Should I click for Internet governance? Where? – WS 01 2015

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Please use your own words to describe this session. You may use external references, websites or publications as a source of information or inspiration, if you decide to quote them, please clearly specify the source.

== Session teaser (focus) From Internet access to an active and meaningful participation in a digital society and in Internet governance processes: the way forward.

Session description

The Internet is transforming our society into a digital/information society and it becomes a key enabler for economic growth and social, cultural and political development. Internet access is more and more available to end users, businesses and governmental entities around the world. This, in turn, enables end citizens to more easily participate in a democratic society (via, for example, e-democracy and e-participation tools), allows private companies to consolidate and expand their business, and offers governmental entities the opportunity to communicate easier and more efficient with citizens, and to provide better and more efficient public services. Internet can be seen, in a nutshell, as an empowering tool. Many of us see this every day and are part of this process. But under what circumstances is the Internet really able to play this role? Is access simply enough? Or is there a larger list of ingredients that, if mixed in a proper way, enable the Internet to actually play this role of a catalyst of economic, social, cultural and political development? If we take end users as an example, does it mean that, if they have Internet access, they automatically actively participate in the digital society; or are there more prerequisites that, put together, truly empower end user to be an active part of the digital society? What about digital literacy, awareness, education, adequate and encouraging public policies and regulations – do they also play a role?

Furthermore, Internet governance processes are also aimed to “shape the evolution and use of the Internet” in such a way that this “network of networks” contributes to sustainable development. Assuming Internet stakeholders are empowered by the Internet to actively participate in a digital society and contribute to sustainable development, how to make sure that they are equally empowered and motivated to take one step further and participate in Internet governance processes also? And why is participation important for both a sustainable development of the (digital) society and for efficient and effective Internet governance processes?

If Internet is meant to empower stakeholders, how do we actually ensure that these stakeholders do not limit themselves to being passive Internet users, but rather become active participants in the evolution of the digital society and in Internet governance process that help shape this evolution?

Within this framework, the current session will be aimed at:

  • discussing the connection between Internet access, empowerment and active participation in a digital society and in Internet governance processes;
  • identify motivations, prerequisites, challenges and barriers when it comes to meaningful participation;
  • develop key messages encapsulating possible ways forward in terms of moving from simple access to active and meaningful participation.

Participants will also be encouraged to share and discuss experiences (projects, platforms, policies and strategies) they have came across within their countries and/or stakeholder groups and that are related to the focus of the session.

Keywords

Access, empowerment, participation, digital society, Internet governance, multistakeholderism.

Format

"World cafe" type session. Further details by 30. April 2015

Further reading

People

  • Focal Points:
    • Iliya Bazlyankov, UNICART, Bulgaria
    • Lianna Galstyan,ISOC Armenia
    • Aida Mahmutovic, Oneworld - Platform for Southeast Europe Foundation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Dusan Stojicevic, RNIDS, Serbia
    • Sorina Teleanu, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of Romania
  • Org team:
    • Justin Caso, IEEE
    • Anelia Dimova, Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Bulgaria
    • Narine Khachatryan, Media Education Centre, Armenia
    • Karen McCabe, IEEE
    • Margarita Nikolova, Executive Agency Electronic Communications Network and Information Society, Bulgaria
    • Grigori Saghyan, ISOC Armenia
    • Rabea Willers, Council of Europe
    • Bissera Zankova, "Media 21" Foundation, Bulgaria
  • Main facilitator: (deadline 15. Mai 2015)
  • Groups facilitators: (deadline 15. Mai 2015)
  • Reporter: (deadline 15. Mai 2015)
  • Remote moderator: (deadline 15. Mai 2015)

Conf. call schedule & minutes

Virtual meeting II - Monday, 27 April, 12.00 noon CET

Register After your request has been approved, you'll receive instructions for joining the meeting.

Virtual meeting I - 9 April, 10.00 am CET

It was agreed that the session should try to look into issues related to the connection between Internet access, empowerment and participation in a digital society and in Internet governance processes (as these are all interconnected issues, one leading to another). As such, this session is aimed to:

  • discuss the connection between Internet access, empowerment and active participation in a digital society and in Internet governance processes;
  • identify prerequisites, challenges and possible ways forward;
  • develop forward looking key messages connected to the overarching theme.

The overarching theme/focus, key words and format of the session were provisionally agreed, as outlined above. Further work is now done with a view to develop a more relevant session title, a session description and a structured concept form the session format. Detailed minutes of the meeting are available at:Talk:Participation_in_a_digital_society

Estimative timeline: by 20 April - draft session description, title and questions; virtual meeting in the week of 20 April or early in the week of 27 April; agreement by 30 April (in line with the EuroDIG deadline).

Current discussion

This session is intended to be both a follow up from SEEDIG (where issues related to participation in Internet governance processes will be discussed), as well as an integration of the various EuroDIG proposals identified as fitting under the general theme of the session. All these proposals, as well as several questions that will help frame the SEEDIG discussions are listed at Talk:Participation_in_a_digital_society.

Following the first virtual meeting of the org team, the session teaser, key words and overall format have been agreed, as detailed above. Work is now being done on a more relevant session title, the session description and a more developed concept for the session format (including sets of questions and key facilitators).

Mailing list

Contact: ws1@eurodig.org

Live stream / remote participation

Final report

Session twitter hashtag

Hashtag: #eurodigws1

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