APrIGF Document Platform

Arthit has mentioned below that some statistics related to the development of the APrIGF Synthesis Document could be included into this document, perhaps as an appendix (?)
This would add to its authenticity when we present it elsewhere. The appendix could briefly explain the process, the schedule, and the names of eventual contributors and/or where they come from within the region to demonstrate the spread of contributing voices.

Because paras 3 & 4 are about process and not content, they could be deleted (and the appendix section developed).

Correct typo of ‘intercessional’ to ‘intersessional’

Suggest to have an overall review of the structure of the document and identify the key issues and/or topics to be covered. Apart from the current list, there are “others” (such as Manila Principles on Intermediaries, Network Neutrality and Capacity Building) that are yet to be included.

After Day 1, the fruitful discussions had been made and should be reflected in the documents.

In Asia Pacific, majority of the connection is via mobile phone. There is a different quality of accessing meaningfully the Internet via laptop or PC versus via mobile phone. The early adopter countries –which have access to Internet way before others– started their connection via cable and PC. The quality of accessing Internet via mobile phone, certainly has more limited quality.

It would be good to have specific intervention on how to make mobile access Internet better engaged with people.

Technology is not working in vacuum, the same with Internet. It depends on many factors and how you connect is also important.

Internet adoption is increasing slowly in the Pacific mainly due to its lack of affordability. There are still island countries where monopoly Telecoms (and even some where there are multiple providers, e.g. Papua New Guinea) put the internet out of reach of those who need the access, but it is too expensive. Many Pacific users only have access to the internet at work, Private connections are unaffordable on their low local wages. The cost for businesses as well as for learning, information and other valuable uses is quite prohibitive.

The SDGs provide significant focus areas for development in regions such as the Pacific and ICTs and internet connectivity could be a major contributor to this development. Unfortunately there is not enough research being done to identify how appropriate technologies and internet connectivity can effectively contribute to the future-proofing of mitigation measures being introduced by local donor-funded projects.

The use of ICTs in Chennai, India in 2015/2016 during the floods for rescue efforts and for relief work

Internet Access has hugely changed my personal life and helped me change that of other women around me. The Women’s Digital League was formed when I was fired from my teaching job because the private school I was working at would not give me maternity leave. Sitting at home with a simple dial up connection I found remote work. Earning my first $2.5 writing an article for someone in the US gave me much-needed confidence in my abilities. It was a stepping stone to becoming financially empowered and independent; being recognized as the top most impactful entrepreneur in Pakistan; and in showing women they didn’t have to accept status quo. With greater financial empowerment I ahve seen young women not settle for the first proposal that came for them as they were no longer a burden on their household; send siblings to school/college; have greater say in decisions at home; be more respected and therefore have a higher self-esteem.

An addition to capacity building, maybe we can also add YIGF as one of the programs that provides an avenue for the said area.

We do support the idea of having “Capacity Building” add to the document, while we have worked on toolkit about youth engagement program e.g. the yigf and hkyigf initiative we have organized, that we can put our input a bit.

Materials & Resources

As well as there is workshop on Day 3 to discuss how to move forward for the AP region next generation engagement initiative. Happy to recap our discussion outcome and add to the mentioned session.

The topics below may be merged or changed but I suggest that topics be clustered together to reflect various main themes. The following suggested order does not indicate that some topics are less important than others. I have started from 28 and attempted an order from there:
28, 31, 35, 33, 34, 30, 38, 36, 39, 40, 29, 32. I have omitted 37 as it’s suggested that this be merged with 31.

While the subthemes are well developed, there appeared to be a bit of disconnect in relating the sub-themes to the main theme of “Merging Physical Space with Cyberspace”.

Rural connectivity is very imporant; however I do not believe that it requires “global changes to the Internet”. I suggest to relocate this goal to Para 28 (“Continuing efforts in bringing the next billion online”).

This, I think is a multifaceted issues and can be explored in from different angles, such as the Impact of Transition on the overall Internet Governance (IG) landscape and debate on a global scale, similarly its impact on the IG landscape in certain specific countries and regions. Additionally, how is the transaction going to impact the business sector (mainly the Internet businesses). Questions like these and others in light of the future impact of IANA Transition can really lead to an interesting debate.

collaboration on cyber security education and preventing cyber attacks from nations which will effect people countries innocents etc.

We would appreciate if you could add the following sentences in para.30, Security:

“While recalling the freedom of expression online based on the free flow of information not only domestically but also internationally, the protection of youth from illegal and harmful online contents is one of the most important issues in the Internet governance. Hence, it is vital for all multistakeholders including, but not limited to governments, private sectors, schools, and child welfare institutions to cooperate and collaborate each other in order to strike a balance between the freedom of expression and the protection of youth online. In this regard, comprehensive approaches based on national and international laws as well as self-regulations by private sectors are indispensable, taking into account cultural, historical, and social differences of countries and regions.”

Also we have to consider the security issues which may arise due to Internet of Things. The suggestion of the meeting was security issues should be addressed from the phase of designing the devices.

While these treaties and agreement would be certainly helpful in ensuring the cross border data flow, which was one of the building block of the internet, it would be beneficial to have it done providing a level playing field to all the parties involved. Mechanism should be inbuilt in these treaties ensuring that the further development of digital economy for the developing countries are not compromised in any ways. This also include offsetting measures that data localization brings to the parties advantage.

should also mention the arbitration mechanism that would allow foreign companies to challenge domestic regulations before international arbitration panels.

While I would like to echo what Ms. Hong Xue said, provisions on digital economy and trade are absolutely needed. In addition, there are many kinds of international agreements and policies, so we had better change the title otherwise this paragraph is bit vague and it is unclear what this paragraph wants to say.

Therefore, I propose the following sentences:

—–
¶32 (or appropriate para. number) Digital Economy and Trade

Digital economy and trade are key enablers for the development of the world economy. Now that the digital economy becomes the economy as such, and does not have any borders. The digital economy and trade cannot be successful without the free flow of information and appropriate domestic and global rules. On the other hand, there is a growing trend that some governments take protectionist approaches on trade by limiting the free flow of information and/or requiring data localization, and the trend hinders the further growth of the world economy. Therefore, constructing the further network of free trade agreements which requires member states to maintain the free flow of information and to ensure the prohibition of data localization as well as source code disclosure unless there is a legitimate public policy reason is highly recommended. In this regard, thorough discussion among not only governments, but also other multistakeholders is encouraged by referring to Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement as one of the examples.
—

Rural connectivity is very imporant; however I do not believe that it requires “global changes to the Internet”. I suggest to relocate this goal to Para 28 (“Continuing efforts in bringing the next billion online”).

ecological social survival economical

Should we make “…measures to support and conserve existing diversity…” to “…measures to support, conserve and enhance existing diversity…” ?

investigation prosecution open collaboration

tracing cyber crooks with out double minds / standards.

Instead suggest:

Legislation and policies governing ICTs:
Across Asia several legislation have been developed to govern various aspects of the internet. Legislation that traditionally govern offline spaces are also used in tandem with these specialised legislation to address violations. These provisions must respect internationally recognised human rights and standards for restrictions. They must also draw from other regional documents on ICTs including the Budapest Convention Cyber crime.

This section should be framed from a human rights perspective. This is actually a dangerous section as some repressive Asia Pacific countries use these words “cultural differences” or “cultural specificities” as excuse to not respect human rights and even violate human rights.

In the context of cross-border data transfer and local people using online services provided from servers in foreign jurisdictions, this is problematic.

I proposed this title and text:

“Protection without borders

Expectation of privacy may vary by cultures, thus different protections in different jurisdictions. Considering the nature of cross-border data transfer for online services and users’ difficulties to aware of that complication, if there is a difference in the level of protection in relevant jurisdictions, the highest level of protection should be guaranteed as a default safeguard. Minimum adequate level of privacy protection should also be sought after as an international agreement and adopted by every concerned jurisdictions.”

If we can frame it for a better protection of privacy, there’s no need to remove.

Surprisingly, currently we don’t have a specific section dedicated to Privacy or Data Protection.

This section should NOT be removed. The Internet content for AP region is mostly from US and EU. But when there is a matter about privacy they refer their privacy policies developed on their culture. Sometimes a privacy violation according to our culture, does not align with their policy and hence they do not consider and take action.

In my opinion, a lot of machines would constitute to a bigger portion of the next billion that would be joining the internet. Machine to Machine communication would be an integral part of internet expansion. Its important that security by design is considered in M2M communication.

Need title.

Propose: “Protection of critical information infrastructure”

Governments service providers internet companies must respect consumer rights and also quality if living liberty of internet is important.

I also support the suggestion to delete this sentence. despite of cultural differnce, privacy should be regarded as universal human rights.

I’m inclined to agree with KS Park that the Right to be Forgotten should not be mentioned at this time. The reason is that it is a right that comes “after” the right of privacy. Without the right of privacy, the RTBF will not be a meaningful right.

“The so-called concept of Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) is gaining greater support in many countries. Should RTBF have extra-territorial application? Does it also apply to digitised newspaper archives? Where do the boundaries lie with freedom of the press, and the integrity of the historical record? RTBF is a legal device supposed to protect privacy but it delists according to others concepts like public interest, and it is dangerous because it imposes a burden of proving public interest on people searching for public truthful statements or intermediaries (such as libraries, educational institutions, archives, search engines).”

“The so-called concept of Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) is gaining support in some jurisdictions. Should RTBF have extra-territorial application? Does it also apply to digitised newspaper archives? Where do the boundaries lie with freedom of the press, and the integrity of the historical record? However, more fundamentally, the mostly judge-made law orders delisting according to concepts like public interest but it conflicts with free access to information and therefore public interest because it imposes a burden of proving public interest on people searching for public truthful statements or intermediaries (such as libraries, educational institutions, archives, search engines).”

providing some statistics, like numbers of days open (start date, end date), numbers of comments, etc. would be very interesting and will give the reader the idea of the participation in our process :)