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Populism is spreading. The global economy is more fragile. A trade war between the USA and China is under way. And tech companies are arousing growing angst. This is how The Economist has described the start of 2019.

The event The impact of AI on diplomacy and international relations, organised by the Center for Data Innovation and DiploFoundation, brought together over 150 people – diplomats, policy makers from EU institutions and member states, researchers, journalists and others – with an interest in the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), diplomacy, and foreign policy.

Since its creation, the Internet has been regarded as a world of opportunities. Whereas it gives access to information, knowledge, and ideas, and contributes to faster communication and new business models, online engagement can also result in negative consequences that must be addressed. These include cyberbullying, self-harm, sexting, fake news, harmful or disturbing content, and threats to privacy, to name just a few. In recent years, debates on the psychological impacts of the Internet, including addiction and overexposure to technology, have also gained in momentum.

Have you seen the recent 10-year challenge on social media - people posting their personal photos from 2008 and 2018 side by side? Our collective data consciousness increased after Cambridge Analytica, so the probable purpose of this meme was quickly recognised by some: free and, more importantly, verified data for facial recognition for ageing.

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) together with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) held a workshop on The Role of Regional Organizations in Strengthening Cybersecurity and Stability. A total of five sessions was held on: regional perspectives, inter-regional co-operation, best practices, international perspectives, and issues for international dialogue.

Low and middle income countries are rolling out sophisticated digital identification systems. Will they be a panacea for social and economic inclusion, or are they another way to control people’s personal information? 

With this event we asked: ‘What can sci-fi teach us about digital politics and its future?’ and brought together policy makers, diplomats, designers, writers, and other creative people.

On 20 December 2018 the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 73/257 entitled ‘Judgment of the International Court of Justice of 31 March 2004 concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals: Need for immediate compliance’  at the request of Mexico. The Avena case (Mexico vs. US) regarded the failure of the United States to notify Mexican consular officers in the US of the arrest of 54 Mexican nationals on murder charges, thereby failing to comply with Art. 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR).

The Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) organised a webinar titled ‘What is the role of the private sector towards a peaceful cyberspace?’ within the framework of the Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace, led by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in co-operation with the GIP, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Resear