Session
Debate - Auditorium - 60 Min
EuroDIG this year was shaped around 4 Focus Areas:
- Digital sovereignty – is Europe going in the right direction to keep the Internet safe and open?
- Reality check – do we implement effective regulations and set the right standards to solve the problems of the future?
- Coming next – outlook on new technologies and can existing governance bodies cope with them?
- Internet in troubled times
See the full EuroDIG 2022 programme here.
We would like to present our Messages from Trieste including the YOUthDIG Messages in order to feed them into the global debate.
In addition, we will discuss the preliminary results from the Call for Issues for the upcoming EuroDIG 2023 in Tampere, as well as the European Stakeholder Consultation on the Global Digital Compact.
EuroDIG
EuroDIG 2022 Focal Points and OrgTeam Members from WEOG and EEG
Speaker 1 - 4 (tbd) on the Messages from Trieste
Youth representative (tbd) for the YOUthDIG Messages
Mark Carvell on the European Stakeholder Consultation on the Global Digital
Yrjö Länsipuro on the preliminary results from the Call for Issues 2023
Thomas Schneider
Sandra Hoferichter
Elisabeth Schauermann
16.10
16.6
16.7
16.8
16.a
16.b
17.16
17.17
Targets: 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels 16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements 16.a Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime 16.b Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development 17.16 Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships All these proposals are related to the good governance of the Internet, to digital global cooperation, accountability in respect to the multistakholder model. Our 4 Focus Areas are shaped around these SDG targets.
Report
• The European vision of a rights-based, open, accessible, resilient Internet has to be upheld even in times of conflict and crisis in the region and beyond. A strong multistakeholder approach to digital cooperation and Internet governance is the only way to avoid and counter fragmentation, exclusionary processes and harmful effects of existing and new technologies. Open multistakeholder processes need to include youth and marginalized voices. Al
• Sustainability should be at the core of digital cooperation, this includes environmental sustainability. This perspective is becoming more pertinent as questions on energy insecurity and resource effectiveness in regards to the Internet are becoming a lived reality for many users, as well as governments and the private sector. In the current consultation on the Global Digital Compact, environmental sustainability shall be suggested as a key are
Long Report Town Hall: EuroDIG Messages - Internet in Troubled Times
Participants onsite: around 30
Online: around 15
Gender split: approximately 60% men, 40% women
The session was opened by explaining how the EuroDIG Messages 2022 were drafted and agreed upon. For the first time, the new mode of Focus Areas was being used.
The Focus Area surrounding the topic of digital sovereignty was presented first. The main take-aways were, that new regulation has brought clarity, but always has to be carefully evaluated against potential harms, such as Internet fragmentation – a topic heavily discussed at the IGF2022 – and harms to human rights and democracy.
In the discussion it was pointed out that a main challenge for Europe at the moment is the war on Ukraine. Peace and sovereignty are not in opposition, but the term is sometimes used to describe a closed and territorial approach.
It was mentioned that a European vision of sovereignty has to foster openness and interconnectedness.
The Focus Area on effective regulation the importance of the multi-stakeholder approach was championed. Example where regulation can play a key-role in the near future is the green transition and rapid cybersecurity standards/criminal justice.
In the discussion it was commented that the environmental aspects of the digital transformation were a topic that the EuroDIG community very actively worked on, also picked up by the IGF community and a subsequent intersessional policy network. It was recommended that EuroDIG should continue to be a strong voice. One way to highlight it was suggested in making a remark in the European stakeholder consultation on the Global Digital Compact.
It was noted that due to the energy crisis in Europe, the topic might naturally gain traction again. It was also suggested that regional and global workstreams, especially intersessional work, should be streamlined and integrated, not parallelized.
The Focus Area on effectiveness of governance bodies was presented. Some main points were the call to take a fresh look at the multi-stakeholder approach. Youth should be included more readily. Discussions and regulatory processes around artificial intelligence, digital identities and innovation such as delay-tolerant networks were noted as examples for updated approaches to policy-making.
In the discussion, it was pointed out that the human-centric approach to digital policy that Europe portrays is not the same in all world regions and it is a continuous effort to align values, while not hegemonizing different approaches.
The Focus Area of Internet in troubled times came about in the wake of the war on Ukraine. The main messages were presented. Again, Internet fragmentation has to be estimated as a risk, interconnectedness and openness should be championed by the UN Tech Envoy and by all stakeholders in Global Digital Compact. Broader engagement and open Internet governance processes are to be centered. Another aspect is the integrity of information, which has to be protected and disinformation has to be countered.
On the topic of disinformation, it was noted in the discussion, that in a pluralistic society, a diversity of opinions has to be protected, while fostering the accessibility and reach of neutral, fact-based information.
The youth messages were presented and comprised perspectives by YOUthDIG participants upon AI, social media, cryptocurrency, and sustainability. Education and literacy were highlighted as one important precondition to all of these aspects. The messages also called for more research and funding to promote a safe, sustainable, innovate digital sphere.
The youth representative thanked the EuroDIG community that the current dark times due to the war are acknowledged. Access to the Internet and digital infrastructures in Ukraine is hampered by energy shortages and attacks on infrastructure, depriving the people of many important, sometimes life-saving, services and technologies.
In the discussion the importance of youth voices was complimented. EuroDIG commits to continuously involving youth in its processes.
In a next thematic section, EuroDIG 2023 in Tampere was presented, specifically the overarching theme “Internet in troubled times – risk, resilience, and hope”. The community was invited to participate in the conference June 19-21, as well as contribute to the program. A Finnish member of European parliament extended the invitation, pointing out the rich history of the city of Tampere in science and technology.
In the last thematic segment, EuroDIG’s process regard the Tech Envoy’s survey to the Global Digital Compact was outlined. Messages and outcomes of EuroDIGs were mapped, with the outcome that almost all topics of the GDC will receive input. The commenting platform for the European stakeholder consultation is still open and all are invited to contribute. Strong multi-stakeholder engagement in the process is important regarding the high-level nature of the compact.