IGF 2024 Lightning Talk #90 Personal sovereignty on the Internet: our future or utopia?

    International Information Security School
    Andrey Aleinikov – is a public relations specialist at a Coordination Center for TLD RU/РФ and the chairman of the Coordination Center Youth Council.

    Arevik Martirosyan - is a PhD candidate and researcher at the Institute of Contemporary International Studies of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Head of International Information Security School, accredited at UN Open Ended Working Group on ICT/

    Speakers

    James Amattey - Norenson, Africa
    Nadine Kampire, Coordinator of Afia-Amani Grand Lac, Civil Society, Africa
    Daniele Turra - Internet Society Alumni - Business Analyst, Italy

    Onsite Moderator

    Andrey Aleinikov

    Rapporteur

    Arevik Martirosyan

    SDGs

    16.3
    17.14


    Targets: Providing personal sovereignty on the Internet necessitates enhancing policy coherence worldwide, promoting the rule of law at both national and international levels, and ensuring equal access to justice for all. This concept underscores the importance of aligning policies globally to safeguard individuals' rights in the digital realm. By enhancing policy coherence, countries can work together to establish frameworks that protect personal data, privacy, and digital rights consistently across borders. This collaboration is crucial to address the challenges posed by the immense power of corporate actors in the digital sphere, ensuring that individuals are not subject to arbitrary control or exploitation by these entities.

    Format

    Speakers will provide their insights on the theme and then moderator will conduct Q&A.

    Duration (minutes)
    30
    Description

    Discussing self-sovereign identities in the context of managing personal data on the Internet is gaining popularity. The concepts of personal sovereignty and complete control over who can access our data and under what conditions are highly appealing. However, numerous technical and economic challenges hinder the realization of personal sovereignty. The advancement of electronic document management could potentially diminish personal sovereignty over time.
    A prominent case study in this field is Solid, a project by Tim Berners-Lee, a pioneer of the Internet, aimed at decentralizing the web and empowering users with data control. Initiatives like Solid and similar projects have the potential to prompt a reassessment of current data management practices and a reshaping of the social networks and services market.

    Topics for discussion during the session may include:
    The feasibility of such projects
    The possibility of achieving the same level of convenience in a decentralized system like Solid compared to today's centralized services
    The implications and costs for users transitioning to such a system
    Potential new opportunities for users
    The impact on the advertising market
    Funding sources for decentralization and technology development
    Evaluating whether user privacy justifies the associated changes

    At the start of the session, the moderator will provide the opening remarks, establishing the framework for the discussion. Thereafter, the speaker will take the stage and highlight the core theme of the session. The moderator will then encourage interactive dialogue between both online and in-person participants. Finally, the moderator will summarize the key points covered and conclude the session.