BRICS Communications Ministers Meet in Innopolis

Innopolis, Tatarstan, hosted the BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting and the Digital BRICS Forum on 26–27 September as part of Russia’s BRICS chairship.

The Ministerial Meeting was held in an expanded format for the first time and saw BRICS delegation heads address the plenary session ‘Sovereignty vs. Interconnectivity: Finding a Balance’ before the adoption of the 10th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting Declaration.

The document addresses the most important areas of joint activities within BRICS in information, telecommunications, and the digital economy:

• Artificial intelligence (AI),
• Digital infrastructure,
• Digital competencies,
• Steps moving forward.

The declaration stressed the important contribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to modern economies and society and the importance of involving BRICS member states in the creation of an inclusive, open, secure, stable, accessible, peaceful, and compatible ICT environment.

BRICS delegation heads considered a Russian initiative to establish an AI Alliance for all interested countries, as well as a Russian AI Code of Ethics with recommendations for creating a more secure environment to develop AI technologies. The participants also identified a need for a BRICS Initiative for the protection of children in the digital environment, where knowledge and best practices could be exchanged and efforts combined to create a safer digital environment for children and encourage the development of relevant social projects.

“With the rapid development of digital technologies, it has become imperative for BRICS to develop common digital security standards to protect citizens from cyberthreats and create a unified digital field for more effective international cooperation built on mutual respect and openness,” Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for Russia’s Chairship of BRICS in 2024 Anton Kobyakov said.

BRICS representatives attending the Digital Forum shared information and knowledge, practices and trends, initiatives, and their own countries’ digital achievements in artificial intelligence, digital competencies, and digital infrastructure.

The 11th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting will be chaired by Brazil in 2025.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS chairship.