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Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum 2025 (Virtual Conference) Synthesis Document – Draft 0

The Process 

1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 4 This Synthesis Document aims to document key output discussions from the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) 2025, often topics of common interest and utmost relevance  to Internet governance in the Asia Pacific region. The Synthesis Document has developed into one of the unique knowledge innovations of the APrIGF and has inspired other national and regional initiatives to build their own similar processes. 

2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 3 The 2025 Synthesis Document was drafted, synthesized, and published by the 2025 Drafting Committee (DC) with the assistance of the APrIGF Secretariat. Public inputs were sought during the input periods (2 cycles) as well as from the APrIGF 2025 conference Townhall sessions. Comments were collected on the platform: https://comment.aprigf.asia during the input periods.

Preamble

3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 2 The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum 2025 (APrIGF 2025) will be held fully online from 11–14 October 2025, hosted by the Internet Governance Institute (IGI) and executed by the APrIGF Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) in collaboration with the APrIGF Secretariat.

4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 1 This year also marks a significant milestone in the history of Internet governance, as it is the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), first convened in Geneva in 2003. The Internet Governance Forum (IGF)—of which APrIGF forms a regional component—was established as an outcome of the WSIS Tunis Summit in 2005. The IGF and WSIS are therefore deeply interconnected, and so is APrIGF. The WSIS+20 review will be a critical moment for setting the vision of the Information Society, as well as a roadmap for Internet Governance, for the next decade and beyond. As such, APrIGF 2025 convened a WSIS+20 Working Group (WG), with WG members driving outreach and discussions on the topic with the regional community. The 2025 Synthesis Document will include a dedicated segment covering the key discussion outputs from engagement efforts (e.g. webinars) and the APrIGF community’s perspectives on the WSIS+20 review.    

5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 1 Against this backdrop, APrIGF 2025 will focus on the overarching theme: “The Future of Multistakeholder Digital Governance in Asia Pacific.” The emphasis on “multistakeholder” reflects its foundational role in shaping both the governance of the Internet (its infrastructure and technical functioning) and governance on the Internet (the issues arising from its use). As emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, digital safety and security, geo-political challenges, and safeguarding Internet infrastructure, newer forms of digital divide, and meaningful youth participation have come to the forefront, strengthening multistakeholder approaches remains essential. 

6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 2 The overarching theme also highlights the concept of “Digital Governance,” acknowledging that the outcomes of the WSIS+20 review will intersect with the United Nations Global Digital Compact (GDC). This underscores the importance of IGF processes, including their national, sub-regional, regional, and youth initiatives (NRIs)–such as APrIGF—in shaping global digital policies. To reflect the breadth of Internet and digital governance, APrIGF 2025 will feature the following five high-level thematic tracks. These tracks ensured that APrIGF 2025 provides space for a wide-ranging and inclusive discussion of the key issues shaping the future of digital governance in the APAC region.

  1. Access & Inclusion
  2. Innovation & Emerging Technologies
  3. Security & Trust
  4. Resilience
  5. Sustainability

8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 1 APrIGF 2025 will also feature a dedicated parliamentary track to strengthen participation of parliamentarians from the Asia-Pacific region in discussions relating to the use, evolution, governance of the Internet, and related digital policy and technologies. In parallel, the Youth IGF (yIGF) will be held as a sister event, emphasizing youth engagement as co-governors within the multistakeholder framework.

Special Track: WSIS+20 Review Process

9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 In line with the WSIS+20 review process this year, the APrIGF community convened a WSIS+20 Working Group (WG), focusing on discussions and engagements on issues relevant to the APAC Region. In addition to fortnightly WG calls attended by WG members, a key highlight from this effort was the two webinars conducted before the APrIGF 2025 to raise awareness and engage with the wider APAC stakeholders on this process. 

10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 The first webinar (Webinar 1) was conducted on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, from  06:00-07:15 UTC, focusing on raising awareness of the WSIS+20 review process. The webinar invited several speakers from various stakeholder groups, including government, civil society, and the technical community, who shared an overview of the WSIS+20, and what it means for the regional community, and key considerations for the review process. 

11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 1 The second webinar (Webinar 2) was held on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, from  5:00-6:30 UTC. This interactive session divided the attendees into the breakout groups for detailed discussion on five main sections of the WSIS+20 Zero Draft. The five sections were:

  • Multistakeholder Model of Internet Governance
  • Digital Access, Inclusion & Connectivity
  • Human Rights
  • Building Confidence and Security in ICTs
  • Digital Economy

13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0 To highlight, a written input document based on key discussion points from Webinar 2 was submitted to the WSIS + 20 Review Process co-facilitators, offering collective input from the APrIGF community for consideration. The full input document is available for reference.

14 Leave a comment on paragraph 14 0 As a summary from Webinar 2, participants stressed the importance of retaining the multistakeholder model while addressing power imbalances, funding gaps, and improving local participation. They advocated for stronger measures to bridge various digital divides, including those related to affordability, multilingual content, and resilience against geopolitical and environmental challenges. The human rights section was commended but was noted as  lacking actionable solutions, particularly on online harms and gender-based issues. For ICT security, participants emphasized the need for clear definitions, practical risk mitigation frameworks, and a balance between privacy and  harm prevention. Finally, the digital economy discussion called for clarity on equitable participation, addressing market concentration, and ensuring inclusion of vulnerable groups in digital financial systems.

15 Leave a comment on paragraph 15 0 The WSIS+20 WG will continue its efforts throughout 2025, exploring additional regional outreach as required, in line with the preparatory process roadmap. 

16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 0 The APrIGF community will also further discuss the WSIS+20 review process at APrIGF 2025. The main sessions covering this topic are the WSIS+20 High-Level Plenary and Townhall Session, as well as the session organised on ‘Internet Governance at a Crossroads: Asia-Pacific Priorities for WSIS+20 and Beyond. For reference, a summary for the latter session is provided below, and discussions from both this session and the Townhall will be further incorporated in this Synthesis Document post-APrIGF 2025. 

17 Leave a comment on paragraph 17 4 Session Summary: This session delves into how regional actors can meaningfully participate in global processes to safeguard and shape a resilient digital future. Drawing on recent perspectives on the WSIS+20 Zero Draft, the discussion will identify Asia-Pacific priorities and strategies for engagement  and contribution. The session also aims to encourage  stakeholders to stay informed, engage in discussions effectively, and advocate for the preservation of an open, secure, and interoperable Internet.

18 Leave a comment on paragraph 18 0

Track 1: Access & Inclusion

19 Leave a comment on paragraph 19 3 Under this thematic track, a total of seven (7) sessions were held:   

  1. Nothing About Us Without Us: Advancing Inclusive Digital Governance for Persons with Disabilities in Asia-Pacific
  2. AI4Justice: Bridging the Access Gap or Deepening the Digital Divide in the Asia-Pacific?
  3. Prioritising Digital Gender Inclusion in Asia: From Token Mentions to Transformative Action
  4. AI as Public Good: Analysing the interplay of Private Investments, Public Infrastructure and Public Accountability
  5. Bridging the Digital Divide: Youth Access to Knowledge, Policy, and Power
  6. Beyond Connection: Fostering Digital Literacy and Accessibility for All Ages and Abilities
  7. A Garden of Connectivity: Visualizing the Internet Connectivity Landscape
  1. Nothing About Us Without Us: Advancing Inclusive Digital Governance for Persons with Disabilities in Asia-Pacific

22 Leave a comment on paragraph 22 5 Session Summary: This session focuses on the systemic exclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from digital governance processes in the Asia-Pacific region, despite growing commitments to multistakeholder models. While digital transformation is progressing, accessibility, representation, and participation of PWDs remain fragmented and inconsistent across national policies, platforms, and governance structures.

23 Leave a comment on paragraph 23 0 The discussion explores three core issues:

24 Leave a comment on paragraph 24 2 1. Barriers to Inclusive Participation: — This examines how inaccessible digital platforms, tokenistic consultation practices, and a lack of policy alignment prevent PWDs from participating in governance. It also considers the experiences of youth, women and rural PWDs.

25 Leave a comment on paragraph 25 0 2. Innovations and Best Practices: This highlights successful disability-inclusive initiatives in digital governance such as  accessible ID systems, community-led data platforms, and inclusive policymaking forums and how they have  enabled meaningful engagement of PWDs. 

26 Leave a comment on paragraph 26 1 3. Future of Multistakeholderism:  This focuses on what needs to change within the Internet governance ecosystem to mainstream disability inclusion, how the voices of PWDs can shape governance agendas, and the support required  from stakeholders—governments, the private sector, civil society, and donors. 

27 Leave a comment on paragraph 27 1 Participants shall reflect on the value of foundation funding and cross-sector collaboration in scaling disability-inclusive practices. The discussion aims to generate actionable insights and recommendations to integrate PWDs as equal stakeholders in shaping the digital future of the region.

  1. AI4Justice: Bridging the Access Gap or Deepening the Digital Divide in the Asia-Pacific?

29 Leave a comment on paragraph 29 4 The discussion on “AI4Justice: Bridging the Access Gap or Deepening the Digital Divide in the Asia-Pacific?” focuses on the application of AI in the justice sector within the Asia-Pacific region. This session aims to explore both the potential benefits and the significant risks of using AI in this field. The session delves into the unique legal systems and varying levels of development within the Asia-Pacific framing the discourse  around two key perspectives: the promise of AI for justice and its potential perils.

30 Leave a comment on paragraph 30 1 Discussions revolve around several critical issues: 

  • Algorithm Bias: The potential for AI systems to perpetuate or amplify existing biases found in training data, which could lead to discriminatory outcomes. 
  • Transparency and Accountability: The “black box” problem of AI, where it is difficult to understand how an AI system reaches a specific decision. Participants discuss the accountability gap that arises when a flawed recommendation from an AI system has real-world consequences. 
  • Data Privacy: Concerns regarding privacy of sensitive legal and personal data handled by AI systems. 
  • Digital Divide: The looming risk that the implementation of AI could further exacerbate  the digital divide, further ostracizing individuals and communities who lack technology access and digital literacy.
  1. Prioritising Digital Gender Inclusion in Asia: From Token Mentions to Transformative Action

33 Leave a comment on paragraph 33 0 The session focuses on the persistent digital gender gap in the Asia-Pacific region, moving the discussion beyond a mere acknowledgment of the problem to a search for concrete, actionable solutions. The expert panel, which includes representatives from various sectors, highlights that this gap is not merely a social issue but also an economic one, with the exclusion of women from the digital economy resulting in significant GDP losses. 

34 Leave a comment on paragraph 34 0 The key discussion points center on understanding the multifaceted barriers to inclusion, such as the lack of access, affordability, and digital literacy, as well as socio-cultural norms and online safety risks that disproportionately affect women. A major theme is the call for a multi-stakeholder and gender-responsive approach to policy-making, with an emphasis on successful, on-the-ground initiatives as models for broader implementation. Finally, the session aims to inspire and guide tangible “transformative action” by focusing on practical solutions like providing last-mile connectivity in safe, community-based locations, offering consumer financing for devices, and developing targeted digital literacy programs to equip women and girls with the skills necessary to thrive in the digital world.

  1. AI as Public Good: Analysing the interplay of Private Investments, Public Infrastructure and Public Accountability

36 Leave a comment on paragraph 36 1 The session is a workshop that explores the evolving policy landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Asia-Pacific and Global South, focusing on how governments increasingly leverage AI for public service delivery and the resulting partnerships with the private sector. The session’s central theme is the role of AI as a public good and the interplay between private investment, public infrastructure, and accountability.

37 Leave a comment on paragraph 37 1 The key discussion points include:

  • Analyzing national AI strategies to understand government priorities and their impact on development and accountability. 
  • Addressing the roles of public and private actors in building AI infrastructure, with an emphasis on ensuring that AI policy development serves the public interest, particularly regarding  public access, data privacy, and the equitable distribution of benefits.
  •  A significant focus is placed on preventing the historical problems of digital exclusion from being repeated with new AI technologies.

39 Leave a comment on paragraph 39 1 The workshop concludes by identifying opportunities for collective advocacy and creating mechanisms for accountability in public-private partnerships, ultimately aiming for ethical and transparent AI development and deployment. 

  1. Bridging the Digital Divide: Youth Access to Knowledge, Policy, and Power

41 Leave a comment on paragraph 41 3 The workshop examines the paradox of youth engagement in the Asia-Pacific region — where young people, despite being among the most digitally active, remain largely excluded from digital policy-making. It highlights three core challenges that hinder their meaningful participation: 

  • Structural barriers to access: This includes issues like affordability, infrastructure gaps and gender based exclusion
  • Policy literacy deficits: This refers to the disconnect  policy between young people’s online behavior and their engagement with formal governance forums;
  • Tokenistic participation: This describes situations where youth are included in discussions without being given any real influence on the outcomes. 

43 Leave a comment on paragraph 43 4 To address these issues, the workshop uses a role-playing simulation to enhance participants’ understanding and aims to develop youth-informed recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable digital governance model.

  1. Beyond Connection: Fostering Digital Literacy and Accessibility for All Ages and Abilities

45 Leave a comment on paragraph 45 0 The panel discussion moves beyond the issue of internet access to explore  the “second-level digital divide”—the ability to meaningfully use and understand digital tools. It focuses on the  challenges of digital inclusion for marginalized communities addressing several key dimensions necessary for achieving true inclusion.  The session moves beyond basic IT skills to emphasize  the importance of comprehensive digital literacy, particularly in the age of AI and misinformation. It also critically examines the lack of web accessibility for persons with disabilities across the Asia-Pacific region and explores strategies to strengthen Web Content Accessibility Standards (WCAG) through supportive government policies, and legislation, 

46 Leave a comment on paragraph 46 2 A key focus is linguistic inclusion, highlighting the need for local content creation and the development of technologies that support low resource languages, making the internet more relevant to the region’s linguistic diversity Finally, the discussion promotes inclusive design, advocating for the active involvement of marginalised groups- including person with disabilities and elderly in the design of digital services ensuring that accessibility and equity are integrated from the very beginning.

  1. A Garden of Connectivity: Visualizing the Internet Connectivity Landscape

48 Leave a comment on paragraph 48 0 This workshop session addresses the gap between reported internet coverage and the actual experience of users, particularly in rural communities across  Asia, including Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and India. The session features a project (https://myspeed.my/), supported by the APNIC Foundation, that uses the netStethoscope, an IoT-based tool designed to provide live, localized monitoring of internet quality (speed, latency, packet loss). With over 50 test points across the region, the project empowers communities by giving them access to tangible, community generated data. 

49 Leave a comment on paragraph 49 2 At the heart of the session is a data visualization approach known as  the “Garden of Connectivity,” which translates abstract internet performance metrics into intuitive, flower-like graphics. This visualisation technique helps participants engage with several critical themes: 

  • The need for greater data transparency to ensure ISP accountability
  • The value of accessible visual tools that make technical data understandable to both policymakers and the public
  • The potential of crowdsourced data to enable communities to map and address connectivity gaps. 

51 Leave a comment on paragraph 51 0 The showcase aims to move beyond passive data collection toward a model of active community participation to drive data-driven policy and advocacy for inclusive digital access.

Track 2: Innovation & Emerging Technologies

52 Leave a comment on paragraph 52 1 These are the sessions that have indicated Innovation & Emerging Technologies as their primary tracks. 

  1. Inclusive Digital Policies in Asia-Pacific
  2. Not Just Participants: Youth as Co-Governors of the Internet
  3. Social AI, Youth and Digital Vulnerability: A Call for Multi-stakeholder Action in the APAC
  4. Regulating AI Beyond the Hype: Evidence, Equity, and Policy Priorities for the Asia-Pacific
  5. From Oversight to Overlooked: Ethics in AI Governance
  6. Empowering Data for All: Unlocking Trust and Transparency using Open Data Editor
  7. Powering Sustainable Connectivity: curveIQ’s Low-Cost Solution for Remote Telecom Sites

54 Leave a comment on paragraph 54 0 The expected discussion areas for each session under this track are included as guiding points for Draft 0. The Drafting Committee will update the session highlights after the panels are conducted, incorporating key insights and inputs gathered during the Townhall discussion 

Inclusivity in Digital Policymaking, Particularly on Youths’ Role

  1. Inclusive Digital Policies in Asia-Pacific

56 Leave a comment on paragraph 56 0 Session Summary: Nepal’s ongoing journey towards digital transformation, like many nations in the Asia-Pacific, underscores the critical need for effective policy implementation to ensure inclusive growth, foster innovation, and safeguard digital rights. While UNESCO’s ROAM-X (Rights-based, Open, Accessible, Multi-stakeholder) Indicators offer a robust framework for evaluating digital policy environments, it’s crucial to acknowledge the complementary principles and frameworks championed by other key international development agencies. The ITU, for instance, emphasizes “Connect 2030” goals focusing on universal connectivity, affordability, and digital skills, alongside its “Generations of Regulation” and “Digital Inclusion” initiatives that align with accessibility and human-centric approaches. Similarly, UNDP’s “Principles for Digital Development” and its “Digital Strategy” emphasize human rights, “Digital 4 Inclusion,” and “Digital 4 People,” advocating for solutions that are intentionally inclusive, people-centered, and address the needs of the most vulnerable.

57 Leave a comment on paragraph 57 0 This panel will explore the convergence of these critical frameworks, starting from Nepal’s experiences with its Digital Nepal Framework and the insights from its Internet Universality Indicators assessment. The session aims to show how applying these principles can turn strategy into action and foster inclusive digital growth in the Asia-Pacific. By bringing together perspectives from UNESCO, ITU, and UNDP, alongside national government leadership, this session will demonstrate a collaborative, multi-agency approach to building equitable and sustainable digital societies.

  1. Not Just Participants: Youth as Co-Governors of the Internet

59 Leave a comment on paragraph 59 2 Session Summary: This session explores the role of youth as equal stakeholders and active co-governors in shaping inclusive, rights-based digital futures. While digital inclusion efforts have advanced infrastructure and connectivity, youth, especially from the Asia Pacific’s underserved and marginalized communities, remain underrepresented in digital policy-making and governance spaces. The session will unpack barriers that prevent youth from engaging meaningfully in Internet governance dialogues, including limited access to decision-making platforms, lack of capacity-building opportunities, tokenistic involvement, and cultural or political constraints.

60 Leave a comment on paragraph 60 4 We will also explore how digital equity is not just about access, but about agency, ensuring that young people have the tools, platforms, and power to influence digital governance decisions. Participants will share regional experiences where youth-led initiatives have impacted policy or bridged local digital gaps. The discussion will further highlight how co-governance models, where youth are treated not as beneficiaries but as partners, can drive more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative Internet futures. Specific attention will be given to challenges and opportunities related to emerging technologies, digital literacy, and community-rooted solutions. By centering youth as equal partners, the session will chart concrete pathways for co-governance that strengthen trust, digital rights, and inclusive innovation.

61 Leave a comment on paragraph 61 0 Suggestion for discussions at session: Why this region matters? (E.g. We have the largest youth population? deepest digital divides?)

  1. Social AI, Youth and Digital Vulnerability: A Call for Multi-stakeholder Action in the APAC

63 Leave a comment on paragraph 63 1 Session Summary: APAC, home to the world’s largest youth internet user base, is witnessing a sharp rise in human-mimicking AI (‘Social AI’), raising urgent concerns for young users’ digital wellbeing. This session will present research evidence outlining the challenges and harms arising from the usage of Social AI among young people aged around 15-25 years (and more generally) and make a case for urgent multi-stakeholder action to protect the digital wellbeing of young users in the APAC region.

64 Leave a comment on paragraph 64 0 The evidence of harms (both individual and societal) which arise from Social AI is rising and is being documented globally and in the APAC region. Evidence shows Social AI can harm mental health, foster dependency, perpetuate stigmas, and manipulate users through addictive and anthropomorphic design. With youth making up 40% of APAC internet users, their experiences, and vulnerabilities shaped by literacy and development, are increasingly mediated by Social AI.

65 Leave a comment on paragraph 65 2 This talk will present evidence from my ongoing research at The Pranava Institute, which looks into policy pathways for the ethical design, development of social AI, and how regulation can be shaped to prevent harms from these systems and protect users from manipulative practices. Finally, it will propose coordination among policymakers, designers, and educators to ensure transparency, harm prevention, and ethical deployment..

AI Governance

  1. Regulating AI Beyond the Hype: Evidence, Equity, and Policy Priorities for the Asia-Pacific

67 Leave a comment on paragraph 67 1 Session Summary: This session explores pressing regulatory, ethical, and governance challenges surrounding the rapid development and deployment of AI technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. It will address key risks such as disinformation, surveillance, algorithmic bias, and open-source misuse. Key questions include whether we are overestimating or underestimating the risks of current-generation AI; how regulation can keep pace with technological innovation without stifling progress; what unique regulatory risks arise from open-source AI in multilingual, low-supervision contexts; and how countries in the region can balance AI development with civil liberties and social equity. The session will also examine the feasibility of establishing a regional AI governance framework, akin to the EU AI Act but tailored for the Global South, and the role that industry, academia, and government can play in co-developing safety standards, public datasets, and governance infrastructure.

68 Leave a comment on paragraph 68 1 This session will also explore the real capabilities and limitations of current-generation AI systems, moving beyond inflated expectations to assess where AI can meaningfully deliver impact and where it remains unreliable or inappropriate. Many AI tools, particularly in sensitive areas like criminal justice, healthcare, and governance, are being deployed without sufficient scientific evidence of their effectiveness. This poses serious ethical and social risks, especially in diverse, low-resource, or digitally excluded contexts. Grounding the discussion in both scientific realities and real-world constraints, the session will seek to separate practical applications from speculative hype and ensure that policy responses are proportionate, feasible, and rooted in public interest.

69 Leave a comment on paragraph 69 0 Suggestions for discussion at session: The environmental impact of AI; For example, Should AI’s environmental footprint (energy use, carbon costs) also be factored into regional governance priorities?

  1. From Oversight to Overlooked: Ethics in AI Governance

71 Leave a comment on paragraph 71 2 Session Summary: This session will explore policy and governance questions around AI development and deployment in the Asia Pacific region, examining how ethical foresight and multistakeholder participation can shape more secure, trustworthy, and innovative digital ecosystems. Following are the aspects that we aim to discuss:

72 Leave a comment on paragraph 72 0 1. What are the key loopholes in existing AI regulations across APAC, and how can they be addressed to build a more resilient, harmonized digital ecosystem that promotes innovation while safeguarding public trust?

73 Leave a comment on paragraph 73 1 2. How can regional regulatory frameworks and multistakeholder engagement mechanisms proactively embed ethical foresight to ensure that AI governance remains adaptable to rapidly evolving technological and societal contexts?

74 Leave a comment on paragraph 74 0 3. How can cross-border regulatory cooperation help mitigate jurisdictional conflicts and enforcement challenges, particularly in holding digital platforms accountable across multiple countries?

75 Leave a comment on paragraph 75 0 4. Whose voices, values, and lived experiences are informing AI policymaking in the APAC region, and how can marginalized communities meaningfully participate in shaping ethical AI governance frameworks?

76 Leave a comment on paragraph 76 0 These questions reflect the urgent need to reimagine governance systems that are regionally grounded yet globally aware, inclusive of diverse perspectives, and capable of building public trust. The session will engage a variety of actors/stakeholders across the Asia pacific region to assess current frameworks, identify regulatory blind spots, and develop recommendations for building a robust regulatory ecosystem.

Emerging Technologies

  1. Empowering Data for All: Unlocking Trust and Transparency using Open Data Editor

78 Leave a comment on paragraph 78 1 Session Summary: This session will introduce the Open Data Editor (ODE), an open-source desktop application developed by the Open Knowledge Foundation. Built for civil society, journalists, local governments, and grassroots activists, especially those without programming skills, ODE enables users to detect and correct errors in tabular datasets (Excel, CSV, Google Sheets) in offline, low-resource settings.

79 Leave a comment on paragraph 79 0 In the Asia-Pacific region, many public-interest actors face barriers to using data effectively due to limited connectivity, digital literacy, and access to privacy-respecting tools. This session responds to these challenges by showcasing how lightweight, user-friendly civic tech like ODE can advance data quality, digital inclusion, and transparent governance.

80 Leave a comment on paragraph 80 0 The discussion will cover:

  • How ODE strengthens trust in public data and supports rights-based digital transformation
  • The significance of offline-compatible, privacy-friendly digital public goods
  • Barriers to open data in low-connectivity and multilingual environments
  • The role of civic tech in promoting transparency and countering misinformation
  • Real-world applications in gender equality, environmental advocacy, and service delivery

82 Leave a comment on paragraph 82 1 Facilitators will share use cases and invite participants to explore how co-creating an inclusive data infrastructure can empower underserved communities and promote accountable digital governance.

  1. Powering Sustainable Connectivity: curveIQ’s Low-Cost Solution for Remote Telecom Sites

84 Leave a comment on paragraph 84 1 Session Summary: Remote telecommunications infrastructure in underserved areas faces critical sustainability challenges.

85 Leave a comment on paragraph 85 0 Solar-powered sites, vital for connectivity, grapple with high failure rates and operational costs driven by battery degradation and inefficient energy management. Traditional approaches struggle with harsh environments (e.g., high heat, humidity, variable sunlight) and complex battery chemistries like Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) or Lead Acid.

86 Leave a comment on paragraph 86 0 Key issues include:

87 Leave a comment on paragraph 87 1 1. Premature Battery Failure: Dominated by calendar aging accelerated by temperature extremes and suboptimal state-of-charge management, leading to frequent, costly replacements and site downtime.

88 Leave a comment on paragraph 88 1 2. Energy Inefficiency: Significant power wasted on unnecessary active cooling (e.g., air conditioning) and inefficient charging/float strategies, demanding larger, costlier solar arrays and batteries.

89 Leave a comment on paragraph 89 0 3. Operational Complexity & Cost: Maintaining cell balance in battery banks and managing sites remotely is complex, requiring skilled technicians and increasing operational expenditure (OPEX), hindering deployment in low-resource economies.

90 Leave a comment on paragraph 90 1 This session will introduce curveIQ, an overarching control system designed to tackle these issues head-on. We will discuss its field-tested, algorithmic approach to thermal management using passive cooling, depth-of-discharge optimization using cloud forecasts, intelligent cell balancing, and efficient float strategies. We will also discuss its other capabilities, including direct innovations pertaining to telecommunications site security and redundancy.

91 Leave a comment on paragraph 91 0 The focus is on how these innovations demonstrably extend hardware lifespan, reduce energy waste, lower OPEX, and enhance site resilience, making remote telecom deployments more viable and sustainable across diverse economic contexts.

Track 3: Security & Trust

92 Leave a comment on paragraph 92 0 These are the sessions that have indicated Security & Trust as their primary tracks:

  1. “Which Animal Are You?” Take a Quiz, Learn More
  2. Multistakeholderism and meaningful participation in DPI Governance: What should it actually look like?
  3. Building Rights-Centric Digital Infrastructure: A Collaborative Workshop on the Data-Centric Digital Rights (DCDR) Framework
  4. Smart, Safe, Strong: Youth Innovations for Online Child Protection
  5. Local Bots, Global Norms: Discussing content moderation and chatbots in the APAC region

94 Leave a comment on paragraph 94 1 The Internet enables connections across societies, but these connections can also cause significant harm if they are not secure and trustworthy. Unlike typical cybersecurity conferences, APrIGF approaches this issue through both a technical lens and a human-centric perspective. The APAC region, with its diverse mix of developed and developing economies, faces unique challenges: while addressing basic development needs, it must also contend with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), which introduce new dimensions of risks to security and trust.

95 Leave a comment on paragraph 95 1 Strengthening digital security requires examining the fundamental principles that govern Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Since DPI deployment often depends on government funding and adherence to local regulations, it is critical to consider how the prevailing Internet governance philosophy—multistakeholderism—can be effectively applied to ensure that DPI is deployed in a manner that promotes safety and trust.

96 Leave a comment on paragraph 96 2 Ultimately, security and trust must serve the interests of Internet users. This document captures discussions from the APrIGF 2025 on highlights of how security and trust  can be undermined through various threats, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children and individuals with limited digital literacy. It also explores possible mitigation measures, as well as the potential liability and responsibility of online platforms, intermediaries, and AI-powered agents in upholding a secure and trustworthy Internet environment.

97 Leave a comment on paragraph 97 0 For the Draft 0, summaries from the respective session proposals below are listed for reference. More highlights from session discussions will be included after APrIGF 2025. 

Governance of DPI 

  1. Multistakeholderism and meaningful participation in DPI Governance: What should it actually look like?

99 Leave a comment on paragraph 99 3 Session Summary: DPI, including digital ID systems, is increasingly being adopted across the Asia-Pacific region. Alongside opportunities for improved service delivery, serious concerns have emerged: exclusion of vulnerable people, gaps in data protection, surveillance risks, and the erosion of individual autonomy. Although international bodies have suggested baseline safeguards, how these are implemented depends on local contexts and collaboration between governments, private actors, and communities. A central question is how to ensure meaningful multistakeholder participation in DPI governance, with particular attention to underserved and at-risk groups. Through regional case studies, the session will examine approaches to building trust in DPI through transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance. The outcome will be a policy checklist to guide secure, rights-respecting, and participatory DPI implementation across diverse national contexts. 

  1. Building Rights-Centric Digital Infrastructure: A Collaborative Workshop on the Data-Centric Digital Rights (DCDR) Framework

101 Leave a comment on paragraph 101 3 Session Summary: This session addresses the gap between digital rights legislation and technical implementation in the Asia-Pacific region. As governments develop governance frameworks and technologists design infrastructure, a disconnect persists between policy intentions and the realities of technical systems. The session explored principles such as treating personal data as part of  individual identity (“I AM MY DATA”), which embedded protections directly into design, and shifting toward proactive safeguards rather than reactive remedies. The session will discuss the role of technologists as rights defenders and the challenges of adapting universal principles to diverse legal and cultural contexts across the region.

Impact on Human

  1. “Which Animal Are You?” Take a Quiz, Learn More

103 Leave a comment on paragraph 103 0 Session Summary: This workshop focuses on the importance of online data privacy and security. We will create a “Which Animal Are You?” quiz, where the participants will have to provide some personal details. This exercise will serve as an example of how easily personal information can be collected. We will then discuss our comfort levels when sharing data online, especially without reviewing privacy terms often because they are written in a language format that is hard to understand and access, and then discuss how readily available information can lead to security risks. The workshop will end with a session for brainstorming strategies to protect our digital information. In this session we will delve into:

  1. Data Aggregation and Profiling

105 Leave a comment on paragraph 105 0 This refers to the process where seemingly unrelated pieces of individual data are collected and combined to construct comprehensive personal profiles.

  1. Online Tracking.

107 Leave a comment on paragraph 107 0 This mechanism involves websites and third-party entities monitoring and recording user behavior across various online platforms and services.

  1. Vulnerabilities to Hacking and Identity Theft

109 Leave a comment on paragraph 109 0 When personal information is readily available, individuals become considerably more susceptible to various cyber threats, including direct cyberattacks, deceptive phishing scams.

  1. The Need for Platform Accountability and Digital Literacy

111 Leave a comment on paragraph 111 1 While individuals must understand the mechanisms by which their personal data is utilized online and actively manage and safeguard their digital presence and information, platforms must be held accountable. As, individual efforts are limited without a fundamental commitment to platform accountability, which is essential in ensuring systemic data protection and privacy.

  1. Proactive Data Protection Strategies

113 Leave a comment on paragraph 113 0 This segment will explore and detail practical, actionable steps that individuals can implement to effectively minimize their online digital footprint and substantially enhance their overall online security posture.

114 Leave a comment on paragraph 114 0 2. Smart, Safe Strong: Youth innovations for online child protection

115 Leave a comment on paragraph 115 1 Session Summary: This session focuses on how young people are creating new ideas, tools, and strategies to make the internet a safer place for children. In today’s digital world, children and teenagers spend a lot of time online for learning, socializing, and entertainment, but they are also exposed to risks like cyberbullying, exploitation, scams, and harmful content. This initiative highlights the power of youth-led solutions — such as educational apps, awareness campaigns, reporting tools, and peer support networks — designed by and for young people. By combining creativity with technology, these innovations help children stay smart about online risks, safe from digital threats, and strong in building resilience and confidence online. It also shows how empowering youth to take the lead not only protects them but also shapes a more positive, responsible, and inclusive digital environment for future generations.

116 Leave a comment on paragraph 116 0 3. Local Bots, Global Norms: Discussing content moderation and chatbots in the APAC region 

117 Leave a comment on paragraph 117 1 Session Summary: Local Bots, Global Norms” explores how chatbots are becoming a bigger part of daily life across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and why content moderation is such a complicated issue there. Since most chatbot technologies are developed with global standards in mind — often shaped by Western ideas of free speech, privacy, and safety — they don’t always fit smoothly with the unique cultural values, languages, and legal rules of countries like China, India, Japan, and Australia. For example, some countries focus more on controlling political speech, while others prioritize fighting misinformation or hate speech. This means chatbots must carefully balance respecting local laws and traditions with maintaining universal principles like user safety and fairness. How this balance is handled will influence not just how people in APAC trust and use these AI systems, but also how future chatbots around the world are designed to work across different societies.

Track 4: Resilience

118 Leave a comment on paragraph 118 0 These are the sessions that have indicated Resilience as their primary tracks:

  1. Disasters, Data, and Digital Rights
  2. Experience of Co-designing Digital Justice and Inclusion Initiatives with Communities in Bangladesh
  3. Rethinking Universal Service Funds in South Asia: Challenges, Impact, and the Road Ahead
  4. The Growing Threat of Personal Liability in Platform Regulation: A Necessary Measure or Overreach?

120 Leave a comment on paragraph 120 2 Some possible topics to consolidate ideas for this track are:

  • Digital Rights in Crisis
  • Community-Led Digital Inclusion
  • Funding and Infrastructure for Connectivity
  • Platform Regulation and Accountability
  • Rights-Centric Digital Infrastructure
  • Digital sovereignty
  • Fediverse 
  • Increased technical stakeholder collaboration
  1. Disasters, Data, and Digital Rights

123 Leave a comment on paragraph 123 2 Session Summary: Natural disasters—typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions—and human-caused disasters, including armed conflicts and displacement, increasingly challenge Asia Pacific communities. Climate change intensifies their frequency and severity, creating unprecedented challenges for digital infrastructure and governance.

124 Leave a comment on paragraph 124 3 This session examines the intersection of disaster response, data governance, and digital rights through four lenses:

  • Physical Infrastructure Resilience: How can telecommunications and internet infrastructure be hardened against disasters while maintaining accessibility and affordability? We explore tensions between security investments and digital equity, examining how preparedness measures can create or exacerbate digital divides.
  • Internet as Crisis Communication Backbone: Internet connectivity during emergencies encompasses relief coordination, information dissemination, and social cohesion maintenance. We analyze successful and failed cases of internet-enabled disaster response across Asia Pacific, examining how governance models impact crisis communication effectiveness.
  • Technological Solutions and Predictive Management: Emerging technologies offer opportunities for early warning systems, real-time monitoring, and coordinated response. IoT devices, AI analytics, satellite monitoring, and mobile platforms enhance disaster preparedness. However, deployment raises questions about data sovereignty, privacy rights, and technological dependence. We discuss how communities can harness benefits while maintaining agency over data and response strategies.
  • Digital Equity in Crisis: Disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable communities with least digital access. Urban-rural connectivity gaps and governance variations create unequal disaster resilience across the region.
  1. Experience of Co-designing Digital Justice and Inclusion Initiatives with Communities in Bangladesh

127 Leave a comment on paragraph 127 1 Session Summary: This showcase presents community-driven innovations from Oxfam in Bangladesh and Monash University under the Participatory Research & Ownership of Technology, Innovation & Change (PROTIC II) initiative, highlighting how digital justice and inclusion can be built from the ground up through participatory research, co-design, and platform experimentation.

128 Leave a comment on paragraph 128 0 Key initiatives include:

129 Leave a comment on paragraph 129 0 • PAROLI: A pioneering offline audio communication system that connects remote communities via a local server, accessible even through button phones. Like a Zoom call without internet, it enables inclusive, real-time communication in areas with limited connectivity. PAROLI holds strong potential for use during climate emergencies—such as cyclones or floods—when power and internet are down, supporting community alerts, SOS calls, and coordination for emergency response.

130 Leave a comment on paragraph 130 0 • Fisherfolk Digital Inclusion Work: Co-developed with riverine communities, this work includes:

  • A knowledge graph app preserving indigenous fishing knowledge.
  • A flood forecast app for safety alerts.
  • Digital literacy training for better access to digital tools.
  • Social media advocacy, such as Jeledder Kotha, amplifies the voices of fisherfolk.

132 Leave a comment on paragraph 132 0 • Cybersecurity research in Bangladesh reveals how women face digital threats—like harassment, blackmail, and scams—shaped by low digital literacy, social stigma, weak institutional support, and policy gaps. Women, especially in rural areas, face a “digital double bind”: they depend on the internet for work and expression but lack safety and protection. The study calls for gender-sensitive cyber safety measures, including inclusive digital education, safer online spaces, and stronger policies that uphold women’s digital rights.

133 Leave a comment on paragraph 133 0 The session will reflect on how these initiatives intersect rights, resilience, and technology to reimagine inclusive internet ecosystems. It invites collaboration, validation, and exchange with regional actors committed to digital governance.

  1. Rethinking Universal Service Funds in South Asia: Challenges, Impact, and the Road Ahead

135 Leave a comment on paragraph 135 2 Session Summary: Universal Service Funds (USFs) have played a pivotal role in expanding connectivity across South Asia, aiming to bridge the digital divide in unserved, underserved and remote parts of the region, as well as across dispersed people. This showcase session premises itself in the evolving role of USFs in today’s digital ecosystem, examining their successes, persistent challenges, and lessons from regional experiences. In this context, the presenters will unpack issues such as under-utilisation of funds, political and regulatory bottlenecks, and the need for modernisation in the age of the Internet, digital and emerging technologies. Drawing on diverse perspectives, this showcase session offers a comprehensive, actionable recommendation framework to South Asian policymakers, and an advocacy plan for industry, technical community, and civil society to revitalise USFs as effective tools for digital inclusion. This recommendation framework is developed with support from the APNIC Foundation. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how the recommended reforms stand to further connectivity, meaningful access, development, and equity goals across South Asia.

  1. The Growing Threat of Personal Liability in Platform Regulation: A Necessary Measure or Overreach?

137 Leave a comment on paragraph 137 1 Session Summary: In an era where governments are increasingly holding platform owners and employees personally accountable for user-generated content, the landscape of digital free speech is rapidly evolving. Recent events, such as the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and the suspension of platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil, demonstrate how authorities are compelling digital platforms to comply with content moderation laws under the threat of legal consequences. From account takedowns to potential imprisonment, intermediaries are being forced to navigate a precarious balance between safeguarding employee safety and upholding users’ rights to free expression.

138 Leave a comment on paragraph 138 0 This session will critically examine the trend of imposing personal liability on platform executives and employees, analyzing its impact on free speech and the broader digital ecosystem. Governments worldwide, including the U.K., have introduced legislative proposals to fine or prosecute senior executives for failure to remove specific types of content within tight deadlines. These measures create a “hostage-taking” effect, where legal authorities use liability statutes to pressure platforms into swift compliance, often at the expense of open discourse.

139 Leave a comment on paragraph 139 0 The session will also explore the legal principles behind intermediary liability, the doctrine of the corporate veil, and when it may be pierced to hold executives personally responsible. While intermediaries traditionally enjoy safe harbor protections, there is an increasing tendency for governments to bypass these safeguards, leading to pre-emptive censorship and content over-policing by platforms. This chilling effect on speech has also driven some social media companies to withdraw from certain jurisdictions, as seen with Google’s exit from China and the bans imposed on Telegram in various countries.

Track 5: Sustainability 

140 Leave a comment on paragraph 140 0 These are the sessions that have indicated Sustainability as their primary tracks:

  1. Digital Dilemmas in Just Transitions: Lessons from India’s Coal Heartland

142 Leave a comment on paragraph 142 0 Session Summary: This Lightning Talk explores the role of digital technologies during the energy transition of regions across Asia Pacific using case stories from India’s two districts, Ramgarh and Bokaro (Jharkhand, India). As net-zero and just transition efforts accelerate the global phase-down of fossil fuels, including coal, communities dependent on mining face potential economic distress, unemployment, and social dislocation. Consequently, it is imperative to ensure a just transition that does not leave dependent communities behind in the process of achieving net zero. Such an approach requires inclusive, localised and decentralised solutions. In this light, digital technologies, including electrotechnologies, have become one such approach towards enabling what has been proposed as a more ‘sustainable shift’. However, digital technologies play both enabling and disruptive roles. On the positive side, digital technologies offer pathways for reskilling displaced workers, enabling new livelihood options like digital agriculture, forest monitoring, and solar energy systems which can be managed by local communities (eg. Self help groups) and E-governance platforms can improve access to welfare schemes, finance, and markets, particularly for rural and remote populations.

143 Leave a comment on paragraph 143 2 However, rapid digitisation is also a double-edged sword. It generates e-waste (e.g., discarded solar panels), increases reliance on precarious gig work with few protections, and deepens digital exclusion due to poor infrastructure and the gender digital divide. Many communities lack the digital literacy and connectivity to fully benefit from such initiatives. This talk highlights the dual potential of digital in just transitions, empowering communities or reinforcing inequalities. It urges policymakers and practitioners to design digital interventions that are context-specific, environmentally responsible, and inclusive of marginalized groups, ensuring that technology serves justice, not just efficiency.

144 Leave a comment on paragraph 144 0

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