FREEDOM & DATA PRIVACY

Comprising 194 Member States and over 1000 private-sector entities, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies and global connectivity. With a history spanning more than 160 years, the ITU is the oldest agency in the UN family and has played a foundational role in shaping contemporary communication systems. In an era where technology has become the backbone of life, anywhere requiring networks and devices rely on ITU’s work. From allocating radio spectrums and satellite orbits to developing technical standards that ensure technologies connect seamlessly, the ITU operates at the intersection of technology, policy, and international cooperation. With regional offices on every continent, it leads initiatives aimed at expanding digital access and addressing the digital divide that continues to leave approximately 2.2 billion people unconnected.

At HarvardMUN Canada, ITU will move beyond the abstract discussions of technology and immerse delegates in the regulatory, political, and ethical challenges shaping the digital future. Delegates will be challenged to balance innovation with inclusion, security with openness, and global standards with national interests, reflecting the ITU’s role as both a technical and political institution in the international system and embracing its values and principles of a free and open internet in the future.