IGF 2022 Town Hall #76 What are arguments in favor & against restricting encryption

What are arguments in favor of and against restricting encryption? During this town hall, we would like to further the dialogue on possible arguments in favor of and against restricting encryption. In order to inform the political discussion in the Netherlands on the matter of encryption, this past year AMS-IX and ECP | Platform for the Information Society brought together public and private partners in a neutral setting to create an argument map with all arguments in favor of and against restricting encryption. Using the following question as a starting point: “What are the arguments for and against a Dutch law that compels over-the-top (OTT) service providers to be able to decrypt communications for law enforcement”, experts from 30 different organizations came together in a neutral setting to create this argument map. This argument map can be used as a starting point to initiate follow-up discussion, both on a national and international level.
During the IGF 2022, we would like to organize a round table discussion including experts to further the dialogue on encryption. On an international level, the issue of encryption remains pertinent, given the recent discussion within the European Union to impose a ‘backdoor’ in encryption to locate and combat online sexual abuse of children. In a multi-stakeholder setting, we invite all to join the dialogue on encryption and possible alternatives. The previously published argument map can provide a common understanding of the issue at hand, and can be used to ensure fruitful dialogue.

We aim to have both onsite and online round table discussions. Online discussions will be through the use of Zoom breakout rooms. After a succinct introduction on the topic of encryption and on the format of the discussion, we would like to initiate the dialogue on an international level with multiple stakeholders. We are specifically excited to include (African) youth in this discussion.