Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 5: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 5: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Bo LIANG, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Jie Cui, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Xiaojiao LI, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Susan Ning, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Jie Cui, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Xiaojiao LI, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Susan Ning, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: 1. Sense of Equal Participation The roundtable format has no clear hierarchy, with participants seated together in a circle. This setup reflects the principles of equality and inclusivity advocated by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). 2. Facilitating Interactive Communication The roundtable format enables easy eye contact and real-time interaction among participants. Duration (1.5 Hours) 1. Sufficient Discussion For an important and complex topic like bridging the digital divide, 1.5 hours is sufficient to allow participants to engage in in-depth discussions. 2. Avoiding Prolonged Drawn-Out Sessions A 1.5-hour duration ensures adequate communication while maintaining participants' focus, enhancing the overall efficiency of the meeting.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: 1. Sense of Equal Participation The roundtable format has no clear hierarchy, with participants seated together in a circle. This setup reflects the principles of equality and inclusivity advocated by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). 2. Facilitating Interactive Communication The roundtable format enables easy eye contact and real-time interaction among participants. Duration (1.5 Hours) 1. Sufficient Discussion For an important and complex topic like bridging the digital divide, 1.5 hours is sufficient to allow participants to engage in in-depth discussions. 2. Avoiding Prolonged Drawn-Out Sessions A 1.5-hour duration ensures adequate communication while maintaining participants' focus, enhancing the overall efficiency of the meeting.
Policy Question(s)
1. How can we promote universal and affordable internet access in underdeveloped areas?
In many remote and economically underdeveloped areas, internet infrastructure is weak and access costs are high.
2. How to Enhance Digital Literacy and Skills for All?
Many people lack basic ability to use digital tools. How can education policies and training programs improve digital literacy for all, especially for vulnerable groups ?
3. How to ensure the fairness and inclusiveness of technological development?
Technological development often prioritizes serving developed regions and high-income groups. How to ensure that technological innovation benefits everyone, especially marginalized groups, through policy design?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Understand the distribution of the unconnected population, main obstacles, and the specific needs of marginalized groups. The organizers coming from diverse backgrounds, through public welfare funds, media reporters, can help everyone better understand the current state of the global digital divide.
Learn to utilize technologies such as AI, low-orbit satellites, community networks to address internet access issues in remote areas. Invite pioneering experts of AI to guide discussions on the progress of WSIS 20+technology and providing valuable insights.
Invite digital rights advocates from African countries to analyze the current status of new technologies and policy development in various countries.
Participants will realize that technological innovation is a crucial driver for social equity and sustainable development. Invite experts from the WEF to guide and explore what projects can jointly carry out, launche appeals, reduce unnecessary obstacles, and enable affordable and easy-to-use high-quality products to better serve people around the world.
SDGs
Description:
Currently, nearly one-third of the global population still lacks access to the internet, primarily concentrated in geographically remote, economically underdeveloped, or infrastructure-deficient areas, the digital divide issue is particularly prominent, leading to a large population being unable to enjoy the convenience brought by digital technology. Artificial intelligence and technological innovation provide new possibilities for universal access, with new technologies and models such aslow-cost devices changing the limitations of traditional infrastructure, deserving promotion and exploration. However, these growing information technologies have objectively caused new gaps, which has posed challenges for us to bridge them with new technologies. Governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and international institutions need to work together to develop inclusive policies, share resources, and promote sustainable solutions. Against this backdrop, Multi-stakeholder are to be invited to discuss how to use artificial intelligence and technological innovation to address the universal internet connectivity challenges in underdeveloped areas. Empowering the people of underdeveloped areas to access global knowledge resources, participate in the digital economy, and improve their quality of life. Further explore existing measures to bridge the gap: open source artificial intelligence models to enable more people to access them; Promote low-cost and high reliability 5G to help remote areas resonate with cities on the same frequency; The Internet of Things liberates human hands and reduces safety risks for mechanized operations such as docks and mines; Developing low Earth orbit satellites and expanding network coverage; Develop international rules for cross-border data flow governance, enabling e-commerce platforms to serve the world without discrimination based on nationality. This will enhance digital inclusivity, narrow the global digital divide, not only contributing to the sustainable development of underdeveloped areas but also providing important support for the balanced development of the global digital economy and driving the implementation of the Global Digital Compact.
Currently, nearly one-third of the global population still lacks access to the internet, primarily concentrated in geographically remote, economically underdeveloped, or infrastructure-deficient areas, the digital divide issue is particularly prominent, leading to a large population being unable to enjoy the convenience brought by digital technology. Artificial intelligence and technological innovation provide new possibilities for universal access, with new technologies and models such aslow-cost devices changing the limitations of traditional infrastructure, deserving promotion and exploration. However, these growing information technologies have objectively caused new gaps, which has posed challenges for us to bridge them with new technologies. Governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and international institutions need to work together to develop inclusive policies, share resources, and promote sustainable solutions. Against this backdrop, Multi-stakeholder are to be invited to discuss how to use artificial intelligence and technological innovation to address the universal internet connectivity challenges in underdeveloped areas. Empowering the people of underdeveloped areas to access global knowledge resources, participate in the digital economy, and improve their quality of life. Further explore existing measures to bridge the gap: open source artificial intelligence models to enable more people to access them; Promote low-cost and high reliability 5G to help remote areas resonate with cities on the same frequency; The Internet of Things liberates human hands and reduces safety risks for mechanized operations such as docks and mines; Developing low Earth orbit satellites and expanding network coverage; Develop international rules for cross-border data flow governance, enabling e-commerce platforms to serve the world without discrimination based on nationality. This will enhance digital inclusivity, narrow the global digital divide, not only contributing to the sustainable development of underdeveloped areas but also providing important support for the balanced development of the global digital economy and driving the implementation of the Global Digital Compact.
Expected Outcomes
1. Leverage the strengths of China Daily, China's national English-language media group, by utilizing its own platforms, overseas social media account matrix, and media cooperation resources covering Europe, the United States, and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Publish multilingual graphics, illustrations, micro-videos, vlogs, and other visual content to vividly present highlights and perspectives related to the event.
2. Write a research report based on insights shared by the guests, providing a reference for decision-making by international organizations, government departments, and other institutions.
Hybrid Format: - Assign two moderators: One focused on on-site interaction and the other responsible for the online platform ,
- Real-time Q&A and polling:
- Mixed group discussions.
Ensure the best experience for both online and on-site participants through the following methods:
- Time zone-friendly scheduling: If involving global participants, schedule core agenda items during overlapping time zones and provide recorded sessions for playback.
- Pacing control: Include a 10-minute break every 60 minutes, interspersed with interactive segments (e.g., quick polls, Q&A) to avoid fatigue.
- Interactive presentations: Require speakers to allocate at least 20% of their time for Q&A or case discussions, avoiding one-way communication.
Exclusive online segments:
- Online-exclusive attendance: Design visual round table for them to attend discussion.
To enhance engagement and interaction, consider incorporating real-time multilingual captioning and translation.