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# IGF 2018 WS #414 Tackling Internet Disruptions via Multi-stakeholder Advocacy

Format:

Round Table - 60 Min

Theme:

Technical & Operational Topics

Subtheme:

INTERNET SHUTDOWNS

Organizer 1: David Sullivan, Global Network Initiative
Organizer 2: Usama Khilji, Bolo Bhi
Organizer 3: Morgan Frost, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Organizer 4: Sarah Moulton, National Democratic Institute

Speaker 1: Usama Khilji, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific
Speaker 2: Patrik Hiselius, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Kathleen Ndongmo, Civil Society, Africa
Speaker 4: Xianhong Hu, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Ashnah Kalemera, Civil Society, Africa

Additional Speakers:

While there are no additional speakers, the updated speaker list is as follows:

Session Organizers

1. David Sullivan

2. Usama Khilji

3. Morgan Frost

4. Sarah Moulton

Moderators and Rapporteur

1. Moderator - Daniel O'Maley

2. Online Moderator - Morgan Frost

3. Rapporteur - Sarah Moulton

Speakers

1. Usama Khilji, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific

2. Patrik Hiselius, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

3. Kathleen Ndongmo, Civil Society, Africa

4. Xianhong Hu, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

5. Ashnah Kalemera, Civil Society, Africa

Relevance:

As the growth of the online global population has led to increased opportunities for democratic participation, there has also been an increasing trend by governments around the world to restrict access to services and disrupt networks. These incidents take a form of blunt orders to internet service providers and often occur in politically charged contexts, such as protests or elections, making non-compliance challenging. While the duration and types of these disruptions may vary, their human rights and economic impact can be particularly acute in the Global South, including: loss of access to critical online services, shuttering of independent and alternative media sources, and the removal of dissenting voices from political commentary or participation. With government ordered disruptions on the rise, the need for coordinated multistakeholder dialogue and engagement in response to these threats to a democratic and open internet is more vital than ever. Civil society, technology companies, the local private sector, media outlets, and internet governance bodies often play a key role in alerting the global community to internet disruptions. How can they better align and combine their efforts to not only mitigate the negative impacts of internet shutdowns but also prevent them from happening in the first place? This roundtable will build upon previous workshops organized by the Global Network Initiative (GNI), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) at the IGF and other international fora.

Session Content:

This moderated roundtable discussion will incorporate diverse perspectives from civil society, media, the private sector, intergovernmental organizations, and the IT community. It aims to spark a broader conversation among participants about effective multistakeholder responses to network disruptions. The conversation will seek to elicit specific recommendations around three core topic areas: What steps can technology companies take, consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the GNI Principles, to examine and limit the potential human rights impact of government demands to disrupt networks; how to strengthen existing mechanisms for connecting local private sector and internet governance stakeholders to grassroots digital rights advocacy initiatives around internet disruptions, and identify new channels for cooperation; and how can multistakeholder communities, such as those at IGF, help set, promote, and enforce norms around preventing internet disruptions?

Interventions:

While the roundtable discussion will not have formal presentations, the speakers will further guide conversation around key discussion questions posed to the session participants, based on their diverse expertise. The direct impact of internet shutdowns by civil society will be discussed by Kathleen Ndongmo, a business leader and contributor to the #BringBackOurInternet campaign from Cameroon, Ashnah Kalemera will discuss CIPESA's research on network disruptions and policy engagement across eastern and southern Africa, and Usama Khilji, Director of Bolo Bhi will discuss their work to counter internet disruptions in Pakistan. Patrik Hiselius will discuss how Telia company approaches government requests/demands, in line with the GNI Principles and the UNGPs. UNESCO’s Xianhong Hu will focus on multistakeholder engagement and its fundamental role in the future of internet governance.

Diversity:

To promote a global and diverse discussion, each of the confirmed speakers for this roundtable discussion have been selected based on gender diversity, as well as their differing areas of subject matter expertise and geographic focus. The speakers represent a diverse set of geographic backgrounds and stakeholder groups. Furthermore, we intend to use both the in-person and online discussion to further diversify the types of participants.

Online Participation:

The organizers will heavily promote online participation via social media and through their significant networks. GNI has nearly 60 members based around the world, including companies, civil society, academics, and investors. The Global Community of Open Internet Supporters is facilitated by NDI, CIPE, and CIMA, and includes representatives from over 50 countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, Tunisia, Jordan, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cote D’Ivoire, Venezuela, and Hungary. The online moderator will filter questions and comments from these participants up to the panel in real time in order to develop a robust global discussion and ensure that the voices of the remote participants receive the same amount of time to contribute to the conversation as the participants attending in-person.

Discussion Facilitation:

The onsite moderator and the five featured speakers will help facilitate a roundtable discussion. The participants in the room, as well as those online, will be encouraged to share their experiences and opinions on how to leverage a multistakeholder approach to address challenges of internet and mobile service disruptions. In order to encourage a fruitful and inclusive discussion, ample time will also be allotted for questions and comments from the in-person audience at IGF and through online participation.

Onsite Moderator:

Daniel O’Maley, Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA)

Online Moderator:

Maiko Nakagaki, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

Rapporteur:

Sarah Moulton, National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Background Paper

Agenda:

1. Welcoming Remarks by Moderator, 5 min

2. Opening Statements by all speakers, 25 minutes

3. Open discussion and Q&A (Q&A will be available for participants attending the session online and in person).

Session Time:
Tuesday, 13 November, 2018 - 17:20 to 18:20
Room:
Salle X

## Archived Content

- 2017 IGF: Geneva
- 2016 IGF: Jalisco
- 2015 IGF: João Pessoa
- 2014 IGF: Istanbul
- 2013 IGF: Bali
- 2012 IGF: Baku
- 2011 IGF: Nairobi
- 2010 IGF: Vilnius
- 2009 IGF: Sharm El Sheikh
- 2008 IGF: Hyderabad
- 2007 IGF: Rio de Janeiro
- 2006 IGF: Athens

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## Contact Information

United Nations
Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Villa Le Bocage
Palais des Nations,
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

igf [at] un [dot] org
+41 (0) 229 173 678