Digital diplomacy is a constantly evolving concept that reflects the growing role of technology in the international arena. Like traditional diplomacy, digital diplomacy aims to promote peace, cooperation, and stability, but it does so by leveraging opportunities and addressing the challenges of the digital world.
Digital diplomacy facilitates the creation of ties between countries, with the aim of developing common policies on global issues, such as protecting privacy, regulating the Internet, combating cybercrime, and defending online users.
This new form of diplomacy not only makes foreign policies more agile and responsive, but also enables them to reach a global audience, contributing to the creation of a more transparent and interconnected international community.
In coordination with other government departments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) ensures Italy’s position at relevant international forums such as the EU, UN, OECD, G7, G20, and other thematic groups.
In the European context, the commitment to implementing the EU’s International Digital Strategy is particularly important.
Central to digital diplomacy activities are the promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms online, attention to digital infrastructure, and the governance of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, 5G connectivity, neural networks, biotechnology, and the Internet of Things.
Regarding the latter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also contributes to the implementation of the competence profiles of the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the National Strategy for Quantum Technologies.