Foreign digital diplomacy and tech diplomacy agendas have matured, with countries putting strategies in place to pursue their national interests. Tech diplomacy practice has become more structured in terms of policy and administration, and the extent of engagement in tech diplomacy has expanded. In the Bay Area, local diplomatic representations are showing signs of multilateral cooperation.
Companies are more aware of the need to engage in policy discussions on internet governance and in the practice of tech diplomacy. Geopolitical tensions, the supply chain crisis, and the rise of disinformation have boosted the awareness, dedicated resources, and proactive approach to internet governance issues within the companies.
The lack of a uniform terminology regarding digital diplomacy, cyber diplomacy, and tech diplomacy remains. It is still a barrier to effective communication on the aims and objectives of tech diplomacy practice between governments and companies.
Discussions on internet governance policy issues in the Bay Area have evolved, but have a long way to go to substantially have an impact on the global level. Discussions with global impact are taking place elsewhere: in New York, Geneva, Washington, D.C., and Brussels.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the practice of tech diplomacy, lessening the importance of a regional presence. Governments now appoint global digital ambassadors with tech diplomacy agendas, while companies allow for remote work, thus shifting discussions from the Bay Area to virtually anywhere in the world.
Cultural gaps between companies and governments remain. Governments are still often seen as regulators and enforcers by companies, and companies are not yet fully involved in wider policy discussions. Companies have had a hard time deciphering governmental structures, while governments struggle to identify the correct persons to engage with within a company’s structure.
The imbalance between the diplomatic representations from the Global North and the Global South remains. Therefore, the tech diplomacy topics addressed in the Bay Area are defined from a Global North perspective. Allowing small and developing countries to use existing structures of engagement in tech diplomacy would widen and enhance the practice of tech diplomacy.
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