Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Khairil Zhafri, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Prapasiri "Nan" Suttisom, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Pyae Zwe, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Prapasiri "Nan" Suttisom, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Pyae Zwe, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Format
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The 90-minute duration provides essential time for both conceptual discussion and practical demonstration. The first 30 minutes will establish frameworks and showcase real-world examples, while the middle segment enables hands-on engagement with specific tools and methodologies. The final 30 minutes facilitates collaborative problem-solving around governance challenges and sustainability. The classroom layout supports our hybrid participation strategy by: - Enabling clear visibility of presenters and demonstration screens for both in-person and online participants - Facilitating small-group discussions where onsite participants can engage with online participants through dedicated facilitators - Providing appropriate space for technical demonstrations that can be simultaneously streamed to remote participants - Allowing flexible movement for our session facilitators who will ensure balanced participation between online and onsite attendees
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The 90-minute duration provides essential time for both conceptual discussion and practical demonstration. The first 30 minutes will establish frameworks and showcase real-world examples, while the middle segment enables hands-on engagement with specific tools and methodologies. The final 30 minutes facilitates collaborative problem-solving around governance challenges and sustainability. The classroom layout supports our hybrid participation strategy by: - Enabling clear visibility of presenters and demonstration screens for both in-person and online participants - Facilitating small-group discussions where onsite participants can engage with online participants through dedicated facilitators - Providing appropriate space for technical demonstrations that can be simultaneously streamed to remote participants - Allowing flexible movement for our session facilitators who will ensure balanced participation between online and onsite attendees
Policy Question(s)
1. How can digital governance frameworks recognize and support community-owned infrastructure initiatives while respecting their independence and autonomy?
2. What technical and policy safeguards can protect decentralized infrastructure from both state-level censorship and corporate platform dependencies?
3. How might international internet governance institutions legitimize community-driven digital resilience efforts without imposing standardization that undermines local contexts and needs?
What will participants gain from attending this session? - Practical knowledge: Concrete methodologies for establishing decentralized digital infrastructure, with examples from operational collectives in Southeast Asia
- Technical insights: Understanding of specific tools including Outline VPN configuration, Nextcloud deployment, and Matrix communication server setup optimized for high-risk environments
- Governance frameworks: Templates for decision-making processes and resource allocation that can be adapted to different contexts and communities
- Risk mitigation strategies: Approaches to security that balance usability with protection against common threats faced by civil society organizations
- Regional connections: Opportunities to join a growing network of practitioners working on community-driven infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region
SDGs
Description:
Pervasive internet censorship and surveillance across the Asia-Pacific severely restrict access to information and freedom of expression, particularly affecting human rights defenders, journalists, and marginalized communities. The "Tech Kongsi" workshop presents a practical, community-driven approach to digital resilience through decentralized technology collectives. Drawing inspiration from Southeast Asia's traditional kongsi cooperatives, this model enables grassroots organizations and individuals to collectively own and manage digital infrastructure, pool resources, and share expertise. The session showcases successful implementations in Myanmar and Indonesia, where community-run servers and VPN networks have maintained connectivity during internet shutdowns and censorship campaigns. The workshop follows three interconnected themes: 1) Formation & governance - Collaborative development of values-based frameworks that prioritize human rights - Transparent decision-making structures ensuring equitable participation from diverse stakeholders - Case study: How community consensus was built among 12 civil society organizations in Thailand to establish shared infrastructure protocols 2) Technical infrastructure & implementation - Demonstrating accessible, low-cost server deployments using commodity hardware - Practical approaches to encrypted communication systems and censorship circumvention tools - Federated platforms that preserve autonomy while enabling resource-sharing across borders 3) Sustainability & scaling - Ethical funding models that maintain independence from both state and corporate control - Knowledge-sharing protocols that strengthen regional resilience - Community-driven security practices that adapt to evolving threats This session seeks to directly address the issues of infrastructure resilience, cybersecurity, and protection of critical infrastructure in crisis situations, while centering community ownership and governance.
Pervasive internet censorship and surveillance across the Asia-Pacific severely restrict access to information and freedom of expression, particularly affecting human rights defenders, journalists, and marginalized communities. The "Tech Kongsi" workshop presents a practical, community-driven approach to digital resilience through decentralized technology collectives. Drawing inspiration from Southeast Asia's traditional kongsi cooperatives, this model enables grassroots organizations and individuals to collectively own and manage digital infrastructure, pool resources, and share expertise. The session showcases successful implementations in Myanmar and Indonesia, where community-run servers and VPN networks have maintained connectivity during internet shutdowns and censorship campaigns. The workshop follows three interconnected themes: 1) Formation & governance - Collaborative development of values-based frameworks that prioritize human rights - Transparent decision-making structures ensuring equitable participation from diverse stakeholders - Case study: How community consensus was built among 12 civil society organizations in Thailand to establish shared infrastructure protocols 2) Technical infrastructure & implementation - Demonstrating accessible, low-cost server deployments using commodity hardware - Practical approaches to encrypted communication systems and censorship circumvention tools - Federated platforms that preserve autonomy while enabling resource-sharing across borders 3) Sustainability & scaling - Ethical funding models that maintain independence from both state and corporate control - Knowledge-sharing protocols that strengthen regional resilience - Community-driven security practices that adapt to evolving threats This session seeks to directly address the issues of infrastructure resilience, cybersecurity, and protection of critical infrastructure in crisis situations, while centering community ownership and governance.
Expected Outcomes
- Resource toolkit: A comprehensive, open-source guide documenting governance frameworks, technical configurations, and security protocols for establishing community-driven digital infrastructure
- Cross-regional collaboration: Formation of a working group connecting practitioners from Asia-Pacific with similar initiatives in Africa and Latin America
- Policy recommendations: Concrete proposals for how governments and international bodies can create enabling environments for community-owned digital infrastructure
- Capacity development: At least 20 participants will gain hands-on experience with specific tools and methodologies that can be implemented in their local contexts
- Connection with IGF work: Outputs will feed into the IGF intersessional work on cybersecurity, providing community-centered perspectives on digital resilience
Hybrid Format: Our session ensures meaningful participation for both onsite and online attendees through:
- Pre-session materials: Key resources will be distributed one week before the workshop
- Dedicated online moderator: A team member solely focused on monitoring online participation
- Balanced speaking opportunities: Alternating between onsite and online participants during discussion periods
- Interactive tools: Using collaborative documents and polling tools accessible to all participants
- Technical backup: Redundant connectivity options to maintain session continuity
- Post-session follow-up: A dedicated space for continued discussion after the formal session ends
Our organizing team includes members who will participate remotely, ensuring firsthand understanding of the online experience.