Two new papers have been published in our Policy Briefing Papers series, a collection of short, policy-relevant papers on issues of contemporary public interest.
52/2022
Trusted content creators
Martin Husovec (LSE)
The Internet revolutionised the distribution of information. It allowed anyone to speak to large audiences and share their expertise or views. It weakened the role of traditional information gatekeepers, such as newspapers or broadcasters. Decentralised content production brought many undisputed benefits. It democratised content production and distribution. However, it also brought new challenges. With abundant information, it is ever more important to find a way to navigate them meaningfully. The difficulty of regulation is that while non-editorial content requires different approaches compared to editorial content, editorial content is simultaneously losing ground to content of lesser quality.
53/2022
Digital sequence information in the UN High Seas Treaty: Insights from the Global Biodiversity Framework-related decisions
Paul Oldham (One World Analytics); Claudio Chiarolla (International Law and Policy Advisor); Siva Thambisetty (LSE)
In December 2022, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Decisions taken in support of the Framework represent a significant phase shift in the approach to governance of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The authors observe that these, particularly CBD Decision 15/9, have significant implications for fraught negotiations on a proposed new UN Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction. They analyse shifting baselines on digital sequence information, data governance, transparency in use and circulation of genetic resources and monetary benefit sharing to suggest that the Global Biodiversity Framework-related Decisions provide an important and hard-won equitable road map whose key elements can be adapted to address digital sequence information (DSI) in the high seas context.