Advocacy to Action: Engaging Policymakers on Digital Rights | IGF 2023

Knowledge Graph of Debate

Session report

Fernanda Kalianny Martins Sousa

The political climate in Brazil is currently frustrating for civil society organisations, as it hampers their social participation in discussions related to internet governance. While Brazil has been known for its experiments in participatory governance, the new Lula government seems to be lacking the same level of participation as before. This negative sentiment is driving the argument that the political climate is hindering civil society organisations from fully engaging in discussions.

One aspect of internet regulation being discussed in Brazil is Bill 2630, a proposed law aimed at regulating online platforms. Although this law has been the subject of discussion for the past three years, its approval remains uncertain. While some argue that it is a good law with a few problems, there is still uncertainty surrounding its fate. Civil society organisations have been actively working on this law, with the intention of combating the previous government’s approach to internet governance.

Another point of concern is the complexity of the political landscape in relation to platform regulation in Brazil. Political factors and a lack of government consultation with civil society have made the process more intricate. The argument is that the government needs to consider the input of civil society organisations to address these concerns effectively.

Efforts to bring civil society together in Brazil to discuss online regulation have been ongoing for several years. Internet Lab, along with over 50 organisations across the country, has played a significant role in these discussions. Federal Deputy Orlando Silva has also been instrumental in bringing these discussions to parliament. The sentiment around these efforts is neutral, indicating that there is progress in bringing civil society together for these discussions.

The failure of self-regulation in the internet sector is a cause of concern. Even ten years after the approval of Marcos Civil, self-regulation is seen as ineffective. This negative sentiment highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes and ensuring that any form of regulation, including state regulation, is flexible and able to evolve as needed.

Connecting international, national, and local levels in the regulation of internet governance is both challenging and necessary. Internet Lab has been actively working towards this goal. By working in conjunction with different fields in Brazil and the global South, they have been able to push legal boundaries and regulations combating issues such as disinformation.

In Brazil, the need to address political gender-based violence and hate speech against women online is recognised. Efforts have been made to enforce and utilise a law against political gender-based violence. There are also ongoing efforts to approve points related to a law against hate speech online against women in the election mini-reform. The sentiment here is positive, indicating that taking action against these issues is seen as necessary and commendable.

In conclusion, the current political climate in Brazil is creating challenges for civil society organisations in their engagement in discussions related to internet governance. The uncertain fate of Bill 2630, the complexity surrounding platform regulation, and the issues of self-regulation in the internet sector are significant concerns. However, there are ongoing efforts to bring civil society together, connect different levels of governance, and address specific issues like political gender-based violence and hate speech.

Internet Bolivia Foundation

The analysis highlights the effectiveness of working at the municipal and local levels for digital governance. One notable advantage is that municipalities have a better understanding of local needs, enabling them to tailor policies more accurately to meet the specific requirements of their communities. Furthermore, the absence of excessive bureaucracy allows them to handle policies more swiftly and efficiently.

Another benefit of local regulations is their potential as pilot initiatives for other municipalities. When a municipality successfully implements digital regulations, it serves as a model and encourages other jurisdictions to adopt similar policies. This ripple effect is particularly evident in the case of Coroico, where the implementation of regulations led numerous other municipalities to express their interest in adopting comparable policies.

The analysis also underscores the importance of continuous engagement with communities for effective digital governance. Hosting workshops and maintaining a regular presence in communities helps to spread digital literacy and build support for digital policies. It has been found that people are more likely to support and participate when they have a better understanding of the issues at hand. For example, in Villa Montes, the local population expressed eagerness to learn more about digital rights and requested workshops on the subject.

Notably, the Internet Bolivia Foundation advocates for the presence of key champions in specific issues and encourages the involvement of municipalities or local communities in particular topics. These champions can play a vital role in enacting beneficial regulations and driving digital governance initiatives at the community level.

In conclusion, working at the municipal and local levels proves to be highly effective for digital governance. The analysis demonstrates the numerous advantages of this approach, such as a better understanding of local needs, quicker policy implementation, and the potential for pilot initiatives. Continuous engagement with communities, including hosting workshops and involving key champions, fosters digital literacy and enhances support for digital policies. The Internet Bolivia Foundation recognises the power of community-level work and actively advocates for its implementation.

Nick Benequista

The analysis delves into various aspects of policy intervention and awareness, focusing on the positive sentiment towards Liza Garcia’s comprehensive approach. Nick Benequista praises Liza for actively participating in the drafting and implementation of laws, policy shaping, and raising public awareness on digital laws. Liza’s well-rounded involvement impresses Nick, demonstrating her dedication to effective policy intervention.

Furthermore, Nick expresses interest in the influence of civil society on legislative agenda setting. He questions whether civil society can exert influence in determining which legislation gets passed or regulated. This showcases Nick’s curiosity about the extent of civil society’s involvement and impact on policy matters, particularly in the legislative process.

The analysis also highlights the proactive approach of Internet Lab in engaging with policy processes. It mentions that Internet Lab has been actively addressing internet governance issues for the last nine years and has collaborated with a coalition of over 50 organizations in Brazil. This underscores the organization’s commitment and effectiveness in tackling internet governance concerns.

Additionally, the importance of having allies in parliament for effective policy engagement is emphasised. The analysis highlights the crucial role of Federal Deputy Orlando Silva in platform regulation discussions. This highlights the significance of building alliances and having supportive individuals within the legislative sphere to advance effective policy-making.

The analysis reinforces the importance of serving the public interest in governance. It underlines the necessity of public accountability as a crucial aspect of policy-making. Policymakers are expected to prioritize the public’s well-being and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.

However, the analysis also raises concerns about imperfect accountability mechanisms. Nick expresses apprehension that policymakers may be influenced by narrow interests, including personal interests, which can hinder their ability to effectively serve the public interest. This draws attention to the need for robust accountability mechanisms to ensure policymakers remain focused on the public’s welfare.

In conclusion, this analysis provides valuable insights into various aspects of policy intervention and engagement. It underscores the importance of comprehensive involvement, the role of civil society, the proactive approach of organizations like Internet Lab, the significance of alliances in parliament, and the necessity of serving the public interest. It acknowledges concerns regarding imperfect accountability but emphasizes the need for effective mechanisms to ensure policymakers act in the best interest of the public. These findings offer valuable perspectives for policymakers and stakeholders striving for inclusive and effective policy-making.

Audience

The analysis explores various topics concerning governance and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. One key point raised is the difficulty in translating discussions between the national and local levels. This poses a challenge as issues can be lost or significantly altered during the translation process. It emphasizes the importance of improved coordination between local and national governance to facilitate effective communication and policy implementation. The analysis advocates for advocacy efforts to enhance coordination between these governance levels.

Another important topic discussed is Paradigm Initiative’s unsuccessful attempt to enact digital rights enabling legislation in Nigeria. Despite receiving support from certain parliamentarians, the bill did not receive the necessary assent from the President. This setback underscores the need for effective lobbying strategies and consensus-building among political parties. The analysis highlights that political parties may have differing views on digital rights, making it difficult to gain consensus and legislative support. Engaging with Members of Parliament on this issue can also be challenging due to party influences. Developing strategies that navigate these complexities is crucial to promote the enactment of digital rights enabling legislation.

Additionally, the analysis mentions the efforts in Uganda to establish a parliamentary forum on internet governance. This initiative aims to raise awareness and educate Members of Parliament on internet governance issues. The Uganda Media Sector Working Group is actively involved in creating awareness of relevant laws. Plans are underway to establish the parliamentary forum as a platform for important discussions and knowledge sharing among parliamentarians. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to addressing internet governance issues and promoting a deeper understanding among policymakers.

Overall, the analysis sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in governance, particularly within the context of SDG 16. It emphasizes the need for improved coordination between local and national governance, effective lobbying strategies for digital rights legislation, and initiatives that educate and raise awareness among policymakers. These insights contribute to the broader discussion on achieving peace, justice, and strong institutions as outlined in SDG 16.

Sarah Opendi

Upon analysis of the provided data, several main points emerge regarding the role and responsibilities of parliamentarians in relation to the digital space, technology, and internet governance.

Firstly, it is argued that civil society should equip members of parliament with necessary information and skills in the digital space and technology. This would enable parliamentarians to better represent the public’s interests in this increasingly important area. Furthermore, the central role of parliamentarians in connecting the public and the executive, thereby representing the public’s interests, is highlighted as essential.

Another key point is the need to create awareness among parliament members about technical matters related to the internet and internet governance. The evidence suggests that currently, only a few parliament members possess an appropriate understanding of these issues. It is proposed that by increasing awareness and knowledge in this area, parliamentarians can effectively address digital literacy issues, advocate for affordable internet access, and ensure the incorporation of ICT in the education curriculum.

Additionally, the analysis reveals that in Uganda, parliamentarians should serve as links to lower local governments on internet governance matters. It is noted that there is currently a missing ICT committee at the local government level to oversee internet issues. The implementation of a top-down approach, engaging policymakers, is advocated by Sarah Opendi, reflecting her belief in the importance of connecting parliamentarians with grassroots communities.

Furthermore, it is brought to attention that artificial intelligence (AI) remains largely misunderstood by parliament members. Increased awareness and equipping parliamentarians with key information on AI is advocated as a means to address this knowledge gap.

In terms of advocacy and collaboration, Sarah Opendi supports the idea of a parliamentary forum on internet governance, which would serve to handle advocacy issues and foster collaboration with civil society organisations. This forum aims to strengthen the involvement of parliamentarians in internet governance matters and enhance partnerships for the goals of peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Noteworthy observations include the suggestion that identifying champions for bills is crucial to ensure their successful passage into law. In Uganda, laws can be passed even if the president does not assent to them, provided that parliament insists on returning the bill to the president. It is also highlighted that engaging local populations through effective means such as radio talks and community meetings organised through local governments is key to advocating for bills.

In conclusion, the analysis sheds light on the importance of civil society’s role in equipping parliamentarians with digital knowledge, as well as parliamentarians’ central role in representing the public’s interests and connecting with the executive. It underscores the need for increased awareness and technical knowledge on internet governance among parliament members. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity of advocating for affordable internet access, addressing digital literacy, and incorporating ICT in the education curriculum. The creation of a parliamentary network on internet governance, the identification of champions for bills, and engagement with local populations are proposed as effective strategies to enhance the role of parliamentarians in policy-making and governance processes.

Liza Garcia

Liza Garcia is a prominent human rights advocate who leads an organization dedicated to monitoring and documenting cases of rights violations, with a particular focus on online gender-based violence. Since 2012, Garcia and her team have been diligently collecting evidence of instances of this form of violence. They also actively monitor developments in areas such as SIM card registration and the national ID system.

Garcia strongly believes in actively participating in the process of drafting and implementing laws. She emphasizes the need to ensure the proper implementation of laws and regulations by advocating for her organization’s voice to be heard in policy consultations. By engaging policymakers and parliamentarians, Garcia provides them with evidence of rights violations to support her cause.

An important aspect of Garcia’s work is educating citizens about their rights and the potential impact of new laws. To achieve this, she conducts workshops in communities to increase awareness and empower individuals to protect their rights. By fostering a deeper understanding of the law and its implications, Garcia aims to empower individuals to take action and advocate for their rights.

In the realm of policymaking, Garcia focuses specifically on gender and ICT, as well as privacy and data protection. She aims to address gender disparities in the digital space and advocate for the privacy and data protection rights of individuals. By collaborating with partner organizations and consulting with relevant stakeholders, Garcia works towards building an agenda that reflects the needs and concerns of these communities.

One notable aspect of Garcia’s work is her opposition to the SIM Card Registration Act. She actively campaigned against this legislation, creating a briefing paper that was distributed to legislators and other concerned groups. Thanks to her efforts, the law was successfully vetoed during the previous administration. However, Garcia expresses disappointment that the law eventually passed under a subsequent administration, highlighting the challenges faced in maintaining progress.

Garcia also recognizes the importance of community engagement and collaboration with local governments. She emphasizes that local governments have the ability to pass policies that might be challenging to implement at the national level. By fostering these partnerships, she believes that effective change can be achieved more readily.

Effectively disseminating information is another key area of focus for Garcia. She acknowledges the pivotal role that social media plays in providing information about digital rights issues. Garcia emphasizes the need for individuals to be engaged on whichever platforms they use to stay informed and take action. Additionally, she notes that visual and easily understandable content can be more effective in conveying information, especially as people may be less inclined to read lengthy research papers. By utilizing visual communication, Garcia aims to engage a wider audience and prompt action.

Lastly, Garcia acknowledges the importance of media engagement in raising awareness and expanding the reach of the issues she advocates for. By engaging with the media, she can increase public visibility and generate support for her cause.

In conclusion, Liza Garcia is a dedicated advocate for human rights and an influential figure in the fight against rights violations, particularly online gender-based violence. Through her organization’s efforts to monitor and document cases, Garcia collects evidence to support her cause. She actively engages in the policy-making process, educates citizens about their rights, and focuses on gender and ICT, privacy, and data protection in policymaking. Despite facing challenges in maintaining progress and opposing unfavorable legislation, Garcia remains committed to community engagement, effective information dissemination, and media engagement to further her cause.

Speakers