IGF 2024 Networking Session #39 Networking Session: Equality in Cyber

    Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Sam West, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    Will Theyer, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    To be confirmed, ___________, Civil Society, Global

    To be confirmed, ___________, Civil Society, Global

    Speakers

    Will Theyer, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    To be confirmed, __________, Civil Society, Global

    To be confirmed, __________, Civil Society, Global

    Onsite Moderator

    Will Theyer, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    Online Moderator

    Sam West, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    Rapporteur

    Sam West, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government, WEOG

    SDGs

    1.4
    5.b
    9.2
    10.2
    16.7


    Targets: This proposal has been designed with the SDGs in mind. The internet and digital technologies are fundamental to achieving the SDGs, but without equitable access to such technologies then we can’t hope to meet any of the SDGs on inclusivity. Ensuring equality in cybersecurity policymaking (16.7) should remove barriers to participation and access (10.2) and thereby promote an inclusive fourth industrial revolution (9.2).

    Format

    Classroom

    A broad geographic group of interested parties will be invited in order to stimulate a varied conversation and build new connections. The session will start with 10 minutes of introductions for the tables and online rooms to get to know each other. This will be followed by a brief introduction to the session from the onsite moderator, before groups will be steered to share experiences, obstacles and approaches to a selection of contemporary issues impacting equality in cyberspace, for example: Tech-facilitated rollback on rights, gender disinformation, internet shutdowns, barriers to participation, online/offline relationship, digital radicalisation, and emerging technologies.

    A few key questions for discussion:
    - What initiatives tackling these issues are already out there?
    - Which fora/processes should be prioritised in the short to medium term?
    - Where and how can the multistakeholder community better collaborate?
    - How do we accommodate and amplify underrepresented perspectives?

    Duration (minutes)
    60
    Description

    New technologies are transforming our world, empowering people across the globe with new freedoms, knowledge and opportunities. However, the benefits are not felt equally: while some parts of society flourish, others are left behind. Vulnerable groups face access issues, such as internet shutdowns or societal barriers to getting online; technology issues, such as tech-facilitated rollback on rights or gender disinformation; and policy issues, whereby these groups’ interests are neglected during the formation of policy. The lingering issue of inequality in the cybersecurity workforce exacerbates these issues as new policies and technologies do not factor in the perspectives of marginalised groups. The IGF has provided us the opportunity to gather key stakeholders from academia, civil society, industry and government together in one place. The issues to be discussed in this networking session are not ones that can be tackled alone or in isolation; we must come together in a whole-of-society approach to shine a light on these issues and discuss solutions. This session aims to bring together a diverse multistakeholder grouping and foster lasting connections for the benefit of the Cyber community.

    It is key that this networking session is run as a hybrid event in order to be as inclusive as possible. Online participants will split into breakout rooms and will use collaborative tools to record discussions. Towards the end of the session, we will bring onsite and offline participants together to share the outcomes of discussion. All participants will be able to sign up to a voluntary contacts list which will be shared with participants to ensure lasting connections and collaboration.