Context: 

According to the Geneva based Diplo Foundation, India, Brazil, and South Africa, which have together formed the tripartite IBSA Forum, may play a prominent role in the process of reforming digital governance.

Image Source: The Hindu

Views of Diplo Foundation:

• Promoting Digital inclusion: The three countries have spearheaded digital inclusion by prioritising affordable access to citizens, by supporting training for digital skills, and by a legal framework for the growth of small digital enterprises.
• Digital geopolitics: Digital geopolitics, this year will be centred on the issues pertaining to the protection of submarine cables and satellites, production of semiconductors, and the free flow of data.
• Data as a national resource: With a big population, IBSA countries also see data as a national resource. The Indian G­20 presidency’s calls for ‘a new gold standard for data’ can help reconcile the competing issues around free flow of data and data sovereignty.

About IBSA

• IBSA is a unique Forum which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three different continents, facing similar challenges.
• The grouping was formalised and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum when the Foreign Ministers of the three countries met in Brasilia (Brazil) in 2003 and issued the Brasilia Declaration.
• IBSA does not have a headquarters or a permanent executive secretariat.
• IBSAMAR (IBSA Maritime Exercise) is an important part of IBSA trilateral defence cooperation.
• The IBSA facility for poverty and hunger alleviation (IBSA Fund) was established jointly by India, Brazil and South Africa in March 2004.
• The fund is managed by the United Nations (UN) Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). 
  • Each IBSA member country is required to contribute $1 million per annum to the fund.

News Source: The Hindu