Towards Interoperability of Digital Services and Standard Setting

Rapid advancements in digital technologies have given rise to a number of novel concerns and created digital divides. The digital shifts underway are reshaping economies, transforming business dynamics, widening upskilling, and learning needs, and have resulted in increased risks to data security and privacy. The lack of interoperability among the key components of the global economy hinders the adoption and implementation of digital services. This policy brief outlines the current challenges and issues related to the lack of interoperability and standardisation in digital technologies, and how the G20- comprising the world’s major economies and accounting for a significant proportion of the global GDP, trade, and population-can play a critical role in addressing such issues. Further, it puts forth certain recommendations for G20 leaders to promote and encourage multilateral cooperation among member countries to ensure a safer medium for transferring information and data, fostering innovation, enhancing accessibility, and reducing trade barriers.