Open Microphone Taking Stock

Summary

This transcript captures the closing session of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants provided feedback and reflections on the event, as well as suggestions for future IGFs. Many speakers expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting and praised the organization of the forum. Key points of discussion included the importance of youth participation, with several young delegates highlighting their experiences and calling for greater youth involvement in future IGFs.

Accessibility and inclusion were emphasized, with suggestions to better accommodate people with disabilities and ensure broader representation from developing countries. Visa processes were generally praised for being swift, though some noted challenges for certain participants. Several speakers stressed the need for the IGF to have a permanent mandate and stronger institutional capacity to address emerging digital challenges effectively.

Technical issues, particularly related to hybrid participation, were noted as areas for improvement. The importance of Internet governance schools and regional initiatives was highlighted. Many participants called for greater focus on emerging technologies like AI, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and international cooperation in governance.

The discussion also touched on the significance of child rights, cybersecurity, and data privacy. Some speakers suggested enhancing collaboration with UN agencies and other stakeholders to increase the IGF’s impact. Overall, the session reflected a strong commitment to the IGF’s multi-stakeholder approach and its role in shaping global internet governance, with participants looking forward to the next IGF in Norway.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– Appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s hosting and organization of IGF 2024

– Suggestions for improving future IGFs, including visa processes, accessibility, youth involvement, and technical aspects

– Calls to renew and strengthen the IGF mandate

– Importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and inclusivity

– Need to address emerging technologies like AI and cybersecurity

The overall purpose of this discussion was to gather feedback and suggestions from participants about IGF 2024 and ideas for improving future IGFs. It served as a “listening session” for organizers to hear directly from attendees.

The tone was largely positive and appreciative, with many speakers thanking the hosts and expressing enthusiasm for the event. There was also a sense of constructive criticism, with participants offering specific suggestions for improvement. The tone remained consistent throughout, balancing gratitude with a forward-looking focus on enhancing future IGFs.

Speakers

Speakers from provided list:

– Chengetai Masango: Head of the IGF Secretariat

– Carol Roach: Chair of the 2024 MAG

– Ole-Martin Martinsen: 2025 host country chair

– Vint Cerf: Chair of the leadership panel

Additional speakers:

– Jordan Carter: Technical community participant, outgoing MAG member, from Australian Domain Administration

– Adam Peake: ICANN

– Dr. Huseyfi (name may be misspelled): Chad IGF coordinator

– Daa (surname missing): Host country Youth Track representative

– Rui Ferreira: Brazilian Youth Delegation from CGI

– Joao Moreno: Vice chair of the youth standing group

– Itzel: Fellow from the Dynamic Coalition of Accessibility and Disability

– Ghayr Bawari: Coordinator of Afghanistan IGF and affiliate initiatives

– Yusuf Abdel-Qadir: From Syracuse University and Africa Community Internet Program

– Ananda Gautam: Representative of Youth IGF Nepal, Internet Society Youth Standing Group and Youth Coalition on Internet Governance

– Jasmine Ko: Participant from Hong Kong

– Josephine Miliza: Association for Progressive Communication

– Dr. Andrise Bass: Executive Director for Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research, hub for IGF in Dominican Republic

Expanded Summary of IGF 2024 Closing Session

The closing session of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, served as a platform for participants to reflect on the event and offer suggestions for future IGFs. The discussion encompassed a wide range of topics, from logistical considerations to strategic visions for the forum’s future.

Organisation and Logistics

Many speakers expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting and praised the overall organisation of the forum. However, several areas for improvement were identified. Vint Cerf, Chair of the leadership panel, highlighted audio and technical issues that needed addressing, suggesting a post-meeting analysis to resolve these problems. Jordan Carter, from the technical community, emphasised the importance of practising the hybrid format in advance to ensure smoother execution.

The visa process received mixed feedback. While some praised its swiftness, others noted challenges for certain participants, particularly those from developing countries. There were calls for faster approval letters and a more streamlined application process to facilitate broader participation. Specific examples included delays in receiving invitation letters and difficulties for participants from certain regions.

Inclusivity and Representation

A significant portion of the discussion centred on enhancing inclusivity and representation at future IGFs. Itzel, a fellow from the Dynamic Coalition of Accessibility and Disability, made a compelling case for involving people with disabilities in the IGF planning process to ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines. Vint Cerf supported this notion, suggesting the formation of an accommodation expert team to visit future IGF sites well in advance. He also proposed using colored badges for people with accommodation needs to facilitate easier assistance.

Youth participation emerged as a key theme, with several young delegates highlighting their experiences and calling for greater involvement in future IGFs. Daa, the host country Youth Track representative, emphasized the importance of the Youth Track and its role in engaging young people in internet governance discussions. Representatives from various youth initiatives, including the Nepal Youth IGF and the Youth Coalition on Internet Governance, stressed the need for increased youth representation and engagement.

The importance of ensuring participation from developing countries was repeatedly emphasised, with speakers noting the need for improved regional representation, particularly from Latin America. This point underscored the broader goal of making the IGF truly global and inclusive.

IGF Mandate and Future Direction

There was strong support for extending and strengthening the IGF mandate. Jordan Carter voiced the need for a permanent IGF mandate, a sentiment echoed by other participants who called for increased institutional capacity to address emerging digital challenges effectively. The integration of the Global Digital Compact into the next phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was proposed as a crucial step in this direction.

Speakers emphasised the need for a clear, unified strategy for the IGF to maximise its collective impact. The APC representative stressed the importance of a strategic vision for IGF evolution rather than relying on ad hoc partnerships or initiatives. This strategic focus was seen as essential for addressing the dynamic challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Key Topics for Future IGFs

Participants highlighted several critical areas for future IGF discussions:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance: There was a strong emphasis on the need to address AI governance and ethics, with calls for responsible development and use of AI technologies.

2. Cybersecurity and Privacy: Speakers stressed the importance of safeguarding data privacy, security, and integrity in an increasingly interconnected world.

3. Emerging Technologies: Discussions on the impact of emerging technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), were deemed crucial for promoting economic growth and sustainable development. The need for consistent standards and regulations across national borders was also highlighted.

4. Child Online Safety: Continued focus on protecting children in the digital space was advocated by several participants.

5. Beneficiaries: A Saudi participant suggested focusing on specific beneficiaries such as children and women in future discussions.

IGF Impact and Outreach

A recurring theme was the need to enhance the IGF’s impact and outreach. Ananda Gautam, representing various youth initiatives, pointed out that even UN agencies often fail to recognise the importance of the IGF. He emphasized the need for broader collaboration to enhance the impact of IGF when participants return to their communities. This led to calls for improved collaboration with international initiatives and UN agencies to increase the IGF’s visibility and effectiveness.

Suggestions were made to increase engagement with universities and support Internet Governance Schools, which were seen as vital for bringing holistic and engaging stakeholders into the IGF ecosystem. The importance of regional initiatives and their role in broadening the IGF’s reach was also highlighted. Nnena suggested engaging more with non-government stakeholders for the sustainability of IGF.

Technical Considerations and Program Structure

The challenges of managing hybrid events were discussed, with Joao Moreno, Vice Chair of the youth standing group, suggesting the need to unify the queue for online and on-site participants. This highlighted the ongoing challenges of ensuring equal participation opportunities for both in-person and remote attendees.

Moreno also raised concerns about the limited space given to Dynamic Coalitions to present their year-long discussions, emphasizing the need for better integration of these important groups into the main program.

Cultural Exchange and Networking

Jasmine Ko highlighted the importance of social occasions, such as the music night, for cultural exchange and networking. These events were seen as valuable opportunities for participants to connect informally and build relationships beyond the formal sessions.

Conclusion

The closing session reflected a strong commitment to the IGF’s multi-stakeholder approach and its role in shaping global internet governance. While participants expressed overall satisfaction with IGF 2024, they also provided constructive criticism and forward-looking suggestions. The discussion underscored the need for continuous improvement in organisation, inclusivity, and strategic focus to ensure the IGF remains relevant and effective in addressing the complex challenges of the digital age.

Chengetai Masango mentioned the post-IGF “taking stock” process, encouraging participants to continue providing feedback. The session concluded with brief closing remarks by Carol Roach and Ole-Martin Martinsen, followed by applause for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all participants. As the forum looks ahead to its next iteration in Norway, there is a clear mandate to build upon these insights and work towards an even more impactful and inclusive IGF.

Chengetai Masango: I’d like first of all to thank you all very much for sticking it out and for being here, and I hope you all had a very good meeting, and I’d also like to thank our gracious hosts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting us in this fabulous place. Just a few points is that we’re here in a listening mode on what worked well, what you think we want to keep, and what we should take into consideration for next year as well. So what we’ll do is that we’ll just have one line on this podium over here, and we ask people to line up and speak. We will only have two minutes for each person, and we’ll also be taking online interventions as well. I’d like to remind everybody please to keep to the subject at hand, and only about logistical, room arrangements, issues that we’ve discussed here, and also keep in mind the code of conduct, which is also very important. And with that, I would also introduce myself. So my name is Chengetai Masango, and I am head of the IGF Secretariat, and on my right is Miss Carol Roach. She is the chair of the 2024 MAG, which helped, of course, organize this meeting. And on my left, we have Mr. Ole-Martin Martisen, who is the 2025 host country chair. and is going to be listening intently because he’ll be the host country representative on the MAG and also leading the organizational team for IGF 2025. I would like to ask our current chair if she would like to say a few words, please.

Carol Roach: Thank you, Shengetai. I just want to add my welcome and thank you to Shengetai’s opening. It’s been really a pleasure meeting many of you, and I really hope that you got a lot of takeaways. You had an opportunity to share your views and to also give us some kind of input on the way forward. We look forward to you helping us to organize a 2025 IGF, and so I won’t go on much longer so we could hear from you. Thank you.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much, Carol. And please, Olli.

Ole-Martin Martisen: Thank you. Hello. Well, thank you, everybody. I want to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting this year’s IGF. The organization and the hospitality here have been truly exceptional, and we’re grateful for that. And I also want to thank everyone here for being here. It’s not much time until the next IGF, and we need every one of you to participate and help us in arranging that. And we are here to listen now. And Norway has a strong commitment to ensure that the 20th IGF also will become a success as this one has been, so thank you.

Chengetai Masango: And I would also like to introduce Vint Cerf, who is the chair of the leadership panel. He’s online and he’s right behind me, yes. And he’ll also be listening from the leadership panel. Vint, would you like to say a few words before we start?

Vint Cerf: Well, that’s very kind of you to let me do that. I realize that the way this is set up, I look like Banquo’s ghost sort of hovering on the stage. I actually have a concrete suggestion to make, if I could make it now, if that’s all right with you.

Chengetai Masango: Go ahead.

Vint Cerf: This is specifically with regard to the operation of the IGF here in Saudi. First, huge thanks to our Saudi hosts for putting this together. This is by no means an easy process, and I know our Norwegian hosts must be increasingly aware of that. I do want to suggest two specific things that we might do. First of all, we should have a post-meeting analysis of the audio problems that have popped up from time to time. Facing online and in-person audio and translation, captioning, and signing services is really hard. Any insights that the Saudi team can provide would be helpful to our Norwegian colleagues, so I would recommend a kind of a post-meeting analysis. The second thing is that I believe an accommodation expert team should visit the Norwegian site as early as possible in the planning in order to assure that support for people who need accommodation is taken into consideration. It was even suggested that people with bona fide accommodation needs might even have a different colored badge so that we know that they might require additional assistance. So those are two just very concrete things that might be considered. Thank you.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much, Vince. So let us start, and could you please, when you make an intervention, please just say your name quickly for the audience. I would like to invite you to come up and talk about your role in the IGF, your role in the IGF, your position for the record and your stakeholder group. Unfortunately, my eyesight is not that great, so will the first one please come up? And two minutes, and the clock starts as soon as you start speaking.

Chad IGF: Good afternoon, my name is Dr. Huseyfi, I coordinate the IGF. Yesterday was the international Arabic language day, so kindly allow me to share my closing remarks in Arabic. I say that was Sada. Ladies and gentlemen, today we convene at IGF, hosted by Saudi Arabia, in 2020-2021. I seize this opportunity to underscore that this forum should serve as a platform to resolve any issue, and for the governance of the youth, we need integration of AI and Internet of Things and technology to ensure our connectivity to the world. We also need to promote the development of the Internet of Things and technology in a sustainable manner, and to promote the economic growth and sustainable development. However, we, this forum faces a lot of challenges related to the conflict of interests between the U.N. agencies regarding the new look the U.N., and to mobilize efforts to promote IGF. So we should have this forum to be a permanent forum. and to have a budget and financial resources to ensure the sustainability of such efforts. We should work together to ensure that this forum will be an effective tool for development and peace. Thank you.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much. Can we have the next speaker please?

Audience: Peace be upon you all. It’s great to be here at the IJF 2024 in Riyadh. I had the pleasure to attend the last version in Japan and I’m happy to be part of it. Allow me to speak in Arabic. At the outset, I would like to express my deep thanks and appreciation to you and the leadership for the sound organization of IJF for 2020. This forum is a strategic platform to unify efforts and sharing experience and expertise and enhance international cooperation in digital challenges, bringing experts and decision-making can contribute to road mapping for sustainable digital worlds in the framework of the computing. We cannot ignore the computing technology in enhancing the services to our citizens and to provide innovative solutions to face the challenges. Computing technologies is instrumental in enhancing the responsiveness of governments to meet the needs of the society, especially at the time of crisis, health and the natural crisis. However, depending on the computing… ways, a lot of opportunities that the development countries can leverage to enhance its digital capabilities, including reducing the cost and enhancing the capabilities.

Chengetai Masango: One microphone. So I do see people lining up for the other one, which we are not using. So will the first one, please. You can move over to the next one. Yes. But the first person who’s there, please just walk over to the other microphone, please. Or let’s say, for now, why don’t the people in the front there, in that line, can you please just make another line there, and then we can go one by one, back and forth. Those few people who are there now. Thank you. It’s really a pleasure to be here in IGF 2024, and I would like just to highlight a really

Audience: important subject, which was in a… of the subject in Riyadh declaration that has been announced recently in the beginning ceremony. And it was about the digital idea. And allow me just to speak in Arabic in this subject. So today, establishing reliable digital identity, which can be operationalized, it’s very important for equitable access for economic development in the light of the digital economy. And the heavy relay on the methodology anchored on digital technologies, the digital identities internationally recognized a must for individuals and businesses and governments for the inclusivity of the economy. And to response to such challenges, the international community should focus on such pressing issues. And today, it’s not a secret designing international digital identity is of paramount importance for the benefits that can be generated in closing the gaps for the inequality and to enriching or the access to resources. Access identity ensure… Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Daa. Bluey, and it is an absolute honor to stand before you today as the host country Youth Track representative. I would like to start by saying that we have had an incredible time over the past week. This week showcased the immense efforts that all Youth Track representatives have put over the past few months. And I’m lucky to say that our participation across the IGF sessions has been nothing short of incredible. Our host country colleagues at the Digital Government Authority have worked relentlessly day and night to ensure that our encouragement and support is in place. It has also allowed us to shed some light on Saudi Arabia’s trajectory in the digital space. And I can only hope that in Norway next year, the Youth Track continues to receive the compelling level of support that it has, ensuring that youth have the opportunity to participate in high-level and parliamentary track sessions to truly embody our objective of building our multi-stakeholder future.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you so much. Thank you. Next. We can actually just do it automatically. Thank you. Okay.

Audience: Hello, everyone. I am Rui Ferreira, and I’m here with the Brazilian Youth Delegation from the CGI. I also research, focusing on protecting children and young people online. And it’s my first time at the IGF, so I just want to say that I’m very happy to be here. All the Brazilian delegation I have to participate in this year’s IGF, and to the Saudi Q3, and to attend the sessions related to my research topic. So thank you to the IGF organizers and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this incredible opportunity. And if I can say anything… the youths are not the future, we are the present and we are building a beautiful internet for everyone. So thank you. Hello my name is John Moreno, I’m here as the vice chair of the youth standing group. I would like to first start thanking the host country for his hospitality and so I have a couple of things here. I believe the visa issues that we had last year were almost all solved, even though for some people it arrived dangerously close to the date of the event, so they almost didn’t manage it to get here, but it was a great improvement. I also recognize that the dynamic coalitions didn’t have much space to present their year-long discussions and outcomes, so we had several sessions intended to present outcomes that were not accepted and I believe this takes a huge and important well an important part of the event. Putting the workshops around the village was a great idea, we really could integrate them to the event that didn’t happen in past events. We need to find a way to unify the queue for online and on-site participants because it’s difficult to manage both ends while you’re organizing your session and yeah that’s it, thank you. Thank you very much

Chengetai Masango: for those insights, we will keep them in touch. After this speaker we’ll also have an online speaker, Nena, but please go ahead.

Audience: Hi everyone. l, this is my first IGF, you for the opportunity, but I wish the countries, there should be, like where all countries should be able to to have a stable flow of the growth in technology, so that some countries, like especially some countries in Africa, are not completely behind, while others are going ahead too fast. Thank you.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much. Nnena?

Online audience: Thank you very much, Shengetai. Hello, everyone. I have five points. I want to start with the first one. The first point is that we need to put more emphasis, more engagement, and more financing into the Internet Governance Schools. Because they bring us the most holistic and the most open and engaging stakeholders. The second is that for the sustainability of the IGF, we really need to engage more with the non-government stakeholders. So, we need to engage more with the non-government stakeholders, and we need to engage more with the international and regional initiatives. I believe these give us the best opportunity for sustainability in the Internet governance system. I want to congratulate Saudi Arabia for hosting us, and for kicking off the international IGF, but I would like to acknowledge Saudi Arabia as one of the main contributors for IGF. Just so we understand, the IGF has raised the audio issues. I would like to recognize those expansion and you raised those issues for the future. Because I want to recognize those expansion and you raised those I’d also like to join my voice to say that the visa processes were very fast, and I want to thank you all for it. We will be back in exactly 10 years in Saudi Arabia to join the FIFA World Cup. Thank you very much. My name is Nenna. I come from the internet. I have done 15 sessions online, and it’s been wonderful.

Chengetai Masango: Next slide, please.

Audience: Well hello, everyone. My name is Itzel from Mexico. I’m a fellow from the Dynamic Coalition of Accessibility and Disability. It was a great opportunity for me to be here, and I want to invite you and make a suggestion to involve people with disabilities and our organizations on the planning of the IFG in order to ensure that all necessities are covered, comply with the accessibility guidelines, and leave no one behind. Thank you. First of all, I would like to congratulate Saudi Arabia for organizing this amazing event. I’m so happy to share that for the first time we were having a session on judges on human rights, and one of the judges from the High Court, Tanzania, was present. So this is something very happy for me, being from the legal side, and I’m hopeful that the next year we might be having some other judges from the other part of the globe. So because judiciary is one of the important parts of the society, and I believe that technology can help. them to give a speedy justice. Along with that, I would like to raise my concern regarding the young voices. Although this year Pakistan was having a lot of participants, but still some of my friends, young guys, didn’t make it to the IGF because of the visa issues. So I believe that for the next IGF, the IGF secretariat would really work hard because for a country like us, especially from Asia, there will be a lot of issues in terms of the visa for Norway. So I believe that the young guys will be here, will be participating. I hope we do not have visa issues for the next year. Thank you. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. My name is Ghayr Bawari. I am from Afghanistan and I live in Kabul, Afghanistan. I volunteer as the coordinator of Afghanistan IGF and its affiliate initiatives like the Youth IGF Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Network Operators Group, and as well as Afghanistan School of Internet Governance. I’m so happy to be here, not alone, but I have Afghan delegates with me as well. As in IGF 2022 in Addis Ababa, I was the only Afghan in the whole IGF event, and I was kind of feeling very alone, but I’m happy this year I have a few Afghans and Afghan delegates with me. Thank you very much. And today I’m here to, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to several key supporters. who have made our presence at the IJF 2024 possible. First and foremost, a special thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously granting us visas. Your support has been instrumental in enabling our participation here. Thank you. I would like also to express our sincere appreciation to the APNIC Foundation for their gracious sponsorship of Afghan delegates. Your commitment to fostering inclusion and representation is truly commendable. And thank you for your strengthening Afghan community through your Digital Leap Project. When most of the international organizations turned their back to Afghan people after the political changes, you were the one who stepped in and supported them. Thank you. I want to first thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting this year’s convening of the UNIJF. Having been coming here for the last several years on a quarterly basis, I’ve seen the tremendous transformation going on in the Kingdom and wish that more of the world can see just how committed, how invested, and how impactful this new era for Saudi Arabia is and will be for the world. I’d like to thank the IJF Secretariat, the leaders here on the floor, the organizers, and most importantly, the staff who cleaned the bathrooms, cooked the food, and served us across this past week. These folks are often underappreciated, often unrecognized, and often unthanked. So I would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment here to thank them. My name is Yusuf Abdel-Qadir. I’m from Syracuse University, and I’m a part of a joint initiative between Syracuse and the Africa Open Data Internet Research Foundation wherein we created an organization called the Africa Community Internet Program. I won’t talk about us. You can find out about us at AGCIP. My intervention here today is focused on how might the Norwegian IGF build off the momentum of this convening. The multi-stakeholder framework that IGF is rooted in is more important now than ever. Efforts at fragmenting the internet present challenges to empowering and advancing access to the 2.5 billion that lack internet. And while IGF is rooted in multi-stakeholder engagements across private sector, the public sector and civil society, more formal avenues for accelerating access to internet connectivity for sustainable development and ensuring that innovation and creativity, language and cultural preservation and history and the visions of those often overlooked are more fully needed now to be integrated in our development of emerging technologies, particularly as we see what’s happening with the development and advancement of artificial intelligence. By this, I specifically mean that we need to move beyond a more multi-stakeholder, voluntary engagement to more concerted effort at identifying …

Chengetai Masango: Sorry. Thank you very much. And I heard you came from a great university, so thanks. Next we have online Thomas Olsen-Ahem.

Audience: First of all, I would like to say to welcome everyone here in Saudi Arabia. I hope you enjoyed your time at staying in Riyadh. So my name … My name is Athina Rachevi. I’m a computer engineer and hold a master’s degree in cybersecurity. So I’m so glad to host this great internet governance forum and this great event to knowledge transfer and to share our idea and our thoughts and focus on our future, digital future, which addressing many, many various topics such as AI governance, data governance, cybersecurity regulations. and how to put the regulating and unify our efforts to increase the efficiency in technology usage and ethical usage. So let me please use the other minutes to speak in Arabic. So I was honored that the Kingdom has hosted the IGF for 2024. And I would like to address the most prominent topics discussed here on the forum, which is the AI governance, which is the topic of the hour. I would like also to focus, say that we must have concerted efforts on having regulations, policies and processes for the use policies on two main themes. The first of which is the ethical consideration and the ethical aspect of AI. And the second is how do we how do you prevent biases and algorithms of AI and the issues that are that were where misuse take place. Generally speaking, we would like to have concerted efforts for the IGF to come. Thank you.

Chengetai Masango: Let’s just hear one person from online. Thomas Olsen, IHEM, if I’m saying your name correctly, please. Let’s get the next person.

Nepal Youth IGF: Hello, everyone. My name is Ananda Gautam. I’m from Nepal. I represent Youth IGF Nepal, Internet Society Youth Standing Group and Youth Coalition on Internet Governance here. So I’m very proud to be here. And I’m I’m raising the issues of young people who couldn’t be here. I’m sorry for the young people and teen guys who were working so hard to be here, but due to constraints, they couldn’t be here. I came here on my own expenses, but Riyadh was very expensive for me. I’m sorry. I’m thankful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the visa issues. It was very swift for me. So we are working very collaboratively to enhance the IGF ecosystem with 170 NRIs. But when we go back to our communities, even the UN agencies don’t recognize what IGF is. I think we need a serious kind of collaboration so that they know the essence of IGF. When we go back to the community, it is about not only about the NRIs, but I think it is a broader collaboration that will enhance our impact. Another thing is many youth coordinators are putting their hands and hands to bring the Global Youth Summit, and this year we have started a youth mentorship program, which I am very thankful for. But to bring them here, I think we need a very broad collaboration so that it is not always equal that when people participate online and be on site, because they will be missing so many things that we have when we participate on site. So I would request for a broader collaboration that could bring the people who are really contributing to these processes, without whom the essence of IGF would be lost. So thank you for the young people who have made it out to here and have collaborated on a lot of sessions. And looking forward for the Norway IGF, I hope visa issues…

Audience: Thank you. Good afternoon. It’s truly a great pleasure to be here at the IGF Riyadh Forum, surrounded by such an esteemed group. of leaders, innovators, and collaborators. I have a few suggestions for the next iteration of the IGF forum. So as we look ahead to the future of technology, particularly with the rapid advancements in AI, automation, and data sciences, it’s clear that these technologies hold significant potential to revolutionize industries and improve efficiencies. It is crucial for the future IGF sessions to explore how they can be developed, implemented, and regulated to ensure they deliver their benefits responsibly and effectively across all borders. Another key area for future discussions, as well, is how we can ensure that emerging technologies, particularly in AI, are designed and implemented to achieve the best possible outcomes. As AI systems become more widely adopted across industries, such as healthcare, transportation, finance, how can we ensure that they are integrated in ways that maximize the positive impact while minimizing unintended consequences? What strategies can be employed to ensure these systems are robust, reliable, and aligned with broader and economic goals? Also, additionally, as data plays an essential role in driving technological progress, future IGF sessions should consider how data privacy, security, and integrity can be safeguarded in this rapidly evolving landscape. Also, as the development of emerging technologies across national borders, international cooperation and regulatory frameworks will be increasingly vital. Moving forward, how can countries, corporations, and international organizations collaborate to establish consistent standards and regulations that govern these technologies? Finally, as we continue to push the boundaries of technological progress, it will be important to strike a balance…

Chengetai Masango: Yes, sorry, it cuts off at two minutes. Next please.

Audience: Hello, everyone. As a Saudi, please allow me to start by warmly welcoming all attendees from different countries around the world. Allow me, please, to share my feedback and input in Arabic. It was IGF. It was a valuable opportunity to understand the challenges and the benefits of using the Internet. One of the key experience for me is the international experience which have been shared at the sessions and workshops. This was for me a golden chance for me to be equipped and familiar with the best practices and to understand the trends. What I have noticed, the key challenges revolving around the cyber security and the privacy protection and the keenness to have a digital infrastructure despite the disparity among countries in this regard. What I have concluded and the ways of such experiences, the importance of focusing on the beneficiaries, children, women, and to build and to have people-centered approach and to enhance the multi-stakeholder approach for the future. I hope the discussion will include emerging technologies which can be leveraged to provide optimal services and how can the organization build the foundations for safe benefits.

Chengetai Masango: So I’m going to turn it over to Jordan Carter, who is going to give you a brief overview of what we’re seeing in the region from such technologies. Thank you.

Jordan Carter: Good afternoon, my name is Jordan Carter, I’m a technical community participant, outgoing MAG member, and here from the Australian Domain Administration. On the logistics, first of all, thank you to the Kingdom of Australia for allowing me to be a part of this event. I’d like to start by saying, as I said in the past, please have your Zoom crews practice this hybrid thing. The Zoom experience has gotten better as the week has gone on. Practice more in advance, please, so it’s smoother from the beginning. That would be really good. One observation, I want to note the broad support for the Internet Governance Forum and its continuance, as the world’s premier Internet Governance and Digital Policy Forum, as many of you know, is the world’s largest Internet Governance and Digital Policy Forum, the IGF. Not just for principled reasons, but for practical ones. The collaboration and sharing of ideas at the IGF is the best way to make Internet Governance and Digital Policy as workable, as inclusive, as supportive of human rights, human development, and human potential as it can be. There’s broad support for extension from countries, the central to Canada, for an existing regulations, currently being expanded to a new setup and made available in a new spirit of policy, but it’s a cliff, so in 2025, let’s renew the mandate. Let’s make it permanent. Thank you.

Audience: the Digital Opportunities Foundation based in Germany. I would like to share three thoughts with you. First, last Tuesday was like a dream come true. We’ve discussed child rights here at the main stage in a high-level session in the plenary hall. It was a really great experience and we’ve come a long way to reach this and I hope that it was not a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Second, as a member of DC, it first felt like a duty when we were asked to merge our proposals to create joint workshops. While doing so, it becomes a pleasure and joy. It was meaningful and it has a lot of sense. Thanks for Martin Botterman from DCIOT and Jutta Kroll from DCCRITE for support and contribution. Third, I would like to thank the United Nations and Saudi Arabia for hosting this IGF here. It was incredible and a special thanks I would like to direct to all the population and inhabitants of Riyadh. Everyone we’ve met in the last days was so kind, so friendly, so open-minded, so polite. It was a pleasure to meet you, to be here, and thanks everyone. Dear all, thank you for having me. This is Jasmine Imanko from Hong Kong. I am very excited to be, this is my second IGF and despite of a lot of privilege and gratitude to the host and everything that is happening here, I want to share a little bit of my personal disappointment. One thing that I observe is it’s my second IGF but I already seen that we are missing something in this IGF. So one thing is the music night. I’m talking about this because it is a shared tradition, the tradition that IGF has been having for years and we are missing this tradition. You know, social, official social occasion is not just things for fun, but it’s also creating more scenario and platform for people to meet and have dialogues besides just the formal session we are having now and the others. It’s a very important occasion people treasure and it’s an important platform that we exchange our culture and celebrate our diversity in other means. So I hope that in next year we could have this in Norway and my worries come because even as a small tradition like this is missing here, I really hope that and I really emphasize that we are able to keep the entire IGF as a whole. So from small thing that we keep and then to extending to the whole IGF mandate that we are able to renew, it’s very critical and I really appreciate the effort of people here, the different stakeholders and everyone, thank you very much. Thank you. Good afternoon, it’s our privilege to address you. My name is Jocelyn Melissa from the Association for Progressive Communication, and these are our insights when it comes to the reflections for this year’s IGF. Clear messages. have emerged from the multiple sessions and discussions in Riyadh during the IGF is that the Global Digital Compact must be integrated into the next phase of the WSIS, and that the IGF has to continue and to be strengthened. The burden on countries from the global south to comply with and support global processes is already immense. Increasing it through duplication of efforts might serve the interests of international digital bureaucrats, but it might not help to bridge the digital, social, and economic divides. In relation to the IGF, it is essential that, in our view, to grant the IGF a long-term or permanent mandate and strengthen its institutional capacity, build on its achievement, and continue its evolution to respond to the multiple imperatives of the current, emerging, and future digital societies. The IGF evolution needs to be shaped by a strategic vision rather than by ad hoc partnerships or initiatives to establish new tracks or themes. These are valuable, but unless the IGF has the institutional capacity to interact effectively and consistently with governments and key institutions from non-state actors, expanding its range will dilute its impact. This includes

Chengetai Masango: And sorry, just to note. If you don’t finish your intervention and if there isn’t enough time to go through it. through everybody’s intervention, please send them to the IGF Secretariat and we’ll take note of them. So you can just email IGF at un.org. Thank you.

Audience: Hello, everyone. I am from the Minister of Finance and Economy from Benin. I would like to actually benefit from this opportunity to thank you all, to thank the International Organization for ensuring access to Internet. It should be affordable and accessible to developing countries. During this IGF, two important points actually, I saw one, positive one, negative one. The access to this country was very easy thanks to the visa issuing and the visa also should be available to everyone. The negative point is that I was not able to share my number. I invite, sorry, our personal information should not be collected. I called the hosting country next year not to collect our personal information. Thank you.

ICANN: Good afternoon. Adam Peake from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN. On behalf of the ICANN, I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as our host for this week. Thank you, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Excellency Abdullah Amir Azwar and your team and all who have made the 19th IGF such an exceptional success. ICANN will continue our support for the IGF, continue our participant and absolute support for the multi-stakeholder approach for Internet governance. Thank you so much to you. to you, your team, who are skillful, dedicated and extremely supportive and patient, thank you. To the MAG, Carol, thank you. Without you, there’s no program and many of the excellent sessions we’ve enjoyed this week. Thank you for all of your work throughout the year. Thank you to the Kingdom of Norway. Thank you for – we’re looking forward to visiting you in – well, it’s only June, and as someone who lives in Northern Europe, midsummer seems a very long way away. It is not. It is about six months, and we have much work to do. Thank you, and look forward to seeing you in about six months’ time. Safe travels home. Thank you.

Audience: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Dr. Andrews Bass. I’m the Executive Director for Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research and also the hub for the IGF in the Dominican Republic. IGF is one of the best multilateral forums out there, and I feel like we have missed a presentation, especially the one from South America and Latin America. The CSW, we are a led company. They want me to address some questions. They say they want the visa approval and the letter of approval to be faster, like the CSW, within 48 hours, they have the letters. The reason why, because some countries take up to six months for them to have an appointment. That will help them to come faster, and also, when you got the letter close to the date, the ticket becomes twice as expensive. Also, they want the regional representative to do a better job to reach the universities. I’m in the US. If you talk a lot of universities, one or two understand about IGF. IGF is inside the UN. A lot of people inside the UN don’t even know about IGF. The youth also want to have more representation on the planning. They say when they plan, if they have the future of tomorrow, they don’t want to hear about that. They want to know the future of tomorrow is today. And I’m giving IGF accountability for the one IGF I was in Germany, we say one planet, one Internet, or one people. For us to be one planet, one Internet, we have to be inclusivity. That means all of us have to be here. And thank you for the surpassing marvelous Saudi Arabia for their hospitality. Everything was like that. And thank you so much.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you. I’m sorry. I have to call the last speaker. So you’re the last speaker. And then we have to prepare for the closing session because there’s a schedule they have to keep in this venue as well. And also people have planes, et cetera, to catch. Thank you.

Audience: Thank you for the opportunity. Good evening, everyone. First, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the organizer of this very insightful forum. Everyone’s dedication and effort has made this gathering truly impactful. It’s an honor to stand here in this open mic session today. This moment represents a power of connection and collaboration across borders with all. In a world that grows more interconnected every day, it’s inspiring to share ideas and perspective that contributes to building a better, more inclusive future for all. As we gather here in the final day of IGF 2024, I would like to propose that we take a significant step forward by developing a clear and unified strategy of the IGF to maximize our collective impact by establishing a shared vision and well-defined objectives that address the dynamic challenges and opportunities. So, thank you very much for your attention, and I look forward to the IGF 2025. Thank you very much, and now, to end the session, and thank you very much for all your interventions, we have taken good notes, and I can attest for both the Chair and the Co-Chair, they have taken good notes, and we will continue to do so. So, thank you very much, and I look forward to the IGF 2025.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much, and I look forward to the IGF 2025. Thank you very much, and I look forward to the IGF 2025. Thank you very much, and we will continue to take good notes. And we will also be launching a taking stock, so you will be able to send us your comments, and we’ll compile them into a report, and that will be given to next year’s MAG to look at as well, so that they keep in mind your thoughts and your ideas. So, thank you very much, and I look forward to the IGF 2025.

Carol Roach: Thank you very much. And now, I would like to invite the Chair and the Co-Chair to say a few quick words. Well, I actually want you to do something. I want everybody to stand and just give yourselves and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a rousing hand applause. Thank you very much.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much, and I look forward to the next year’s MAG. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. And our final, I’ll ask our Co-Chair for next year, if you

Ole-Martin Martisen: have to say a few quick words. I noted judging by the applause, the most important are visas and music night, so we’ll take that with us. Thank you.

Agreement Points

Improve IGF organization and logistics

Audience

Vint Cerf

Jordan Carter

Audio and technical issues should be addressed

Practice hybrid format in advance

Visa process improvements needed

Multiple speakers emphasized the need to improve various aspects of IGF organization, including addressing technical issues, practicing hybrid formats, and streamlining visa processes.

Enhance inclusivity and representation

Audience

Nepal Youth IGF

Involve people with disabilities in IGF planning

Increase youth participation and representation

Improve regional representation, especially from Latin America

Ensure participation from developing countries

Several speakers stressed the importance of improving inclusivity and representation at IGF, particularly for people with disabilities, youth, developing countries, and underrepresented regions.

Focus on emerging technologies and their impacts

Audience

Focus on AI governance and ethics

Address cybersecurity and privacy protection

Discuss emerging technologies and their impacts

Multiple speakers highlighted the need to address emerging technologies, particularly AI, cybersecurity, and privacy issues in future IGF discussions.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening the IGF’s role and expanding its engagement with various stakeholders and initiatives.

Jordan Carter

Online audience

Support for extending and strengthening IGF mandate

More engagement with non-government stakeholders needed

Enhance collaboration with international initiatives

Both speakers highlighted the need to improve IGF’s outreach and recognition, particularly in underrepresented regions and within the UN system.

Audience

Nepal Youth IGF

Improve regional representation, especially from Latin America

Improve recognition of IGF among UN agencies

Unexpected Consensus

Importance of social events at IGF

Audience

Visa process improvements needed

While discussing logistical improvements, there was an unexpected emphasis on the importance of social events like the ‘music night’ at IGF, highlighting the value placed on informal networking opportunities.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement centered around improving IGF organization and logistics, enhancing inclusivity and representation, focusing on emerging technologies, and strengthening the IGF’s mandate and outreach.

Consensus level

There was a moderate to high level of consensus among speakers on these key issues. This suggests a shared vision for improving and expanding the IGF’s impact, which could lead to more focused efforts in addressing these areas in future events.

Different Viewpoints

Approach to improving IGF participation

Audience

Nepal Youth IGF

Visa process improvements needed

Improve recognition of IGF among UN agencies

While both speakers aim to improve IGF participation, they focus on different aspects. One emphasizes streamlining the visa process, while the other suggests improving recognition of IGF among UN agencies.

Unexpected Differences

Focus on social aspects vs. technical improvements

Audience

Vint Cerf

Jordan Carter

Ensure participation from developing countries

Audio and technical issues should be addressed

Practice hybrid format in advance

While most speakers focused on technical improvements or representation issues, one audience member unexpectedly emphasized the need to ensure participation from developing countries, highlighting a potential gap in priorities.

Overall Assessment

summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around prioritizing technical improvements, enhancing participation and representation, and focusing on specific policy areas for future IGFs.

difference_level

The level of disagreement among speakers appears to be moderate. While there are differing opinions on how to improve the IGF, most speakers share the common goal of enhancing the forum’s effectiveness and inclusivity. These differences in approach could lead to productive discussions on how to best evolve the IGF, but may also result in challenges in determining which improvements to prioritize.

Partial Agreements

Both speakers agree on the need to improve technical aspects of the IGF, but they suggest different approaches. Vint Cerf proposes a post-meeting analysis, while Jordan Carter recommends more practice before the event.

Vint Cerf

Jordan Carter

Audio and technical issues should be addressed

Practice hybrid format in advance

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening the IGF’s role and expanding its engagement with various stakeholders and initiatives.

Jordan Carter

Online audience

Support for extending and strengthening IGF mandate

More engagement with non-government stakeholders needed

Enhance collaboration with international initiatives

Both speakers highlighted the need to improve IGF’s outreach and recognition, particularly in underrepresented regions and within the UN system.

Audience

Nepal Youth IGF

Improve regional representation, especially from Latin America

Improve recognition of IGF among UN agencies

Key Takeaways

Resolutions and Action Items

Unresolved Issues

Suggested Compromises

I believe an accommodation expert team should visit the Norwegian site as early as possible in the planning in order to assure that support for people who need accommodation is taken into consideration. It was even suggested that people with bona fide accommodation needs might even have a different colored badge so that we know that they might require additional assistance.

speaker

Vint Cerf

reason

This comment highlights the importance of accessibility and inclusion at future IGF events, introducing a concrete suggestion for improvement.

impact

It set the tone for subsequent comments about accessibility and inclusion, prompting others to consider these issues throughout the discussion.

We need to find a way to unify the queue for online and on-site participants because it’s difficult to manage both ends while you’re organizing your session

speaker

Joao Moreno

reason

This comment addresses a practical challenge in hybrid events and suggests a need for improvement in managing online and in-person participation.

impact

It sparked further discussion about the logistics and challenges of hybrid events, with subsequent speakers touching on online participation issues.

I would like to invite you and make a suggestion to involve people with disabilities and our organizations on the planning of the IFG in order to ensure that all necessities are covered, comply with the accessibility guidelines, and leave no one behind.

speaker

Itzel from Mexico

reason

This comment directly addresses the need for inclusivity in the planning process, not just in accommodation during the event.

impact

It reinforced the earlier point about accessibility and expanded the conversation to include the planning stages of the IGF.

When we go back to our communities, even the UN agencies don’t recognize what IGF is. I think we need a serious kind of collaboration so that they know the essence of IGF.

speaker

Ananda Gautam

reason

This comment highlights a significant challenge in the broader recognition and impact of the IGF, even within the UN system.

impact

It shifted the discussion towards the need for better communication and collaboration to increase the IGF’s visibility and effectiveness.

Clear messages have emerged from the multiple sessions and discussions in Riyadh during the IGF is that the Global Digital Compact must be integrated into the next phase of the WSIS, and that the IGF has to continue and to be strengthened.

speaker

Josephine Miliza

reason

This comment synthesizes key outcomes from the IGF and connects them to broader global initiatives.

impact

It provided a higher-level perspective on the IGF’s role and future, influencing subsequent comments about the IGF’s mandate and evolution.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by highlighting critical areas for improvement in the IGF, including accessibility, hybrid event management, inclusivity in planning, broader recognition of the IGF’s importance, and the need for a clear strategy and mandate. The discussion evolved from specific logistical concerns to broader strategic considerations about the IGF’s future and its role in global internet governance. This progression demonstrated the interconnectedness of practical improvements and long-term vision in enhancing the IGF’s effectiveness and impact.

How can we improve audio issues and hybrid participation for future IGFs?

speaker

Vint Cerf

explanation

Audio problems were noted during the event, and improving hybrid participation is crucial for inclusivity

How can we better accommodate participants with disabilities at future IGFs?

speaker

Vint Cerf

explanation

Ensuring accessibility for all participants is important for an inclusive event

How can we enhance the integration of AI and Internet of Things technologies in a sustainable manner?

speaker

Chad IGF representative

explanation

This is crucial for promoting economic growth and sustainable development

How can we resolve conflicts of interest between UN agencies regarding the future of the IGF?

speaker

Chad IGF representative

explanation

Resolving these conflicts is necessary for the sustainability and effectiveness of the IGF

How can we increase financing and engagement for Internet Governance Schools?

speaker

Nnena

explanation

These schools bring holistic and engaging stakeholders to the IGF ecosystem

How can we better engage non-government stakeholders and international/regional initiatives for IGF sustainability?

speaker

Nnena

explanation

This engagement is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the Internet governance system

How can we improve visa processes for participants, especially youth and those from developing countries?

speaker

Multiple participants

explanation

Visa issues were a recurring concern, impacting participation from various regions

How can we ensure ethical considerations and prevent biases in AI algorithms?

speaker

Audience member

explanation

This is crucial for responsible development and use of AI technologies

How can we improve recognition of IGF’s importance among UN agencies and in local communities?

speaker

Ananda Gautam

explanation

Better recognition could enhance the impact and relevance of IGF’s work

How can we develop, implement, and regulate emerging technologies like AI responsibly across borders?

speaker

Unnamed participant

explanation

This is important for maximizing benefits while minimizing unintended consequences

How can we safeguard data privacy, security, and integrity in the rapidly evolving technological landscape?

speaker

Unnamed participant

explanation

This is crucial as data plays an essential role in driving technological progress

How can we establish consistent international standards and regulations for emerging technologies?

speaker

Unnamed participant

explanation

International cooperation is vital as technologies develop across national borders

How can we renew and potentially make permanent the IGF mandate?

speaker

Jordan Carter

explanation

There is broad support for the continuation and strengthening of the IGF

How can we develop a clear and unified strategy for the IGF to maximize collective impact?

speaker

Unnamed final speaker

explanation

A shared vision and well-defined objectives are needed to address dynamic challenges and opportunities