpack the global digital compact. Don't go anywhere. And we're back. Time to journey into the world of ones and zeros, algorithms, the whole digital shebang with this global digital compact. Before the break, we were talking about reshaping the digital world, and, well, that's a pretty bold claim, isn't it? Bold is one way to put it. This document, it's not just about getting everyone online. It's about setting the rules of the game for everything. Data, AI, even tackling the whole mess of online misinformation. Misinformation. Now, there's a topic that could start a fight in an empty room. It's a touchy subject, for sure. And speaking of touchy subjects, our press conference transcript. They did not hold back on this one. Concerns about censorship, walking that fine line between, you know, keeping things truthful and shutting down dissenting voices. They were fired up about it. But, okay, let's break it down. The global digital compact. It calls for this international cooperation to fight misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech online. Sounds good in theory. Who doesn't want a nicer Internet? But then the question becomes, who gets to decide what's misinformation and what's not? Ah, the million-dollar question. Right. One person's fake news is another person's inconvenient truth. And that's where those concerns about censorship come into play, right? Absolutely. That press conference transcript, they were worried that this could give governments and big tech, well, a free pass to silence anyone they don't agree with. Slap a misinformation label on it, and poof, it's gone. They even brought up examples like Brazil, I think it was, where they claimed the government is already using these kinds of laws to silence critics. So good intentions, maybe, but paving the road to a digital dictatorship. It's a tale as old as time, but now with more algorithms. But, okay, censorship aside, what else is in this global digital compact? What are they actually proposing? Bridging the digital divide is a big one. They call for universal access at sufficient speeds and reliability, specific targets even, getting schools, hospitals, even remote communities online. Okay, on the surface, that sounds like a good thing. Access to information, technology, it's crucial these days. But I can already hear the cynics in the back saying, easier said than done. You're not wrong. It's a massive undertaking. And this is where it gets, well, interesting. The compact, it talks a lot about partnering with the private sector, the big tech companies, to make this happen. But those same voices in the transcript, they're skeptical. They're saying relying on companies whose bottom line is profit, well, it might not be the best way to make sure everyone benefits equally. The age-old question, can we trust corporations to do what's right? The jury's still out on that one. But while we're on the topic of potentially thorny issues, what about data governance? Data is the new gold. Everyone wants it. And there are some big power struggles happening behind the scenes. You hit the nail on the head. Data governance, it's another cornerstone of this global digital compact and probably one of the most controversial. The document calls for, get this, responsible and interoperable data governance, which basically means figuring out how to share data across borders while still respecting, you know, privacy and security. Easier said than done. So finding that sweet spot between harnessing the power of data and making sure it doesn't end up being used against us, sounds like a tightrope walk over a pit of alligators to me. Pretty much. And the press conference transcript, they have thoughts on this too. Lots of worries that this talk about data governance, it could just be a fancy way of saying increased surveillance. By governments, by corporations, everyone wants a piece of your data. They're particularly concerned about the sections on cross-border data flows, seen as a way for companies to dodge those pesky privacy regulations. It's like trying to build a house on a foundation of quicksand. Trying to establish these firm rules in a digital world that changes every five seconds. Exactly. And that brings us to everyone's favorite tech buzzword, artificial intelligence. The global digital compact, it doesn't shy away from the AI conversation. AI, the possibilities are endless. The potential for disaster, also endless. How do they even begin to address that? Well, they acknowledge both sides of the coin, the benefits and the risks. Talk about using AI for good, for solving global challenges, but also doing it in a way that respects human rights, follows international law. Again, sounds great in a motivational poster, but how do you actually ensure that? AI is powerful, unpredictable, it's like trying to bottle lightning. It is. And the compact offers a few ideas, creating guidelines for AI development, promoting international cooperation on AI research, even establishing a global dialogue on AI governance within the UN. Global dialogue on AI governance, it's got a nice ring to it. But is it enough? Can we really steer the AI revolution, or are we just holding onto the reins while the horses run wild? That's what the critics are worried about. The press conference, they argue that without real action, binding commitments, consequences for violations, these dialogues, they're just talk, hot air. So we're back to that theme of good intentions, maybe not quite cutting it in the real world. But in all this talk about high-level agreements and digital dystopias, is there anything in the global digital compact that feels, I don't know, tangible, something our listeners can really grab onto? There's one detail that stuck with me. They call for every member state to, and I quote, prioritize and set targets for developing the digital competencies of public officials and institutions. Basically making sure government workers actually know how to use technology. Okay, at first glance, that sounds incredibly boring. Like, everyone learned how to use Excel. But you're saying there's more to it than that. Oh, much more. It shows that they understand technology isn't just a tool anymore. It's the foundation of how we govern. It's about making sure public officials, they're not just sending emails. They're equipped to make decisions in a world that's increasingly shaped by algorithms, by data. The whole new world order. We're going from the printing press to the algorithm, and not everyone's ready for that. You're right, and that's where those concerns about, you know, digital authoritarianism come back into play. The press conference transcript, they worried that this push for digital literacy, it could be used to justify expanding government power, especially when it comes to surveillance. Technology, it's a double-edged sword, isn't it? It connects us, empowers us, but also has the potential to control us. This global governance puzzle just keeps getting more complex. It does, and that's what makes this whole conversation so fascinating and so important. It's not just about abstract ideas. It's about decisions being made right now that will affect all of us, our freedoms, our privacy. It's a big deal. Yeah, no kidding. So where do we go from here? I guess we find out in Part 3. Stay tuned, folks. We'll be right back. And we're back, folks, back for the grand finale of our deep dive into this UN Summit for the Future. We've gone through it all, the big ideas, the potential problems, the arguments, and trust me, there have been plenty of those. We've covered a lot of ground, that's for sure. From that whole PAC for the future thing to the nitty-gritty of the Global Digital Compact. But if there's one big takeaway, it's that tension, that constant push and pull between, well, working together as a planet and holding on to, you know, what it means to be a nation, a country with its own path. You've got it. That's the heart of it all. It's like we're standing on one of those fault lines, tectonic plates grinding against each other. Ready to erupt at any minute. Exactly, because on the one hand, we've got these massive global problems, pandemics, climate change, technology changing faster than we can keep up. These are things that no single country can handle alone. No way, no how. But then there's that instinct, that deep down feeling that each country has to make its own choices, to protect its own interests. You can't blame them. Right, of course not. So these documents, these PACs and COMPACs, they're trying to bridge that gap to create a system where countries can work together without feeling like they're giving up their independence. Sounds good on paper, but as we've seen, the devil's always in the details, isn't he? He sure is. I mean, we've talked about the risks, censorship, surveillance, power getting concentrated in the hands of a select few. These aren't just hypotheticals. These are real issues, and they deserve a closer look. Absolutely, and that's where you, our listeners, you come in. Because this isn't just some abstract debate happening in a fancy room somewhere. It's not at all. These decisions have the potential to affect every single one of us. Your freedoms, your privacy, the kind of world your kids inherit, it's all on the line here. Yeah. And, yeah, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all. Right, like what can one person even do? Exactly. But those voices in that press conference transcript we keep mentioning, that's what they're fighting against. They're demanding transparency. They're speaking up, reminding everyone that we all have skin in the game. They're saying, don't be silent. And they're right. Because when we stay silent, when we don't engage, that's when things can go really wrong. It's like that old saying, all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. These global systems, these agreements, they're not set in stone. They can change, evolve. Exactly. They're shaped by the choices we make, the questions we ask. The actions we take. Yeah. And that's what we try to do here on the Deep Dive, isn't it? It is. We give you the information, the tools you need to form your own opinions. To challenge assumptions, to hold our leaders accountable. Exactly. So as you read about this summit, as you listen to the news, remember what we've talked about. Think critically. Ask those tough questions. And don't be afraid to speak up. Your voice matters. It really does. Because the future, well, it's not some predetermined thing. We build it together through the choices we make today. Well said. And, hey, even the smallest details can have a big impact down the line. Like that bit in the Pack for the Future about making the UN more interconnected. Oh, yeah, that jumped out at me, too. On the surface, sure, sounds good, right? More efficient, more streamlined. But what does that actually mean? Does it mean better global governance? Or does it mean a bureaucratic nightmare that no one can untangle? Something to think about. Absolutely. And on that note, I think we've given everyone a lot to chew on today. But this conversation, it doesn't end here. We'll be back, and we'll keep following this story as it develops. So until next time, keep asking those questions, keep digging for the truth, and we'll be right here with you, navigating the complexities of this wild, ever-changing world. This has been another episode of Deep Dive, brought to you by National Defense Lab. For more information about this topic and others, please visit our Deep Dive podcast page on nationaldefenselab.com. Thank you for listening.