As digital technologies increasingly shape how societies function, economies develop and people interact, the United Nations has appointed actor, filmmaker and creative entrepreneur Joseph Gordon-Levitt as its first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance – a new role aimed at placing people at the centre of global digital policy conversations.
Designated by the Secretary-General-convened UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), part of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Global Advocate role responds to growing public interest in issues such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms and online information ecosystems. It is designed as a public-facing complement to the UN’s digital governance work, helping make complex policy debates more accessible and relatable.
"Conversations about digital technology can often be pretty money-centric, especially with the unprecedentedly huge sums of capital swirling around the nascent AI industry right now,” said Mr. Gordon-Levitt.
“So it's been an inspiring breath of fresh air getting to know this international community of the UN's Internet Governance Forum. Because I truly believe this tech can do so much good for the world, but we need to complement profit incentives with human-centric incentives, and that's what the UN's Global Goals are all about."
Gordon-Levitt will work with the IGF to help bridge global digital policy discussions and lived experience, drawing attention to the human impacts of technological change. The role supports ongoing UN efforts, including the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Global Digital Compact, and the now-permanent mandate of the IGF.
Gordon-Levitt brings prior experience engaging with UN digital policy discussions. At the IGF’s June 2025 meeting in Norway, he contributed a creative-sector perspective on automation, artificial intelligence and fair compensation. During the WSIS+20 review, he addressed the UN General Assembly, encouraging Member States to take a more forward-looking approach to digital governance.
The Global Advocate will also strengthen connections between global policy conversations and local and regional realities. This includes engagement with the IGF’s network of National, Regional, Subregional and Youth IGF Initiatives, which help ensure that diverse perspectives – especially from the Global South – are reflected in global digital discussions.
By bringing a more human lens to global digital debates, the appointment underscores the UN’s commitment to a digital future that supports sustainable development, protects rights, and works for people everywhere.
