IGF 2024 WS #152 How data governance is essential to the Internet We Want

    Organizer 1: Janet McLaren, The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data
    Organizer 2: Tom Orrell, Development Gateway

    Speaker 1: Phillip Thigo, Government, African Group
    Speaker 2: Navina Mutabazi, Civil Society, African Group
    Speaker 3: Beverley Hatcher-Mbu, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization
    Speaker 4: Natalia Carfi, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization

    Moderator

    Janet McLaren, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization

    Online Moderator

    Tom Orrell, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Rapporteur

    Janet McLaren, Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization

    Format

    Theater
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: The theater format for this session is appropriate for two reasons:
    (1) The hybrid format gives online participants the same view as in-person participants of the speakers and conversation happening on stage. In-person participants will also be able to see the online speakers projected on a screen at the front of the theater, to create a seamless visual experience for in-person and online participants.
    (2) During the question and answer period of the session, participants online and in-person can ask questions and challenge the speakers on their statements by passing a microphone around the room (in-person) and by un-muting participants online.

    Policy Question(s)

    A. How can we encourage public participation and multi-stakeholder coordination among data, digital, and internet governance authorities, especially at the national level?
    B.What steps could be taken to align existing, human rights-based internet and data governance principles to create actionable, practical guidance for policy and decision makers?
    C. What practical steps can governments and international organizations take to strengthen trust in data and internet governance to enable open, free and transparent digital economies?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants in this workshop will come away with an increased understanding of the application of trustworthy data governance approaches from the perspectives of diverse stakeholders from across sectors. The workshop will include practical information that participants may apply to their own work.

    Description:

    The Internet We Want lays out a vision for coordination across digital, internet, and data governance sectors to address existing fragmentation that prevents open, accessible, interoperable, and inclusive spaces from flourishing online. There’s a clear need to coordinate across communities of practice to ensure that the promise of a free and open internet with free flows of data with trust is realized. This is why data governance plays a key role in ensuring safety and trust in digital and internet governance and systems. Preventing the harms that result from this fragmented system requires reconciliation and coordination across the data, digital, and internet governance communities.

    There is additionally an important role for public participation in data governance so that the people who use and stand to benefit from the internet are included in decisions related to data use and re-use. This is essential to build trust, hold leaders accountable, protect people from harm, and improve lives. This is of particular importance for marginalized communities who are often left out of conversations around data use and collection.

    This workshop brings together stakeholders from the data governance and data for development spaces to share lessons, insights and reflections on how their work contributes to realizing the Internet We Want. It will feature true stories of innovative approaches from across civil society, governments, and the private sector that demonstrate the values of open, multi-stakeholder, inclusive, and accountable approaches to data governance in the context of digital transformation and internet governance. Participants online and in person will have the opportunity to share their own experiences and to respond to comments from speakers and ask questions during the session.

    Expected Outcomes

    (1) The outcomes of the discussion during this session will be documented and shared with Power of Data countries (countries that have signed onto the UN’s High Impact Initiative, see: https://sdgs.un.org/SDGSummitActions/HII) to inform how they think about data, digital, and internet governance.
    (2) Organizers will explore how to channel outcomes of this discussion into the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, particularly in terms of how data governance underpins elements of digital, internet, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance.

    Hybrid Format: This workshop will be thoughtfully moderated to ensure that online and in-person participants are able to listen and engage with speakers, who will also be online and in person. We will use digital tools, including Google Slides and polling software to make the session accessible and engaging for all participants. Participants will be asked to provide feedback at various points during the workshop to ensure that their input is centered in the discussion, whether they are online or in person.