Digital governance refers to a framework of policies and standards that define how your organization manages its digital properties. Each organization may require specific guidelines; however, there are some key guidelines you can keep in mind for effective digital governance.
Small teams can improvise, like jazz bands; larger ones must abide by rules as in orchestras. Digital governance must become part of your organization’s culture to achieve optimal results.
Accessibility
Governance may appear cumbersome at first, but in actuality it can help speed things up by creating clear accountability for digital strategy, policies and standards so decisions don’t get made quickly or haphazardly.
Accessibility is a vital aspect of digital governance. By including accessibility into content development processes, digital governance promotes inclusivity and ensures that everyone can gain access to the services and information they require regardless of their abilities – for federal government agencies this means complying with Revised Section 508 Standards.
Local governments can leverage digital governance to ensure that their websites and mobile apps are fully accessible for all users, improving resident engagement with government services by offering more convenient ways of accessing government services or engaging with their community. This could include including text descriptions for images in online publications or including navigation links in mobile applications.
Security
Your digital governance policy should address how you will protect the security of all of your digital assets – including websites and any third-party embeds or scripts they contain – which should include embeddings from third parties that power them and making sure these comply with your privacy policies. A solid security governance plan should help keep all this under control and comply with it.
GSD websites, subsites, and electronic communications serve as public platforms that highlight its unique strengths to the world. Our formal governance framework with clear responsibilities and accountabilities helps us ensure work is carried out ethically while mitigating legal risks or cyber attacks that might arise; and remain responsive in times of disruption.
As authoritarian nations move toward pushback against multilateralism, the United States should lead efforts at global forums to unite market democracies under an agenda for digital governance that safeguards an open internet. Doing this successfully will require adept handling of domestic political fractures while engaging in multilateral institutions effectively.
Privacy
Global digital governance encompasses the norms, institutions and standards that guide the creation and use of digital and internet technologies. These technologies have become essential parts of modern life as they facilitate near-limitless information creation, storage and exchange; in many repressive regimes they also serve as platforms for organizing political dissent against authorities.
Privacy is at the core of digital governance. Platform owners must balance data transfer mechanisms with system security measures, set and enforce privacy protection rules, and develop end-user control tools based on regulatory constraints – but understanding this intricate ontology may prove challenging.
The GDC recognizes these challenges with a rights-based framework that addresses them by acknowledging emerging technologies’ risks while encouraging human oversight, robust safeguards against internet shutdowns, and commitments to protect digital freedoms. Furthermore, this framework recognizes non-state actor participation in global digital governance for the first time ever – marking an impressive advancement and first time representatives from world’s most powerful nations have acknowledged the significance of human rights in global digital governance.
Compliance
Digital governance involves navigating complex legislation and keeping up-to-date on information security protections. This is particularly relevant for businesses in highly regulated industries like healthcare, financial services or public business.
Beginning this endeavor requires an in-depth educational foundation and continued professional development. Board members should dedicate some time learning about digital governance best practices so they can apply this knowledge effectively. Incorporating courses from online platforms like Coursera, edX and LinkedIn Learning as well as industry reports from sources like Admincontrol could also help. Early investment will also help avoid confusion later, when staff and stakeholders require new levels of access or permission. For instance, if one member of the community has responsibility for maintaining GSD’s website or other digital properties, it is critical that this individual understands and adheres to the university’s AI Guidelines.