IGF 2024 WS #59 Bridging online safety across vulnerable groups

    Organizer 1: David Wright, 🔒
    Organizer 2: Boris Radanovic, 🔒South West Grid for Learning
    Organizer 3: Niels Van Paemel, 🔒
    Organizer 4: Sofia Rasgado Monteiro, 🔒Portuguese Safer Internet Centre

    Speaker 1: Najat Maalla, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 2: Jutta Croll, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 3: João Pedro Damas Martins, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 4: Rywczynska Anna, Intergovernmental Organization, Eastern European Group
    Speaker 5: David Wright, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Moderator

    Niels Van Paemel, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Online Moderator

    Sofia Rasgado Monteiro, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Rapporteur

    Boris Radanovic, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

    Format

    Classroom
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: A 90-minute break-out group discussion is ideally suited for the workshop's objectives due to several factors:

    Duration: The 90-minute timeframe provides ample opportunity for in-depth discussion, allowing participants to explore complex issues thoroughly and collaboratively develop innovative solutions. This length supports a detailed examination without overwhelming participants.
    Format: Break-out group discussions foster an interactive and engaging environment. They enable personalized conversations and deeper connections among participants, crucial for addressing sensitive topics like online safety for vulnerable groups. This format encourages active participation and ensures diverse perspectives are heard and integrated.

    Collaborative Learning: Small group settings enhance collaborative learning and problem-solving. Participants can share experiences, exchange ideas, and collectively work on practical strategies, leading to more actionable and consensus-driven outcomes.

    Overall, this session format maximizes engagement, fosters meaningful exchanges, and is conducive to generating actionable insights, making it highly effective for the workshop’s goals.

    Policy Question(s)

    A1 How do you define vulnerable groups and how does your line of work assist in working with the underrepresented groups?
    B1 Are the self reporting tools well established in all countries, supporting diverse vulnerable groups, and what are the baseline actions, Legislations and tools, nation states should look to create and are the young people included in to the considerations and evaluations of the proposed systems?
    C1 Will the new and emerging technologies, help or assist, the vulnerable groups online?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? This workshop aims to address several key aspects related to empowering vulnerable online users to report harmful content and behavior:
    Identifying vulnerable groups: gaining a better understanding of who these vulnerable groups are
    Exploring emerging tools and practices: exploring existing tools, and services that can be utilized or serve as inspiration
    Knowledge exchange of information and knowledge among participants, providing insights into existing tools and inspiring new solutions.
    Amplification of risks for vulnerable children, highlighting the increased risks faced by vulnerable children online and showcases best practices
    Encouraging peer reporting: Strategies for promoting peer reporting among children and young
    Raising awareness among vulnerable groups about the importance and process of self-reporting.
    Internet stakeholder support, and enabling better accessibility to reporting mechanisms for vulnerable users.
    Overall, this workshop provides a comprehensive platform to discuss, share knowledge, and develop strategies that empower vulnerable online users to report harmful content and behavior effectively.

    Description:

    Online platforms are essential for social connectivity, information dissemination, and entertainment. However, they also expose vulnerable users to significant risks. According to the EU Kids Online project, 42% of children have encountered harmful online content. This workshop focuses on the unique challenges these groups face, aiming to empower them to report harmful content and behavior effectively.

    Vulnerable users, including children, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community members, and immigrants—particularly refugees—frequently encounter:
    • Cyber-hate, discrimination, and violent extremism
    • Online sexual solicitation and cyber-dating violence
    • Enhanced risks due to offline vulnerabilities, particularly in conflict zones like Ukraine, where language barriers and unfamiliar settings exacerbate the challenges

    These issues are often compounded by barriers such as discrimination, technological challenges, and insufficient support systems, making reporting difficult. Research by Global Kids Online (February 2021) shows that offline vulnerability correlates strongly with online risks, with affected children facing frequent harm and inadequate support.

    Innovative tools and strategies are being developed to address these challenges. Examples include platforms implementing 'one-click' reporting features and AI-driven content moderation. Future strategies could involve multilingual support, interfaces tailored for users with disabilities, and community-driven support networks.

    This workshop is a call to action. It aims not just to discuss but to actively develop solutions that create a safer, more inclusive online environment. By fostering innovative tools and collaborative strategies, we can ensure security and inclusivity for all users. Join us in making a difference

    Expected Outcomes

    The workshop on empowering vulnerable online users aims to achieve key outcomes. Firstly, participants will gain a better understanding of vulnerable groups and their reporting challenges. Secondly, they will exchange knowledge and gain inspiration from existing tools and practices. Thirdly, discussions will revolve around developing global standards, policies, and laws for self-reporting services. Additionally, best practices will be shared to mitigate risks for vulnerable children, and strategies for raising awareness and promoting peer reporting will be explored. Lastly, the workshop will foster collaboration among internet stakeholders to improve accessibility and support for reporting mechanisms. Overall, the expected outcomes include increased understanding, innovative ideas, policy development, risk mitigation, awareness raising, peer reporting, and stakeholder collaboration, leading to a safer and more inclusive online environment for vulnerable users.

    Hybrid Format: To facilitate interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees, we will employ a combination of technological solutions and session design strategies. We will utilize video conferencing platforms that allow seamless communication and collaboration between both groups. This includes features such as live streaming of onsite presentations and real-time Q&A sessions.

    To ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participants, we will implement a hybrid session design approach. This will involve providing equal opportunities for engagement and participation to both groups. Interactive elements like polls, chat functions, and virtual breakout rooms will be integrated to encourage active involvement from all attendees.

    Insafe have organised a number of successful hybrid workshops at previous IGF's.

    Overall, our approach will focus on creating a cohesive and immersive experience for both onsite and online participants, allowing for meaningful interaction and an optimal session experience for all.