The discussion will focus on several policy guiding questions: Multistakeholder Cooperation and Cyber Resilience How can national and regional multistakeholder cooperation build stronger global cybersecurity resilience? What governance… In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity challenges are growing in scale and complexity. Global cybercrime is projected to cost $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2020), posing serious risks to institutions, economies, and fundamental rights. This session will explore how national and regional multistakeholder cooperation can build stronger, more resilient cybersecurity frameworks, while balancing innovation, security, and the protection of human rights. A key focus will be on the tension between cybersecurity legislation and existing privacy and data protection measures. In some cases, stricter regulations on service providers, such as DNS operators, may inadvertently undermine effective, rights-respecting security mechanisms already in place. Participants will discuss whether additional regulation strengthens overall digital security, and what costs it may impose on service providers and end users. Local and regional practices and experiences will serve as the foundation for this exchange, highlighting diverse approaches to governance, accountability, and incident response. The discussion will also address the growing threat of organized cybercrime, the evolving dynamics of criminal networks, and the new capabilities law enforcement agencies require. By drawing from practical experiences, the session aims to identify concrete, collaborative pathways to strengthen cybersecurity resilience in different contexts.Through a dialogue and exchange of practices and experiences of different NRIs, this session will focus on ways to combat and prevent cybersecurity threats.

The discussion will focus on several policy guiding questions from the ones listed below: Policy and Regulation How can inclusive policies and stronger regulatory frameworks close the digital divide, lower internet costs, and enforce… Why talk about local connectivity and community networks for affordable universal access? Internet connectivity is today a basic condition for the exercise of fundamental rights, access to education, health, citizen participation and economic development. However, millions of people in rural, indigenous and peripheral areas continue to face digital exclusion, demonstrating that traditional deployment models have failed to close the gap. In this context, community based networks have proven to be a viable, sustainable and deeply rooted alternative to bring connectivity to historically underserved communities. These initiatives, driven by social organization, local knowledge and collaborative work, challenge the idea that only large operators can guarantee access. This session proposes a multi-sectoral conversation on the challenges and opportunities faced by these networks: How can they be recognized and strengthened through public policy? What regulatory frameworks and financing models would allow for their expansion? What alliances should be forged to guarantee universal, affordable and meaningful access? Addressing these questions not only contributes to the construction of more inclusive and effective policies, but also recognizes communities as protagonists of their own digital development.

The discussion will focus on several policy guiding questions from the ones listed below: Fairness, Accountability & Ethics in AI and Data Governance How can data governance frameworks promote fairness, accountability, and ethics in AI… As artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies increasingly shape critical decisions in society, robust data governance frameworks are essential to promote fairness, accountability, and ethics. This session will explore how such frameworks can reduce algorithmic bias, ensure responsible decision-making, and clearly establish accountability when AI systems cause unintended consequences. We will examine practical examples of successful governance models, such as the EU's GDPR and Canada's Algorithmic Impact Assessment framework, and discuss their potential for replication. The conversation will also focus on public engagement strategies that foster trust and transparency, addressing the need for governments and companies to empower individuals with greater control over their personal data. As only 15% of countries worldwide have comprehensive personal data protection laws (UNCTAD, 2024), this gap underscores the urgency of developing accessible, understandable mechanisms for data consent. We will further delve into the role of Open Data initiatives in providing unbiased public information and the challenges of tailoring governance processes to local and global contexts. Finally, the session will consider how multistakeholder approaches can ensure governance structures remain agile in the face of technological change, and how debates around digital sovereignty are reshaping the future of data governance worldwide.Through a dialogue and exchange of practices and experiences of different NRIs, this session will focus on ways to govern data responsibly.