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WSIS+20 and the Future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
by Carlos Reyes Oct. 2, 2024

Oct. 2, 2024

[https://files.constantcontact.com/d2ded047401/08df3b1f-27bc-477b-8c08-68928…] A special invite from ICANN [https://files.constantcontact.com/d2ded047401/9c2b5e1e-4f84-446f-a153-76bb9…]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bqkWKm…> Join us for a half-day hybrid event on WSIS+20 and the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)! Hear from experts from the private sector, civil society, academia, and government on the latest developments at the United Nations from multiple perspectives as well as how you can stay engaged in these important processes. Speakers: → Ambassador Steve Lang, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications, and Information Policy → Shane Tews, American Enterprise Institute → Fiona Alexander, American University → Jackie Ruff, Wiley A full list of speakers will be shared in due course 8 OCTOBER 2024 13:00 - 16:40 UTC | 9:00 AM - 12:40 PM EDT For in-person attendance: RSVP - Please reply to dc-admin(a)icann.org<mailto:dc-admin@icann.org> to confirm your attendance and for any questions. 1901 L St. NW Penthouse Level Washington, DC 20036 Remote participation will be available here [icann.zoom.us]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bqkWKm…> for those that cannot attend in-person. CONTACT US FOR ON-SITE PARTICIPATION<mailto:dc-admin@icann.org> REMOTE PARTICIPATION [icann.zoom.us]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bqkWKm…>

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TCCM launches website
by Byron Holland Sept. 19, 2024

Sept. 19, 2024

Good day, In the lead-up to the Summit of the Future, I'm pleased to share the link to the website for A Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM) https://tccm.global/?? TCCM is a coalition of technical operators dedicated to defending and advocating for strengthened multistakeholder internet governance. If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out to the coalition secretariat at info(a)tccm.global<mailto:info@tccm.global> (cc). Byron Byron Holland President & CEO cira.ca<http://cira.ca/> [cid:image001.png@01DB09CC.102E9BF0] CLASSIFICATION:CONFIDENTIAL

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Webinar: "Where Does Internet Governance Stand Today: A Conversation”
by Carlos Reyes Sept. 19, 2024

Sept. 19, 2024

Dear all, The ICANN Stakeholder Engagement team for Europe has organized a webinar for Thursday, 26 September, 12:00—13:00 UTC that may be of interest to this mailing list. "Where Does Internet Governance Stand Today: A Conversation” For more information and to register please visit: https://www.icann.org/en/engagement-calendar/details/where-does-internet-go… Please share this with your networks, too. Thank you, Carlos [cid430465*image001.png(a)01DB0A85.457E8810] Carlos Reyes Senior Policy Director Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Washington, D.C. Engagement Center

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Latest on GDC
by Fiona Alexander Sept. 16, 2024

Sept. 16, 2024

Hi to all Attached is the latest draft of the GDC, dated Sept 6. My understanding is that the co-facilitators have officially passed this on to the President of the General Assembly and their work is completed as they are urging all governments to join consensus and adopt. It seems the co-facilitators are now leaving it up the President of the General Assembly as everyone heads into the Summit of the Future. Recall the GDC is an attachment to that Summit's declaration. Perhaps others, in particular those in government, might have more information, including on timing, my assumption is that this is the text that will be adopted barring some strenuous government objections. To me, it seems largely unchanged from the last draft. Fiona

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GDC Rev 4 released
by Fiona Alexander Sept. 14, 2024

Sept. 14, 2024

Hi to all Attached is GDC Rev 4 which has made it my way from a few different people this morning. I understand that like Rev 3 the draft was released under silence procedures. I don't have the details on the silence procedures deadline this time around, perhaps others do. I'm still digesting the text but a quick assessment on the issues I have been most closely following: * leans into ITU more on connectivity and bridging the digital divide; * 2005 status quo on Internet governance (a pity in my view on the IGF funding challenge); * More caution on Digital Public Infrastructure; * The new AI panel and annual dialogue remain; * Follow up seems a bit more grounded in existing mechanisms and a GDC implementation map produced and linked to next year's WSIS +20; and, * A proposal for creation of a new UN office remains and will go to the General Assembly meetings next month, presumably for approval. Look forward to hearing others perspectives. Fiona

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SAVE THE DATE: Half-day Stakeholder Forum on WSIS+20 (Hybrid ICANN hosted event)
by Becky McGilley Sept. 10, 2024

Sept. 10, 2024

Dear WSIS+20 Outreach Network Members, Please save the date for a half-day hybrid event on “WSIS+20 and the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).” Hear from experts from the private sector, civil society, academia, and government on the latest developments at the United Nations from multiple perspectives as well as how you can stay engaged in these important processes. Remote participation will be available for those that cannot attend in-person. Stakeholder Forum on WSIS+20 Tuesday, October 8, 2024 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Catered lunch to follow 1901 L St. NW Penthouse Level Washington, DC 20036 Full details on the agenda and remote participation information will be shared in the formal invitation to follow. Please reply to dc-admin(a)icann.org<mailto:dc-admin@icann.org> to confirm your attendance and with any questions. Thank you, Rebecca McGilley Director, Government & IGO Engagement Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Mobile: +1 310 745 7033 www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>

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Bulletin
by Carlos Reyes Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024

Hello, all. Please refer to the attachment for the latest update of activities, undertaken by ICANN and other organizations, that are relevant to the WSIS+20 Outreach Network. If you would like to contribute to future updates, please contact me. Thank you, Carlos Carlos Reyes WSIS+20 Outreach Network

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GDC Stakeholder Session (22 Aug)
by Becky McGilley Aug. 22, 2024

Aug. 22, 2024

In light of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) Stakeholder session<https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-compact> scheduled on August 22nd, we’d like to share that ICANN will be participating and has registered to speak. Our remarks will convey the following messages: * The Internet's greatest strength lies in its remarkable ability to connect people and devices and enabling communications across the globe. To ensure a digital future that benefits everyone, it is important that the Internet remains open, globally connected, interoperable, and accessible to all. * The Internet's technical foundation is robust largely due to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. The multistakeholder model is the most effective approach for managing a globally distributed system like the Internet. It ensures that all relevant experts and others who need to be included can participate and have equal say in the decision-making. * The technical community is a core component of the multistakeholder model. The collaborative efforts of the technical community and the multistakeholder model have resulted in the stable, secure, and resilient operation of the Internet. Thank you, Rebecca McGilley Director, Government & IGO Engagement Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Cell: +1 310 745 7033 www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>

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CWG-Internet contribution
by Becky McGilley Aug. 20, 2024

Aug. 20, 2024

Dear WSIS+20 Network, Last month, I mentioned the ITU Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues’ (CWG-Internet) opportunity for stakeholder contributions on the topic of “the developmental aspects to the strengthen the Internet.” ICANN has now prepared the attached contribution we plan to submit to the CWG-Internet open online consultation. The deadline is September 3. In our contribution, we emphasis the importance of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance in the Internet’s continued development. We highlight ICANN’s efforts in fostering meaningful connectivity, promoting a secure and resilient Internet, and promoting digital inclusion and skills. Additionally, we share our perspectives on how to foster multistakeholder participation. Finally, we share some thoughts on the role of WSIS. We hope others will contribute to this consultative topic as well and look forward to seeing them. Thank you, Rebecca McGilley Director, Government & IGO Engagement Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Cell: +1 310 745 7033 www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>

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Global Digital Justice Forum's rejoinder to the Open Letter by Tech Leaders and Innovators to the United Nations on the Global Digital Compact
by AHM Bazlur Rahman Aug. 18, 2024

Aug. 18, 2024

Global Digital Justice Forum Why the people of the world need a Global Digital Compact The Global Digital Justice Forum<https://globaldigitaljusticeforum.net/>—a group of civil society organizations and networks working on digital rights and justice—would like to share its perspective on the Open Letter<https://open-internet-governance.org/letter> to the UN from tech community leaders and internet innovators. Register had reported<https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/03/un_digital_compact_technical_pushbac…> the letter in July. The Letter expresses reservations that the draft text of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) being negotiated by governments may ‘mandate more centralized governance’ that could be ‘detrimental to the world’s economies and societies’. We believe that it is vital for the internet technical community to be engaged in the GDC process, and wish to acknowledge the enormous work done by this community to shape the internet into the valuable public resource it is today. However, we believe that proposals emerging from the GDC process underway should not be misconstrued as a government takeover of the ‘successful multistakeholder Internet governance’ approach. This, we feel, maybe both misplaced and alarmist. We wish to make three points. To begin with, the current draft<https://www.un.org/techenvoy/sites/www.un.org.techenvoy/files/general/GDC_R…> of the GDC is explicitly grounded in a ‘multistakeholder’ approach, exhorting governments to work ‘with the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and all other stakeholders, within their respective roles and responsibilities’ (para 6, GDC Rev 3.0). Indeed, as civil society representing Southern movements and organizations, we would have liked to see much deeper consultation. However, the specific governance proposals in the GDC—pertaining to Internet, data and AI governance—are aligned with the World Summit on the Information Society principles and plan of action; the only touchstone so far on global digital governance. Secondly, the GDC—when adopted—will be a multilateral agreement that lays down the duty of member states to guarantee the public right<https://www.lsd.law/define/public-right> of people to equal and full participation in the digital economy and society. Unless the public sector steps up to its rightful duty and role, an “inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all” (para 4, GDC Rev 3.0) will be no more than a pie in the sky. The unequivocal failure of the market-first model of connectivity—with half the world<https://www.un.org/techenvoy/content/global-connectivity> still offline—is nothing short of a global emergency. An explicit recognition of the public right to connectivity is surely not any ‘governmental takeover’ of digital governance? Finally, the ‘bottom-up, collaborative and inclusive model of Internet governance that has served the world for the past half century’, referred to in the letter, is aspirational rather than a description of present realities. Internet governance, in practice, has neither been fully inclusive nor adequately representative. The recent Net Mundial+10<https://netmundial.br/pdf/NETmundial10-MultistakeholderStatement-2024.pdf> outcome document calls out for multistakeholder digital processes to be mindful of power asymmetries between, and the diverse nature and roles of, stakeholders. We endorse this caution, particularly in the context of the de facto centralization of the platform marketplace. We believe the GDC process is a beacon of hope, however small, to remedy the abominable capture of the digital commons and markets by Big Tech. It is eminently clear that the cyberlibertarian vision of yesteryears is at the root of the myriad problems confronting global digital governance today. Governments are needed in the digital space not only to tackle harm or abuse. They have a positive role to play in fulfilling a gamut of human rights for inclusive, equitable, and flourishing digital societies. Undoubtedly, this GDC may not be the best we could get. At the same time, we believe that democratic digital governance requires international cooperation and the role of governments in a) mobilizing public investments for foundational public digital goods in all nations and b) moving steadily towards accountable global data and AI governance architectures—a critical agenda whose time is here—for pluralistic digital societies. The Internet today is not what many who contributed to its development dreamed it would be. The status quo—with corporate self-interest leading the way—is untenable. It is disastrous for people and planet alike. As progressive civil society working to democratize the digital space—hand in hand with the innovators worldwide who hold the internet’s original promise dear—we seek nothing less than a radical departure from the democratic deficit that has come to characterize it. We do hope the GDC can be one step in that direction. Download the PDF version https://globaldigitaljusticeforum.net/rejoinder-to-the-open-letter-by-tech-… --------------------- Bazlu _____________ AHM. Bazlur Rahman MSS in Government & Politics, Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) Chief Executive Officer Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) [In Consultative Status with the ECOSOC, Associated with the Department of Global Communications of the United Nations & Observer Organization with the UNFCCC & Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)] Policy Research Fellow, Shaping the Future of Media, Entertainment & Society in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution House: 9/4 Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207| Bangladesh| Phone: +8801711881647 | +88 02 48116262 | +88 02 48119374 E-Mail: ceo(a)bnnrc.net<mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net> | bnnrcbd(a)gmail.com<mailto:bnnrcbd@gmail.com> | https://www.bnnrc.net<http://www.bnnrc.net/> [cid:e30a6cee-31ba-4678-9206-388c8c8d1089]

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