Global South Solidarities for Global Digital Governance | IGF 2023 Networking Session #110

Osama

The securitisation of the internet by states poses a threat to its open nature. This is evident through the investment in surveillance technologies such as internet throttling and shutdowns. Additionally, the introduction of regulations on social media and internet companies undermines user rights. An instance of this is seen in the Chinese firewall and internet censorship during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, it is argued that the internet should remain open and free from borders as its original purpose was to connect the world without limitations. Unfortunately, the experience of using the internet is becoming increasingly dissimilar from one country to another due to the implementation of digital borders. Furthermore, there is an alarming trend of states moving towards digital authoritarianism, further challenging the open nature of the internet.

In the Global South, opportunities for collaboration among civil society groups are limited due to current policies. Political issues between governments in South Asia prevent civil society groups from convening, hindering their ability to work together effectively. Despite this, there is potential for collaboration as legislation in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan mirrors each other, indicating scope for collaboration in the future.

To facilitate effective global collaboration, it is argued that a multi-stakeholder and representative approach to global digital discussions is essential. It is emphasised that digital discussions should involve a variety of stakeholders, including civil society. This inclusive approach ensures that diverse voices and perspectives are considered, ultimately leading to more comprehensive and effective outcomes.

Engagement with the private sector is seen as valuable in driving progress. In cases where there is shared interest between civil society and companies on legislation, their cooperation can lead to state backtracking. This highlights the importance of collaboration between different sectors in influencing policy-making and shaping the future of the internet.

Building regional solidarities and conversations is deemed necessary for promoting collaboration. Organisations from various Global South countries are coming together, indicating progress in this direction. This regional collaboration has the potential to strengthen advocacy and drive positive change on a larger scale.

Effective advocacy is seen as crucial, and it should be based on quality research. Existing research can serve as a solid foundation for advocacy efforts. By utilising past studies and knowledge, advocacy campaigns can be more informed and persuasive, leading to a higher chance of success.

Translating knowledge into concrete actions and strategies is seen as the next step in achieving desired outcomes. A joint advocacy strategy based on research has been suggested, emphasising the need for practical implementation and the transformation of knowledge into tangible results.

In conclusion, the securitisation of the internet by states poses a threat to its open nature. The internet should remain borderless, and efforts should be made to counter the trend towards digital authoritarianism. Collaboration among civil society groups in the Global South faces challenges, including immigration and accessibility issues. A multi-stakeholder and representative approach to global digital discussions is advocated for effective collaboration. Engagement with the private sector can be valuable in influencing policymaking. Building regional solidarities and effective advocacy based on quality research are crucial in driving positive change. Translating knowledge into concrete actions and strategies is the necessary next step for achieving desired outcomes.

Audience

The Global South Solidarities project is currently accepting applications for the position of Digital Librarian. This role involves curating and organizing the project’s work, as well as addressing any queries. The project places great importance on effective management and accessibility of its resources.

There is a growing global effort to bring organizations in the Global South together on various issues. This collaboration and partnership demonstrate a collective approach to promoting solidarity and tackling common challenges faced by countries in the Global South.

In November, a fund will be launched in Brazil to support the Global South Solidarities project. This initiative aims to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development in line with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. Fundraising efforts like this highlight the project’s commitment to not only raise awareness but also mobilize financial resources for its cause.

During a recent talk, the speaker received overwhelming gratitude and appreciation from the audience. This positive reception indicates the effectiveness of the project in conveying its message and inspiring action. It reflects the project’s ability to engage individuals and foster a sense of solidarity.

Overall, the Global South Solidarities project actively promotes collaboration, addresses inequalities, and provides a platform for shared dialogue among organizations in the Global South. By seeking a Digital Librarian, launching a fund in Brazil, and receiving positive feedback, the project is making significant progress towards its objectives.

Ifran

In Bangladesh, students are facing a severe shortage of original textbooks, which is negatively impacting their access to a quality education. Ifran, a senior lecturer in law and human rights in Bangladesh, has highlighted the difficulties his students have in accessing original textbooks. This lack of access to textbooks hampers their learning experience and limits their acquisition of knowledge.

The problem of limited access to knowledge extends beyond textbooks. Journal articles and research papers are predominantly behind paywalls, making them inaccessible to individuals in countries like Bangladesh. This limits researchers, academics, and students who rely on these resources for their studies and critical analysis. To overcome this problem, pirated sites like Sci-Hub have become alternative sources for accessing research materials.

The implications of these challenges are significant. The lack of original textbooks restricts students’ ability to learn and engage with the subjects effectively, hindering academic progress and limiting potential for success. Furthermore, the limited access to research materials and scholarly articles stifles intellectual growth and inhibits the development of innovative solutions to societal problems.

It is evident that solutions are urgently needed to bridge the knowledge divide, particularly between the North and South, where disparities in access to information and education are more prevalent. Addressing this issue would enhance educational opportunities in countries like Bangladesh and promote global collaboration and the exchange of ideas, leading to greater innovation and progress.

In conclusion, the shortage of original textbooks and limited access to knowledge in Bangladesh have profound implications for students’ educational experiences and the overall intellectual growth of the country. The emergence of pirated sites as alternatives highlights the urgent need for solutions to alleviate this knowledge divide. By reducing barriers to accessing information and fostering global collaboration, we can work towards a more equitable and prosperous future.

Tove Matimbe

The analysis reveals that there are various international platforms available for collaboration and discussion in the field of internet governance. Notable examples include the African Internet Governance Forum and the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum. These platforms offer opportunities for experts and stakeholders to come together, share knowledge, and address pertinent issues related to internet governance.

Collaboration and joint efforts are identified as crucial elements in impacting policy change and promoting effective data governance. The report highlights the significance of collaborative initiatives in driving positive outcomes. For instance, Paradigm Initiative collaborated with Data Privacy Brazil at their forum, indicating a commitment to sustaining such partnerships. Joint statements and submissions are also recognised as effective measures, with previous collaboration on the Global Data Commons (GDC) process involving Kiktonet, Data Privacy Brazil, and Apti.

However, engaging the private sector in internet governance discussions can be challenging. The analysis notes that the private sector often exhibits reluctance to participate in these conversations. To address this issue, closed-door meetings and invitations to regional convenings have been proposed as effective strategies to encourage private sector engagement.

Moreover, discriminatory practices have been identified as barriers to the participation of individuals from the Global South in internet governance conversations. The visa process and financial costs associated with attending international forums and events disproportionately impact people from less affluent regions. An example is provided where a colleague from Data Privacy Brazil was unable to attend the Global Internet Governance Forum due to such issues. This highlights the need to address discriminatory practices and ensure equal participation and representation from individuals across the globe.

To foster better internet governance and counter rights violations, it is recommended to increase support and funding for digital rights organizations in the Global South. Establishing a strong, unified movement and fund can empower these organizations to confront violations occurring within their countries effectively. Investing in these organizations can also lead to advancements in digital rights and strengthen the push for improved internet governance.

In conclusion, the analysis sheds light on several key aspects of internet governance. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration, especially with regards to policy change and data governance. Challenges in engaging the private sector and discriminatory practices impacting the participation of individuals from the Global South are identified. Finally, supporting and funding digital rights organizations in the Global South is seen as a vital step towards countering rights violations and promoting better internet governance.

Aastha Kapoor

The discussion explores the concept of Global South Solidarities in relation to digital governance. It highlights the significance of addressing common issues across different regions of the Global South, serving as a foundation for collaboration and solidarity.

Data Privacy Brazil has recently advertised a role for a digital librarian, emphasizing the need for knowledge curation and handling inquiries related to policy issues globally. This initiative underscores the importance of information accessibility and management in the digital realm.

In addition, Data Privacy Brazil is actively working towards establishing a research fund specifically for global south initiatives. With a budget of $8,000, the organization aims to identify the most effective allocation of these funds.

Aastha Kapoor, a supporter of Data Privacy Brazil, endorses the digital librarian role and research fund initiative, highlighting their importance in promoting effective digital governance.

However, the discussion also raises concerns about the misuse of the internet as a tool for exclusion and surveillance. Instances such as the internet shutdown in eastern India due to ongoing unrest and the confiscation of phones from Syrian refugees at European borders demonstrate the negative impact of these practices.

Digital inequality is another issue highlighted, with the experiences of Uber drivers worldwide reflecting similar forms of harm. This exacerbates existing inequalities and underscores the need to address the negative consequences of internet use.

Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts among global movements to create institutional and financial architectures that support the objectives of the Global South. This highlights the importance of partnerships and working together to achieve sustainable development goals.

A holistic approach is also advocated, enabling wider participation in discussions and ensuring inclusivity. Challenges related to timing, access, and immigration restrictions need to be addressed to foster productive discussions and collaborations. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of global South solidarities.

Flexibility and commitment to civil society are considered critical in ensuring successful collaboration between civil society and the private sector. Both entities have shown solidarity in opposing unsuitable legislation, further highlighting their significance in digital governance.

The role of the Digital Librarian in the Global South Solidarities initiative is of great prominence. The Digital Librarian is responsible for curating all work, ensuring organization, and addressing profound questions about the digital universe raised by members. This role serves as a crucial pillar in fostering collaborative efforts and effective knowledge dissemination.

Furthermore, plans for a mutual fund and network mapping for global solidarity are currently underway. The mutual fund will be launched and announced in Brazil in November, with discussions on capacity building and funding opportunities as next steps. Network mapping aims to identify similar initiatives and learn from efforts that bring various organizations in the Global South together on different issues.

Overall, the discussion highlights the vital role of Global South Solidarities in digital governance. Collaborative efforts, such as those pursued by Data Privacy Brazil, and the support of individuals like Aastha Kapoor, connect various initiatives and individuals in pursuit of common goals. However, challenges related to exclusion, surveillance, and digital inequality must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and inclusivity of global South solidarities.

Fernanda

Fernanda, a director at Internet Lab, a think tank in São Paulo, Brazil, is excited about attending the upcoming Data Privacy Brazil conference. As a representative of the Global South, she aims to engage in meaningful exchanges and discussions with other participants to address the challenges they currently face.

Internet Lab, known for focusing on digital rights and policies, considers Fernanda’s presence at the conference significant. As a director, she possesses extensive knowledge and insights into the complexities of data privacy. Her participation will enable her to share these perspectives and exchange ideas with other experts in the field.

Being from the Global South, Fernanda brings a unique perspective to the table. The challenges faced by countries in this region regarding data privacy may differ from those in developed countries. Participation in the conference allows Fernanda to shed light on these specific challenges and contribute to developing solutions that are inclusive and reflective of the needs of the Global South.

The Data Privacy Brazil conference serves as a platform for professionals and researchers to come together and discuss the latest developments, concerns, and potential solutions in the field of data privacy. Fernanda’s attendance offers an opportunity for collaboration and learning from different experiences and approaches. By fostering connections and conversations, attendees, including Fernanda, strive to create a more comprehensive and impactful framework for data privacy.

Overall, Fernanda’s presence at the Data Privacy Brazil conference symbolizes the increasing importance and attention given to data privacy in Brazil and the Global South. Her commitment to confronting challenges and fostering collaboration reflects the dedication of Internet Lab and other organizations in the region to advocate for robust data protection policies.

Nathan

In Brazil, a collaborative digital librarian initiative has been launched with the objective of curating, organizing, and disseminating knowledge related to digital rights. This initiative is a partnership between Data Privacy Brazil, Apti Institute, and Paradigm Initiatives. The digital librarian will play a crucial role in this endeavor by curating and sharing information on digital rights. The initiative has been positively received, with individuals expressing excitement and anticipation for its impact on strengthening engagement among Global South organizations.

However, despite the positive reception, there are challenges that hinder the achievement of consensus within the digital rights landscape. One of the key challenges is the presence of conflicts of interest between civil society and the private sector. This conflict becomes particularly evident in the context of platform regulation, where big tech companies have been lobbying and advocating their interests to parliamentarians. Brazil has been seeking platform regulation since January, aiming to address conflicts of interest between civil society and the private sector. The chaotic scenario resulting from these conflicts poses a significant obstacle to effective regulation.

Moreover, there are barriers faced by Global South organizations in engaging with larger international conferences. Financial support and visa issues are cited as major hindrances, as most conferences tend to be held in the Global North. This lack of participation from Global South organizations limits their ability to contribute to global discussions on digital rights. To address this issue, a report titled “Voices from Global South” will be launched, shedding light on the obstacles faced by these organizations and sparking discussions around potential solutions.

In conclusion, the digital librarian initiative in Brazil holds promise for advancing knowledge and engagement in the field of digital rights within the Global South. However, challenges such as conflicts of interest and barriers to participation in international conferences need to be addressed. It is believed that comprehensive platform regulation is essential and must consider the interests of all societal sectors, including civil society and the private sector, to effectively tackle these challenges.

Miki

Miki is currently employed by a startup that has a commendable objective of collecting primary information about social issues from an extensive range of over 1000 sources. The startup’s primary aim is to ensure that individuals have access to information that enables them to think independently and make informed decisions about various matters affecting society. By providing comprehensive information, the startup hopes to empower people by equipping them with the knowledge necessary to participate actively in democratic processes.

Miki strongly believes in the fundamental significance of access to information in fostering real democracy. Recognizing that a well-informed citizenry is at the core of a functioning democracy, Miki underscores the importance of ensuring that people have access to important and comprehensive information. This access fosters an environment where the public can make knowledgeable decisions, engage in meaningful discussions, and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Miki’s support of access to information as a crucial element of democracy highlights the vital role the startup plays in promoting transparency and citizen participation.

In addition to Miki’s commitment to promoting access to information, they also exhibit a keen interest in understanding the challenges associated with creating a consensus for establishing a platform between civil society and the private sector. While specific details of these challenges are not provided, Miki’s inclination towards exploring this topic suggests an awareness of the complexities involved in achieving cooperation between these two sectors. Such cooperation is essential to effectively address societal challenges and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals.

In conclusion, Miki’s involvement with the startup reflects their dedication to making primary information about social issues accessible to individuals around the world. Their belief in the transformative power of access to information for democracy underscores the critical role played by the startup in fostering transparency and citizen engagement. Moreover, Miki’s eagerness to understand the difficulties involved in establishing a consensus between civil society and the private sector reflects their commitment to exploring innovative solutions and fostering partnerships for achieving sustainable development. Overall, their involvement in these domains demonstrates a forward-thinking mindset and a strong drive to contribute positively to society.

Jacquelene

The analysis focuses on several key topics related to global partnerships, civil society participation, and data privacy. One of the main points discussed is the importance of joint contributions in Global South Solidarities. The analysis highlights that Data Privacy Brazil made a joint contribution with civil society entities from India, including the Institute, Paradigm Initiative, and Internet Bolivia. This demonstrates the significance of collaboration and collective efforts in addressing global challenges.

Another prominent topic discussed is the need for greater participation and advocacy with government representatives. It is noted that issues such as surveillance, internet shutdowns, and censorship are primarily discussed in multilateral spaces like the UN, with limited opportunities for civil society participation. This argument underscores the importance of amplifying the voices of civil society actors in decision-making processes and advocating for their inclusion in relevant discussions.

The analysis also supports the idea of collective contribution to the Global Digital Compact of the UN. Data Privacy Brazil made a joint contribution with civil society entities from different countries to the Global Digital Compact. This showcases the support for collaborative efforts in achieving the goals outlined in the compact, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and shared responsibility.

Furthermore, the analysis advocates for increased capacity for civil society to participate in discussions at multilateral spaces like the UN. It suggests that issues such as surveillance, internet shutdowns, and censorship are predominantly discussed in multilateral spaces, which often have limited opportunities for civil society engagement. The analysis positively highlights the need for increased civil society participation and the importance of their perspectives in shaping policies and decisions related to peace, justice, and strong institutions.

The overall sentiment of the analysis is positive towards joint contributions and increasing civil society participation. It underscores the importance of collaboration, shared responsibility, and amplifying civil society voices to effectively address global challenges. Notably, the analysis sheds light on the critical issue of data privacy and the limited spaces available for civil society participation in discussions regarding surveillance, internet shutdowns, and censorship.

In conclusion, the analysis presents a comprehensive overview of the importance of joint contributions, increased civil society participation, and collective efforts in addressing global challenges. It highlights the significance of partnerships and shared responsibility in the Global South Solidarities and the Global Digital Compact of the UN. The analysis also emphasizes the need to expand the space for civil society participation and the importance of their perspectives in relevant multilateral discussions.

Aastha Kapoor:
Great, can we get the screen on? Hi, welcome to the earliest possible session of this conference, day one, session one. We’re looking to talk about Global South Solidarities for Global Digital Governance, but because the Global South has not woken up so far, we are, hi. So, there are a couple of things to just say out loud. Our co-organizers, Rafa from Data Privacy Brazil couldn’t make it, but we have Nathan, which is wonderful, and Jacqueline online. We also have Benga, who we are waiting for. We know he’s in Kyoto, and he’s from the Paradigm Initiative. And I am Aastha Kapoor. I’m the co-founder of Aapti Institute. We’re a tech policy research firm based in Bangalore. What we are looking to discuss today is this idea of Global South Solidarities. I know that some of this was discussed earlier at RightsCon as well, and we’re looking to build on some of that work and also discuss issues that are common between different parts of the Global South, and then to ask the next set of questions of what needs to be done. Again, I know that this has happened once before, so I have updates on that discussion. Two main ones. The first is that Data Privacy Brazil has advertised for the role of a digital librarian. This digital librarian is gonna work with organizations like all of ours to help curate knowledge online, and they will be the single point of contact to help understand what are some of the issues. So if you, for instance, have a question around, hey, what is happening with data governance in India, then you could potentially pose this question to the digital librarian, who will send you then a set of readings. And so the idea is to make sure that we’re not all recreating the wheel, we’re not all asking the same questions in different kinds of voids, and make sure that we can all have a space where all the different knowledge that we produce can be curated, organized, and also disseminated. So there’s been a call for applications, and Data Privacy Brazil, Apti Institute and Paradigm Initiatives are trying to bring that together. The second announcement is that since the Costa Rica event, again, Data Privacy Brazil has been in the process of organizing a fund for research initiatives in the global south. And that’s what I wanted to start off this discussion with, is because we’ve been going back and forth with Rafa and Bruno to understand where the value of this fund is, what it can do and what it can’t do. And would love to get some thoughts from this group to understand that when we think of research and the global south, and if you had a small amount of money, I think it’s $8,000 to do a piece of research, what do you think would be a valuable way to apportion that money? And we’ll use this question as a way to also uncover what the major issues are that we want to focus on and where we see the conversation moving. Nathan, did I miss anything?

Nathan:
Hi, everyone. I think you can hear me. So this is a great opportunity for us to discuss how to engage in a global southern perspective. So as Esther, Asta, sorry, she just said, we have this initiative on the digital librarian that will play a key role for this organization of digital information regarding digital rights. And soon maybe we’ll have this chosen person that will be this digital librarian. And I think it would be interesting to hear from other people that are here. So we can think on how to start to engage or how to strengthen our engagement between global southern countries and global southern organizations. Maybe pass the mic to you. I don’t know your name. What’s your name? Osama, okay.

Osama:
Thank you very much. I’m Osama Khilji. I’m director of Bolo B in Pakistan. So I wanted to start off with a bit of like what the major issues with internet governance in the global south are. And I think it really stems from securitization of the internet itself. And I think we really need to pick on a set of principles that can sort of lay the groundwork for, okay, what is the purpose of the internet? And what do we envision? So now what are the threats to an open internet that we see in the global south right now? So there’s a lot of investment in surveillance technologies that really undermine the basics of the internet. So for example, you have internet throttling, you have internet shutdowns. And then there’s also the issue of trying to bring in regulations that sort of take over what the companies are doing and imposing those sets of regulation on social media and internet companies that then overall undermines your freedom of expression and privacy rights on the internet. So looking at that sort of the landscape that we see as we have it today, as the global south, how do we envision the internet? So are we going to allow big players that have their political issues to overshadow how we look at the internet? So for example, the Chinese firewall or with the Russia-Ukraine invasion, we’ve seen how so much of the internet is now censored. So you can’t get information from other countries just because of a political conflict that’s going on. And because of that, we’re seeing the borders of the world being reflected onto the internet. And the whole point of the internet was to connect the world in a way where there are no borders. So for me, I think it’s really the question of how do we get rid of these borders that we are starting to build over the internet and that are really strengthening. So your experience of using the internet in one country is very dissimilar to the use of internet in another. And I think that’s fundamentally the problem with how a lot of the states are moving towards digital authoritarianism and changing the experience that we have. So I think keeping these in mind, it’d be useful to go forward and think of how do we strategize and how do we build solidarities where people like us who believe in an open internet can sort of push for the internet to remain so.

Aastha Kapoor:
Do you wanna come up front? Would you like to say something? Are you guys participating? Come. Yeah. Okay. So it’s super interesting because, and I don’t know why we’re doing this on a mic now, but what we’ve been seeing in India as well, and I would love to hear what’s going on in Brazil, is that we see that the internet, as you rightly said, is both being used as a way to exclude people, so internet shutdowns, but also because there are people who are not connected, et cetera, so on all kinds of ways, access is being limited. So we have a state of unrest in an eastern part of India. The internet has been shut down for many, many days. And so that changes the way people access information, that changes the way people understand the situation, that changes the way the government or certain groups can control the narrative because that organic, potentially dangerous nature of the internet is called. What also happens is that, and again, you said this, is that the internet is also, or digital technologies are also used to create mechanisms of surveillance. So it’s a double-edged sword because in some instances, I was reading somewhere that Syrian refugees that are coming into the borders of Europe, their phones are actively snatched and broken down because nobody wants to hear the stories that they’ve been chronicling. So how do we sort of grapple the head around these divergent ideas of the internet and what it can and cannot do? And then the second question, I guess, or a small disagreement with you is that you said people’s experiences with the internet are dissimilar, which they are in where you are in your journey in some ways, but they’re also similar in the way that harms are perpetuated. So Uber drivers across the world are suffering similar kinds of harms. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Paris or in London, so while I, or in India, right? Like the protests and the nature of the protests that the Uber drivers have been doing against platforms globally have similar language. Their ability to claim rights is very different in Europe because of GDPR and very different in other parts of the world. So there is, I think, a lot of significant nuance that is required because the idea of solidarity, with whom solidarity bases what experience, I think is really important to think about. I don’t think that we could have solidarities with some countries in the global south that don’t experience internet shutdowns. That is very peculiar to us. So I think that the global south experience is extremely valuable, but then to nuance that solidarity is also going to be quite interesting and maybe the research work can help do that.

Nathan:
I think that, just to start with some issues that you brought related to internet shutdowns or stuff like that, in Brazil, actually, we don’t have internet shutdowns, gratefully, but we do have sometimes some apps are blocked for criminal investigation or something like that. It already happened to Telegram and WhatsApp because of some judicial orders to block the app so they can comply to investigations and open cryptography to have access to messages. So we do have that. And we are in a context in Brazil that we are seeking the platform regulation since January, basically. It’s a comprehensive bill that will try to regulate a platform. And it’s been a very hard process in Brazil because there are several conflicts of interests between civil society and private sector, for example, that doesn’t want the same thing and they have to arrive in a consensus, which is hard. And there was, I think, an episode in Brazil where big techs, they invested money and people and staff to do lobby or advocacy strategies within the legislatives, the parliamentaries, to try to push the platform regulation bill for their side. And I think that it’s worth mentioning that now the President Lula in Brazil is seeking to look towards the decent work theme so it’s an agenda for Brazil right now, especially within the G20. And platform regulation has a close relationship with this agenda for workers. So we are looking to that also in data privacy Brazil and try to work also with this agenda in the G20 focus groups that they have. And I think that one last thing that we should maybe start to discuss is to understand what are the spaces, institutional spaces where we can discuss and address these kind of issues. Because we have some different organizations such as the ITU or even the IGF or other organizations or other multilateral organizations that discuss such themes. And I think it’s worth to understand how can we build a collective knowledge to work or to act within these spaces, to understand how can we engage with these spaces. I think it’s a very interesting question for us to start again our discussion here. Thank you.

Aastha Kapoor:
Thanks so much for that. Some new people have walked in, which is great. Would you like to talk about, we’re talking about. what are Global South Solidarities and what are the institutional spaces to enact some of these Global South Solidarities. There’s a mic over there, next to you. It would be great if you can introduce yourself.

Tove Matimbe:
Thank you so much. I think you can switch it on. All right, hi everyone. I’m Tove Gile Matimbe and I work for Paradigm Initiative. And I think some of the platforms that we see an opportunity for work and collaboration, platforms such as, of course, the African Internet Governance Forum, but on a global scale, of course, being here as well, the IGF. But also there are a number of convenings that are happening at least within the African continent. Such platforms include one that we particularly convene, which is called the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum. We’ve made use of that platform. I think in the past year, we did a good collaborative effort with Data Privacy Brazil. And we are hoping to continue to engage, to share experiences and draw from each other’s context. As we see, I think there are a number of commonalities there for us. I think two weeks ago, there was another forum for internet freedom in Africa as well, which was a good platform as well to be able to engage. And there’s always room, I think, for us to be able to streamline what are the spaces that we can really make the most impact in terms of changing policy, and in terms of as well pushing for data governance. And for us, what we’ve seen is useful as well is being able to put out even joint statements or joint submissions. We’ve collaborated with organizations as well, such as Kiktonet, Data Privacy Brazil, Apti, to be able to put forward our response with regards to the GDC process. So I think that’s something that I just highlight as an open sort of like remark, yeah. Yeah.

Aastha Kapoor:
No, that’s super interesting. And I think that it would be important to identify certain opportunities for us to, like you brought up, the GDC is certainly a big one, I think, in which we all have something to say, and the process has been quite consultative. You also mentioned G20, and we’re rolling off an India presidency into a Brazilian one, and then it goes to South Africa. So there’s a very strong troika for G20, which can be definitely leveraged to embed some of these conversations. I know we’ve been talking about digital public infrastructure, and PICS and UPI, which is the Indian version of a payment protocol come up all the time. I think it’s just the start of day one, but several day zero panels were also talking about technologies that are being developed in the global South and how they can be brought into the world and offer an alternative to the ideas of big tech that exist globally. So there’s tons to chew on. What I would really love to move direction into is that I would love to understand if there are best practices of harnessing solidarities that you’ve identified in your work, if you think organizations and movements globally have come together to create institutional financial architectures, I guess, and how do we learn from those? Osama, I’m gonna go to you.

Osama:
Yeah, thank you. I think, as we know, there’s some regions that are super, there’s a lot more solidarity. So for example, when we look at the African region and in Latin America, we see a lot of events and coordination happening. But I think unfortunately in Asia, especially South Asia, a lot of the political issues between the governments don’t allow civil society groups to convene locally other than say in Nepal or Sri Lanka, we’ve had a few convenings. But other than that, but when you look at the issues, it’s like, if you’re talking about India, I could just replace India with Pakistan and literally be the same issues, right? And even when you look at the legislation, so in Bangladesh, in India and in Pakistan, they mirror each other. So there’s a lot of potential for collaboration there. So with the global network initiative, we’ve seen because the membership base has been growing, there’s been a lot of space and focus on, especially global South, across global South. So there is an Africa focal sort of group loosely, then there’s Latin America and there’s Asia. And a lot of times we sit together to discuss these things. So that’s super key and important. And then of course, at RightsCon and at IGF, there’s often convening such as the one we’re having, but we also need to look at the issues with it, right? So for example, take today, for example, it’s IGF, one of our panelists was not allowed in the country because of immigration issues. Then we look at the timing, it’s 8.30 a.m. here, which means in most of the countries that we come from, it’s either 4.00 a.m., so crack of dawn. So how do you organize a session for a region without keeping into account the time zone that they’re in? So I think such like barriers also need to be looked at and critiqued in order for us to really go forward in a way that’s productive. But I think like, and then we also need to look at issues of access. So how many people or voices from the global south are able to become a part of conversations such as these? You know, it takes a lot of privilege to be able to travel to conferences and to make submissions, get the visas in time, get your bookings, et cetera. And then online participation, there’s restrictions on that as well. So I think the approach has to be holistic so that it’s representative. But at the same time, I think it’s important that we also start to not let states lead these discussions. It needs to be a multi-stakeholder approach. So for looking at what states are doing, a lot of it is oppressive towards the majority of the populations. And I think civil society needs to adopt a similar language to be able to deal with states and to be able to negotiate so that power can come from solidarity. And I think that’s what we really need to crack.

Aastha Kapoor:
Perfect, thank you for saying that, both about the structural as well as some of the functional issues. I know some people have joined. It would be lovely if you guys, this is a networking session, so you don’t really have to listen to us. You can have a voice and a seat at the table. So if you guys could just come up front, that’d be amazing. We’ll hand you a mic to introduce yourselves. Not to put everyone on the spot, but it would be great if you guys came up front. I know they slotted us early, so maybe they’ll give us a little bit of time to get warmed up and stay in the room. So we’re just trying to understand both commonalities, differences, and how we can mobilize for action in the context of the Global South. We have with us Data Privacy Brazil. I’m from Apti Institute. Bolo Bhi. Bolo Bhi from Pakistan. Paradigms Initiative from? Nigeria. Zimbabwe. So we’re trying to understand where, and what Data Privacy Brazil has done to start us off on this journey is that they have a digital librarian who’s gonna hold all this knowledge from the Global South and make sure that we can hear about it, reach out to this person, and say, hey, what’s going on in this part of the world? And then they can send us readings, materials, thinking. They’re also launching a fund to do research on some of these questions. And that’s what we’re also trying to understand, that where both, what kind of problems do we want to uncover? And then also, how do we want to come together? And the harsh realities of the fact that we can’t travel very easily. So, yeah, so just wanted to pass the mic around. Please introduce yourself. Vent your anxieties.

Ifran:
Good morning. I’m Ifran. I’m from Bangladesh. I’m a senior lecturer in law, and human rights researcher, you can say. So I think I’ve just entered into the room and trying to understand what you’re actually trying to say. But the access to knowledge is actually one of the problems that we have been facing in my country, particularly as a law professor in Bangladesh. I can see my students are having acute shortage of original textbook, and the online resources are actually, for example, the journal articles or the research papers are not accessible for them. They are actually mostly burnt through the paywalls. They’re not easy way to access them. You need to go to the pirated sites and sites like the Sci-Hub, which I frequently use, and I found it quite useful. And thanks to that lady who has actually brought it in for us, but what about sharing the knowledge? I mean, how does the knowledge divide between the North and South can be alleviated? I mean, I don’t have any specific answer. I’m here to learn from everyone from you. Thank you very much.

Fernanda:
Hello, everyone. I am Fernanda from Brazil. I am one of the directors at Internet Lab, a think tank based in Sao Paulo, and we are close to Data Privacy Brazil, so I will be in the next conference in November, and I am here to meet you better and exchange more about Global South and the challenges that we are facing at this moment, so nice to see you all. Thank you.

Miki:
My name is Miki. I’m from Japan. I’m working sometimes with NGOs, but most of the time I’m working for a startup, and they’re a startup which are providing primary information from all over the world, so we have more than 1,000 sources. We are collecting, actually, the information, the primary information about lots of social issues, and then it’s because we think that everyone in the world, all people need to, must have the information to think by themselves, to have the real democracy, and we are trying to create a platform of people and, sorry, I would like to ask the question about Brazil. You talked about it, you, sorry, I forgot the name. Nathan. Nathan, sorry. You said that it was difficult to have the consensus to have the platform, to create the platform between civil society and private sectors, and I think you need it to manage, so I would like to know what was really the difficulties that you felt and how you managed to build.

Nathan:
And if you’d like to comment on the same question. Actually, I didn’t work specifically with the legislative process related to the platform regulation, but what we could see in the precedent case was that there are a very high conflict of interest between big techs or other platforms from Brazil. For example, we have a very big delivery platform in Brazil called iFood that has a close relationship with the workers’ movement, what they demand from the platforms. So we have this situation in which there is very distinct interests that they might have to be handled so we can build a comprehensive and a good regulation for platforms, but this was the scenario in general where there was a very strict and high conflict of interest between several societal sectors, for example, from civil society or private sector, and there were interests from government agents too, so there is this chaotic scenario to trying to build the regulation. I would like to just add one thing that you said related to barriers to trying to engage in organizations or something like that. We’ll be launching on Friday morning a report regarding, it’s called Voices from Global South. and where we interviewed some activists from Global South to understand what are the institutional spaces that they are willing to engage or that they comprehend as a fruitful space for engagement for a Global South organization. And IGF was one of these spaces, but they also highlighted some issues related to financial support to attend these conferences because most of them are held in the Global North, so there is this this traveling issue or visa issues that might happen. So in this report we were able to gather all this information through interviews to understand which are these spaces and what are the pros and cons of each one and to understand how to try to build this collective knowledge on how to engage in these spaces. So on Friday morning on the Human Rights and Standards panel we’ll be launching the report and it will be available in English, so I think it will be more accessible for most of the people. Thank you.

Tove Matimbe:
I’ll just highlight that from our own experience engaging with the private sector it’s something that we’ve been you know consciously and deliberately trying to achieve in terms of a good working sort of like model of engaging with the private sector, because what we’ve discovered is that when we’re trying to engage a lot with the private sector they are usually reluctant, maybe is a good word to use here, to be actually on the table, be in the room for us to have a you know a conversation around the issues that need to be addressed, especially when we’re looking at policy and how policy needs to be developed in a way that best suits fundamental rights and freedoms. And what we’ve found to be more useful is to you know sort of like have closed door meetings with a few actors, but also we’ve stepped up to invite the private sector to also be involved in some of the regional convenings that we host, and we’ve we can safely say we’ve got a few probably a couple of you know of big companies that you know supportive in terms of showing up and being part of these conversations, but I think definitely we we share I think the same sentiments that have been already raised here, that it’s you know it’s a bit tricky sometimes, maybe perhaps being an issue of business expediency and trying to operate for companies in a certain jurisdiction and trying to make sure that probably they’re aligned with with the government, but we continue to push back and call for even transparency with regards to how the private sector engages with the government and we found that being very useful. But also just you know touching on the the earlier conversation around you know the discrimination, what I call the discriminatory practices that you know push away certain groups of people particularly from the global south to participate in certain platforms that ideally would be useful and meaningful with regards to shaping the discourse back in the global south. Looking at the visa processes, I think this is something that we experienced at RightsCon and we are here at the global IGF and yeah I think it’s already been mentioned one of our colleagues from data privacy Brazil could not be here because of you know some of these things that that we’re discussing. So how do we go forward and ensure that whatever processes that we’re discussing as being useful and meaningful, I mean platforms that are actually accessible to everyone so that we’re able to bring our voices together. That being said, looking at the financial aspect of things that’s another form of exclusion because what we’re saying is we want to be able to form you know a critical mass or a critical movement that you know pushes back against the violations that we’re seeing in our different countries within the global south and how can we become more and more efficient together because I think definitely what we’ve been doing so far together I think it’s showing that I think there is definitely force and there’s definitely strength in you know in achieving what we want to achieve as a global south because we understand our experiences better. We’ve got lessons that we can share with each other and definitely we can leverage on our expertise so that we are able to do great things together. Why do I say that? I think definitely there’s something that you’ve already mentioned about you know the the research element of things where we’re saying we can pull together you know the great work that we’ve done and through that research are able to actually map if there are any if there are you know any golden threads that we can we can we can pick out from there and draw learnings and be able to make critical recommendations, learn from Latin America and what’s happening there, bring it into the context perhaps of certain African jurisdictions and be able to apply that and shape what we want to shape and apart from research and in that knowledge base that we’re trying to you know put together we are also being able to sort of like see how we can continue to elevate even growing organizations on the not just on the continent but within the global south to be able to grow in the digital rights space and having that sort of like a solid fund that we’re able to you know be able to assist those who are coming up. I think it’s something that is going towards you know what we want to see, the environment that we want to see and internet governance that we want to see within the global south so that we’re able to sort of make steps towards overcoming some of our barriers and the things that we’re facing every day.

Osama:
Sure yeah I just wanted to end the note with well first you spoke about you know engagement with the private sector and from our experiences in Pakistan what we’ve seen whenever there’s a convergence between the civil society and company front like we work together quite well so for example when the state’s trying to bring in new legislative proposals that obviously do not suit either civil society or companies so there’s a lot of solidarity with the companies as weird as it sounds and I think that’s a good model to also look at because sometimes when private sector and civil society joins forces then this state has to backtrack a bit so that’s something I wanted to touch upon. But overall what it sounds like is that we have good research, we have good ideas and they’re all coming together which is very very encouraging so I’m very glad that Paradigm and the Brazilian organizations, organizations from India are getting together and I think this is the sort of regional solidarities and conversations that need to be built on. What we need to focus on now is how we can use this research for advocacy and how can the advocacy be most effective knowing what we have and using what we know how do we push this forward and I think just coming up with like a joint advocacy strategy would be really really amazing where we have the research you know that you spoke about where the Global South activists are talking about okay these are the issues so now what next and I think that also sort of excites me because it shows that we have some backing of you know knowledge and now we’re moving forward as to how to communicate with states and I think that is really what the focus needs to be on.

Aastha Kapoor:
Absolutely, thank you so much. You know there are so many different points of convergence and also now clear strategies to move from research well first from making knowledge accessible creating new knowledge and then figuring out how to expand and disseminate that knowledge to a joint advocacy agenda and I really like that and I agree I think that sometimes the idea of technology is so interesting that you make strange bedfellows sometimes you’re you know aligning with the private sector and sometimes you’re you know aligning with the state and I think that flexibility nimbleness and the commitment to civil society is really really critical. I wanted to move to the online attendees I know it’s been a little bit of a long runway to get there but I wanted to go to the online moderator Jacqueline and to see if she might be able to take a few questions and comments.

Jacquelene:
Hi everyone can you hear me? Yeah. Okay hello Asta, hi everyone I’m sorry I’m not able to turn on my camera today but we have no questions or comments yet. I would just like to thank everyone who’s in the room this being a very interesting session and also I like to comment on behalf of Data Privacy Brazil about this joint contribution that we made at the beginning of this year to the Global Digital Compact of the UN. We made this joint contribution with civil society entities from from India with the Institute with paradigm initiative and also with partners from Internet Bolivia in Latin America so I think this was a huge step for us in this Global South Solidarities that we are discussing and I totally agree with the last speaker regarding the participation that we must have on a advocacy especially in relation with government representatives because we are seeing that a lot of these processes and issues that you guys brought today like surveillance, internet shutdowns, censorship these are being mostly discussed in multilateral spaces like we have this committee on cyber crime happening at the UN and we have so little few spaces for civil society to participate so I think that’s very important for us to contribute together like we did and still try to engage but looking at the representatives from our governments to try to engage more effective in this process so that’s my comment for now.

Aastha Kapoor:
Great thanks to a Jacquelene, and everybody else whose online you know we can continue this conversation we have a little slack channel we have a mailing list so you know write to one of us and we’ll add you on to that. Just in terms of I know we have a few more minutes left but I wanted to just call out some of the next steps so as I mentioned earlier the call for applications for the Digital Librarian for this Global South Solidarities is already out and we’re in the process of reviewing those resumes and making sure that we have one person who we can all go to to ask all our deep questions around where is this in the digital universe and somebody who’s going to curate all our work somebody is going to make sure that things are organized and do the hard work that librarians do. The second part of this is the idea of the fund which I think you know many interesting opportunities in that have come up what we’re also going to do is try to map where similar initiatives are because you know basis this conversation we’ve learned that there are indeed some solidarities and efforts that are being done across the world to bring different types of organizations in the Global South and on around different issues together so you know we’re going to do a little bit of that landscape and then come back to this group with a clear agenda. I know that the fund will be launched and announced in November in Brazil which is be lovely but but yeah and thank you so much for being here and for engaging in this very early morning conversation on day one you know we’ll see you guys over the course of the next few days and hopefully to keep continue chatting about this. Thank you. Thank you.

Audience:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.