Session
Organizer 1: Émilie Weidl, University of McGill
Speaker 1: Andie Hoang-Lefranc, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Shona Moreau, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Émilie Weidl, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Shona Moreau, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Alexandre Recher, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Émilie Weidl, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Birds of a Feather - Classroom - 60 Min
1. What should be the role of law in Internet Governance?
2. What are the challenges of judicial institutions and legal frameworks in addressing human rights on and off the internet?
3. How to achieve consensus in a multistakeholder context while ensuring that a diversity of voices are heard?
Connection with previous Messages: Regarding the messages under Economic and Social Inclusion and Human Rights, this session will further build the debate on what constitute “adequate enabling environments” and “agile regulatory frameworks” for human rights protections in digital spaces. It will also extensively touch on the balancing between freedom of expression and the limitation of harmful online content. Lastly, this workshop specifically focuses on a subject on which disagreement remains following IGF 2021, that being “the potential development of a legally binding agreement on technology and human rights.” This workshop will thus continue this debate and invite stakeholders to present their points of view in a non-combative forum.
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: Human rights are required for sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda recognises the importance of inclusive, participatory economies and accountable governments in ensuring that no one is left behind. Goal 9.c of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims to "significantly increase access to ICT and provide universal and affordable Internet access in least developed countries by 2020." Internet access will be critical for SDG implementation and monitoring. It is critical to understand the legal system that can support human rights and SDGs through internet governance.
Description:
Law plays a variety of roles in internet governance, both inside and outside of internet governance organizations. There is structural governance, which regulates contracts, labor, and people to allow the systems to function smoothly, but this internet ecosystem is not insular and exists in a larger societal context, with broader legal considerations. The question of how the internet and internet governance affect human rights is categorical within this larger multi stakeholder context. Using previous works from multiple governmental organizations and academic groups, this workshop examines the role of law and legal tools in protecting human rights on and off the internet, as well as the considerations required when advocating for them.
By looking at various international legal conventions and discussing the political environment of those legal documents participants in this workshop will walk away with a better appreciation of the limits and possibilities that legal frameworks offer in protecting and promoting human rights on and off the internet. With an understanding of the interplay between extrajudicial and judicial avenues to protect civilians, institutions and infrastructure in the digital age legal and non-legal actors will have resources that they can bring back to their organizations from this forum. Hopefully this will be the first a multi part, multi year workshop to create a workable legal structure for human rights and the internet that could be implemented in other international forums but also in domestic jurisdictions.
Hybrid Format: As the discussion will be held in an open format, both virtual and in-person attendees will be equally welcomed and encouraged to participate. Further, since we do not anticipate our entire team to be present in-person, virtual attendees will not feel left out or forgotten. We will introduce ourselves and get the discussion going in a hybrid manner, which will set the stage for a hybrid discussion for the rest of the session.
Usage of IGF Official Tool.