Session
Organization's Website
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The classroom format is the optimal choice as it ensures structured knowledge delivery with interactive audience engagement—both critical for a solution-driven discussion on this complex topic. This layout guarantees focus, visibility, and inclusivity, enabling attendees to engage meaningfully without distractions. Unlike roundtables, which may fragment discussions, or theater-style seating, which limits interaction to passive listening, the classroom setup balances expert insights with audience participation. A 90-minute duration is essential for depth and interactivity. The first segment features structured 7-minute case studies on regional digital repression, each followed by a 3-minute Q&A for audience clarity. The second half shifts to solutions, where guided questions prompt collaborative problem-solving between panelists and attendees. Each panelist will present solutions within a 20-minute segment, followed by a collaborative discussion with the audience. A shorter format would compromise both depth and engagement.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The classroom format is the optimal choice as it ensures structured knowledge delivery with interactive audience engagement—both critical for a solution-driven discussion on this complex topic. This layout guarantees focus, visibility, and inclusivity, enabling attendees to engage meaningfully without distractions. Unlike roundtables, which may fragment discussions, or theater-style seating, which limits interaction to passive listening, the classroom setup balances expert insights with audience participation. A 90-minute duration is essential for depth and interactivity. The first segment features structured 7-minute case studies on regional digital repression, each followed by a 3-minute Q&A for audience clarity. The second half shifts to solutions, where guided questions prompt collaborative problem-solving between panelists and attendees. Each panelist will present solutions within a 20-minute segment, followed by a collaborative discussion with the audience. A shorter format would compromise both depth and engagement.
Description
South Asia, home to billions of active internet users, is a critical market for global technology platforms. Yet, major platforms continue to underinvest in the region, providing inadequate infrastructure, weak content moderation, and limited regional representation. This governance gap has fueled a rise in techno-nationalism, where governments introduce protectionist policies under the guise of digital sovereignty, economic self-reliance, and national security. These measures include data-sharing requirements, data localization mandates, regulatory constraints on cross-border data flows, and increased state oversight of digital platforms. While framed as efforts to enhance security and economic independence, these policies risk fragmenting the internet, limiting interoperability, weakening multistakeholder governance, and creating a restrictive digital environment.
This session will examine the intersection of platform underinvestment and state-driven techno-nationalism in South Asia, focusing on how civil society can drive advocacy for a more interoperable, open, transparent, and accountable digital ecosystem. The discussion will be structured into two key segments.
The first segment will provide a fact-driven analysis of techno-nationalism in South Asia, with panelists from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh presenting case studies on how platform inaction and state intervention jointly contribute to digital fragmentation. The discussion will explore:
1. Government responses to platform underinvestment in South Asia with protectionist policies, such as forced data localization, intermediary liability laws, and increased state control over digital infrastructure.
2. The role of vague and overly broad legal frameworks in enabling unchecked state control over digital spaces.
3. The broader impact of these trends in accelerating internet fragmentation, undermining global digital governance, and obstructing cross-border cooperation in cybersecurity, digital trade, and human rights protections.
Each panelist will present a 7-minute case study, followed by a 3-minute Q&A.
The second segment will focus on civil society-led responses, exploring legal and policy interventions, advocacy efforts, and grassroots mobilization as mechanisms to counter techno-nationalism. Panelists will discuss how regional collaboration and coalition-building can strengthen efforts to push for inclusive governance frameworks that align with international human rights standards. Following these discussions, the session will transition into an interactive format, encouraging onsite and online participants to share insights, exchange strategies, and co-develop approaches to counter digital protectionism.
The session will conclude with a synthesis of key takeaways and an open floor for final reflections. A public report will be compiled, capturing key insights, challenges, and proposed strategies to serve as a resource for further advocacy and policy discussions.
To ensure meaningful participation from both onsite and online attendees, the session will be designed with a strong interactive component. Two moderators, one online and one onsite, will manage the discussion, ensuring a balanced dialogue between onsite and remote participants. Online attendees will be encouraged to submit questions and comments via a live chat feature, which the moderator will actively integrate into the discussion. To enhance accessibility, presentation slides and multimedia materials will be shared with all participants, ensuring that both in-person and virtual audiences can fully engage with the session. The discussion will follow an interactive panel format, beginning with structured case study presentations, followed by audience Q&A after each presentation. In the second segment, the focus will shift to solutions, with panelists outlining potential advocacy strategies, legal challenges, and policy interventions. The session will then open the floor for broader engagement, allowing participants to share lived experiences, proposing alternative strategies, and collectively brainstorm solutions to the challenges posed by techno-nationalism in South Asia. To expand accessibility, the session will also be live-streamed, enabling broader participation beyond IGF attendees.
To ensure meaningful participation from both onsite and online attendees, the session will be designed with a strong interactive component. Two moderators, one online and one onsite, will manage the discussion, ensuring a balanced dialogue between onsite and remote participants. Online attendees will be encouraged to submit questions and comments via a live chat feature, which the moderator will actively integrate into the discussion. To enhance accessibility, presentation slides and multimedia materials will be shared with all participants, ensuring that both in-person and virtual audiences can fully engage with the session. The discussion will follow an interactive panel format, beginning with structured case study presentations, followed by audience Q&A after each presentation. In the second segment, the focus will shift to solutions, with panelists outlining potential advocacy strategies, legal challenges, and policy interventions. The session will then open the floor for broader engagement, allowing participants to share lived experiences, proposing alternative strategies, and collectively brainstorm solutions to the challenges posed by techno-nationalism in South Asia. To expand accessibility, the session will also be live-streamed, enabling broader participation beyond IGF attendees.
Organizers
Tech Global Institute
1. Prasanth Sugathan – Legal Director, Software Freedom Law Center India, (Non-Governmental Organization, India) 2. Omar Rajaratnam – Co-founder, Factum, (Non-Governmental Organization, Srilanka) 3. Farieha Aziz – Co-founder, Bolo Bhi, (Civil Society, Pakistan) 4. Sabhanaz Rashid Diya – Executive Director, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific) 5. Shahzeb Mahmood – Head of Research, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific) 6. Shumaila H. Shahani – Policy and Advocacy Lead, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific)
1. Prasanth Sugathan – Legal Director, Software Freedom Law Center India, (Non-Governmental Organization, India) 2. Omar Rajaratnam – Co-founder, Factum, (Non-Governmental Organization, Srilanka) 3. Farieha Aziz – Co-founder, Bolo Bhi, (Civil Society, Pakistan) 4. Sabhanaz Rashid Diya – Executive Director, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific) 5. Shahzeb Mahmood – Head of Research, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific) 6. Shumaila H. Shahani – Policy and Advocacy Lead, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific)
Speakers
1. Prasanth Sugathan – Legal Director, Software Freedom Law Center India, (Non-Governmental Organization, India) (On-site)
2. Omar Rajaratnam – Co-founder, Factum, (Non-Governmental Organization, Srilanka) (On-site)
3. Farieha Aziz – Co-founder, Bolo Bhi, (Civil Society, Pakistan) (Online)
4. Sabhanaz Rashid Diya – Executive Director, Tech Global Institute, (Non-Governmental Organization, Asia-Pacific) (On-site)
Onsite Moderator
Shumaila H. Shahani
Online Moderator
Shahzeb Mahmood
Rapporteur
Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
SDGs
5. Gender Equality
5.1
5.b
10. Reduced Inequalities
10.2
10.3
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
16.10
16.3
16.6
16.7
Targets: This session directly aligns with the following SDG targets: SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Target 5.1 – End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere Techno-nationalist measures disproportionately impact women, particularly activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. State surveillance, censorship, and online harassment silence their voices, limiting their participation in public discourse. This session will highlight these challenges and explore strategies to safeguard digital rights as a gender equality issue. Target 5.b – Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women Restrictive digital policies and platform governance failures hinder women’s ability to leverage digital spaces for empowerment. This session will discuss how internet shutdowns, online surveillance, and content regulation affect women’s access to technology and their ability to use it for advocacy, economic participation, and social engagement. SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Target 10.2 – By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status Digital repression, such as internet shutdowns and restrictive platform regulations, disproportionately impacts marginalized groups by limiting access to information and curbing civic engagement. This session will explore policy and advocacy solutions to counter digital exclusion and promote inclusive digital governance. Target 10.3 – Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard The session will examine how technology platforms contribute to digital inequality through biased governance, opaque content moderation, and uneven enforcement of policies. By discussing case studies and solutions, the session will support efforts to eliminate these inequities and promote fairer digital governance. SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Target 16.3 – Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all The misuse of vague and broad legal frameworks to justify censorship, surveillance, and digital repression weakens the rule of law. This session will explore legal challenges and policy interventions to protect fundamental rights and uphold international human rights standards in digital governance. Target 16.6 – Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels The absence of accountability in state-imposed digital restrictions erodes public trust in institutions. The session will discuss how transparency in digital policy, regulatory oversight, and inclusive governance mechanisms can help build institutional accountability. Target 16.7 – Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels Techno-nationalism limits public participation by restricting access to information and suppressing dissent. The session will highlight how governments manipulate digital spaces to curb democratic engagement and explore ways to foster more inclusive and participatory decision-making in digital governance. Target 16.10 – Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements Techno-nationalism threatens fundamental freedoms through internet shutdowns, censorship, and surveillance. This session will analyze these threats and discuss resistance strategies, including legal advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and policy interventions to uphold access to information and digital freedoms.
5.1
5.b
10. Reduced Inequalities
10.2
10.3
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
16.10
16.3
16.6
16.7
Targets: This session directly aligns with the following SDG targets: SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Target 5.1 – End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere Techno-nationalist measures disproportionately impact women, particularly activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. State surveillance, censorship, and online harassment silence their voices, limiting their participation in public discourse. This session will highlight these challenges and explore strategies to safeguard digital rights as a gender equality issue. Target 5.b – Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women Restrictive digital policies and platform governance failures hinder women’s ability to leverage digital spaces for empowerment. This session will discuss how internet shutdowns, online surveillance, and content regulation affect women’s access to technology and their ability to use it for advocacy, economic participation, and social engagement. SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Target 10.2 – By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status Digital repression, such as internet shutdowns and restrictive platform regulations, disproportionately impacts marginalized groups by limiting access to information and curbing civic engagement. This session will explore policy and advocacy solutions to counter digital exclusion and promote inclusive digital governance. Target 10.3 – Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard The session will examine how technology platforms contribute to digital inequality through biased governance, opaque content moderation, and uneven enforcement of policies. By discussing case studies and solutions, the session will support efforts to eliminate these inequities and promote fairer digital governance. SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Target 16.3 – Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all The misuse of vague and broad legal frameworks to justify censorship, surveillance, and digital repression weakens the rule of law. This session will explore legal challenges and policy interventions to protect fundamental rights and uphold international human rights standards in digital governance. Target 16.6 – Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels The absence of accountability in state-imposed digital restrictions erodes public trust in institutions. The session will discuss how transparency in digital policy, regulatory oversight, and inclusive governance mechanisms can help build institutional accountability. Target 16.7 – Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels Techno-nationalism limits public participation by restricting access to information and suppressing dissent. The session will highlight how governments manipulate digital spaces to curb democratic engagement and explore ways to foster more inclusive and participatory decision-making in digital governance. Target 16.10 – Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements Techno-nationalism threatens fundamental freedoms through internet shutdowns, censorship, and surveillance. This session will analyze these threats and discuss resistance strategies, including legal advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and policy interventions to uphold access to information and digital freedoms.