COMMISSION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT

Topic Summary

The digital age has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges. While it has created new business models, products, and services, it has also created new ethical issues and new types of crime. The need to balance security and innovation is more pressing and relevant than ever.  Data privacy is a crucial aspect of the digital age that we live in, especially as cybercrime becomes more rampant. Data is being generated at a massive rate, and it is being collected, analyzed, and shared on a global scale. While this has led to significant benefits such as improved products and services, it also raises concerns about data privacy. Individuals have a right to know how their personal data is being used, and they should have control over their data. Data breaches and other forms of data misuse can have severe consequences, including financial losses, identity theft, and reputational damage. How do we prevent data misuse and cybercrimes while also protecting digital privacy? What should this new era of policy and regulation look like? These are some of the many questions that we will be trying to answer about data privacy in our sessions.

Director’s Letter

Dear Delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development for the 2024 session of Harvard National Model United Nations! As your Director, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you and look forward to our time together.

My name is Autumn Dorsey. I am a rising senior living in Winthrop House, and I am a joint concentrator in Government and Computer Science. My first introduction to Model UN was in 6th grade where I competed as a delegate. I wouldn’t have another opportunity to be a part of Model UN until my freshman year of college where I would teach Model UN document writing and be an Assistant Director of Business at HMUN 2021. Later, I would serve as an Assistant Director of NATO at HNMUN 2023. This year I will be the Under-Secretary-General of ECOSOC at HMUN 2024, and I am very excited to use all the skills and lessons that I have learned over time to create an experience that is enriching and rewarding.

Aside from Model UN, I enjoy being a ministry team lead for Harvard College Faith and Action’s Social Action Team. My faith is a huge part of my life, and I would not be at Harvard or a part of HNMUN without the Lord. I am also the manager of Winthrop Grille, the Communication Chair of Winthrop HoCo, the Harvard Undergraduate Association Summer Storage Communication Head, and a volunteer at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. I love doing research, and over the summer, I will be working at Harvard Law School researching the ethics of technology. Outside of Harvard, I enjoy reading and writing fantasy and science fiction novels, playing Genshin Impact, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.

Our session will delve into crucial issues surrounding data privacy and cybercrime in the digital age. Technology has become more and more integrated with our lives, and with this integration, personal data has become a commodity. Companies make billions of dollars selling personal data to third parties and using this personal data to improve targeted ads. Over the last decade, the number of identity theft and fraud cases has tripled, and in 2021, this led to about $25.6 billion in financial damages. As privacy loses its meaning in the digital world, how will nations protect their people’s data while also trying to track down cybercriminals? How will international relations play into solving these issues with cybercrime and data privacy? How will different economies be impacted by certain data privacy policies? These are just some of the questions that we will be trying to answer during our session.

I am committed to supporting you throughout each stage of your HNMUN journey, and I am always available to discuss any questions or concerns. I look forward to our insightful discussions and interacting with you all!

Sincerely,

Autumn Dorsey