Global Connection through Language: Introducing the Coalition on Digital Impact

The digital access movement encompasses all efforts to address economic, cultural, and technical disparities that limit access to the Internet and the opportunities it creates. Often, language has been overlooked, despite being a key factor in meaningful connection online. But despite the existence of roughly 7,000 languages and dialects worldwide, only about ten languages dominate the Internet, meaning the vast majority of the world's languages ― and the millions of people who speak them ― are not meaningfully represented online. So how can we build a world where everyone can navigate the Internet in their own language? 

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of the Coalition on Digital Impact (CODI), a coalition of like-minded organizations committed to enabling universal participation in our increasingly online world. 

Who we are

CODI is an independent, global alliance of leaders in the Internet and advocacy spaces, with founding members including Identity Digital, Internet Infrastructure Coalition (i2Coalition), Internet Society, Indigenous Connectivity Institute, the American Library Association, Center for Democracy & Technology, LGBT Tech, Public Knowledge, DotAsia, auDA, /http/, eco - Association of the Internet Industry, Unicode Consortium, Digital Promise, Gransy, Blacknight Solutions, SEEDIG, and Clear Sky Connections.

Backed by the passion, global networks, and expertise of our members, we envision a world where language is never a barrier to accessing knowledge, connecting with others, or participating in the digital age. Our mission is to ensure that every person can navigate the Internet in their own language.

What we will do 

CODI will collaborate with stakeholders across the digital ecosystem — from infrastructure providers to application developers — to improve multilingual access and usability, while working with nonprofits and policymakers to ensure the right frameworks and support systems are in place. 

CODI’s core mission centers on leveraging member resources, expertise and networks to systematically address barriers to technological adoption, with a particular emphasis on multilingual and universal digital access. We will accomplish this by: 

1. Educating stakeholders on the digital gaps that exist and the need for greater access 
2. Identifying and elevating research to showcase the impact of these issues 
3. Enabling a democratic, secure infrastructure built for the future of the web, ensuring Universal Acceptance (UA) of all domain names, characters, and scripts across platforms and languages
4. Working with policymakers to advocate for policies that expand multilingualism‍

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‍Why now? 

We believe this is an opportune moment to launch the Coalition on Digital Impact, particularly as AI becomes more integrated into daily life – from education to healthcare to governance. The dominance of a few languages in these systems will have profound implications and could be a powerful force for linguistic homogenization. Just as AI and machine learning can make multilingual communication more accessible than ever before, they can also put less prevalent languages at risk of extinction. 

More than that, the best AI models are trained on diverse data sets. The Internet is a powerful tool and a gateway to enormous economic opportunity. Organizations need to implement UA protocols, the principle that all valid domain names, email addresses, and internet protocols be accepted and recognized by all internet systems, regardless of language, script, or other characteristics. CODI will be integral to enabling an inclusive and secure infrastructure built for the future of the web. 

Joining the movement 

CODI’s goal is clear: to create a world where language is not a barrier to economic opportunity, societal participation, or technological progress. By leveraging technology, innovation, and a commitment to cultural connection, we can bridge the communication gap that divides us and build a better Internet for generations to come. Our formal launch today marks the first step toward achieving this goal, but our success depends on collaboration with individuals, organizations, and governments around the world. 

Together, we can foster a global community where communication is enriched by language, and ensure that all applications and systems provide universal access to all domain names.

For more information about the coalition and how you can get involved, visit codi.global and follow us on social media to stay up to date on our efforts and initiatives.

Ram Mohan is Chairman and Founder of the Coalition on Digital Impact (CODI), an independent, global coalition created to empower global communities to access and navigate the Internet in their native languages. He is also the Chief Strategy Officer of Identity Digital, a leader in connecting the online world with domain names and related technologies.

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