2024 marked the first time in history that Brazil held the pro-tempore presidency of the G20. With the motto “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,” Brazil used the G20 presidency to center the digital transformation and its implications in the group’s discussions. Under Brazil’s leadership, the G20 agenda explored issues ranging from Digital Public Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance to the newly introduced topic of Information Integrity. Many of these conversations addressed issues such as tech harms from a global majority perspective and emphasized the need to include more voices in these spaces.
Brazil’s presidency promoted the expansion of voices heard at the G20. It was the third in a row held by a global majority country, following India and Indonesia, and most of the debates addressed the need to shape global policies to harness digital advancements for equitable development.
Additionally, this year’s Summit actively solicited feedback from engagement groups and introduced G20 Social, which increased the participation of non-governmental actors in the activities and decision-making processes of the G20.
The Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) presented a comprehensive agenda containing the following discussion topics: 1) digital inclusion, including universal and meaningful connectivity; 2) digital government and inclusive digital public infrastructure; 3) Information Integrity online and trust in the digital economy; and 4) AI built for inclusive sustainable development and inequalities reduction. In addition to its timely agenda, the DEWG discussions also provided an opportunity for Brazil to reassert its leadership in the digital economy-related conversations and continue leveraging its leadership in spaces like Internet Governance. The agenda raised issues — such as AI governance and Information Integrity — relevant to both domestic and global policy discussions.
Information Integrity: A New Topic for the Digital Economy Working Group
In 2024, the DEWG identified Information Integrity as a new priority for the group. As highlighted in the DEWG issue note, there is a need for further reflection on challenges such as mis/disinformation and hate speech, as well as the negative externalities of digital platforms business models. Just as importantly, there is a need to identify strategies and governance approaches to tackle these challenges.
The G20 agenda fostered connections between Information Integrity and other pressing issues like platform and AI governance. It provided a space for group leaders to acknowledge the role digital platforms play in the distribution of misinformation and disinformation and hate speech, as well as other forms of online harms. Addressing the shared responsibilities between stakeholders also allowed the group to make a stronger call for digital platforms transparency and for companies to take responsibility for their platforms and services in line with relevant policies and applicable legal frameworks. Such a call is especially relevant as social media platforms continue to challenge legislation and court orders around the globe.
Both the G20 DEWG Maceio Ministerial Declaration and the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration contain very direct commitments on harnessing the potential of digital and emerging technologies to reduce inequalities. They reinforce the call for meaningful platform transparency “with appropriate safeguards, and explainability regarding data, algorithms and content moderation” as key aspects for building healthier information ecosystems. Explicitly recognizing the impact of new technologies on the spread of disinformation is a core aspect of this track as it will inform future iterations of the G20 Summit and the development of policies to build healthier informational ecosystems.
In this vein, the Brazilian government launched the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change. The initiative’s main goal is to bring together states and international organizations committed to Information Integrity to compile and produce data on the impact of disinformation on climate action ahead of COP-30, scheduled for November 2025 in Brazil.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
AI, with its potential to catalyze economic growth and inclusive sustainable development, was another of the core issues for the 2024 cycle. Recognizing both the potential and challenges of AI, Brazil’s G20 presidency prioritized discussions on AI governance and the policies necessary to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, with a strong emphasis on ethics, transparency and inclusivity.
The G20 DEWG Maceio Ministerial Declaration and the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration also acknowledge the threats associated with AI in the field of information and the global calls for regulation of this technology. They promote measures to ensure transparency, accountability, human oversight and the protection of copyright. Recognizing the flaws or issues still present in the development and implementation of AI-related technologies is necessary in order to incorporate the voices of developed and developing countries and to create solutions that focus on addressing potential harms instead of profit.
The Brazilian G20 presidency proactively addressed AI-related issues of inclusion, digital governance, the ethical use of AI and the need to address current inequalities in deployment and development.
Way Forward
While the digital discussions during Brazil’s G20 presidency were comprehensive, they faced challenges. Diverging national interests, varying levels of technological advancement, concerns about Information Integrity and AI, as well as the current approaches taken to online harms, often complicated negotiations. However, this year’s presidency underscored the transformative potential of digital technologies to address global challenges and foster inclusive growth. The focus adopted by the G20 made 2024 a pivotal year for the digital rights and technologies debates — a decision easily justified by the overwhelming prevalence of online harms across the globe, including in electoral processes.
As the baton is passed to South Africa in 2025, a forward-looking agenda aligned with the aspirations of the international community has the potential to shape a digital future that is equitable, secure and sustainable for all. To achieve such a future, it will be crucial for South Africa to continue the conversations — and debates — about the threats associated with AI and social media platforms, how to leverage technological development for inclusion and how to ensure digital platforms adopt meaningful transparency.
Bruna Santos, Global Campaigns Manager at Digital Action and member of the Digitalization and Technology Working Group of C20 2024.
Featured image: G20 Brazil during the 5th Digital Economy Working Group Meeting