CIPE actively participated in the 16th annual United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), hosted by the government of Poland in a hybrid format (virtual and in-person participation).
The UN IGF is a global forum that brings diverse stakeholder groups together – including civil society, the private sector, academia, and government – to discuss public policy issues relating to internet governance and digital rights.
Overview of the UN IGF and Key Takeaways
The UN IGF, from December 6-10, 2021, focused on six key themes:
1) economic and social inclusion;
2) universal access;
3) emerging regulation;
4) environmental sustainability;
5) inclusive internet governance ecosystems; and
6) trust, security, and stability.
Bringing Voices Together from Nascent and Declining Democracies
To provide a space for digital rights reformers to connect and share ideas, CIPE, together with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), hosted two sessions during the forum: Level Up: Methods for Localizing Digital Policy and Norms and Connecting Democracy and Internet Governance Advocates. The sessions were hosted under the umbrella of the Open Internet for Democracy Initiative (OIDI).
The OIDI aims to connect representatives from local private sector and civil society organizations, as well as independent media across nascent and declining democracies to challenge restrictions on internet freedom, preserve an open and secure digital space, and defend digital rights. CIPE also organized an additional session, Forging Trust in the Digital Economy: A Consumer Perspective. All sessions provided an opportunity for democratic and economic reformers to share their perspectives on a wide range of issues related to digital rights, internet governance, and the digital economy. Below is a summary of each session:
Connecting Democracy and Internet Governance Advocates
The OIDI hosted a networking session to connect democratic and economic reformers from the local business community, civil society, and independent media that are deeply concerned by the threats of a closing online civic space. During the session, participants explored internet governance trends and identified potential areas of future collaboration for digital rights research and advocacy. The session brought together 33 participants, including Open Internet for Democracy Leaders (Leaders) from Sri Lanka, India, Venezuela, and Nepal, as well as other reformers from around the world.
Level Up: Methods for Localizing Digital Policy and Norms
The OIDI’s second session, which brought together 23 participants from across the globe, focused on opportunities and challenges to adopting global digital governance standards in local contexts. The featured panelists included Secretary of Government and Digital Transformation at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Peru Marushka Chocobar, and Head of Legal at Global Partners Digital Richard Wingfield. During the session, the panelists highlighted the need for broader harmonization of policies and regulations. In addition, as reliance on the digital space continues, creating consistent policies that are implemented thoughtfully with input from a diverse range of stakeholders at the local level is essential.
Forging Trust in the Digital Economy: A Consumer Perspective
CIPE hosted a session on the importance of inclusive policy discussions and regulatory frameworks that foster a trustworthy online environment. The session convened 26 participants and featured speakers including Professor Przemyslaw Palka of the Future Law Lab at the Jagiellonian University in Poland, Open Internet Leader alumna and Strategic Advisor of Digital Regulation to the government of Peru Paola Gálvez, Researcher at the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) Pingkan Audrine, and moderator Director of Global Programs at CIPE, Anna Kompanek.
During the session, the panelists noted that while eCommerce provides many economic opportunities across the globe, consumers often face challenges and risks when it comes to participating online. These concerns have also been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The session emphasized the importance of developing and implementing clear consumer protection regulatory frameworks that address key concerns from businesses and consumers as well as initiatives that raise awareness among consumers about the risks they face online.
As the world increasingly relies on the internet as a space to engage politically, socially, and economically, continued engagement at international fora such as the UN IGF that facilitate multistakeholder engagements on key internet governance and digital rights topics is essential. To learn more about CIPE’s work on internet freedom, digital economy, and digital transformation, please visit our Web site.
Published Date: February 04, 2022