Session
Organizer 1: Gael Van Weyenbergh, Meoh
Organizer 2: Dana Cramer, Individual
Organizer 3: Vladislav Ivanets, Free Moscow University
Organizer 4: Tabitha Wangechi, Civil Society
Speaker 1: Natalie Tercova, Technical Community, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Dana Cramer, Civil Soecity, Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: James Nathan Adjartey Amattey, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 4: Keith Andere, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 5: Denise Leal, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Dana Cramer, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Turra Daniele, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Aaron Promise Mbah, Private Sector, African Group
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This session will follow a classroom-style format, fostering an interactive and collaborative environment. Participants will be seated in a traditional classroom arrangement, facilitating clear communication and active engagement. With a focus on capacity building and networking through interactive discussion, the 90-minute duration provides sufficient time for each speaker to share their perspectives, expertise, and insights, as well as for meaningful audience participation through discussions and Q&A sessions. This setup aims to encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and the exchange of diverse viewpoints, making for an immersive and participatory experience. The classroom arrangement fosters a sense of community and connection, particularly with online attendees showcased on a screen, thereby promoting collaboration.
1. What specific provisions of the GDC pose the greatest challenges for different regions, and how can young people contribute to overcoming these challenges through creative and innovative mechanisms?
2. What governance frameworks are needed to support the successful propagation of youth-initiated digital or data cooperatives across various global contexts, and how can global institutions champion these initiatives?
3. How can current digital governance frameworks be adapted to prioritize youth leadership in decision-making, ensuring effective tracking of funding and resource allocation, and what lessons can be learned from other Internet governance spaces involving young digital leaders?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain valuable insights into the role of youth in shaping global digital governance, how youth evaluate key provisions of the GDC, and youth’s standpoints on promoting digital inclusion. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on critical digital issues while learning from the experiences of peers from different countries and backgrounds. These participants will also explore innovative concepts such as data cooperatives, and gain practical knowledge in initiating and managing collaborative digital entities. By interacting with diverse stakeholders, participants will deepen their understanding of the ethical considerations and best practices necessary for effective digital governance. Ultimately, participants will leave the session empowered to advocate for their digital rights and actively contribute to developing inclusive digital frameworks that reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities.
Description:
The workshop aims to reignite the Internet's spirit of openness and community-driven innovation, highlighting the voices of youth in the global digital governance landscape. It will provide a platform for young people to discuss the goals and principles of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), focusing on digital accessibility, data privacy, the digital divide, and other critical issues presented in the final version of the GDC, set to be released in September 2024. Young professionals from various stakeholder groups and continents will explore how youth can promote key issues and challenges within Internet governance, with the reflexivity in their diverse and multi stakeholder backgrounds. Emphasizing diverse social, cultural, and economic contexts, the discussion will allow young people to engage with one another, share experiences, and learn from different approaches to digital challenges across regions.
Another central focus of the session will be the novel concept of data cooperatives, which update cooperative principles for the digital age by promoting democratic governance and inclusive participation. The session will serve as a platform to lay the groundwork for establishing youth-initiated data cooperatives as entities, where young individuals collectively control and benefit from shared data resources. This will highlight youth initiatives, such as the 50-year Internet celebrations, including insights from the Internet 50 Youth (i50y) event and from discussions at the Science Summit during the UNGA. Speakers will address key questions such as who needs to be part of this conversation, what values are being pursued, and what ethics and best practices should guide future data cooperatives. The workshop aims to pave the way for starting with a simple digital cooperative that embodies the values of traditional social cooperatives, entailing the collective management of an Internet platform by multiple organizations, serving as a foundational step before advancing to data collection and management.
The workshop is designed to strengthen the Internet’s commitment to openness, security, and innovation by focusing on the vital role of youth in digital governance. It will bring together young professionals to explore the implications of the GDC and examine how youth can lead in addressing pressing digital issues in line with the new universal provisions. The session will delve into innovative approaches such as data cooperation platforms, aiming to establish practical frameworks for youth-led initiatives. By fostering discussion and collaboration, the workshop aims to equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to drive meaningful change in emerging digital governance.
Hybrid Format: The workshop will be held in a hybrid format to ensure effective interaction between onsite and online participants. To facilitate this, the session will be overseen by two moderators — one onsite and one online. The onsite moderator will pose questions and manage the overall flow of the discussion, while the online moderator will engage with virtual participants in the chat, summarizing key points, and involving those who wish to contribute verbally. Strict time limits for speakers and attendees will ensure active participation, allowing as many participants as possible to share their thoughts. To ensure smooth integration, the session will utilize the Slido poling platform, enabling parallel input on the discussion through real-time questions and polls. A feedback form at the end of the session and providing contact details for continuous networking will foster ongoing engagement and lasting impact between speakers and attendees.
Report
Youth as Key Stakeholders in Digital Policy and Governance: Youth should not only be included but actively prioritized as stakeholders in shaping digital governance frameworks like the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Their perspectives and innovations are critical for addressing challenges such as digital inequity, data governance, and inclusive technology design.
Barriers to Youth Engagement Must Be Removed: Financial, structural, and logistical obstacles hinder youth participation in decision-making processes. Targeted interventions, such as funding support and capacity-building initiatives, are necessary to enable equitable access and effective youth leadership.
Data Cooperatives and Digital Education as Pathways to Inclusion: Data cooperatives offer a community-centered approach to ethical data governance and empowerment. Additionally, incorporating emerging technology education into mainstream systems is essential for equipping youth with the skills to lead and innovate in the digital economy.
Advocate for Youth Engagement in Digital Governance: Push for the institutionalization of youth as a distinct stakeholder group in global digital governance, ensuring their involvement in the design, adoption, and implementation of frameworks like the GDC.
Promote and Fund Data Cooperatives: Advocate for the creation and support of data cooperatives as models for inclusive governance, emphasizing their potential to give communities control over their data and ensure ethical data practices aligned with local and global needs.