|

Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum 2023 Brisbane Synthesis Document – Draft 0

Preamble

1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 4 The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) 2023 will be held from 29-31 August in a hybrid format, hosted by .au Domain Administration Limited (auDA) in Brisbane, Australia. APrIGF will be coming back to the Pacific region for the second time since the 2018 Vanuatu meeting. 

2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 4 The overarching theme for APrIGF 2023 is “Emerging Technologies – Is Asia Pacific Ready for the Next Phase of the Internet?”. Over the past few years, ​​there has been a rapid increase in the adoption and development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, Internet of Things, robotics, big data and 5G in the Asia Pacific region. More recently, ChatGPT and other AI applications have revolutionised chatbots, search engines, image/video generators among others. These technologies could have a significant impact on the social, economic and environmental future of the region, particularly in the context of uneven digitalisation and millions still unconnected. What should the next phase of the Internet look like in the Asia Pacific?

3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 3 The main theme incorporates three high-level thematic tracks, namely “Access & Inclusion”, “Sustainability”, and “Trust”. The 2023 Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum, the 2023 Pacific Internet Governance Forum and the 2023 NetThing will also be co-located in Brisbane, Australia around this time.

4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 3 The use of high-level thematic tracks was to enable discussions on cross-cutting issues related to Internet Governance in the Asia Pacific region. This allows the APrIGF community to recognise and appreciate the complexity and interrelated nature of diverse Internet Governance issues and understand their significance at a policy level in all economies across the region. Thus, the APrIGF Multistakeholder Steering Group (MSG) adopted a more flexible and all-encompassing approach since the APrIGF 2021 program. These high-level themes are designed to encompass various sub-topics under each track, and participants are encouraged to approach policy discussions creatively in an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary manner.

Access & Inclusion

5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 8 The principle of inclusivity advocates that no one is disadvantaged on the basis of their background, location, gender, disability, religion, caste, class or any other factor. It also ensures that emerging technologies like AI, 5G and blockchain provide an enabling platform for everyone to participate, raise their voices and partake in the benefits. Meaningful access is still a big challenge in the region with millions still unconnected, especially marginalised communities. There is a need for multi-stakeholder dialogue with focus on providing infrastructure and access to all, in order to enable the use of these emerging technologies for socio-economic development across the board.

6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 11 Are emerging technologies being adopted and developed in the Asia Pacific region inclusive or will they exacerbate the already uneven distribution of access and opportunities? Do emerging technologies address the pre-existing digital divide or widen it further? What do stakeholders need to do to promote fair and responsible use of these new technologies? Do these new technologies adversely affect human rights, and if so, how can policies and regulations address this? How do we ensure that these technologies remain affordable and accessible, with equitably spread benefits?

7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 2 Under this track these are the following workshops that will explore some of the non-exhaustive policy areas and questions:

8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 1 Investing in professional development for a diverse workforce in APAC: challenges and opportunities
Research shows that diverse technical teams have better opportunities to question the facts more objectively, present their perspectives and question the status quo through discussions, which in turn results in solid technical outcomes. What are the challenges and opportunities the Internet industry faces to find the right balance to develop their workforce?

9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 6 Policy development on generative AI based on Biometrics & Weaponizing Information Bubbles
Biometric technology is increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, from unlocking our smartphones to passing through airport security. However, this also raises significant concerns about privacy and security. What governance principles should policymakers consider around the collection and usage of biometric data?

10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 Disability and Digital Self-Determination: What’s the Missing Link?
Self-determination has been a foundational concept related to human existence. Digital Self-Determination (DSD) is a complex notion re-shaping what we understand as self-determination itself. How do we consider how individuals and communities can have autonomy over our digital selves?

11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 1 The role for government purchasing of accessible Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
There are more than 650 million people in the Asia Pacific Region living with disability. Online government services provide both benefits and barriers for people with disability. How can governments lessen some of these barriers and ensure services that are accessible by all?

12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 1 Ambivalence in Fulfillment of Internet Access Rights in West Papua? Civil Society Experience
Efforts to provide connectivity are limited by ineffective policy execution and other geographical, demographic, and discriminatory barriers. What are the lessons learned in fulfilling people’s digital rights, in equalizing Internet access and reducing digital inequality in areas where horizontal and vertical conflicts continue to impede digital rights fulfillment?

13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 6 Youth Engagement in the Asia Pacific: What does the future hold for young people? – A showcase from Youth Standing Group
What are the opportunities for young people in the APAC region to take their Internet Governance journey to the next level?

14 Leave a comment on paragraph 14 2 Be Safe Project
In disaster situations persons with disabilities are more likely to be left behind when they have less abilities to cry for help. What are lessons learned in the mobile app helpline designed to help persons with disabilities in these situations?

15 Leave a comment on paragraph 15 1 Unpacking stakeholder engagement with the private sector
In recent years, human rights defenders have sought to engage with ICT companies to ensure users’ rights are protected. Tech companies have a significant accountability gap to close. How can the private sector and civil society build capacity for meaningful stakeholder engagement?

16 Leave a comment on paragraph 16 4 Bridging the Communications Divide
Using Australian experience, how have access to telecommunications issues been addressed (or not) and what are the continuing challenges in reaching the goal of universal access to the Internet throughout the Asia-Pacific region?

17 Leave a comment on paragraph 17 1 Connecting Communities: Community Radio for Connectivity, Inclusion, Digital Rights, and Freedom of Expression
Last-mile connectivity is very important. How can community radio be leveraged as a powerful tool to bridge divides, safeguarding digital rights and promoting inclusivity and freedom of expression?

18 Leave a comment on paragraph 18 2 Exploring Youth Perspectives in Social Media Content Creation
What is the transnational influence of East Asian online culture on other Asian communities across Asia Pacific? What extent does this culture shape a youth’s content generation preferences/tendencies?

19 Leave a comment on paragraph 19 1 Internationalised Domain Names: Implementation around APAC – Lessons, Challenges & Opportunities
The Asia Pacific region is home to a multitude of diverse languages, and to navigate with these languages online we need Internationalised Domain Names. What are the lessons learned with implementing the different scripts in the Domain Name System and what challenges remain?

20 Leave a comment on paragraph 20 1 What are the Challenges, Progress and Social Prosperity for Digital Economy in Asia?
What new collaborative multistakeholder approaches to policy development can enhance access and participation in the digital economy in the Asia Pacific?

21 Leave a comment on paragraph 21 3 G20 in India and digital inclusion: The impact of shutdowns
India has taken over the presidency of G20. Emerging Technologies and Digital Inclusion seem to be at the heart of India’s commitment to G20 but Internet shutdowns are not on the agenda. Internet Shutdowns are one of the most pressing issues of digital India and digital inclusion, what are the strategies that can be adopted to tackle these problems?

22 Leave a comment on paragraph 22 5 Impacts of national digital transformation on small island developing states
How are the SIDS, specifically looking at case studies from Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago, tackling the changes that digital transformation is bringing?

Sustainability

23 Leave a comment on paragraph 23 1 For many years, Internet governance discussions have been concerned with ensuring the sustainability of the Internet and other digital technologies, by assessing their social, economic and environmental impact. Emerging technologies can cause further disruptions to this ecosystem, not only to the socio-economic and political fabric of the community but also to our physical environment.  They could have considerable impact on the ongoing climate crisis, and affect local communities that are at the forefront of the fight for climate justice. Further, these new technologies have the potential to disrupt the regional economy, particularly the labour economy in many known and unforeseen ways. Finally, for these new technologies to be sustained in the long-term, they must be supported by reliable and resilient connectivity for all, including those currently unconnected and during crises, conflicts or disasters. 

24 Leave a comment on paragraph 24 2 It is important to consider how we can promote sustainable development in the deployment and use of the Internet and emerging technologies, and ensure that they contribute to a more equitable future for all. It is also crucial to consider how these technologies could be used to aid in crisis response in a manner that is effective and reliable. In this context, a central question emerges: how can we ensure that emerging technologies contribute to our efforts in creating a sustainable Internet?

25 Leave a comment on paragraph 25 3 The evolution of the Internet and its applications has facilitated the development of the digital economy and substantial advancement in science, agriculture, health and education. Sustainability draws attention towards careful consideration of the global effects and outcomes of technology and its innovations. What is the Internet’s impact on the environment? How resilient is it? How can Internet related technologies help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?

26 Leave a comment on paragraph 26 0 Under this track there are the following workshops that will explore some of these non-exhaustive policy areas and questions:

27 Leave a comment on paragraph 27 2 Sustainability of Complementary Connectivity Initiatives
What are the sustainability issues faced by organizations mainly in developing countries in Asia-Pacific where bringing meaningful connectivity to the unconnected and addressing the digital divide? How can measuring and communicating their social impact build a case for governments and resource institutions to provide enabling policies and programs to support sustainable models of community networks and complementary connectivity initiatives?

28 Leave a comment on paragraph 28 2 Progressing Core Internet Values and Global Good Practice for the Internet of Things: impact on sustainability
What are the Asia Pacific views and issues on the contribution of IoT ecosystems to sustainable development, and the ecological footprint of IoT?

29 Leave a comment on paragraph 29 2 Mines, Maps and Minerals: Trace the complex material flows of your smartphone to make more sustainable choices
Through the journey of the construction of the smartphone, how can we increase awareness and encourage more conscious behaviour in consumption of technology by understanding the limits of an anthropocentric framework, and understanding planetary futures?

30 Leave a comment on paragraph 30 2 Is fragmentation the future of the Internet and How Can We Resist?
How do we consider and test some of the notions and assumptions that have developed around the concept of “Internet fragmentation” and define the term from an Asia Pacific perspective? How do we explore greater understanding of what it means to the regional community, how it can occur and what can be done to mitigate against risks and unintended consequences?

31 Leave a comment on paragraph 31 6 Digital Environmental Sustainability through Circular Economy and Sustainable Design Solutions
How can we meaningfully contribute to the overarching theme on ‘Emerging Technologies’ and how and why the Asia-Pacific Region needs to look at these issues around digital environmental sustainability to balance tech needs with environmental priorities?

Trust

32 Leave a comment on paragraph 32 8 The adoption of emerging technologies can only be meaningful if communities repose their trust in the processes (and key personnel) behind the former. Online safety, digital security, free and accurate flow of information, data privacy and cybersecurity, in general, all impact the formation and breaking of trust. However, trust in global, regional and national Internet governance processes is no less critical. Same for laws and policies meant to regulate the digital ecosystem at the national level. 

33 Leave a comment on paragraph 33 5 How can stakeholders ensure strong and resilient trust in the Internet, its underlying infrastructure and Internet governance processes? How can considerations of trust and safety be balanced with respect for privacy? How do we ensure transparency, accountability and fairness (that is, lack of bias) in emerging technologies? How do we foster trust in emerging technologies that many neither understand nor use?

34 Leave a comment on paragraph 34 0 Under this track there are the following workshops that will explore some of these non-exhaustive policy areas and questions:

35 Leave a comment on paragraph 35 3 AI in Asia-Pacific: Charting a Path for Responsible Innovation
How can AI be leveraged to support sustainable economic growth, enhance public services, and address societal challenges in the Asia Pacific?

36 Leave a comment on paragraph 36 2 Stronger together: Amplifying multistakeholder voices in cyber diplomacy
How can we learn from recent regional case studies of inclusion and exclusion of various stakeholder voices in regional cyber diplomacy efforts with a focus on the challenges of the Asia Pacific region?

37 Leave a comment on paragraph 37 2 Breaking security for ‘online safety’: What’s at stake for Asia-Pacific
What are the risks posed by contemporary policy approaches to online trust, privacy and security, amidst a combination of increased cyberthreats and Internet use in the Asia Pacific? What are recommendations on fostering online safety in ways that are consistent with Internet users, and children’s rights to privacy and freedom of expression online?

38 Leave a comment on paragraph 38 3 Content moderation policy advancing technology for democracy
Online administrative censorship is on the rise in Southeast Asia. How we can work with ISPs and techs to push back on censorship orders not complying with international human rights standards? How can there be effective dialogue with Big Tech to develop effective moderation standards?

39 Leave a comment on paragraph 39 0 Co-creating Digital Future for Children: An Intergenerational, Multistakeholder Dialogue on Children’s Data Protection
Although massive amounts of data are increasingly being collected about everyone, children’s data needs our special attention. How can we involve children as active partners in the development of data governance policies and integrate their evolving capabilities, real-life experiences, and perceptions of the digital world to ensure greater intergenerational justice in laws & policies?

40 Leave a comment on paragraph 40 1 To protect or harm?: what the tensions between privacy and civic freedoms in personal data protection laws mean for civil society
What tensions are between individual privacy protection and threats to civic freedoms in data protection laws, particularly in Indonesia, India, and the Philippines? What are the consequences of such provisions for CSOs, particularly for their operations and advocacy?

41 Leave a comment on paragraph 41 0 Stories from the Pacific – the human side of cyber incidents
With the increase in the number of cyber attacks in Pacific island countries, is the Pacific region ready? Touching on trust from the human perspective: in and after an incident, can the system be trusted? Who do Pacific Island countries trust to go to for assistance?

42 Leave a comment on paragraph 42 0 Tech Policy Atlas: your one stop shop for internet law, regulation and strategy
Developed by the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University, the Tech Policy Atlas is a new public repository of national tech policy, strategy, legislation, and regulation. Currently covering 36 jurisdictions, its purpose is to assist policymakers and researchers conduct evidence-based independent research on best practice internet regulation. How can APrIGF build and contribute to this growing resource?

43 Leave a comment on paragraph 43 1 The Fulfillment of the Data Justice Framework through the Data Governance Model in Implementing the Village Information System; Indonesia Case Study
Based on the Indonesian case study, how can the collaboration between government agencies and civil society solve the data justice issues regarding the impact of datafication?

44 Leave a comment on paragraph 44 3 A Framework for Developing Gender-responsive Cybersecurity Policy
What practical recommendations are there for those seeking to uphold women & LGBTQI+ rights in and through national cybersecurity strategies and in international negotiations and processes? Through the  APC framework https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/framework-gender-cybersec, how does the APrIGF community think on how gender issues are understood in the context of cybersecurity? What are the current gaps & challenges in integrating a gender perspective in cybersecurity?

45 Leave a comment on paragraph 45 4 Evolving Internet governance for the next phase of the Internet
Some of the challenges the Internet is presenting today aren’t being solved – not by Internet governance and not by governments. What are gaps in the breadth and depth of participation in Internet governance that weaken its ability to do its core functions or consider ways to solve the broader challenges?

Page 15

Source: https://comment.rigf.asia/asia-pacific-regional-internet-governance-forum-2023-brisbane-synthesis-document-draft-0/