IGF 2024 Open Forum #36 Challenges & Opportunities for a Multilingual Internet

    Classroom
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: The session will include governments whose languages are not based on the Latin alphabet (see session description for further information) to share national perspectives and policy approaches to promote a multilingual Domain Name System and a multilingual Internet. The classroom layout seems best suited for such presentations. The organizers are seeking a 90-minute session to be able to fully explore the issues but are willing to abridge the session to 60 minutes if the MAG or IGF Secretariat finds it necessary. 

    Description

    The Internet cannot become multilingual until software applications treat all Top-Level Domains equally, regardless of the script they are in. To do this, the multistakeholder Internet community must work together to build policy that encourages the universal acceptance of all domain names and email addresses – namely those that are not based on the Latin alphabet character set (or otherwise said, scripts that fall outside of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character set).  Local language content, the delivery of which is enabled by Universal Acceptance, is also a key element of the multilingual Internet and requires its own policy interventions.  During this Open Forum, government representatives from Egypt, India, the U.K., and the U.S. will present on their activities to promote the multilingual Internet, including on efforts to promote local content development, universal acceptance, and the uptake of Internationalized Domain Names. Insights shared by presenting governments will inform a discussion on the primary challenges facing the achievement of a multilingual Internet and highlight lessons learned so far. Through a better understanding of the distinct role governments have to play in the pursuit of Internet multilingualism, this Open Forum will seek to build momentum and raise awareness of this critical issue. 

    The in-person and remote moderator will meet before the IGF2024 to rehearse their approach to facilitating interaction between speakers and attendees. We will ensure that slides are prepared well in advance. Based upon the assumption of stable connectivity at the IGF venue, as well as from remote participants, both the Open Forum agenda and the moderator will require speaker interventions, as well as attendee interventions, to alternate between “in-person” and “remote,” in order to promote a seamless hybrid environment for all participating. The organizers will ensure that the remote and in-person moderators make maximum use of all features of whichever platform is provided by the IGF2024, to ensure participation and interaction during the session is maximized. We do not anticipate at this stage using multiple tools and platforms, as doing so may actually dilute interaction and participation during the session. However, we are open to suggestions from the MAG or IGF Secretariat.  

    Organizers

    🔒US Department of Commerce
    Manal Ismail, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt, Africa T. Santhosh, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India, Asia-Pacific Nigel Hickson, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, United Kingdom, WEOG

    Speakers

    Susan Chalmers, U.S. Department of Commerce, WEOG Pearl Risberg, U.S. Department of Commerce, WEOG Manal Ismail, National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt, Africa T. Santhosh, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India, Asia-Pacific Nigel Hickson, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, United Kingdom, WEOG

    Onsite Moderator

    Susan Chalmers, U.S. Department of Commerce, In Person Moderator 

    Online Moderator

    Pearl Risberg, U.S. Department of Commerce, WEOG, Online Moderator 

    Rapporteur

    Pearl Risberg, U.S. Department of Commerce, WEOG, Online Moderator 

    SDGs

    9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
    10. Reduced Inequalities

    Targets: The Open Forum on Multilingualism is linked to SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure because of the type of innovation that Internet multilingualism demands and the important role of multilingualism in ensuring meaningful connectivity to the Internet. The proposed Open Forum also exemplifies SDG 10 to reduce inequalities, as improving Internet multilingualism is a necessary step in the pursuit of digital inclusion, closing the global adoption gap, and enabling meaningful connectivity. The proposed Open Forum also underpins SDG 4 by helping to ensure that the Internet is able to deliver inclusive and equitable online education and information and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.