UN and Gates Foundation’s ‘50-in-5’ Campaign: Accelerating Digital Public Infrastructure Rollout
The United Nations, in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, along with partners from the Rockefeller Foundation, is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative called the “50-in-5” campaign. This campaign aims to accelerate the implementation of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in 50 countries by 2028. However, opinions differ as to the true intentions and implications of this ambitious agenda.
Digital public infrastructure refers to a secure and interconnected network of components such as digital payments, identification systems, and data exchange platforms. In today’s digital era, DPI is essential for individuals to participate in markets and society effectively. It promises financial inclusion, improved healthcare services, convenience, and progress in sustainability.
The 50-in-5 campaign focuses on three foundational components that power the DPI framework: digital identification systems, digital payments, and massive data sharing. These components, when implemented successfully, can provide governments and corporations with the ability to create designs of social credit. For example, this could determine a person’s travel privileges, consumption choices, and transaction options through programmable money.
The 50-in-5 campaign will assist 50 countries in designing, launching, and scaling different elements of their digital public infrastructure within a safe, inclusive, and interoperable framework by 2028. The campaign aims to demonstrate the potential and momentum of DPI by showcasing various approaches and outcomes across countries with different income levels and digital maturity statuses. It also seeks to expedite the learning and adoption process through best practice exchanges, open standards, and the sharing of technologies as digital public goods.
While the participating countries have not been disclosed yet, the 50-in-5 campaign reveals that they will include both advanced and emerging digital leaders. These countries will serve as beacons of progress and inspire others to learn from in building their digital foundations.
The 50-in-5 campaign is a collaborative effort between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, the Digital Public Goods Alliance, and Co-Develop.
Co-Develop was established by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nilekani Philanthropies, and the Omidyar Network. The Digital Public Goods Alliance includes numerous organizations, governments, and foundations, including the Gates and Rockefeller foundations.
The United Nations playbook on Digital Public Infrastructure emphasizes the importance of digital identity as a foundational element of DPI. Digital identity protocols enable the validation of user identity, data exchange across agencies, and online authorization of payments. The World Economic Forum envisions digital identity linking various aspects of life, including financial services, healthcare records, travel, mobility, and digital governance.
India is often cited as a successful example of a country adopting DPI at scale. Nandan Nilekani, India’s digital identity architect, has highlighted how India has implemented DPI for various purposes, such as vaccine passports, tax collection, toll payments, climate adaptation, and advancing a circular economy. Nilekani asserts that digital IDs, smartphones, and bank accounts are the tools of the New World, enabling endless possibilities.
Critics of DPI express concerns about the potential for increased control and surveillance. They fear that DPI could lead to social credit systems where consumption choices and movement are restricted based on government and corporate policies. Some argue that DPI initiatives, driven by the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions, could limit personal freedoms and choices.
The 50-in-5 campaign, spearheaded by the United Nations, the Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, sets out to accelerate the rollout of digital public infrastructure globally. While proponents emphasize the benefits of DPI, including financial inclusion and improved services, critics raise concerns about potential control and surveillance. Only time will tell how the implementation of DPI will shape our society and the extent to which it empowers or restricts individuals.
Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com.
