The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, what with the lockdowns and travel bans, has manifested in no uncertain terms the significance of digitalisation processes. While the digital transformation of economies has been recognised as one of the cornerstones of sustainable development for some time now, it was only last year when its importance for day-to-day functioning of societies became quite so obvious.

In the first five months of 2021 in Colombia, a total of 20,502 cases of cyberattacks were registered in Colombia, representing a 35% increase compared to the same period last year. Faced with this, the ICT Analysis and Creativity Tank (TicTac) and its Applied Security program for Business Strengthening analyzed the national context focusing on three critical points: Fake News, DDoS attacks, Ransomware use of malicious software.

An analysis of open data policies observed that the Latin America and Caribbean had an average of 40.38 points (out of 100 points) and the countries with the best results were Uruguay (63.55), Argentina (63.14), Colombia (60.47), Brazil (60.20), and Mexico (58.48).

There have been significant developments respecting digital services taxes (DSTs) since the last January 12 Intelligence Memo on the US suspension of retaliatory tariffs against France for its tax. While these tariffs remain on hold, the USTR has taken further action respecting digital taxes imposed by India, Italy, Turkey, Austria, Spain and the UK. In notices issued on March 29, the USTR states its intention to impose Section 301 tariffs and invites public comment, with hearings taking place in mid-May.