This main session discusses the impacts that national policy initiatives may have on the global Internet environment and the jurisdictional issues still to be solved. Experts will discuss three different but interrelated topics: Internet disruptions (such as shutdowns and slowdowns), encryption, and data flows. The session shall also discuss how multistakeholder dialogue can leverage its role towards the solution of major problems along these three main topics.
While there is widespread awareness about human rights-related aspects of these issues, there is little discussion about the aggregate effects that they might have on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Considering that the IGF 2017 will be held in Geneva, this session also aims at involving intergovernmental organizations that can feed into the debate and share their experiences in implementing cooperative efforts towards the solution of those problems.
Following main policy questions will be addressed during the debate:
- Internet disruptions. How has the debate around Internet disruptions evolved during recent years, especially regarding new motivations and reasons for disruptions and how they impact on the global infrastructure of the Internet?
- Encryption. Has the debate around encryption evolved to a point where it poses a threat to public and national security that requires international cooperation to solve the issues of “local interventions, global impact” regarding encryption?
- Data flows. How can international cooperation help solve the issues of "local interventions, global impact" regarding data flows, especially if there is an inherent conflict between the collection/use of data as a tool for development and humanitarian projects and the protection of privacy?
- Regarding issues of Internet disruptions, encryption and data flows, how can international organisations adapt to the ever-changing data policy environment while working on improving human rights, peace, and well-being?
- How can efforts for cooperation and capacity development improve strategies, planning, outreach, and effectiveness in these areas to ensure concrete, positive communication and direction?
Moderator: Tereza Horejsova, Geneva Internet Platform and Diplo Foundation
Rapporteur: Katherine Townsend, USAID and Africa Open Data Conference Movement
Invited speakers are listed below:
Technical Community and Academia
- Riana Pfefferkorn, Stanford, USA (confirmed)
- Demi Getschko, NIC.br, Brazil (confirmed)
- Raúl Echeberría, ISOC, Uruguay (confirmed)
- Stefania Milan, Amsterdam University, NL (confirmed)
Civil Society
- Melody Patry, Access Now, UK (confirmed)
- Bertrand de la Chapelle, Internet and Jurisdiction, France (confirmed)
- Anriette Esterhuysen, APC, South Africa (confirmed)
- Luis Fernando García, R3D, México (confirmed)
Private Sector
- Fiona Asonga, Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (confirmed)
- Vint Cerf, Google, USA (confirmed)
- Christoph Steck, Telefonica, Spain (confirmed)
- Paul Nicholas, Microsoft, USA (confirmed)
Government
- Stefan Schnorr, BMWI, Germany (confirmed)
- Farida Dwi Cahyarini, MCIT, Indonesia (TBC)
Intergovernmental and International Organizations
- David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression (TBC)
- Anne Carblanc, OECD, France (confirmed)
- André Laperrière, Global open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition, UK (confirmed)
- Moctar Yedaly, African Union (confirmed)
