IGF 2020 WS #265 Trends in privacy and data protection: Impact on women

Subtheme

Organizer 1: Ridwan Oloyede, Tech Hive Advisory
Organizer 2: Caleb Ogundele, African Academic Network on Internet Policy
Organizer 3: Chenai Chair, world wide web foundation

Speaker 1: Ines Hfaiedh, Government, African Group
Speaker 2: Chenai Chair, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Stephanie Perrin, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Moderator

Ridwan Oloyede, Civil Society, African Group

Online Moderator

Caleb Ogundele, Civil Society, African Group

Rapporteur

Ridwan Oloyede, Civil Society, African Group

Format

Debate - Auditorium - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

How are the evolving trends in privacy and data protection impacting on women across the region? Is private and public surveillance affecting fair participation of women on the internet? How are the quick loan applications affecting credit rating and access to social benefit for women across the regions? Are the current laws and regulations adequate to guarantee the rights and freedoms of women in the regions?

Privacy and data protection is a vital component of internet governance. The safety and equal access of everyone, regardless of gender, geography or demography is fundamental to inclusion and open internet. The session will be looking at different models to access the real and imminent risk the use of these technologies could portend to the rights and freedoms of women in the sub-Sahara Africa, MENA, Asia, and Latin America.

SDGs

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-Being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Description:

The growth of technology bring immense benefit, and also creates new challenges. The increasing use of automated processing through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning has shown to discriminate against women from sub-Sahara Africa, MENA, Asia, and Latin America. The use of quick loan applications while portending to increase access to credit, also plunge women into debt. The increasing deployment and use of new technology like facial recognition could impact on the rights and freedoms of women. Privacy International published a report in 2019 about the use of menstruation applications by women, and how the companies sell their data. In workplaces there is surveillance, social media could be a torrid terrain -the aggregation of these various violation creates risks, and sometimes impedes access to basic services.

Expected Outcomes

To understand the perspective of women across different regions on how the evolving trend in privacy and data protection impacts them. To draw awareness to some obscure practices of organisations, and risks of violation of privacy and data protection rights

The roundtable format will allow a dynamic and flexible discussion. The moderators are experienced Internet governance scholars and participants who understand the different points of view. The moderator will pose questions and issues to pairs of speakers with contrasting views. They will engage with each other, debating the differences and trying to reach agreement. There will be three rounds of this. Then there will be an opening to the audience to discuss one side or the other. In the final segment the discussion will be steered toward resolution and agreement on best practices. We'll have a remote moderator onsite fielding questions and comments online, we'll be publicizing on each panelists' social media feeds, and the onsite moderator will promote remote participation throughout the panel. At least 30 minutes of the 90 minutes will be reserved for audience and remote participant questions and comments.

Relevance to Internet Governance: Privacy and data protection is a vital component of internet governance. The safety and equal access of everyone, regardless of gender, geography or demography is fundamental to inclusion and open internet. The session will be looking at different models to access the real and imminent risk the use of these technologies could portend to the rights and freedoms of women in the region.

Relevance to Theme: To draw awareness to some obscure practices of organizations, and risks of violation of privacy and data protection rights To gain insight into women’s perspective on privacy and data protection. In workplaces there is surveillance, social media could be a torrid terrain -the aggregation of these various violation creates risks, and sometimes impedes access to basic services. The safety and equal access of everyone, regardless of gender, geography or demography is fundamental to inclusion and open internet. The session will be looking at different models to access the real and imminent risk the use of these technologies could portend to the rights and freedoms of women in the sub-Sahara Africa, MENA, Asia, and Latin America.

Online Participation

 

Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: We plan to use Zoom, WebEx and youtube channels of the IGF for easy support of remote participation. We will inform people from our diverse network about the date and topic, format and policy questions of our workshop, that they are able to participate online to bring in their perspective and questions.