Messages 2024

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Global Internet governance processes

On the Global Digital Compact

EuroDIG looks forward to the opportunities to amplify the purpose and objectives of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) following the Summit of the Future. EuroDIG offers to play its part in contributing to and monitoring progress in the implementation of GDC commitments.

EuroDIG strongly supports the commitment in the Rev.1 draft text of the GDC to strengthen the multistakeholder model of governance and advises against any watering down of this commitment in the finalisation of the text.

EuroDIG believes that the GDC process should build on the strong foundations and accomplishments of the WSIS instead of creating new mechanisms.

EuroDIG supports enhancing the role of the UN IGF.

EuroDIG recommends simplifying the process of GDC follow up and review of the implementation of the GDC commitments, with a substantive role for the Internet Governance Forum and the WSIS Forum so that non-governmental stakeholders can fully contribute to the process.

On the WSIS+20 Review

EuroDIG recognises the positive linkages between the WSIS+20 Review, the Global Digital Compact and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

EuroDIG believes there needs to be a comprehensive understanding of the process of the WSIS+20 review.

The review should not undermine the achievements of both the 2003 and the 2005 phases of the WSIS. It should instead be primarily an opportunity to enhance the processes of Internet governance, global digital policy and cooperation, by using the Sao Paulo Guidelines as an inspiration for making processes more inclusive, transparent and accountable.

Main Topic 1: European policies and strategies

Subtopic 1 | Human Rights in the Digital Era, Europe’s Role in Safeguarding Human Rights Online

There is an urgent need to ensure effective implementation of human rights frameworks online and to address the lack of awareness of these frameworks. A concerted multistakeholder effort is crucial to a) help develop a clear and robust legal framework, b) ensure a proactive role of civil society in influencing discourse, shaping and monitoring implementation, and c) emphasize the social responsibility of the private sector and its duty to respect the rights of users.

Subtopic 2 | One for All, all for one: The Role of cooperation in Enhancing Cyber Resilience in Europe

Concerted and coordinated efforts must be built on trust, cross-sectoral collaboration and international cooperation because they are vital to address cybersecurity challenges.These should include mechanisms for cyber cooperation in critical situations such as wartime. This requires training and education, as well as inclusive cybersecurity measures that cater to all segments of society.

Subtopic 3 | You on Signal and Me on Telegram – Messenger Interoperability by EU Regulation

Interoperability relies on the technical – protocol – interoperability, which is being addressed through standardisation in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), as well on the operational and economic will to connect and exchange. It is vital to develop and refine mechanisms of market evaluation, enhance user choice, maintain end-to-end encryption and privacy across different platforms. The extraterritorial implications of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the potential impact on users who rely on non-EU messaging services must be addressed.

Main Topic 2: GovTech – putting people first in digitalizing public services and the use of data

Subtopic 1 | GovTech Dynamics: Navigating Innovation and Challenges in Public Services.

Digital transformation in Public Administrations (PAs) comes with the need of stronger digital skills, which may come with mandatory training for civil servants. Challenges include digital skill gaps, data analysis capabilities, and regulatory barriers, requiring a shift towards enabling innovation. Cities and other PAs can innovate in collaboration with academia and the private sector with such projects as the GovTech Lab. These labs test new policies and technologies, fostering innovation through skill development and co-creation. Design thinking and user experience should prioritize simplicity and functionality. Cities can use open data dashboards to be more transparent to citizens by allowing them to easily visualize data about their living environment. Future challenges include digital identification, AI regulations, and ensuring technology accessibility for all, including senior citizens. Practical strategies and public co-creation are necessary for meaningful change.

Subtopic 2 | European approach on data governance

The new EU legislation on data is creating new scenarios. Despite it, the EU GDPR, the CoE Convention 108+, and the “privacy at all cost” approach are still central as the Digital Governance Act recognizes the prevalence of privacy legislation. Tension exists between the need to explore data and to open it for the PA to be transparent and the need to protect citizens’ right to privacy. The new EU legislation (Data Governance Act and Data Act) tries to strike a balance between the two. The European values enshrined in GDPR are being adopted elsewhere, both because of EU influence and because of recognition of their validity. Furthermore, the CoE Convention 108+ is open for signature by non-member states too.

Subtopic 3 | Empowering communities: partnerships for access to services

Digitalization became more and more relevant after Covid and the new climate change-related catastrophe. Digital instruments allow rescuers and PAs to quickly identify who is in need and where on a specific territory. Nonetheless, catastrophes also make the digital infrastructure vulnerable as disruption in communication can be caused by unusual weather events. Large amounts of the population still have no or little access to the Internet, which is particularly true for people living in low income and/or remote areas. This yields discrimination in access to services and opportunities. However, this digital divide can be bridged with relatively cheap connectivity infrastructure: examples exist of public-private partnerships that reduce costs for bringing connectivity to rural areas. On top of improved connectivity, services should be easily accessible with straightforward interfaces that require little expertise (accessibility by design).

Main Topic 3: Artificial Intelligence

Subtopic 1 | Innovation and ethical implication

The proliferation of AI-related initiatives and documents and the adoption of regulatory and human rights frameworks is key to fostering user’s trust in AI technologies, to tackle AI’s complexity and applications and to provide tailored solutions to the specific needs of the diverse stakeholders. A multistakeholder approach to AI governance is crucial to ensure that AI development and use are informed by a variety of perspectives to minimise bias and serve the interests of society. A pressing ethical concern is the military use of AI which is yet to be addressed by existing regulatory frameworks but will need more focused attention in the near future.

Subtopic 2 | The Framework Convention on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule of law

The CoE Framework Convention on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule of law is an important step towards a global approach to AI regulation. The CoE Framework and the EU AI Act compliment each other. Further steps should follow, by taking into account the need to address the growing issues of AI from a global, rather than a regional perspective.

Subtopic 3 | Identification of AI generated content

Current AI detection systems are unreliable or even arbitrary. They should not be used other than in an experimental context with a very high level of caution and particularly not for assessing works of students. Without reliable AI detectors, we have to rely on education and critical assessment of content that takes into account that any content can easily be generated by AI. Watermarking and certification of origin should be a more reliable means to authenticate content and should be supported by regulation.

Workshops

Workshop 1a | Child Safety Online – Update on Legal Regulatory Trends Combatting Child Sexual Abuse Online

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. Advancements in legal and regulatory measures on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
   Workshop 1a discussed three recent measures on the protection of children from online Child Sexual Abuse (CSA): the proposed EU CSA Regulation (CSAR), the new UK Online Safety Act, and the positive results from the Lithuanian Law on the Protection of Minors against detrimental effects of public information. An agreement was found on the need for better regulation in this field, emphasising the accountability of online service providers for monitoring illegal and harmful material and safeguarding minors.
2. Major concerns and benefits
   CSA is currently increasing exponentially and has serious consequences for the rights and development of children. For this reason, recognising such depictions and preventing child sexual abuse should go hand in hand. Participants are concerned about the safety of users, including with regard to the potential use of technology. Breaches of confidential communication or anonymity are seen critically. At the same time, advantages are recognised in the regulations, e.g. with regard to problem awareness or safety by design approaches. Age verification procedures are perceived as both a risk and an advantage. However, this should not be at the expense of anonymity and participation.
3. The interplay of privacy and safety
   The participants of Workshop 1a of EuroDIG believe privacy and safety are intertwined and inseparable, advocating that legal solutions to combat child sexual abuse online must strive to optimise both. These measures should be centred on children’s rights and their best interests, as a way forward to achieve this balance.

Workshop 1b | Protecting vulnerable groups online from harmful content – new (technical) approaches

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. Type of content:
   Self-generated abusive material and pathological content are emerging as the most widespread harms to vulnerable groups online. All stakeholders are aware that measures and regulations must be taken to protect vulnerable groups. They are also aware that the rights and needs for protection against violence and abuse as well as privacy and participation must be guaranteed.
2. Minimizing the Impact on Privacy, Inclusive, and Accessible Technical Approaches:
   Client-side scanning for detecting known CSAM online involves methods that can minimise the impact on privacy, learning nothing about the content of a message except whether an image matches known illegal content. Concerns are raised about anti-grooming techniques analysing visual and textual data, while the use of AI raises questions about proxies, bias, and accuracy. Effective task-based models that respect privacy require comprehensive and accurate data, especially the use of metadata. Authorities play a critical role in double-checking the effectiveness of these measures and privacy compliance. Looking ahead, data-saving and anonymity-preserving age verification mechanisms could be a future-proof solution for robust verification and privacy protection.
3. Diversity and Multi-Stakeholder Philosophy:
   A diversified multi-stakeholder approach is required to ensure that solutions are comprehensive in addressing harmful online content. Significant weight should be given to civil society, including individuals from vulnerable groups, like minors, and non-technical backgrounds, should be involved in this process and their perspectives taken into account. Finally, EuroDIG’s Workshop 1b supports the direction, great importance, and urgency of a uniform legal framework such as the EU’s CSAR.

Workshop 2a | Managing Change in Media Space: Social Media, Information Disorder, and Voting Dynamics

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. Impact and Challenges of the EU Elections
   Disinformation campaigns before EU elections targeted issues like Ukraine, COVID-19, and the state of EU democracy, aiming to manipulate public opinion and polarize voters. While immediate election periods showed reduced incidents, AI and traditional methods play crucial roles in maintaining (or degrading) electoral integrity and ensuring (or threatening) access to verified political content. The measures put in place by the EU (through funding an independent organisation like EDMO, the Code of Practice on Disinformation, the EEAS, the European Parliament, and a network of fact-checkers) have succeeded in mitigating the impact of foreign interference. However, concerns remain about the spreading of mistrust in democratic institutions.
2. Possible Solutions
   To combat disinformation, a multimethod approach includes independent fact-checking, international collaboration on research and demonetisation strategies, and holding digital platforms accountable [1]. The representative of Meta’s oversight board presented recommendations addressed to the platform about how to operate during elections. Educating users in critical thinking and media literacy, along with developing voter-friendly communication, enhances electoral transparency and promotes informed electoral participation. Besides, the long-term financial sustainability of relatable media is key to managing effective strategies.
3. Multidimensional Approach
   Addressing media manipulation and electoral integrity requires enhanced cooperation between states, platforms, and civil society with a multidimensional approach involving diverse stakeholders, multidisciplinary expertise (e.g. psychosociology, neurology, linguistics, communications, etc.), multi-level governance (from international to local), and the development of inclusive multilingual standards.

[1] See the full document here.

Workshop 2b | Managing Change in Media Space: Social Media, Information Disorder, and Voting Dynamics

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. General Mistrust in Democratic Institutions
   In 2024, amid widespread distrust in democratic institutions globally, approximately 4 billion people engage in elections. Information (both digital and traditional) is increasingly crafted for entertainment, gamification, and political polarisation, amplified by Artificial Intelligence through propaganda, translation services, and micro-targeting. More specifically, social media platforms serve as crucial feedback and control channels for governments, particularly in the Global South.
2. Diversified and Tailored Solutions
   To tackle these challenges, promoting media literacy in educational curricula is essential, fostering critical thinking and fact-checking skills. Creating a symbiotic relationship between stakeholders (taking proactive measures to combat disinformation) and users (encouraged to adopt critical thinking practices and rely on verified sources) strengthens resilience against misinformation. Besides, tailored solutions are crucial: e.g. Central-Eastern Europe frames disinformation geopolitically, African countries grapple with centralised power dynamics, and India faces issues with social media micro-profiling. Finally, empowering community leaders strengthens local resilience by leveraging their influence to promote accurate information.
3. Focus on Inclusivity and Social Media
   An inclusive global approach to infrastructure development avoids biases and ensures equitable solutions across regions. Prioritising efforts on social media platforms, especially in the Global South where youth and mobile access are influential, enhances interventions against disinformation and supports transparent electoral processes.

Workshop 3 | Network Evolution: Challenges and Solutions

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. Discussion of the EU Commission Draft White Paper
   The current state of network infrastructure and computing continuum is inadequate to provide universal access to the Internet in the EU, with weaknesses in the cloud and AI sectors. Financial pressures (e.g. investment challenges and low conversion rates), worsened by the disaggregation of hardware and software, threaten long-term technological advancement and digitalisation.
2. Key Concerns
   The Draft White Paper focuses on creating a single digital market with secure infrastructure and sustainable competition. However there are significant market and financial pressures that would result. Therefore, there is a need to increase scalability, and pressure to improve network capabilities to meet the minimum capabilities noted. The only way this can be pursued is by significant investing in technology and improving efficiency through the implementation of new technology such as optical fibre, and smart networks.
3. The Draft White Paper proposes an Integrated, Flexible, and Consumer-Centered Network Model
   Progressing the evolution of the network has significant challenges with the cost to replace current infrastructure, and improve network capabilities to offer speeds and access under the paper’s proposal. The imbalance created between incumbents and new network operators will also need to be addressed through regulator guidance in order to mitigate financial and technical harms. There is a need to continue the discussion to establish threshold criteria, and to investigate consumer needs and expectations as no one solution will meet everyone’s expectations.

Workshop 4 | Challenges and Opportunities: Emerging Technologies and Sustainability Impacts

Rapporteur: Francesco Vecchi, Eumans

1. Interconnection of the Twin Transitions
   The digital and environmental transitions are interconnected and, together, can achieve the goal of reducing emissions by 2050. EuroDIG supports the EU’s mission to balance sustainability with privacy, security, safety, pluralism, and freedom of expression, recognising that these elements must coexist harmoniously in the pursuit of a greener future.
2. Sustainable Digital Solutions
   Adopting a sustainability-by-design approach involves making technology inherently more sustainable while using digital solutions to promote sustainability. It is also essential to develop common indicators, guidelines, and standards, including the right to repair. In this sense, the focus of regulation should be shifted towards the Internet itself, rather than solely on infrastructure or products, by providing greener websites, protocols, and standards; and governance practices that prioritise environmental concerns. Emphasis should be given to sustainability practices for smartphones, including operating system diversity, genuine social media engagement, and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
3. Human-centric Multistakeholder Approach
   In crafting recommendations and guidelines, a human-centric multistakeholder approach ensures that diverse perspectives are considered and that technological advancements serve the needs and values of individuals, fostering an inclusive and sustainable digital environment.