Cameron F. Kerry “The Framework for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital”
December 12, 2021
Boston Global Forum
It is a pleasure today to honor Andreas Norlén for his work as Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag in hammering out the formation a coalition government. He has been honored across Europe (DE, Spain, Italy), and it is fitting that he is now being honored in the United States.
Sweden has long been held up as a paragon of social democracy and progressive policies. I remember when it was an opposition research point that Mike Dukakis took reports on Swedish child care policy as beach reading. Sweden has also been a global technology leader – with companies like Ericsson and Spotify, and people like Goran Marby at ICANN.
AN: “Like no other.” The political currents Andreas Norlén faced are evidence that the challenges of fragmentation and polarization, nativism, authoritarianism, and disinformation politics are present even in the most democratic countries on earth.
This makes it all the more important that democratic countries band together. Artificial intelligence, e-commerce, malicious online content, election interference, and cyberthreats are all global issues magnified by network effects that no one country – even the United States – can manage by itself.
The issues are broad and complex, and there is no one forum capable of addressing all the issues. Effective policymaking on challenges enabled by digital technology will many different avenues, a network of networks in parallel to the communications systems that link us.
The Boston Global Forum is one node of the wide and diverse network needed. This week’s Democracy Summit is another. The week before last, I attended the Future Tech Forum, where the UK government convened G7 members with ten other democratic countries that are global or regional leaders in digital technology to explore issues in technology policy and development emerging in the next 5-10 years and their implications for public policies.
Packets of progress can travel by diverse paths across these many networks and assemble into a recognizable whole.
AI has been a focus of the work the BGF and the Michael Dukakis Institute. AI is a critical path for cooperation for several reasons. First, it is essential to successful development. In the 21st century, most scientific research involves international collaboration. But this is particularly the case for AI research and development because it crosses institutions, disciplines, and borders because of the scale of data, compute power, skills needed, and relies heavily on open source software.
Cooperation also presents a unique opportunity for collaboration because every country is still in early stages of policymaking. That makes it possible to align approaches in ways that can avoid divergence of the kind that is causing barriers to the free flow of data between the EU and the U.S. and present a coherent counterpoint to China’s techno-authoritarianism, prevent a race to the bottom.
Since the Policy Lab in September, along with Brookings Institution colleagues and partners at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, I released a comprehensive report on international cooperation in artificial intelligence policy and development. The report focuses on 15 concrete steps to put cooperation into practice.
It starts with a simple proposition, that likeminded governments “commit to considering international cooperation in drafting and implementing AI policies.” At the UK’s Future Tech Forum, the UK government gave an example of our recommendation in practice: it asked the participating countries to comment on its proposed Online Safety Act. This is an unusual step—and one that needs to become a norm in digital policymaking.
Much of the report focuses on mechanics of regulation, risk assessment, and standards development. Recall how the internet was developed – researchers like Tim Berners-Lee and organizations like WWW Forum, SDOs, ICANN — stakeholders and technicians – hammered out technical standards and systems. These are an example of the kind of policymaking that needs to happen with regard to AI policy and standards – transnational, multistakeholder, public-private collaboration.
One difference from the technical development of the early internet is that the impact is many times broader, and some multinational corporations have acquired much great power. These companies are essential participants in the policymaking but cannot be the ones to make the rules.
There is one other concrete step for international collaboration on AI I want to mention today. It is that likeminded government commit to collaboration on research and development on projects to harness AI for public goods of global importance, like earth observation for climate change, more powerful computation for privacy-protecting ways of sharing data, or monitoring of public health.
Such projects are ways not only to work together on solving important problems for humanity, but also of working through issues like ethics and data governance in the context of specific uses cases where there is strong motivation to get the job done. It is a challenge but, as President Kennedy said about going to the moon, we should do this “not because [it is] easy, but because {it is] hard… that goal will serve to organize the best measure of our energies and skills.”
* * *
AI is just one domain of digital policymaking where the U.S., its allies, and likeminded countries need to work in concert and align their policies. The price of not doing so is divergence and fragmentation. We already in effect have bifurcated internets on this earth, China’s and a shared internet. We don’t need further forking to diminish global network effects that benefit our planet.
I am grateful to BGF for its work to bring leaders around the world together to build cooperation and trust, and to Andreas Norlén for his example of the painstaking and patient building it takes to forge consensus out of disparate positions. These are the tasks ahead.
On Global Cyber Security Day, December 12, 2021, Boston Global Forum organized the Symposium “Framework for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital” with attendance of distinguished leaders and thinkers:
Governor Michael Dukakis, Speaker of Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlen, former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, former US Acting Secretary of Commerce Cameron Kerry, former President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija, European Parliament Member Eva Kaili, Professor Thomas Patterson, Professor Nazli Choucri, former Vice President of Mats Karlsson, President of Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Paul Nemitz, Francesco Lapenta, Robert Whitfield, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Jim McManus, and Former Assistant Secretary of Massachusetts Nam Pham.
Governor Michael Dukakis honored the Speaker of Riksdag, Andreas Norlen, as World Leader for Peace and Security 2021.
Distinguished speeches from Andreas Norlen, Cameron Kerry, and Shinzo Abe contributed thoughtful ideas and significant messages to the world today and to the Global Alliance for Digital Governance and Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital.
BGF will introduce these special speeches on the BGF website over the coming weeks.
The discussion and debate are brilliant with many great ideas for the Draft of Declaration of Action for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital.
Mr. Nam Pham, former Assistant Secretary of Massachusetts Government, raised his ideas in the discussion about the action plan for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital:
My most favorite Einstein’s quote is “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Our current knowledge is that there is not much we can do to hold rogue regimes dictatorships like China or Russia accountable for their misuses of AI. So let’s imagine that we can come up with some concrete actionable plans that we can hold any bad actors accountable whether it is a bad country or corporation.
We need to think outside of the box and shoot for the stars or the moon.”
I am pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Boston Global Forum’s World Leader for Peace and Security Award is Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, for his efforts to enhance transparency and unity in Sweden’s governmental processes.
In his speech at the AI World Society Summit 2020, Andreas Norlén recognized both the potentials and risks of Artificial Intelligence in governance. Misinformation and disinformation can have adverse effects on governmental processes and democracy, such as skewing public opinion and compromising trust in democracy. He pointed out that increasing public awareness and facilitating cooperation among parties and committees within the government can help to harness the power of AI while protecting democracy from the risks.
Since being elected Speaker of the Riksdag in 2018, Norlén has served as the Chair of the Committee on the Constitution, the War Delegation, the Committee on Justice, and the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs. He has played a pivotal role supporting constitutional matters relating to the media, the auditing of governmental processes, the Riksdag’s work on EU matters, issues concerning privacy, the central government budget process, and matters regarding the nomination of permanent judges in all Swedish courts.
Norlén has continually worked across party lines to ensure unified support for the conclusions reached by the Committee on the Constitution, and asserting that the practices determined by the Committee should obtain broad support in the Riksdag and remain uncompromised when there is a change in the political majority of the Riksdag.
These goals match those of the Boston Global Forum. We are also at one with Speaker Norlén on the need for an international accord on the use of Artificial Intelligence, based on shared values and democratic traditions, an accord that will require sustained Transatlantic leadership if it is to be realized.
For these and other reasons, the Boston Global Forum is pleased today to present our World Leader for Peace and Security Award to Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, Andreas Norlén.
At the Boston Global Forum Symposium “Framework for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital”, BGF introduced a brief about the “Declaration of Action of Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital”.
Robert Whitfield, Chair of One World Trust, UK, presented its notes:
Share the ideas, and enrich the ideas and seek to get some momentum behind a movement, using a variety of formats
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented his special speech at the Boston Global Forum Symposium “Framework for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital” on December 12, 2021.
After noting threats and dangers from AI and Digital to peace and security in the world, he highlighted: There are nations that plan to spread disinformation through deep fakes, inciting and brainwashing their citizens.
To solve these issues, he said “we need to think outside the box”.
Your Excellency Mr. Michael Dukakis, the (former) Governor of Massachusetts, Chairman of Boston Global Forum (BGF)!
Your Excellency Mr. Danilo Turk, the (former) Slovenian President, President of Club de Madrid!
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum!
Ladies and gentlemen, international friends, attend the dialog today.
First of all, allow me, on behalf of the Khanh Hoa leadership, send respectful greetings, and express sincere and deep gratitude to: Governor Michael Dukakis, Chairman of the Boston Global Forum; the President Slovenia Danilo Turk, President of Club de Madrid; Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum; and the leaders, strategists, scholars those brought about Initiative “Viet Nam Spark” and organizations special event today with the theme “Building Nha Trang Khanh Hoa into a flagship area in the age of global enlightenment.” Your presence here shows great attention, appreciation, and affection for Viet Nam in general and the city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province in particular. On behalf of the leadership of Khanh Hoa province, I am very honored to be invited and speak at this exceptional event.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Khanh Hoa Province is located in the South Central Coast of Viet Nam, 1,280 km from Hanoi to the north (about 1-hour 30-minute flight) and 443 km from Ho Chi Minh City, the most prominent urban Viet Nam, to the south (50-minute flight); in which Nha Trang is the capital of Khanh Hoa Province.
Khanh Hoa is known for its beautiful and romantic beaches, the world-class best famous sea bays, with many resorts, world-class resorts; wonders, natural landscapes, historical sites, traditional culture imbued with the national identity of Viet Nam. And the wild produce gifted for Khanh Hoa, with two leading quality agarwood and nests which the poet, writer Quach Tan put in Vietnamese poetic verses with sweet, earnest sentences: “Khanh Hoa is land of Agarwood. Over high mounts, and wide oceans do lovers go on. Salanganes’Nest bears the countryside traits. Deep river and stone carved with the country’s oath”. The famous Khanh Hoa Agarwood – spirit of sky and land – known as merchants from all over the world have come here to hunt for spices rare especially in Agarwood tree products is Aquilaria Crassna Pierre (Kỳ Nam) then set going around the silk route across the East-West antiquity. Besides, Salanganes’Nest Khanh Hoa, with 31 trace elements, 18 higher-order amino acids, is considered the nest king, is nutritious food for royal banquets in the past, really is a gift from the Nature given to this province.
The story highlights the historic journey to Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa’s international friends. So in today’s era, Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa will leave any mark on anyone?
The era we live in is and will witness more and more challenges, and to solve those challenges, wisdom and products of wisdom play a vital role. The Resolution of the XIII Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam has set a steering view that must have a breakthrough mechanism to attract and appreciate talents for promoting innovation, vigorous application of science and technology, creating strong motivation for the country’s fast and sustainable development. And we see, Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa has fully converged the potentials, strengths to become a national, regional, and global intellectual destination and creativity.
About the geographical location, Khanh Hoa has an important strategic position for Viet Nam, Southeast Asia, even for the Asia-Pacific region. Located in the easternmost on the mainland of Viet Nam, Khanh Hoa is a place to welcome the first sunray of the country, the gateway to the Pacific Ocean, located on the vibrant and most resourceful waters in the world; In which Truong Sa island district with a lot of precious resources. This only region in Viet Nam owns the seas with a considerable depth. The average temperature is 26.5 ℃ / year and has a mild climate, ideal for high-end tourism.
Khanh Hoa coast is also the interference of the hot sea from the equatorial and the cold sea from the north.
Looking on the map of the South Central Coast, Khanh Hoa, the central intersection among the provinces of Viet Nam, is the eastern bridge point in the East-West economic corridor connecting the Central and Highlands areas, is the convergence of critical roads according to the North-South axis connecting the country’s two political and economic centers of Hanoi capital and Ho Chi Minh City. In terms of economy and connection, Khanh Hoa is between maritime routes and aviation, connecting two leading economic and financial centers in the Asia-Pacific region of Hong Kong (China) and Singapore. As a result, it has a tremendous prospect to become a regional economic link and domestic and international goods circulation. Khanh Hoa also has Cam Ranh International Airport and many deepwater ports, joining other prominent Southeast Asia.
About culture and history, Nha Trang City – Khanh Hoa used to be one of the cultural and religious centers from ancient times with national relics and typical cultural and religious works. Such as Ponagar tower relics – symbols for the convergence of traditional cultural values and traditional beliefs of native Vietnamese and Cham people, annually attracting tens of thousands of followers to pilgrimage. Long Son Pagoda – an ancient temple over 120 years old, where the enormous outdoor Buddha statue is placed in Viet Nam, is also one of the most important temples of Vietnamese Buddhism; Nha Trang Cathedral so far has nearly 100 years old, with ancient Götich architectural design in Europe, …
Through many historical ups and downs of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa, there have been exchanges, continues and harmony between Asian culture and Western culture to integrate and develop, continue to hold one Central role in Viet Nam’s innovative research. Indochina Oceanography was in 1930 (now Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute); Pasteur Institute, the leading research institute for vaccine and medical bio-products. In particular, this land is where Dr. Alexandre Yersin, an excellent Swiss-original French, found the plague bacillus in 1894 to help humankind prevent the evil epidemic, like the case of Covid-19 today. He went to many parts of the world but chose Khanh Hoa as the second home and spent more than half a century working, researching, and inventing. He once said that “I can’t leave here (Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa), only here is my soul open.”
In terms of characteristics of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa people, from the past so far, Khanh Hoa people always keep gentle, friendly, open, and humble qualities; Especially we are ready to dedicate, share with a carefree soul. New thoughts, new knowledge are humanity, aiming to become better and beautiful society will be well received and spread.
I believe you will see this feature most clearly at the co-founder and CEO of the Global Forum Boston, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, a son of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa’s hometown. He co-authored the book “Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment,” the United Nations Centennial Initiative. We are proud he has very nice things to contribute to the general initiative for humanity, and still don’t forget to confirm the position of the homeland on the future map of the world.
Besides, Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa has hosted a peace and innovation event in 2015, on the 20th anniversary of the normalization of Viet Nam – United States relations; Also organized essential conferences of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). These events show the faith and recognition of the world with Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa in particular and with Viet Nam in general as the destination of peace, creativity, and aiming for a promising future.
From those premises, we have enough basis for launching a new journey: “Building Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa into a flagship area of the age of global enlightenment.”
Ladies and gentlemen!
Khanh Hoa identifies that the development strategy in the next ten years will become urban centrally, in which Nha Trang is a nuclear urban and focusing on investing in resources to build Nha Trang. To become an innovative metropolitan area, creativity and sustainability; where convergence and interference of cultures and education; Become a nucleus, the center of innovation, culture – education of the region and the whole country.
Currently, we are actively making and perfecting necessary plans, including adjusting the typical strategy of Nha Trang city to 2040; this is an opportunity to integrate the idea of scientists to maximize the distinctive strengths of the province in the future. We orient the development of green, intelligent, horizontal urban areas. Industrial fields aimed at high-class production, focusing on energy, shipbuilding, food processing, and drinks; developing aquaculture towards high-tech sea farming, responsibility, and sustainability; Diversifying tourism products in the high-end segment, bringing Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to become a new standard of quality, to work, and to travel. Besides, to realize that vision, we are working closely with many Vietnamese corporations and investors such as Vingroup, Sun Group, FPT, FLC, Hoa Phat, Central South, KDI Holding … and foreign corporations: Sumitomo of Japan; Lotte and Hyundai of Korea… At the same time, the Boston Global Forum and the Club de Madrid introduce significant investors from the US and Europe to survey and invest in Khanh Hoa province.
Ladies and gentlemen!
With such important goals, I look forward to acquiring wisdom, rich experience of the Boston Global Forum and Club de Madrid to expose Nha Trang City – Khanh Hoa’s potentials in the “Age of Global Enlightenment.” Within this dialog, I want to emphasize the following two proposals:
I cherish and welcome delegates from the Boston Global Forum and the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid to contribute initiatives and plans to complete the Nha Trang development strategy in particular, and Khanh Hoa, in general, becomes a global creative center. This cooperation will create opportunities and environments for strategists and world leaders to stick and coordinate with Khanh Hoa province to realize this vital strategy; At the same time, contributing to strengthening and developing the cooperation of Khanh Hoa with the Boston Global Forum from the 2015 “Peace and Innovation” seminar with the attendance of Governor Michael Dukakis, Professor Joseph Nye, Professor John Quelch, Professor Thomas Patterson, Professor Robert Desimone … and many leading professors in Boston, world leaders.
Secondly, from the results of this discussion session, if authorized by a competent authority, Khanh Hoa province, we look forward to hosting a large-scale event in Nha Trang City – Khanh Hoa in 2022. To welcome the Boston Global Forum, the Club de Madrid leaders, delegates, and strategic investors visiting Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to continue contributing intelligence and experience Helping Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa realizes aspirations to become a creative center in the Age of Global Enlightenment.
Above these are my shares, instead of the opening of the discussion session with the theme “Building Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa into a flagship area of the Age of Global Enlightenment” today. We look forward to listening and talking with you.
AIWS City practice and apply the 6 anchors of the Age of Global Enlightenment below, will connect Nha Trang city, Vietnam to Boston, and to connect Nha Trang to flagship cities of the Age of Global Enlightenment as Stockholm, Tokyo.
An “Age of Global Enlightenment” is achievable if action is guided by six anchors:
Enlightened Political and Social Order
The Social Contract for the AI Age, accountability and responsibility are fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Enlightened National Law and Global Governance
The Framework of Global Laws and Accord on AI and Digital, proper governance are fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Enlightened Economic Innovation
Every citizen can become an innovator. Socially responsible economic innovation by firms, communities, and individuals is fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Enlightened Cultural Norms
Tolerance for diversity, mutual support, respect, and recognition of the value of every individual are fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Enlightened Education Principles
The AIWS Global Enlightenment Education Program, life-long pursuit of and respect for knowledge are fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Enlightened Communication and Discourse
Open forms of discourse, respect for diverse opinions, and fidelity to accuracy in mass and personal communication are fundamental to fostering global enlightenment.
Each of these anchors applies to all levels of social, economic, and political organization, and each is a necessary condition for achieving an Age of Global Enlightenment.
Vilas Dhar, President of Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
Governor Michael Dukakis, Co-founder and Chair of the Boston Global Forum
Ivo Josipovic, Former President of Croatia
Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament
Mats Karlsson, Former Vice President of the World Bank
Cameron Kerry, Former US Acting Secretary of Commerce
Zlatko Lagumdzija, Former Prime Minister of Bosnia – Herzegovina, Member of Global Alliance for Digital Governance
Francesco Lapenta, Founding Director, the John Cabot University Institute of Future and Innovation Studies
Paul Nemitz, Senior Advisor to European Commission
Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag
Thomas Patterson, Professor of Harvard
Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of the Boston Global Forum
will join in the significant event: announcing the Global Alliance for Digital Governance Declaration of Action Plan for Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital.
This Declaration as a historical event to propose actions:
Dialog between political leaders and business leaders through flexible formats, rather than static waiting for gatherings
Roundtable with governments, EU, the United Nations
Roundtable with Congresses, Parliaments, and National Assemblies of nations
Roundtable with thinktanks, thinkers, and universities
Roundtable with civil society organizations
Coordinate with conferences, forums, roundtables, events in AI and Digital.
8:00 am – 11:00 am (EST), 14:00 – 17:00 (CET), December 12, 2021
