Digital Trust: A Critical Conversation for 2025 and Beyond, Highlighted at WEF Davos

It’s the third day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, and the energy is nothing short of electrifying. Every year, this gathering of global minds unveils new themes that shape the future. But this year, there’s a palpable shift—a deep, almost personal resonance.

Digital trust, a topic I've championed as the founder of the Diplomats.Digital initiative, is finally at the forefront—and it couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.

From policymakers to tech giants, the conversation is buzzing, and for good reason: Digital trust is no longer just a buzzword. It is the very foundation of our interconnected world, the bedrock upon which everything else is built. We are living in a time where trust—both digital and human—is fragile, and without it, everything unravels.

Why Digital Trust Matters Now

WEF Davos 2025 marks a turning point, a moment where the urgency of digital trust is being amplified to a global audience. But why is it so vital right now?

We are at a crossroads, grappling with unprecedented challenges. Geopolitical tensions spill into cyberspace, AI races ahead faster than our ethical frameworks can catch up, and misinformation spreads like wildfire. The theme of Davos 2025, “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”, captures this perfectly. Digital trust isn’t just a technological challenge—it’s a human necessity. Without it, innovation falters, collaboration collapses, and our world becomes more fragmented. Whether we are negotiating deals or simply navigating our digital lives, trust is the invisible thread that binds everything together.

The Conversations Shaping Digital Trust

Here at Davos, the discussions on digital trust are refreshingly actionable:

• Global Digital Trust Frameworks: Creating universal policies for ethical AI, data governance, and cybersecurity.

• The Role of Governments: Balancing regulation with innovation, ensuring safety without stifling progress.

• Rebuilding Public Confidence: Addressing the fallout from data breaches, misinformation, and tech accountability failures.

These aren’t just lofty ideals. They are the blueprints for what needs to happen now to secure the future.

Why This Hits Home

As the founder of Diplomats.Digital, I witness the power of trust daily. It is the cornerstone of diplomacy—whether we’re brokering agreements in boardrooms or navigating the complex, often perilous, terrain of digital collaboration. But digital trust is more than a policy issue—it’s deeply personal. It’s about how we build connections, safeguard communities, and ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around.

Experts in diplomacy, especially in the digital age, have a pivotal role in:

• Facilitating Cross-Border Collaboration: Bridging the divide between different digital policies and frameworks across nations.

• Championing Ethical Tech: Advocating for AI systems that prioritize human welfare.

• Building Resilient Ecosystems: Embedding cybersecurity and data protection into international agreements.

These aren’t just bullet points; they are the mission we carry with us every single day.

The Hard Truths

Despite the progress, the road ahead is steep. Here are some stark truths to remind us of what’s at stake:

• Misinformation is a major barrier:

  • According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, misinformation spreads six times faster than factual information on platforms like Facebook and X.

  • Pew Research (2023) found that 68% of adults globally struggle to distinguish between real and fake news online.

  • A 2024 Pew Research study showed that 73% of people globally believe misinformation online has eroded trust in institutions, especially governments.

• Cybersecurity is a growing concern:

  • A World Economic Forum report predicts that cyberattacks will cost the global economy $10.5 trillion annually by 2025—an overwhelming blow to trust.

  • Ransomware attacks grew by 80% in 2024 alone, according to IBM Security, costing organizations billions and further eroding public trust in digital systems.

• Lack of Transparency hurts engagement:

  • Only 20% of people trust companies or governments that don’t disclose how they use personal data (Cisco Consumer Privacy Survey, 2023).

These aren’t just statistics; they’re a wake-up call. If we don’t act, the consequences will be far-reaching.

A Shared Responsibility

The growing conversation around digital trust at Davos 2025 isn’t just a topic for debate—it’s a rallying cry. From individuals to institutions, we all have a role to play.

Davos may be amplifying the message, but digital trust is a shared responsibility:

• Governments must implement protective regulations without stifling innovation.

• Tech companies must embrace transparency and ethical practices.

• Citizens must educate themselves and demand accountability from the systems that affect their lives.

For me, this isn’t just professional—it’s deeply personal. Digital trust is the foundation for everything I do, from crafting strategies to envisioning a fairer, more inclusive digital future.

Reflections from Day Three

Davos 2025 has solidified my belief: trust isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the bedrock of everything we plan to achieve. This year marks the beginning of a pivotal decade, one where we must rebuild the trust that will define not just our digital relationships, but the strength of our global community.

As Davos drives this conversation forward, the vision of the Diplomats.Digital serves as a powerful reminder: the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build, together.

For those interested in a deeper exploration of the role digital trust plays in shaping our global future, I invite you to read my book Digital Diplomacy Vision 2050, where I delve into this critical topic as part of the Diplomats.Digital initiative.