Jack Ma joins UN chief in discussion on global digital cooperation

Jack Ma of China's Alibaba Group joined United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation in a live conversation on Monday to discuss global digital cooperation for a safer and more sustainable future of the digital industry.

Jack Ma, and Melinda Gates, leave a television studio at United Nations headquarters, Monday, June 10, 2019, after a live conversation with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on digital cooperation. [Photo: AP]

The global online event was seen as an opportunity to discuss how the public sector, private sector and civil society can work together to realize the potential of digital technologies for advancing human well-being, while mitigating the risks.

Ma, who is the executive chairman of Alibaba group and co-chair on the UN High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, said that in the digital age, the bigger you are, the bigger responsibility you should have.

Ma said that his job has been "chief education officer," as he has been engaged in educating customers and government officers, and trying to convince them to keep abreast with technology development.

"If you do not pay attention to privacy, if you do not pay attention to data security, if you do not pay attention to human rights, if you do not pay attention to the interest of society, you might disappear very quickly," Ma said.

Today, mobile phones are much more powerful than any any personal computer twenty years ago, Ma said, adding that if the government, private sectors and civil society work together, they could make smart policies.

Guterres, on his part, noted the importance of a people-centered approach, saying it is not only a government responsibility, but a societal responsibility.

Communities, organizations and individuals working on issues ranging from digital inclusion, digital rights to security, governance also joined the online conversation during the webcast at the UN Headquarters.