{"id":19431,"date":"2018-06-05T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=19431"},"modified":"2020-09-18T00:36:30","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T00:36:30","slug":"tech-plays-key-role-in-addressing-global-challenges-u-n-leader-tells-salesforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/tech-plays-key-role-in-addressing-global-challenges-u-n-leader-tells-salesforce\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Plays Key Role in Addressing Global Challenges, U.N. Leader Tells Salesforce"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe are in a kind of perfect storm situation historically right now, globally,\u201d Michael M\u00f8ller, the Director-General of United Nations office at Geneva<\/a>, told Salesforce employees Tuesday during a panel discussion at the company\u2019s San Francisco headquarters. \u201cThe geopolitical tectonic plates are shifting with a speed and direction that we can\u2019t even begin to realize where they are going.\u201d<\/p>

M\u00f8ller, a 35-year U.N. leader, nonetheless expressed optimism about the state of humanity. \u201cIf you look at where the human race is today, we\u2019ve never been as well off, in spite of what you read on front pages,\u201d he said. He noted that the U.N. and other NGOs have been instrumental in reducing poverty, increasing life expectancy, the safety of transportation, advancing gender equality and addressing climate change. Much of that work is done not in the General Assembly in New York, which often makes the news, but by employees in the organization\u2019s Geneva, Switzerland offices, he said. \u201cNot a single person on the planet is not touched in his or her personal life by something that emanates from our system.\u201d<\/p>

He said technology companies are playing an important role in helping the world address key issues such as climate change, health issues, mass migrations of people, and corruption. But the tech world must regain the public\u2019s trust to take on that responsibility. \u201cThese days a lot of the conversations about technology are talking about the dark side instead of talking about the incredible potential that exists,\u201d he said.<\/p>

Europe\u2019s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could be a key hurdle in technology companies regaining trust and showing global leadership in addressing the issue of privacy, M\u00f8ller said. He called the GDPR framework a \u201cfirst step\u201d to regain trust, and a \u201ccollective agreement on how to manage our affairs.\u201d<\/p>

\n\tOpen Image Modal<\/span>\"\"<\/a>\n<\/figure>
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