IGF 2016: Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Growth

This is a closed meeting and by invitation only. 

This is a closed meeting and by invitation only. 

1. Roll Call, Introduction, adoption of Agenda (Olivier Crépin-Leblond) - 5 minutes

2. Brief presentation of Core Internet Values Paper (Olivier Crépin-Leblond) - 10 minutes

The DC's published paper is on: http://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/index.php?q=filedepot_download/3737/169

3. Addition of a new Core Value (Vint Cerf; Maarten Botterman) - 40 minutes
- Vint Cerf (confirmed)
- Maarten Botterman (confirmed)
- Alejandro Pisanty (confirmed)
- Lise Fuhr (confirmed)

Here, we will build on the last paragraph of the DC-CIV substantive paper:

"Finally, there has been a sustained increase in malicious software exploiting weak security in devices to launch attacks to impact the Internet negatively. It was not an issue in the early Internet development. Times have changed. Should there be a new core value that should drive efforts at standardization and protocol development?"

Dr. Cerf will propose a new Core Internet Value: "freedom from harm". "we have a lot of work to do to protect users from harmful experiences when making use of the Internet and the services that it supports. "

After comments from the other panellists, the floor will open for a discussion.

4. DC on Core Internet Values work program (Olivier Crépin-Leblond) - 30 minutes
(in this section we'll discuss the organisational instruments of the DC, as well as a leadership plan)

5. Conclusions and Next Steps (5 minutes)

ISOC Open Forum congregates IGF community that shares the common goal of an open and trusted Internet. The Internet is one of the most important tools of our time, but we can’t take its future for granted.  There are many challenges and forces of change impacting the Internet today.  And the direction in which they evolve in the next will have a profound impact on users globally. At the Internet Society Open Forum, we will host a participatory and interactive session about the Internet’s future. Earlier this year, we embarked on a project gather community input and look into the forces of change impacting the Internet in the next 7 years.   We received over 1,100 responses from some 134 countries around the world. Many believe we are in a time of great uncertainty regarding the future of the Internet — an inflection point.  The evolution an intersection of issues such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, the future role of government, the evolution of cybersecurity, privacy, and rights, emerging business models, and the future of access are presenting both opportunity and risk. At this session, and consistent with the theme of the IGF, we would like your participation to discuss and debate key questions being raised by our community about the future of access and Internet opportunities in 7 years time, including:

•  Even if we achieve a world where everyone has Internet access, will all segments of society have an equal opportunity to meaningfully participate in and benefit from the Internet?  

• Will countries that are ahead in Internet technology, infrastructure, and innovation simply accelerate their lead in the future or will developing regions equalize the gap?

•  Will differences in connection technology, quality, and level of Internet openness lead to fundamentally different Internet experiences and levels of opportunity in the future?

• What do various stakeholders need to do now in order to accelerate more equal opportunities to benefit from the Internet of the future?

Participate in the Internet Society Open Forum and make yourself heard!  In addition to expanding everyones thinking on access, the input from the session will be used to help create different scenarios for the future of the Internet, as part of our collaborative project with the community. 

Moderator: Sebastian Bellagamba, Regional Bureau Director for Latin America and Caribbean

Name of Speaker(s)

Sally Wentworth, Vice President of Global Policy Development
Raúl Echeberría, Vice President of Global Engagement
Karen Rose, Senior Director of Strategy & Analysis

IEEE has been organizing local conversations to connect technologists, policy makers, industry, civil society and others engaged in technology and industry domains globally to advance solutions for the Internet-related challenges we face today. The Open Forum will share insights from conversations for use by stakeholders to enable inclusive and sustainable growth. It will focus on issues of Internet access and affordability for social inclusion and economic growth, and privacy and security. While economic growth and societal good have resulted from the Internet, the benefit to humanity yet to be realized is even greater. In addition to opportunities in new services, improved productivity, real-time decision-making and new business models, the drive toward universal connectivity, the rise of IoT and the adaptation of ICTs in new industries, are bringing to the forefront a complex set of issues.

Name of Speaker(s)

Ning Kong, Director of International Dept, China Internet Network Information Center; Limor Shmerling Magazanik, Director of The Israeli Law, Information and Technology Authority ; Juan Gonzalez, Senior Strategist Office of the Chief Technology Office Cyber Security and Communications US DHS; Osama Manzar, Founder and Director Digital Empowerment Foundation; Min Jiang, Associate Professor of Communication, UNC Charlotte; Affiliate Researcher at the Center for Global Communication Studies, University of Pennsylvania; Oleg Logvinov, CEO IoTecha

The annual session of the Dynamic Coalition on Network Neutrality (DCNN) promotes a debate between the authors of the various Report contributions and the session participants. Panellists will debate the findings of the 2016 Report, which is structured in three sections analysing (i) Zero Rating Policy; (ii) Zero Rating Pros and Cons; (iii) Net Neutrality Exceptions and Violations.

In 2016, Zero Rating was by large the most debated net neutrality issue, as reflected by the considerable number of contributions focusing on the topic within the DCNN Report. Besides zero rating practices, the Report analyses a selection of very important topics, such as specialised services, ad blocking and reasonable traffic management, providing useful insight on some of the most recent policy evolutions in a variety of countries.
The authors of the DCNN Report chapters (or their spokespersons) will present their findings, fostering a dynamic discussion with all participants. The Report is the annual outcome of the DCNN. The Report outline can be accessed here. Free hard copies of the Report will be distributed at the DCNN session (courtesy of Internet Governance @ FGV project).
Session outline:
 

• Keynote by Guy Berger, Director of Freedom of Expression at UNESCO

Speakers include:

• Luca Belli, Center for Technology and Society at FGV
• Robert Pepper, Facebook 
• Tomiwa Ilori, Paradigm Initiative
• Javier Pallero, Access Now
• Ornulf Storm, Norwegian Communications Authority
• Carlos Brito, Red en Defesa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)
• Roslyn Layton, Aalborg University

Do you or someone you love advocate for the rights of women, LGBT people, the disabled, or religious minorities? Are you interested in learning how these communities operate online-- the unique threats they face, their obstacles to access, and their advocacy strategies? Join Freedom House as we host an open panel with activists from five countries (India, Kenya, Jordan, Mexico, and Tunisia) at the intersection of these constituencies and online rights. Each activist, representing one or more of these groups, is writing a country assessment report on marginalized communities in digital and mobile spaces and will share their work, address questions. Some are relative newcomers to the internet governance space, so we invite you to both learn from them and to share your own expertise as advocates working together to address threats, obstacles and opportunities for marginalized communities online.

Name of Speaker(s)

Dhouha Ben Yousseff (DR Tunisia); Japleen Pasricha (Feminism in India); Moses Karanja (Kenya, Strathmore University); Oliver Trejo (Mexico, Heartland Alliance); Khalid Abdel-Hadi (My.Kali magazine, Jordan)

The Freedom Online Coalition is a group of 30 countries, from all regions of the world, committed to coordinating efforts with each other and with other stakeholders to advance Internet freedom. At this IGF Open Forum, Coalition members will give updates on the work of the coalition since IGF João Pessoa, including the Freedom Online Conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, October 17th and 18th, the progress of the three FOC working groups, key issues of concern to Internet freedom, and the Digital Defenders Partnership. 

We will also use this Open Forum to invite the IGF community to engage in a discussion on the future direction of the FOC, in light of the internal strategic review that its members conducted in 2016 to mark the Coalition’s five-year anniversary. This Open Forum will be a platform for all interested members of the IGF community to participate; members of all stakeholder groups are encouraged to attend.

Name of Speaker(s)

Costa Rica, Netherlands, Sweden, U.K., non-governmental working group participants, HIVOS representative

The side-event is intended to gather interested IGF participants for a discussion on the current Internet governance (IG) landscape in South Eastern Europe and the neighbouring area (SEE).

The aim of the discussion is to map existing IG processes across the region, to identify the challenges they face in achieving their goals, and to determine possible modalities for addressing such challenges in a collaborative manner. Opportunities for cooperation among these processes will also be discussed.

Emphasis will be put on how SEEDIG, as a sub-regional IGF initiative, could contribute to strengthening the IG ecosystem in SEE.

There will also be updates and dicussions on SEEDIG on-going and planned activities.

The session is open to anyone interested: SEEDIG community members, other interested individuals from within and beyond the region, SEEDIG supporting organisations, etc.

Public access to the Internet is having a moment.

In the past year, we’ve seen a number of reports and processes suggest that there’s no way to get everyone online without supporting public access to the Internet. The Global Commission on Internet Governance, the Alliance for Affordable Internet and the Global Connect Initiative are all calling out public access as a great tool for increasing connectivity. The IGF’s Policy Options for Connecting the Next Billion (2016) emphasizes the value of public access for getting people online, and last year’s Stanford Deliberative Polling Exercise identified public Internet access in libraries as the top-rated solution to the digital divide.  

Why Libraries? Libraries not only provide connectivity, they also help people overcome the more significant barriers – lack of awareness of the internet’s value, lack of skills, and lack of cultural and social acceptance.  The ITU stated in its annual report last month that access is not enough. Policy-makers must address broader socio-economic inequalities and help people acquire the necessary skills to take full advantage of the internet.  Public libraries - trusted institutions, staffed by skilled information professionals - are uniquely placed to overcome these challenges by providing public access to the internet for individuals who might otherwise not have it, helping people to understand the internet’s value, training people to get online, and building trust and familiarity with online services.

The Dynamic Coalition on Public Access in Libraries is meeting in Guadalajara to talk about how we can harness the momentum around public access. Join speakers from IFLA, EIFL, Gigabit Libraries Network, Google, IEEE and People Centred Internet to talk all things public access.

 

Agenda

• Welcomes and introductions (Chair: Stuart Hamilton, IFLA)
• Recap of PAL-DC-related activity since the last IGF:
  • Reports from the regional IGFs
    • Guest reporter: Mandiaye Ndiaye (Cheikh Anta Diop University)
  • Principles of Public Access in Libraries
  • The Human Rights Principles for Connectivity and Development
• Reflections on the Stanford Deliberative Poll and other library musings
  • Vint Cerf, Google
• DISCUSSION: The role of public access in the SDGS, the Global Connect Initiative, and other initiatives to bring the next billion online:
  • Don Means (Gigabit Libraries Network)
  • Janet Sawaya (Electronic Information for Libraries)
  • Jane Coffin (ISOC)
  • Karen McCabe (IEEE)
  • Mei Lin Fung (People Centered Internet)
• Wrap-up and close

Cultural diversity is a defining characteristic of humanity, which is a common heritage of mankind and creates a rich and varied world. It should be cherished and preserved for the benefit of all people. As a crucial vehicle for spreading excellent cultures, the Internet largely expands human civilization.
The rapid development of information and communication technologies offers unprecedented conditions for enhanced interaction among cultures. However, cultural diversity is challenged on the Internet by homogenization of mainstream cultures and fewer voices of ethnic minorities.
This Forum intends to invite speakers, including officials from Chinese cyberspace authorities, representatives from developing countries, Internet businesses, culture and media companies, and experts, scholars from think tanks. It aims at providing a platform for sharing experience in protecting, inheriting and spreading excellent cultures in digital forms.

Name of Speaker(s)

Delegate from Tencent

HOW CAN UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY BE USED AS CATALYST FOR ACHIEVING THE SDGs?

The development community is united in the belief that connecting the unconnected, and enabling the universal deployment and uses of broadband services and applications, are vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Providing affordable and inclusive Internet access is both a major challenge - and top priority - for many governments, industry leaders, for Internet users and international organizations. Key considerations include on one hand: overcoming network infrastructure challenges; reviewing financing models; creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment; ensuring effective demand for connectivity and services; and monitoring the impact of connectivity on social and economic growth and environmental sustainability. On the other hand, a decade of research shows that the ‘digital dividends’ (World development report 2016) remain unharnessed, if challenges relating to women and men’ skills, the content in local language and policies are not addressed with a holistic approach to broadband deployment.

The UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, established by ITU and UNESCO, has been working diligently to showcase and document the power of ICT and broadband-based technologies for sustainable development, and giving guidance to key stakeholders on addressing the various challenges involved.  Closer multistakeholder collaboration has also been identified as a key factor for ICTs to achieve its potential as a significant enabler, but for this to happen, the Commission has called for greater investment and more effective partnerships across different sectors, a stronger collaboration between existing initiatives and for investing also substantially in the enabling environment.

This Open Forum, convened by ITU and UNESCO, will bring together a number of key global stakeholders involved in connectivity initiatives to identify challenges and opportunities in their implementation, as well as identify synergies and areas for greater collaboration.

Moderator: Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, ITU

Opening remarks:  Mr. Frank La Rue, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO

Panelists:

• Mr. Indrajit Banerjee, Director, Knowledge Societies Division, UNESCO
• Mr. Manu Bhardwaj, Senior Advisor on Technology and Internet Policy, Global Connect Initiative (GCI), US Department of State
• Mr. Alex Wong, Head, Global Challenge Partnerships, WEF
• Mr. Paul Mitchell, Senior Director, Tech Policy, Microsoft
• Mr. Jose Ayala, Head of Government and Industry relations for Latin America, Ericsson

THE INTERNET OF THINGS AND THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 
  
The session will address the linkages between the Internet of Things (IoT) and the rights of the children. The Internet of Things is defined as “a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.” (1) Millions of users all over the world, from all age ranges are provided with the opportunity to be connected to the Internet through objects. This happens not only via cars, watches and fridges but it also concerns the toy industry in a major way (2) as well as the manufacturers of others goods that may be widely used by children. Additionally, there are devices like cameras embodied in other objects used by children  of all ages or in close proximity to them. 
  
This evolution entails societal and economic challenges, and triggers questions around privacy and data collection among others. “…With multifunctional devices, going online does not need to be a conscious decision….”. (3)  There is an obvious need to look at the implications of this, specifically with regards to children as recipients/users of these connected objects or as  recipients/ users who will  or may habitually be in close proximity to connected devices. 
  
This triggers numerous unanswered questions regarding possible tensions between companies’ ability  and desire to collect data from the devices and children’s rights, such as their right to privacy or to be protected from abuse and exploitation. Might those rights be compromised? How can we or should we deal with this as a society? How should our legal systems tackle these issues? Could manufacturers build-in security features to prevent their devices from being misused to violate the rights of the children? Do they have a legal or ethical obligation to do it? 
  
Those will be some of the questions which will be explored by the speakers.   

(1) Accessed 20 June 2016,  <http://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things-IoT> 
(2)Accessed 20 June 2016, <http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=7430049> 
(3) Jutta Croll, White Paper for the ICT Coalition for Children Online, published,  Jan. 11th, 2016. Accessed 20 June 2016.<http://www.ictcoalition.eu/gallery/100/REPORT_WEB.pdf>  

Speakers confirmed:

• Mr. John Carr - Expert Adviser to the European NGO Alliance for Child Safety Online. Writes and consults about internet safety and security.
• Mr. Maarten Botterman - Chair of the Dynamic Coalition on Internet of Things 
• Ms. Sonia Livingstone - Full Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at London School of Economics 
• Ms. Jutta Croll - Managing Director, German Centre for Child Protection on the Internet 
• Ms. Arda Gerkens - Member of the Dutch Senate and Director of the Dutch “Meldpunt kinderporno” (hotline for child pornography)
• Moderator: Ms. Marie-laure Lemineur, ECPAT International 

The OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Digital Economy: Innovation, Growth and Social Prosperity, gathered in Cancún, Mexico, from 21-23 June 2016, Ministers, the business community, civil society, labour and the Internet technical community to discuss how to seize the benefits of the digital economy while at the same time better navigating the potential trade-offs. 

The meeting covered four main themes: Internet Openness and Innovation; Building Global Connectivity; Trust in the Digital Economy; and Jobs and Skills in the Digital Economy. Discussions were organised through eight panels.

With the objective of adopting a holistic and whole-of-society approach for the Digital Economy, a Ministerial Declaration was adopted in June 23, 2016, in Cancun. This Open Forum will report on the process and outcomes of this meeting and invite representatives of all stakeholder groups to comment on the highlights of the discussions, sharing with the IGF audience their vision for the way forward.

Speakers from all stakeholder groups will be part of the panel: governments, civil society (CSIAC), business (BIAC), technical community (ITAC) and organised labour (TUAC).

Moderator: Anne Carblanc (Head of the Digital Economy Policy Division, OECD). 

Panel Members:

• Raul Eduardo Rendón Montemayor (Mexico)
• Clarissa Estol (Argentina)
• Anders Hektor (Sweden)
• Nevine Tewfik (Egypt)
• Joe Alhadeff (BIAC)
• Marc Rotenberg (CSIAC)
• Tarek Kamel (ITAC)
• Anna Byhovskaya (TUAC)

Background documents:

Ministerial Declaration  on the Digital Economy ("Cancún Declaration")

OECD Secretariat's Summary

Further reading of all discussion papers and background documents for each Ministerial session (Ministerial website).

 

The UN (SDGs) initiative describes itself as an “action plan for people, planet and prosperity.” The SDG agenda includes aspirations across a wide range of issues, spanning poverty, hunger, education, justice, economic growth and infrastructure, to name a few. In all, the SDG outlines 17 goals and 169 specific targets.

Given the role of critical enabler that the Internet has taken on for both developed and developing economies, the likelihood of actually achieving any of these goals will be greatly increased if information infrastructure (ICTs and the Internet) is available and made use of in relevant ways. Strong Civil Society and Private Sector partnership and bridge building with Government Officials and others will enhance the enabling role of the Internet, demonstrated with the following examples: 

SDGs 1. & 8. “No Poverty and “Decent Work and Economic Growth” 
Information Infrastructure is proving to be powerful driver of economic growth, which in many countries, has begun to lift citizens out of the clutches of poverty through job creation.

SDGs 9. & 12. “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” leads to “Responsible Consumption and Production”

ICTs and the Internet contribute to innovation, expansion of industry and critically important infrastructure all of which contributes to the production of goods and services to be responsibly consumed.

SDGs 2. & 3. & 4. “Zero Hunger”, “Good Health and Well-Being” need to be a given before “Quality Education” can begin.

Speakers provisionally confirmed:

• Manu Bhardwaj, Senior Advisor on Technology and Internet Policy to the Under Secretary of the Department of State, Government, USA (confirmed)
• Sarah Wynn-Williams, Director of Public Policy, Facebook, Private Sector, USA (confirmed)
• Marilyn Cade, President, ICT Strategies, Private Sector, USA (confirmed) Moderator
• Dr. Ailyn Febles, President, Union of Informatics Professionals of Cuba, Civil Society, Cuba (confirmed)
• Tatiana Delgado, Vice President, Union of Informatics Professionals of Cuba, Civil Society, Cuba (confirmed)
• Ivan Barreto, Vice President, Association of Pedagogues of Cuba, Civil Society, Cuba (confirmed)
• Yarina Amoroso, President, Society of Right of Informatics in Cuba, Civil Society, Cuba (confirmed)
• Salam Al Waeli, Director of Programs-IJMA3 and Board member-WAVE, NGO, Iraq, (confirmed remote participation)
• Anders Halvorsen, Vice President, WITSA, NGO, USA. (confirmed remote rapporteur)
• Sam Paltridge, Directorate of Science, Technology and Industry, OECD, IGO, France (confirmed)
• Ellen Blackler, Vice President Global Public Policy, The Walt Disney Company, Private Sector, USA (confirmed)
• Jimson Olufuye, Chair, African ICT Alliance [AfiCTA], NGO, Nigeria (confirmed)
• Gonzalo Lopez-Barajas Huder, Manager Public Policy & Internet, Telefonica, Private Sector, Spain (confirmed)
• Ms. Iffat Gill, CEO, The Code to Change, Civil Society, Pakistan (confirmed remote participation)
• Wahab Sadaat, Deputy Minister, Minsitry of Communications and IT, Afghanistan, Government, (confirmed)
• Garland T. McCoy, President, Technology Education Institute, Civil Society, USA. (confirmed onsite rapporteur)  

 

The significance of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be wholly realised without appreciating the benefits of recognising and defending freedom of assembly and association (FoAA) online. When people freely assemble and associate online, they are able to discuss and exchange ideas, resulting in free flow of information thus helping build stronger and more just societies. 

There are many examples of like-minded citizens rallying for a cause, whether in a geographical location or across borders, utilising growing access to the internet. The widespread use of ICTs during the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement has prompted global discussions. Discourse around FoAA is well developed, however, rhetoric surrounding its online application is in its nascence.

The Internet has enhanced human freedoms to come together around common interests to build associations and networks. Online spaces free of restrictions, would result in a vibrant and democratic enclave where information, ideas, expressions and discourse on social, political and economic issues adhere to recognizably democratic norms and procedures.

Thus, addressing the ability to freely associate and assemble are central to goals relating to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. Particularly to, 
16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

Speakers provisionally confirmed:

Olukotun, Deji
Srivastava, Ritu

The past year has seen an explosion of VoIP software providers and users of their services. Telecommunications costs are prohibitive in many countries where inequality and poverty levels are high. Broadly speaking, any technology that facilitates inexpensive communication is crucial in these economies. VoIP services decrease the direct cost on the consumer, allowing for greater economic and social mobility. In many countries, business and politics are intertwined, for example government ownership of telecommunications providers, presenting conflicts of interest that stifle the emergence of innovative solutions and prioritize the interests of the corporation(s) at the expense of the people. 

We advocate for this important session under this year's subtheme of 'policies enabling access and the digital economy. Psiphon and ASL19's analysis of numerous VoIP blocking cases this year reveals several key insights which form the impetus of this workshop: (1) on the basis they cannot monitor and surveil these communication tools, governments leverage national security laws to justify reactive censorship measures; (2) national level policy or legislation is often incommensurate with internationally-upheld principles of Internet freedom, such as Article 19; (3) there is great confusion over which companies can operate VoIP calling services and where, due to operating license requirements and interpretations of net neutrality; (4) users will undermine blocking, responding to large-scale censorship of VoIP services by turning to trusted circumvention tools to restore access; and (5) this grey area in Internet governance must be discussed and resolved in multistakeholder setting between government, telecom, civil society, and the technical community.

Speakers:

Hanane Boujemi
Peter Micek
Pablo Viollier
Halefom Hailu