Parliamentary Track Roundtable: A powerful collective force for change: Parliamentarians for a prosperous global digital future

Summary

This Parliamentary Roundtable at IGF 2024 focused on the role of parliaments in shaping global digital governance frameworks. Participants from various countries discussed challenges and opportunities in digital transformation, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and inclusive policies.

Key themes included bridging the digital divide, addressing cybersecurity threats, and balancing innovation with regulation. Speakers highlighted the importance of digital literacy, data privacy, and equitable access to digital resources. Many stressed the need for parliaments to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and to foster collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society.

Specific national initiatives were shared, such as Armenia’s focus on digital innovation, Pakistan’s efforts to support its IT industry and freelancers, and Norway’s commitment to an open and secure internet. Challenges like uneven digital adoption, cybersecurity risks, and the need for comprehensive data protection laws were discussed.

Participants agreed on the importance of capacity building for parliamentarians and creating mechanisms for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The multi-stakeholder model of internet governance was emphasized as crucial for addressing global digital challenges.

The discussion concluded with calls for actionable outcomes, including the creation of international parliamentary networks focused on digital governance, youth engagement in policymaking, and the development of regulatory frameworks that prioritize human rights and dignity in technological advancement. The upcoming IGF 2025 in Norway was highlighted as an opportunity to further these goals and strengthen global cooperation in digital governance.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– The role of parliaments in shaping international digital governance frameworks

– Challenges faced by parliaments in contributing to global digital governance, such as cybersecurity threats and the digital divide

– Strategies for fostering collaboration between parliaments, governments, and other stakeholders on digital issues

– The importance of digital infrastructure and connectivity for economic development

– Balancing innovation with regulation and data privacy concerns

The overall purpose of this discussion was to explore how parliaments can effectively contribute to and shape global digital governance frameworks, while addressing challenges and fostering collaboration across borders.

The tone of the discussion was largely constructive and forward-looking. Participants shared insights from their countries’ experiences and emphasized the importance of international cooperation. There was a sense of shared purpose in addressing common challenges, despite differences in national contexts. The tone became more action-oriented towards the end as participants discussed specific steps parliaments could take to strengthen collaboration.

Speakers

– Hakob Arshakyan: Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, focusing on Armenia’s role in advancing regional digital innovation

– Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan: Senator from Pakistan, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Information Technology of the Senate, focusing on South Asia digital governance challenges

– Sigbjørn Gjelsvik: Member of parliament from Norway, emphasizing global data privacy and cybersecurity

– Maria Elago: Member of parliament from Namibia, leader in advancing Africa’s digital transformation strategy

– Pamela Calletti: Member of parliament from Argentina

– Issa Al-Otaibi: Member of the Shura Council from Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Transportation, Communication, and Information Technology Committee

– Najwa Alghamdi: Moderator

Additional speakers:

– Yusuf: Mentioned but not identified further

Parliamentary Roundtable on Digital Governance at IGF 2024

This Parliamentary Roundtable at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 brought together parliamentarians from various countries to discuss the role of parliaments in shaping global digital governance frameworks. The discussion highlighted national initiatives, challenges, and the importance of international cooperation in addressing digital transformation.

Key Themes and Country Perspectives:

1. Armenia (Hakob Arshakyan)

– Emphasized the importance of harmonizing legislation across borders

– Introduced Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative to open blocked roads and railways, connecting East with West and North with South

– Highlighted Armenia’s efforts in digitalization, including the creation of digital public services and a unified platform for government agencies

2. Norway (Sigbjørn Gjelsvik)

– Stressed the need for creating inclusive and secure digital policies

– Emphasized Norway’s commitment to an open and accessible internet

– Announced that Norway will host the next Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in June 2025

3. Namibia (Maria Elago)

– Highlighted the need to address the digital divide and infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural areas

– Discussed Namibia’s digital transformation strategy, focusing on improving connectivity and digital literacy

– Emphasized the importance of making digital information accessible and understandable in local languages

4. Saudi Arabia (Issa Al-Otaibi)

– Discussed the importance of balancing innovation with governance

– Highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in digital governance, including investments in AI and smart cities

– Emphasized the need for capacity building and technical expertise among legislators

5. Argentina (Pamela Calletti)

– Emphasized ensuring human-centered technology regulation

– Discussed Argentina’s perspective on digital governance, focusing on protecting human rights in the digital space

– Highlighted the importance of addressing disinformation and manipulation of information

6. Pakistan (Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan)

– Focused on empowering youth in digital transformation

– Discussed Pakistan’s cybersecurity challenges and efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure

– Emphasized the need for regional cooperation in addressing digital governance issues

Common Themes and Challenges:

1. International Collaboration: All speakers emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing digital governance challenges, including participating in global forums, establishing regional cooperation frameworks, and harmonizing regulations across countries.

2. Digital Divide: Many speakers, particularly from developing countries, highlighted the need to bridge the digital divide and improve infrastructure in rural areas.

3. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Speakers discussed the importance of addressing cybersecurity threats and ensuring data privacy in the digital age.

4. Youth Engagement: Several speakers emphasized the crucial role of youth in driving digital transformation and the need to involve them in shaping digital policies.

5. Capacity Building: Participants highlighted the need for technical expertise among legislators and capacity building programs for parliamentarians on digital issues.

6. Balancing Innovation and Regulation: Speakers discussed the challenge of fostering innovation while ensuring appropriate regulation and protection of rights in the digital space.

Conclusion:

The Parliamentary Roundtable at IGF 2024 provided a platform for diverse perspectives on digital governance, highlighting both shared challenges and unique national contexts. The discussion emphasized the critical role of parliaments in shaping the future of digital governance and the importance of international cooperation in addressing global digital challenges. As countries continue to navigate the complexities of digital transformation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing among parliamentarians will be crucial in developing effective and inclusive digital governance frameworks.

Najwa Alghmad: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Parliamentary Roundtable, an essential part of IGF 2024. A powerful collective force for change, and a champion for a prosperous global digital future. It’s the theme for today that resonates as we stand at the crossroad of rapidly evolving digital landscape. transform nearly every aspect of our lives, connecting people, cultures, and economies. However, these advancements also present challenges that transcend borders, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and equitable access to digital resources. Accessing these requires strong legislative frameworks and international cooperation. Today’s session will explore how parliaments can harmonize efforts to address digitalization challenges and maximize its benefits. We are joined today by distinguished parliamentarians who bring unique perspectives shaped by their regional expertise. Let me introduce our esteemed panelist. His Excellency Hakob Arshakyan, the Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, focusing on Armenia’s role in advancing regional digital innovation. Mrs. Pulvasa Zeykhan, a senator from Pakistan focusing on South Asia digital governance challenges. She is the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Information Technology of the Senate. Honorable Mr. Sigbjorn Jelsvik, a member of the parliament from Norway, emphasizing global data privacy and cybersecurity. Honorable Maria Ilago, a member of the parliament from Namibia, a leader in advancing Africa’s digital transformation strategy. Dr. Issa El-Ateibi, a member of the Shura Council from Saudi Arabia. He is the Chairman of the Transportation, Communication, and Information Technology Committee. Last but not least, Mrs. Pamela Calletti , she is a member of the parliament from Argentina. We have many pillars today to discuss, and we will dive deep into the first pillar, that it is basically focusing on how we could use digitalization to expand across borders. We will dive deep into the role that should Parliaments play in shaping the international digital governance frameworks. Starting with you, Yusuf, you have a lot of experience in international digital governance frameworks. Starting with you, your Excellency, Mr. Heikob Arshakian, so Armenia has made advancement in regional digital innovation. How can Armenia’s Parliament leverage its advancement to foster stronger cooperation within its international scope?

Hakob Arshakyan: Thank you. First of all, I would like to thank for this invite, and it is great to be here in this excellent, great environment in the country, and of course it is a very beautiful palace. Thanks for the question, it’s very important. I think Armenia has done significant steps in its recent history on growing high-tech sector, which is very much connected to the connectivity and Internet and digital infrastructure. We have got more than 50,000 employees in Armenia, who are making more than 7% of the GDP of the country. Different international companies, local companies, start-ups, some of them are unicorns, more than $1 billion valuation companies, and they are contributing very much to the industry, as well as to the infrastructure and governance system itself and the policy also. Because, for example, we have an Internet Governance Council, which includes Parliament members, includes people from Ministry, it is headed by the Vice-Minister for High-Tech Industry, and there are organizations, telecommunication operators, and different other NGOs, including the regulatory members, who are together influencing the policies of the Internet governance itself. Because sometimes we face the challenge of the lack of knowledge, both in the government or in the Parliament, because of the very rapid growth of the technology itself. So Armenia wants to share its knowledge in different ways. This is one of the ways, of course, in participation of… kind of valuable conferences. Another way is, of course, creating the frameworks that we already have as examples and sharing that with our partners. For example, we have in the IPU, International Parliamentary Union, there is a science and technology working group. I am trying to contribute also in the framework of these working groups, as well as different international organizations. I think the digital excellency and digital agenda is the thing that no only country can survive or have a success, because it’s interconnectivity the first. In cyber security, in artificial intelligence, in blockchain technologies, if we don’t shape our policies, we will become very much localized, which is not bringing to a growth. So we should be more of an internationalized. Of course, there are some other questions that are arising, for example, a digital sovereignty. When we move to that direction, however, there is no other way of having a balance, the right balance, to be open and to be protected and to be integrated and also to have a digital sovereignty. So we are open for cooperation and we are thankful for the other countries and states for sharing their experience. Thank you so much.

Najwa Alghmad: That’s indeed a huge stride, I would say, in digital innovation, Your Excellency. Moving to you, Mrs. Bulbasheh. So given Pakistan’s efforts to implement its digital Pakistan vision and the challenges of regulatory fragmentation. in South Asia, how can Pakistan parliament lead in fostering regional digital cooperation?

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan: Thank you very much. I’d once again like to thank IGF and the Shura Council for giving us this opportunity. So see, I personally believe that all of us are sitting here, some are from the developing world and some are from the less developed world. Each of us have our own particular environments and no two environments are the same. Each of us have our own pace in this march towards connectivity and digital revolution and our pace is shaped by our circumstances and when I say circumstances, I mean all of us are politically different, all of us are culturally different, we are economically at different places and so we have our challenges. So we are not going to march at the same pace together but of course, even standing where Pakistan is standing today, I call it a success story because Pakistan is generally a youthful country. More than 60% of the population are below 30s, 30 years of age, so that’s a huge something that helps us go ahead with this revolution and I’d like to praise the young people. I’ve met so many who have come here on their own yesterday and I was surprised to see the number of people, the number of youngsters who have come here on their own and they’re here spending their own money and trying to be a part of this very important conference. So that really surprised me although I am the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and I keep hearing but seeing them here at this global forum, now I realize that this is our success story, this 60% of population that is young and open to ideas and very tech-savvy is our future. And I would also like to say that in Pakistan, perhaps the government has not supported the IT industry as it should have because of course we have our economic problems, we have our security problems, we have a host of problems. But this… this revolution has been led by the youth of Pakistan. And they have done it by their own efforts. And the main force in leading this revolution is their own hard work. They’re reaching out to the rest of the world. And by dint of merit and their hard work, they have managed to create a vibrant IT industry in Pakistan where we have a huge number of freelancers who make their living by pursuing different projects worldwide. And that makes me very proud to say that these people have penetrated the global IT industry. There are many who are working everywhere in the world. There are many who are working in Pakistan, but there are many who are a part of the global IT revolution. I’d also like to say that this is purely by dint of merit and determination. And we are very optimistic that we will convert, because a young population is a plus point, is a human resource that we have. And we are going to make the best use of it. And they are the ones who are going to drive this story of prosperity. I’d like to mention that we’re the fourth largest, we have the fourth largest number of freelancers in the world today. And believe me, we have to do more for them. We try and do, the government tries and, you know, they’re trying to do more, make policies, which I’ll come back to later. But they are themselves, you know, the credit goes to the young people of Pakistan. And I think it’s a great success story. This is where the parliament is trying to step in, will step in to ensure that we do whatever we can do to make this, you know, go many steps ahead.

Najwa Alghmad: Wonderful. I just wanted to echo what you’ve said, how youth are really the driving force. And this is what we have seen in Saudi, where youth is the cornerstone of the Vision 2030 transformation in Saudi Arabia. Moving to you, Mr. Yalcific, we’d like to hear more about the role of the parliament in your country in shaping the international digital governance frameworks.

Sigbjon Gjelsvik: Well, Thank you so much, Excellencies and distinguished colleagues, it’s an honour to be here. In our interconnected world, parliaments play a key role in shaping digital governance. We must ensure digital policies are inclusive, secure and beneficial for all. In Norway, we have seen the benefits of strong digital policies. These policies promote inclusivity and security. We aim to create a legislative environment that encourages innovation while protecting rights and privacy. However, the spread of social media and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have made it possible to spread this information faster and to more people than before. This has increased international security challenges. Norway believes the internet should remain open and accessible. We are committed to supporting the Global Digital Compact, with the goal of connecting all people to the internet. This will require significant investment from governments and stakeholders, especially the private sector. However, we must also ensure that everyone can use the internet meaningfully and safely. The Internet Governance Forum is crucial for maintaining a universal, free and secure internet. It must continue as a bottom-up, multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue on internet policy issues. Promoting diversity in IGF participation is essential, and Norway will encourage broad participation in next year’s IGF. IGF in Norway. We are committed to working against internet shutdowns and protecting the right to information and freedom of speech. Human rights are important to protect and promote both online and in our physical world. We will continue to work with partners and the IGF against all forms of online violence in accordance with international standards and human rights law. Last year I led the Norwegian delegation to IGF in Japan as Norway’s minister for digital policy. We work to promote an open global and free internet, emphasizing the importance of avoiding state regulations that hinders development and innovation. It’s a pleasure to continue my participation here in Riyadh as a member of Parliament this year and I look forward to contributing to next year’s IGF which Norway will host in June 2025. Thank you

Najwa Alghmad: Solange. Wonderful, indeed Norway is providing really an exemplary, I would say it’s an exemplary leader and especially in the data governance, cyber security and data security as well. It’s nice to hear all of these stories. Moving to Maria, so Namibia plays a crucial role in advancing Africa’s digital transformation strategy. How can Namibia Parliament ensure its national ICT goals align with border regional efforts?

Maria Ilago: Thank you very much for the opportunity and I would like to thank the IGF organizers for inviting me. I feel honored to be here. Parliament are more than policymakers, they are the architect of a fair, inclusive and secure digital future. Namibia has already taken impressive steps forward, providing that progress does not always require massive population, it requires clear vision and action. Take Namibia’s access to information at number eight of 2022, it’s a big step forward towards transparency and empowering citizens with the tools to make informed decision. But here, here is the thing. Access alone is not enough. Digital information must be clear, understandable, and available in languages that resonate with people. Otherwise, it is like giving someone the key to a library, but the books are written in a language they don’t speak. Namibia’s digital strategy aligns well with regional and global priorities. Look at Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which balances innovation with governance. Namibia is already on this path, focused on expanding information and communication technology. ICT access, creating digital job opportunities, and supporting e-governance. The challenge now is accelerating this momentum through strong policies that make sure no one gets left behind. Most importantly, Namibia must continue to claim its seat on global platforms like the United Nations Digital Forum and the Southern Africa Development Community, SADC. The population size does not define leadership vision. Reforming governance in the digital age isn’t easy. But Namibia is showing that with determination, it is absolutely achievable. I thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much, Honourable Maria. And it’s really great to hear all of these advances. Moving to Dr. Issa. And with Saudi Arabia leadership in digital… digital governance, and global forums like G20. How can the Shura Council support the international efforts to create equitable digital frameworks?

Issa Al-Otaibi: Thank you so much, Dr. Najwa, for moderating this important session, and it’s a pleasure to join this panel, and I would like to extend my warm welcoming to everyone here to be in Saudi Arabia. Now to address your question, actually, Najwa, our Shura Council has a shared responsibility to ensure that digital transformation benefits everyone, not just for a specific region or for specific groups. Therefore, the question becomes, how do we achieve that? Well, the first step is to recognize that digitalization is a global movement. This means that no single nation can manage its opportunities or its challenges alone. Why? Because it has reflected on all of us worldwide. Here in Saudi Arabia, we have been involved in the past couple of years in efforts such as the G20 Digital Economy Working Group, which has been working on issues such as AI, ethics, and digital taxation. Secondly, our Shura Council needs to continue to actively engage in shaping international digital governance framework. And we can harmonize legislation across borders to create compatible data privacy, and data protection, and cybersecurity standards. Another role for our Shura Council could be to ensure more inclusivity. This means providing better access to digital transformation and digital infrastructure in underserved regions within and across different countries. As we lawmakers, we can actually allocate essential resources to better prioritize investment in general. Also, the Shura Council should be better in protecting against the future impact of emerging technology by adopting legislation for that reason. Finally, I would just like to say that in doing so, our Shura Council can continue to serve as a bridge between government, civil society, and private sector and international bodies in the shaping of international digital government framework in the future. Thank you so much.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much, Dr. Issa. And I can also reflect on what you are saying, because we’ve seen it on a daily basis, all these governance kind of activities that we are facing or living in Saudi, including the personal data law, PDBL. There is the NDMO regulations. There is the ethical guidelines for performing AI, which is something that’s been implemented in both private and public sectors. So this is really a reality that we are facing on a daily basis. And thank you so much for your input. Moving to you, Mrs. Kayiti, Argentina’s focus on digital governance and regional collaboration is critical for Latin America. What role should the Argentinian parliament play in strengthening the cross-border digital policies?

Pamela Calletti : Good afternoon. Well, I’m Argentinian, so I’m going to speak in Spanish. So, in a world that we can consider traditional cooperation between regions is inevitable when we talk about the digital world, where the interconnectivity is essentially in the DNA of cooperation. We cannot imagine not having cross-border cooperation, right? But let me clarify that when we talk about the digital world and the real world, definitely there’s only one reality, it’s just the two sides of one coin. And today, virtuality is reality. And this is not a difference that’s just intellectual, but it has factual implications because it indeed implies that the human is the beginning, the end, and the center of every single one of our actions, regardless of which stage of this human life is moving in or the human rights of this person. So, in this way, the world we call traditional or historical interrupts or disrupts technologies. It implies a transition that’s natural in humanity. Let’s consider the scientific revolution like Galileo Galilei, Copernicus, Newton. Imagine the disruption they had in the status quo in the social relationships in the economy and the cultural revolution that the Renaissance implied, for example, where they had an anthropocentric vision where human was the axis of everything that existed. The industrial revolution, imagine the gap that was created when there was Because industrial revolution in gender, in the difference between rural and the urban, the way people related to each other, the revolution now in technology and communication as well, radio, the internet, television, and now we’re talking about the digital revolution. So we mean with this crypto, AI, quantum computing, and we shouldn’t lose sight that all these technologies are tools that should benefit humanity. So what’s the role we can have as parliamentaries? I believe in first place we should reduce the drama in the situation. This is just something normal that humanity has been through so many times, like as I said in the industrial revolution, or any other of these historical moments, and we all came through. So remember the human, the person, it should be always at the center. So let’s lose all prejudice, all fear, and the biased interest in this, and understand that all these challenges are going to be faced in a collaborative manner. The private sector, CSOs, the parliamentaries, and the scientific community, the academia, the technical community, and the citizens. Since we were kids, and let’s say the history of humanity in the traditional way, we learned to be citizens in this traditional world. However, nowadays, all of us beyond our citizenship, regardless if we are Argentinian, Arab, Norwegian, we are digital citizens, inside and outside. So there’s a big role in education, so I believe that parliamentaries, first of all, should lose this prejudice because we are lawmakers, we create regulations, and we have an advantage, which is that we can create new laws that create rights and obligations. The limitation, though, is the territorial aspect, so that’s a challenge for us as lawmakers, the cooperation at local, regional, and international levels. At the end, as lawmakers, we shouldn’t forget that when we create a law or a rule, it has an advantage, it has different possibilities to create public measures, but it also takes time to create these laws, and technologies are advancing so fast that when we are trying to create frameworks and legal environments, we shouldn’t forget that we have to keep in mind the logic of the technologies that we are trying to regulate.

Najwa Alghmad: I really like what you’re saying, that all these regulations need to be human-centered at the end because we are all just a citizen at the end. Moving to the next, so we covered the first pillar, and we really have these great insights by our great panelists. Let’s move to the second pillar, which was we’ll dive deep into the challenges that the parliament face in actively contributing to the global digital governance frameworks. I will start with Your Excellency, Mr. Arkashian. Armenia works to expand and enhance its digital infrastructure environment. What do you think the Armenian plans in supporting the extension of that infrastructure to enable the international connectivity?

Hakob Arshakyan: Thank you. First, I would like to reflect to what my colleague from Argentina just said about drama. I believe every industrial revolution brought drama with it, starting from the engines to the electricity and then to the internet, and now AI. The humanity should grow, and the technology will grow. We want it or not, but we should grow further, and of course, and drama comes with a lack of information or lack of knowledge, but we should not be afraid of being more digitalized or more smart and use more technologies. I think it creates more opportunities for every one of us, and especially for the future generations to have more access to the health, to the information, as my colleague from Norway said, and be more free, have more rights. So, coming to the infrastructure, thanks for the questions. Armenia has been a long time, been at a close border with the neighbor of Azerbaijan and now the neighbor of Turkey. So, now we have a new initiative, the Armenian government, which is called Crossroads of Peace. So, in that concept, our proposal is to open all the roads and the railways that are blocked right now, and also include the connectivity pipelines, if we may say, which will connect east with the west and the north with the south. Right now, there are large infrastructural projects happening in Armenia, and we think that connectivity and infrastructure will bring prosperity, as well as will bring stability and peace among all the countries. Also, it will connect the international capacities with each other, the countries in the larger region, so they will have also their attention to our region. So, this is the new… and large initiatives which I would like to also call our international partners to support and to also contribute, maybe have their businesses there as it is it those are infrastructures that will also bring health and prosperity to the people and to the businesses as well. Another part of the connectivity projects is of course satellite communications and which we already allocated the frequencies and gave the licenses to the private sector so they can organize also satellite communication, internet communication and it was, I very much agree with a friend, colleague from Norway when he said about freedom of speech but I would like to also add the digitization process helps the transparency of the bureaucracy of the countries and it also helps prevention of the corruption and doing business in the indexes rises with also a free internet and the free connectivity and I think when my colleague from Pakistan said that many people are working through the internet and having their money as a freelancer, why do they do that? Because you provide them free internet as well as you give them the public policy that gives them enough transparency and less bureaucracy to make their business in a right way and this direction is also familiar for Armenia, we just adopted a law that gives privilege to the freelancers for just one percent of the revenue fee as a tax and that’s it so it’s very easy, you make your money, you pay one percent to the government and that’s it and with one click and the tax system, taxation system is all digitalized, every business enjoys it and of course the risk prevention is also artificial intelligence based so it also helps the government to be transparent and free of corruption. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much indeed, prosperous infrastructure will definitely boost the digital economy, I will 100% agree with you. Moving to Mrs. Bilbasha, so given Pakistan’s effort to implement its digital Pakistan vision and the challenges in regulatory, apologies I’m just repeating the question but let me rephrase it again, so Pakistan challenges such as an uneven digital adoption and cybersecurity threats. How can the Parliament address these obstacles to strengthen its role in global governance?

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan: Thank you, maybe I was not very clear but I still feel what I said in the beginning is a base on which I will now make my argument. Pakistan faces a number of challenges in this digital age and how we embrace them is also it’s quite an effort and it’s a very delicate balance. Some of the important challenges that we are currently facing, I’ll just tell you a few. The top is the cybersecurity threats that we face. Pakistan faces increasing cyber security, cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure including energy, banking, public services and according to an estimate spyware attacks in Pakistan witnessed an alarming surge in the first quarter of this current year escalating by a staggering 300% just in this year. Compared to the same period in 2023. So there is a signal that there is a growing menace of espionage and data infiltration. So the thing is that most of these about 22% of these detected high severity incidents are recorded in the government sector followed by the IT companies and then closely followed by financial institution and industries and so on and so forth. So our biggest challenge is to counter these cyber security threats and Pakistan has risen to the tier one role modeling rating and is now amongst the top 40 countries in the global cybersecurity index. So we are making progress and this has been issued by the ITU. So it’s a notable improvement from our position which was about 79th position a few years ago. So this advancement reflects that Pakistan is dedicated to strengthening its cybersecurity but and then we also have problems with data privacy and governance. We have had an absence of comprehensive personal data protection and we felt how it left citizens quite vulnerable. So the need pushed the parliament to legislate on it. It is this personal data protection act is an act that we have been working on for the past many months and it is now almost in the final stages of being made an act. It’s going to be passed. We also have surveillance concerns and unregulated data collection that also requires parliamentary intervention. We have a lot of data currently we have regulations regarding data protection. I won’t bore you with the long list but then I’ll come to the other the third greatest challenge we have which is of course the digital divide. There is a digital divide in the world, there is a digital divide within countries. So in case of Pakistan also, all of Pakistan is not digitally connected equally. So there is a great divide and that is of course based on areas that are hard to reach and the political environments that exist in those areas of course, then we also have our legal environments, we have political environments, we have our social issues. So in terms of Pakistan, this is one of the key areas that we are now going to be addressing, that we are addressing. So I will tell you a few things that we are going to be doing currently. We are going to be starting, we are going to start auctioning our 5G spectrum very soon. Our 4G network coverage is now almost 80%, 81% and that has risen to 81% in 2024. Our average broadband connection speed has improved much better than what it was last year and then our exports have now risen to 3.25 billion and this is where we get an idea of how IT can help a staggering economy and this is again where the youth come in because this is, you know, you just, my colleague here was mentioning how, you know, governments create environments for the youth to make this difference but in Pakistan’s case, they have made us realize and they have pushed us to, you know, take a part in active, you know, policy making to help them. So I will not take the credit away from them. Also then the AI, AI needs to be regulated and especially in countries like ours where political environments are quite, can be hostile and we as a nation are very emotional. We do not hesitate to take to the streets in minutes and then we, you know, find out later that the news is fake. So in order to avoid this, we are in the process of, Pakistan is amongst the few countries which are actively working on regulating the use of AI and in this regard, we have tabled a bill titled the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill 2024 which is being introduced and it’s being debated. So we will, inshallah, make our first artificial intelligence policy and we will announce it by early 2025. So these are some of the issues that we face and the others, I mean, the host of issues but the others are, maybe I can, you know, somehow touch upon them.

Najwa Alghmad: But I think there are many great steps have been taken, I think starting with the Data Foundation by doing some sort of regulation and maybe this is a topic if we really have time later on we could touch base on how do you manage between extreme regulation and also innovation because some regulation might impede steps in innovation. But maybe this is in a later discussion. I will need to move to you, Mr. Jelsvik, to talk more about what sort of challenges that you face in Norway and what are the steps that have been taken to face them.

Sigbjon Gjelsvik: Thank you so much. I think we must acknowledge the challenges parliaments face in digital governance. One major challenge is the rapid pace of technological change. Legislators often struggle to keep up, leading to outdated policies. Another challenge is the lack of technical experience. Many parliamentarians do not have background in digital technologies. This can make it hard to understand and also address complex issues. This gap can hinder effective legislation. Balancing national interests with global cooperation is also a challenge. We must protect our citizens and economies while working together to create international frameworks. This requires balance and also compromises. To overcome these challenges, we must invest in capacity building. Parliamentarians need the knowledge and tools to address digital issues. We must foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration, both within our parliaments and internationally. Norway is committed to ensuring the Internet development sustainably. We believe the IGF should remain a vital platform for open dialogue on Internet governance. We are also committed to working against Internet shutdowns and protecting the right to information and freedom of speech. Our new Electronic Communication Act in Norway strengthens security and consumer rights. This legislation ensures our digital infrastructure is secure and protects consumer rights, reflecting our commitment to a safe and inclusive digital environment. I want to also say, additionally, the Norwegian government is working on a strategy, particularly directed at strengthening the resilience in our population against disinformation. This strategy highlights that fighting disinformation requires working together for a strong democracy where citizens have access to correct and reliable information that promotes freedom and diversity of expression.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. Honorable Maria, so Namibia faces the challenges of bridging the digital divide, which is something we’ve just touched base with Mrs. Pulvasa. How do you see the parliaments in Namibia basically looking into solving these issues within Namibia?

Maria Ilago: Thank you very much. Namibia, like many other countries, also faces challenges, but we are solving them step by step. Number one, bridging the digital divide. Rural and underserved areas often lack strong connectivity, but Namibia is tackling this through projects like national broadband policy, which aims to ensure that internet access reaches the most remote communities. This is not just about infrastructure, it’s about giving every citizen a fair chance to participate in the digital economy. Number two, staying ahead of emerging technologies. Digital literacy is a key. Technologies like artificial intelligence, software that can think and learn, and blockchain, a secure way of managing digital data, are becoming central to global systems.

Najwa Alghmad:

Maria Ilago: is catching up quickly by prioritizing ICT skills and training programs, ensuring lawmakers and citizens alike understand and embrace these innovations. Number three, representation on global platforms. Namibia may not yet be as loud as others in the global conversation, but our presence is growing. Events like this one allow Namibia to share its success and learn from global leaders. Representation is our strength, and we are providing that we belong at the table. Challenges are not setbacks, they are opportunities to innovate. Namibia is taking steady strides, and our parliament is well positioned to shape governance. Frameworks that are both globally relevant and locally impactful. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. Moving to Dr. Issa, I think the Saudi Arabia Ambitious Vision 2030 aims for digital leadership, but we see cybersecurity and data privacy remain key focuses at the time being. So how do you see the Shura Council will help to manage these priorities?

Issa Al-Otaibi: Thank you Najwa. To address this question, let’s break it down into key points. Firstly, the incredible speed of changing technology has made it harder for legislative bodies to keep pace, especially when addressing issues around technology concepts such as AI or blockchain. Therefore, the Shura Council has already trained on all aspects of digital governance. This way, we are giving equal priority to all three aspects, digital leadership, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Secondly, since global coordination is complex to achieve, and this is one of the main reasons why we are all sitting here today, different countries have different priorities. But by coming together like today, we can figure out and see the best way to balance the priorities of digital leadership, cybersecurity, and data privacy. This is something, actually, Saudi Arabia has already been working on by hosting events such as Global Cybersecurity Forum and also Global Artificial Intelligence Summit, where four years from across the country over the world brought together to discuss the future of emerging technology. Thirdly, one major challenge, as my colleague said, is the lack of coordination between the government and the parliaments. To address this, the Shura Council is still working closely with the government ministries to develop digital policies under Saudi Vision 2030. Actually, we have already created, signed, passed, and implemented 13 regulation laws related to government affluent. We have also implemented a number of technologies related to internet and information technology, such as personal data protection law, anti-cyber crime law, and also telecommunication and information technology law. We have also speed, we have also passed and implemented more than 24 technologies related to internet and information technology. We are proud to say that Saudi Arabia currently ranks 5th globally out of 140 countries for the speed of its internet, and we were number one in the global cybersecurity rank in 2024, finally, Saudi Arabia was ranked as a second in communication and I.T. you. That was for the Social Security program, which we created in 2006, which issued by the ITU in 2024. These some things we are extremely proud of, as we feel it shows our ability to effectively balance the priority of the digital IT at the moment, for hundreds of sevens of visitors per year.

Pamela Calletti : They do not guarantee the availability of access. When it comes to T・mode, people that are in the United States, they are not able to access the T・mode. And it is quite difficult to talk about my colleagues that had such profound participations. But in general, in Argentina, as in many other countries, we are dealing with the T・mode. And it is not a problem. It is a problem for all of us. And it is not a problem for all of us. And it is not a problem for all of us. And it is not a problem for all of us. local challenges, regional challenges, and also international challenges. And I would like to mention five of these ones. But before that, I want to start by saying or mentioning one of them, which is the digital gap that our parliamentary colleagues were mentioning. And I would like to start by giving an example. I come from Argentina, from a province in the north. I don’t come from the capital, but from a quite poor province. And we are next to Bolivia. And we have people in the rural areas that don’t have access to the internet, which is the reality of a lot of people in the global south. So there is a policy from our government, and we recently provided different digital antennas for the connection of these children in rural areas. These cross the river through donkeys to get to different schools. Then we managed to install them, and we managed to watch the World Cup, and luckily, Argentina won. So the children were very happy to be able to watch the World Cup. But it’s very crazy, the fact that an antenna for digital connection should cross a river on a donkey because our children actually go to school by donkey, and this is a reality globally. So which are these challenges? Well, clearly, this information, this information, which actually, when it’s routed, it is very, very dangerous. Let’s think about COVID. Cybersecurity counts on more and more attacks, but they are always more and more precise, and it requires technical abilities of people that are not prepared enough. So obviously, in Latin America and Argentina, this is more. so. Also, the gap among the different employees, the workers, workers that require more abilities, therefore we need clearly more capacity building. Also, the gap of access to technology, first to infrastructure. We need to think that in the world one out of three people are disconnected. And I used to say, when I said earlier that the virtual is real. And one out of three people actually, but moreover, in the case of Latin America and Argentina, it is one out of two people. So, we are six people here. So, if it would be one out of three, I mean only four of us would have access. But most likely, Maria from Namibia and I most probably would have the worst connection, because not only we come from the southern hemisphere, but we are also women. So, one out of three are disconnected, as I said, in my country one out of two. So, you should also look to your left onto your right. So, either one of you would be connected and the other one wouldn’t be, or if they are, wouldn’t be connected or also wouldn’t have the translator to understand, because they don’t have these abilities. This is the issue of the digital gap. We also have the age gap. Seniors 60 plus years old are also disconnected. So, we have many challenges in terms of these digital gaps. So, it is clearly fundamental that we should reduce these. And each revolution that happened in the past generated these gaps. And we didn’t manage to overcome them, but also now they’ve deepened. So, therefore, we clearly need international cooperation. And I also… also want to mention the other challenges, disinformation, also information manipulation, cyber security, because if we don’t have data governance, we don’t have cyber security. In that case, we’re not going to have actual governance, AI governance, sorry. We cannot talk about responsible AI governance if we don’t have data governance. Also the environmental impact, the environmental impact of this digital innovation, this is something that we also need to tackle. And this is a great opportunity because AI allows as well to advance in the reduction of this environmental impact. And then finally, data privacy, it is fundamental as well. And we need to think that citizens, all of us, we give our data, we don’t know whom to of people that monetize this data. And if I told you now that all of us are going to give our phones, our data, our medical data, purchasing data all over to anyone or to the state, what would you say? A lady should say that. Well, it would be crazy. Well, actually, this is actually happening. All the citizens are providing all this data, they’re being monetized, and by a click, because otherwise we would be out of the system. So in this sense, we shouldn’t be scared of regulation. Regulation is not about prohibiting, it’s actually an important condition. So we have a sustainable development that is also inclusive and democratic. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much, Maria, and I, Pamela, sorry, so I see really there are many common challenges that have been mentioned across different countries. Just to be cautious of time, I’m going to skip one of the pillars that we wanted to discuss today, and we will move to the great news that Norway will host next IGF in June 2025. So this is a question to you, Mr. Jelsvik. What do you see the actionable outcomes that should emerge? parliament from this IGF?

Sigbjon Gjelsvik: Thank you so much. As Norway prepares to host the next IGF in June 2025, I envision actionable outcomes that empowers parliaments. We need capacity building programs for parliamentarians. These programs should enhance digital literacy, understanding of emerging technologies and skills to address digital challenges. We should establish a global network of parliamentarians dedicated to digital governance. This network would facilitate continuous dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaboration. By working together, we can harmonize legislation, address common challenges and promote best practices. We should focus on creating actionable policy recommendations. These should address key issues like cyber security, data privacy, digital inclusion and the ethical use of technology. I hope the next IGF will foster stronger partnership between parliaments and other stakeholders. These partnerships are essential for a cohesive and inclusive digital future. Norway will work to uphold freedom of expression, equality, media diversity and resilience against disinformation. We also aim to promote an international legal order in the digital space. Let us ensure that the next IGF builds on our progress and drives meaningful change. Our new Electronic Communication Act in Norway includes provisions for broadband access for all. This legislation ensures everyone in Norway has access to a functional internet, and that our digital infrastructure is robust and secure. The recent adoption of the landmark resolution on the impact of AI on democracy, human rights and the rule of law at the EPU Assembly in Geneva highlights the importance of a responsible AI governance. The resolution calls for transparency, accountability and the protection of human rights in AI development. It emphasises the need to address AI-driven misinformation, gender-based violence and economic inequalities. These principles should guide our efforts as we move forward. 2025 is a special year for the Internet Governance Forum. It marks the 20th anniversary of the IGF, and this year the UN will review the forum’s mandate. The event in Norway will celebrate the global multi-stakeholder model of Internet Governance and set the course for its future organisation. I am pleased that the UN has awarded Norway the hosting of the IGF in 2025, showing trust in our ability to bring together the global community for important discussions about the Internet’s future role. Open discussions about Internet Governance and close international cooperation are crucial to ensuring the Internet remains open, safe and free for everyone. As the host country, Norway will facilitate… and inclusive forum, where governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, technical experts, and international and intergovernmental organizations can exchange knowledge and viewpoints. Together we will address the challenges we face. This multi-stakeholder model is the cornerstone of the IGF and the global Internet governance. Today the Internet is one of the world’s most important infrastructures, and it’s governed through a multi-stakeholder model where all relevant parties collectively handle its challenges and governance. Norway wants this governance model to be preserved and strengthened in the United Nations. Having participated in the IGF last year in Japan, and now here in Riyadh this year, I also look forward to contribute to next year’s IGF, which Norway will host in June 2025, and I will welcome you warmly to Norway next June. Thank you so much.

Najwa Alghmad: Wonderful. I look forward to IGF 2025 in Norway. Now it’s time for a reflection session, so I was going to ask all our great parliaments who are with us today to give us a one actionable step that you think your parliament can take to strengthen the global digital governance, starting with you, Your Excellency.

Hakob Arshakyan: Thank you. It’s difficult, after this very fruitful discussion, to come up with one action item. I think, as my colleague just announced, IGF 2025 in Norway, we are going to participate to that with the delegation from the parliament, and we’ll do contributions to that. I think this is first that comes to my mind. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. Mrs. Bhavasha? Could you kindly repeat? So, basically, if there is any actionable outcome, one actionable outcome, that you think, from the discussion that we have today, that you think your parliament can take to strengthen the global digital governance.

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan: I feel my esteemed colleague from Norway has made a very, it’s a point you need to ponder upon. If you can just raise the microphone. Maybe we should have a collaboration between all the parliaments and have a global. forum for enhancement of in facilitating global digital governance and enact laws that go hand-in-hand together and foster collaboration contributing to international dialogue towards that goal. I feel such a forum would be very productive and it would go a long way in removing most of the hurdles that we have when we communicate with each other’s parliaments which we do like Pakistan is part of many legal and legislative initiatives for alignment with global standards but if such a forum comes into being I think many things will be streamlined.

Najwa Alghmad: Great, thanks so much. What about you? What do you think the one actionable outcome that you wanted or steps that your parliament can take?

Sigbjon Gjelsvik: I just want to add one thing I think it’s very important to have cooperation between different partners and keep this multi-stakeholder model and of course it’s important to have partnership with private sector, technical community, civil society and also international organization but I want to add one more thing that haven’t been said so long. One successful initiative for us is our collaboration with youth leaders and engaging with young people in the digital sphere has provided valuable insights so this ensure our policies reflect their needs and aspirations so I hope also for the next year IGF that we will engage and collaborate a lot with the youth leaders.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you. Wonderful. Honorable Maria, is there any thoughts you would like to share?

Maria Ilago: Thank you very much. We are learning from global examples and we are going to adopting strategies that make sense for us whether it is expanding ICT infrastructure, supporting start-up or empowering rural communities. Namibia is providing some, that small nation can dream it. If we can have a budget for digital training it will be good for us in Namibia.

Issa Al-Otaibi: I can take a reaction to the two previous speakers and then I think we just need to start considering what we want to indicate to the Arab world to improve then, and we will try to solution it. From wherever we breathe, we have to dig deeper to make it even more bearable and sensible than enemies. Thank you for a number of comments on the results of this very important Youth Standard Control Advisory Group created, and I would like to p크urik to change this dialogue mechanism. Let me give you one example of that. We can create National Digital Transformation Councils which would bring together parliamentarians and parliamentarians, and I would like to change this dialogue mechanism so that we don’t have to do it again. Thank you very much.

Najwa Alghmad: ≫ Thank you very much. Mrs. Kaliti, your thoughts?

Pamela Calletti : ≫ To conclude, I would like to convey a very simple message, but very direct as well, that is based on four principles, and I would like to conclude by saying that we have to create a framework, a general framework, regulatory one, for technologies that can respect the logic of these technologies but that puts humanity in the centre. The how, as my colleagues mentioned, through collaboration in regional and international levels, the IGF is a clear example of a global framework. It’s a frame workgan Oi fraction in Canada and around the world, where all the voices from different sectors are combined to achieve solutions. Thank you very much. I also want to highlight the great work from the parliamentary track has been doing and the team that has coordinated this, that has allowed parliamentaries to have a conversation, share good practices, regulations so that we can strengthen our capabilities to face these challenges. Also, who? All the people involved, of course, private sector, academia, technical personnel, public sector. Parliamentaries are one example. That’s why the parliamentary track is a good way to do this. The CSOs and citizens in general. And finally, what for, which is, I think, the most important. It’s the beginning of the end of all these conversations is that all technologies, no matter which ones, are used in the benefit of humanity where human, their rights and their dignity are the lighthouse for every decision we make. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. I noticed that most of you have been actually highlighting the world collaboration. So, in a few minutes, if you can, just dive deep into how do you have or how do you implement strategies that could foster collaboration through the parliament? Starting with you, your excellency, as we see that Armenia has a growing digital ecosystem. If you could just quickly highlight how do you encourage such a partnership and collaboration?

Hakob Arshakyan: I think we have two main collaborative bodies in Armenia. One is the Science and Technology Development Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, the head of the government. And we have, I am the leader of the executive committee in that body. I am a parliamentarian. I mean, we basically, the thing is that there is also a gap between the government and the parliament. Of course, we work in the same country even. However, the ministries, for example, the Ministry of High Tech Industries, all the full job is technology and digitization. In the parliament, it’s a legislative work. It’s in general. And that’s it. We might lack of knowledge. We might lack of information. We might lack of different kind of things, which creates some gaps between these two bodies. And we created this advisory council that engaged two parliamentarians. One is the vice speaker, and another one, the head of the commission. The second one is, and also we have their scientists, entrepreneurs, different kind of technology company leaders who are also bringing in their experience. Which is the strategic future of the country, like the government programs that will be implemented. It’s strategic. And the second one is, of course, digitization and the Internet, where we have Internet Governance Council, where it is also created by the prime minister. And the parliamentarians, the industry experts, everyone is there. And the regulatory and also the ministry is also there. And these are the two main bodies. One is science and technology. Another one is connectivity and Internet governance. So, these are the two bodies who are giving us a look to the future and a strategic point of view. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Great. Thank you so much. What about you, Mrs. Bilbasa?

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan: If you could highlight the, how do you foster the collaboration between government and the parliament? You see, we are already adopting global frameworks, as I said. We are also into regional collaboration. For example, the SAARC country, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. We participate in SAARC initiatives to harmonize our trade, environmental, and technology laws. Similarly, I’ll give you an example. We are also part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. And Pakistan ensures legal compatibility in areas such as digital trade and investment protection. Furthermore, we also collaborate with our regional partners to address challenges related to cross-border data flow. We also ensure our participation in international forums such as the Center for the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Also the very important Financial Action Task Force. We also have extradition treaties. That’s very interesting for the extradition of cybercriminals. We have mutual legal assistance agreements. We have our training programs for capacity building. In the Pakistani parliament, we have a tradition of having caucuses and friendship groups. For example, other than my responsibilities as a legislator, I also head the friendship group for Argentina. So all of us have a friendship group. Similarly, if there is an initiative, we could perhaps form a caucus for collaborating on digital issues with the rest of the world. Let’s say we are already, it’s a tested experiment as far as SARC is concerned, which is quite an important big body. We have many important huge countries of the South Asian region. So we could expand it. And so could others. And we could have mutual agreements with other parliaments. And that’s not very difficult. My colleague from Armenia knows it’s fairly easy for the speaker or the chairman of a senate or a parliament to initiate this. And then when it gets initiated, it’s fairly above bureaucratic controls. Parliament is above bureaucratic controls and parliament can take an initiative without going through the lengthy procedures. So my, and I would go back and advise my own chairman of the senate to try and form such a forum and then reach out to all the countries that are represented in Pakistan.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you for sharing that. Mr. Jelsvik, how does parliament manage the partnership, the collaboration between the private and the public sector in your country?

Sigbjon Gjelsvik: Yeah, thank you. I think it’s a very important question and it’s very essential that we could have a greater collaboration between parliaments and the stakeholders. I think also that we must establish some formal mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. For example, some regular meeting points, or working groups, and perhaps also some collaborative projects that can bring together parliamentarians, industry experts, and civil society in common projects. These platforms allow us to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and develop solutions together. So I think that it’s very important, the question here at the end, to discuss how we can develop this kind of cooperation. And like my colleague from Pakistan just mentioned, regional cooperation is also very important. And the Nordic countries have a long tradition in our region to have working together on digital issues. And the regional approach can serve as a model for other parts of the world as well. And not just only the Nordic countries, but we also have a lot of cooperation with the Baltic countries. So in our region, it’s very important to have this kind of cooperation. But also, of course, on the international level. And we also take part in European cooperation, and also follow the discussions inside the European Union about new legislation, and also adopt it in Norway. And finally, Norway is, of course, very dedicated, as I’ve always pointed out, to improve the multi-stakeholder model. And the internet is crucial for businesses, and we aim to promote the Norwegian industry also into this cooperation. So keep to the multi-stakeholder model. But I think it’s very important to have some tools, and also have some cooperation, some working group that makes some progress between these forums. That is very important every year. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: 100% agree. To you, Arnold-Marie, we haven’t touched base on the entrepreneurship. So how do you do this in your parliament? How do you manage to foster the collaboration between the private sector inventors and entrepreneurship, just to boost the digital entrepreneurship?

Maria Ilago: Thank you. Here’s the good news. Namibia already has some of the building blocks in place, like, number one, public-private partnership. Namibia’s start-up ecosystem is growing, driven by young, innovative entrepreneurs. We can strengthen this by creating policies that support digital businesses like tax incentives, grants, and easier regulatory pathways. Like in South Africa, innovation hubs have shown how public-private collaboration can create jobs and solutions. Namibia can take this approach even further. 2. Inclusive policymaking Strong digital governance comes from listening to everyone. Every citizen, business, and civil society. Namibia’s Access to Information Act lays the groundwork for inclusive decision-making. Imagine town halls or digital consultations where people even in remote regions can voice their concerns and ideas. Investing in digital education, Namibia has already prioritized ICT in schools. But we can go further by fostering partnerships with global organizations like the AU or the UNESCO Digital Literacy Program. Ensuring young Namibians understand tools like AI and cybersecurity doesn’t just prepare them for jobs, it prepares them to lead. Lastly, we must remember that governance creates trust. Innovation is exciting, but it can be risky. Strong laws and collaborative efforts ensure that digital tools save people, not exploiting them. Thank you.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. I think we have only one minute left in this session. We’d like to quickly hear your thoughts, Dr. Issa, about the international collaboration that the Shura could do, that can foster the collaboration with international organizations for the digital frameworks.

Issa Al-Otaibi: Thank you so much. We can continue to create new strategies, actually, and I would say that most important one would be to build on the foundation of current and new trust-based partnerships. Actually, here in Saudi Arabia, under our digital government strategies, we have a dubbed collaboration between the private sector and the public institutions to develop more effective smart services. And moving to a global level, we can help parliaments talk about their priorities in forms such as the United Nations Global Digital Compact, which we are already a part of it. Also, we actually would like to learn more from frameworks for emerging challenges, such as the European Union General Data Protection, the GDP regulation, and also the African Union Digital Transformation Strategy, and last but not least, from the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Economy. All of these initiatives actually involve input from business, government, and technical communities, and will ensure a more balanced and inclusive approach as we go forward.

Najwa Alghmad: Thank you so much. Thank you so much. A final thought, Mrs. Calleti, before we wrap up. A final thought on what would be the role of the parliaments to foster the collaboration with governments and locals.

Pamela Calletti : I think definitely the collaborative framework in the case of Argentina, we have a lot of domestic work because we have different states and we should harmonize our judicial system so that we can compare our regulations with the region and then see the friendship groups that we have. Like my Pakistan colleague, this year in Argentina there was a parliamentary track where parliamentaries discussed all the good practices and regulations and in the framework of the IGF and the parliamentary track is this environment where we all can meet and talk about all these policies and develop capabilities and capacities for these challenges and have a forum like the IGF where everybody is represented, academia, private sector, scientists, technical community, parliamentaries and the CSOs as well as citizens in general.

Najwa Alghmad: I think it was a discussion or a session that is full of very insightful discussions, thoughts and ideas. It’s wonderful to hear and see what’s going on in every country. It’s very nice to see there are many common, I would say, steps across these different countries. But again, this is the time to close. So as we close, I extend my heartfelt thanks to our panelists for their thoughtful contribution and for our audience for your engagement. So today we’ve discussed the critical role of parliaments in shaping a secure and inclusive digital future, the challenges they face and the strategy. for collaboration. On behalf of the IGF 2024, thank you once again for your dedication to shaping a better digital future. We look forward to seeing you, the progress that we will achieve, inshallah, together. Thank you so much, and thank you for the audience. Thank you. Thank you.

Agreement Points

Importance of international collaboration in digital governance

Hakob Arshakyan

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Maria Elago

Issa Al-Otaibi

Pamela Calletti

Harmonizing legislation across borders

Strengthening cybersecurity measures

Hosting inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogues

Adopting global best practices in digital policies

Creating partnerships between public and private sectors

Harmonizing regulations across countries

All speakers emphasized the need for international cooperation and collaboration in addressing digital governance challenges and shaping policies.

Addressing the digital divide

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Maria Elago

Issa Al-Otaibi

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Addressing digital divide and infrastructure challenges

Ensuring equitable access to digital resources

Multiple speakers highlighted the importance of bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to digital resources for all citizens.

Balancing innovation with security and privacy

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Issa Al-Otaibi

Creating inclusive and secure digital policies

Balancing innovation with governance

Both speakers stressed the need to balance digital innovation with effective governance, ensuring security and privacy while promoting technological advancement.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of supporting and empowering young people in driving digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

Hakob Arshakyan

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and innovation

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Both speakers stressed the importance of human-centered approaches to technology regulation, particularly in the context of AI governance.

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Pamela Calletti

Promoting responsible AI governance

Ensuring human-centered technology regulation

Unexpected Consensus

Importance of youth in digital transformation

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Maria Elago

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Investing in digital education and literacy

Despite representing different regions (South Asia and Africa), both speakers strongly emphasized the crucial role of youth in driving digital transformation, which might not have been expected given their diverse backgrounds.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement included the importance of international collaboration, addressing the digital divide, balancing innovation with security, and empowering youth in digital transformation.

Consensus level

There was a high level of consensus among the speakers on the need for international cooperation and inclusive digital policies. This consensus suggests a shared understanding of the global nature of digital challenges and the potential for collaborative solutions, which could facilitate more coordinated efforts in shaping international digital governance frameworks.

Different Viewpoints

Approach to digital governance

Hakob Arshakyan

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Harmonizing legislation across borders

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Arshakyan emphasizes international cooperation and harmonizing legislation, while Khan focuses on empowering youth and leveraging their efforts in driving digital transformation.

Priority in addressing digital challenges

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Maria Elago

Cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns

Addressing digital divide and infrastructure challenges

Khan prioritizes addressing cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns, while Ilago emphasizes bridging the digital divide and improving infrastructure in rural areas.

Unexpected Differences

Role of youth in digital transformation

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Rapid pace of technological change

While Khan emphasizes the crucial role of youth in driving digital transformation, Gjelsvik focuses on the challenges faced by legislators in keeping up with technological change, unexpectedly not mentioning youth involvement.

Overall Assessment

summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around prioritizing different aspects of digital governance, such as international cooperation, youth empowerment, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development.

difference_level

The level of disagreement among speakers is moderate. While there are differences in approach and priorities, there is a general consensus on the importance of effective digital governance. These differences reflect the varied challenges and contexts faced by different countries, which could lead to diverse strategies in addressing global digital governance issues.

Partial Agreements

Both speakers agree on the need for effective digital governance, but Gjelsvik emphasizes inclusivity and security, while Al-Otaibi focuses on balancing innovation with governance.

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Issa Al-Otaibi

Creating inclusive and secure digital policies

Balancing innovation with governance

Both speakers agree on the importance of aligning digital policies internationally, but Elago focuses on adopting best practices, while Calletti emphasizes harmonizing regulations across countries.

Maria Ilago

Pamela Calletti

Adopting global best practices in digital policies

Harmonizing regulations across countries

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of supporting and empowering young people in driving digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

Hakob Arshakyan

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and innovation

Empowering youth in digital transformation

Both speakers stressed the importance of human-centered approaches to technology regulation, particularly in the context of AI governance.

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

Pamela Calletti

Promoting responsible AI governance

Ensuring human-centered technology regulation

Key Takeaways

Parliaments play a crucial role in shaping digital governance frameworks and policies

There are common challenges across countries in digital governance, including cybersecurity threats, digital divides, and keeping pace with technological change

International collaboration and multi-stakeholder approaches are essential for effective digital governance

Digital policies should be human-centered and protect rights while fostering innovation

Youth engagement and digital literacy are important for successful digital transformation

Resolutions and Action Items

Norway to host the next Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in June 2025

Create capacity building programs for parliamentarians on digital issues

Establish a global network of parliamentarians dedicated to digital governance

Develop actionable policy recommendations on key digital issues like cybersecurity and data privacy

Foster stronger partnerships between parliaments and other stakeholders in digital governance

Unresolved Issues

How to balance national digital sovereignty with international cooperation

Specific mechanisms for harmonizing digital legislation across borders

How to effectively regulate emerging technologies like AI while fostering innovation

Addressing the digital divide in rural and underserved areas globally

Suggested Compromises

Balancing open internet access with necessary cybersecurity measures

Finding the right level of regulation that protects rights without impeding innovation

Combining global digital governance frameworks with localized implementation approaches

Armenia has been a long time, been at a close border with the neighbor of Azerbaijan and now the neighbor of Turkey. So, now we have a new initiative, the Armenian government, which is called Crossroads of Peace. So, in that concept, our proposal is to open all the roads and the railways that are blocked right now, and also include the connectivity pipelines, if we may say, which will connect east with the west and the north with the south.

speaker

Hakob Arshakyan

reason

This comment introduces a novel geopolitical initiative that aims to use digital infrastructure as a means of fostering regional peace and cooperation.

impact

It shifted the discussion to consider how digital initiatives can have broader geopolitical impacts beyond just technological advancement. It prompted other speakers to consider regional cooperation in their own contexts.

Pakistan faces a number of challenges in this digital age and how we embrace them is also it’s quite an effort and it’s a very delicate balance. Some of the important challenges that we are currently facing, I’ll just tell you a few. The top is the cybersecurity threats that we face.

speaker

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

reason

This comment brought attention to the real-world challenges faced by developing countries in implementing digital governance, particularly in cybersecurity.

impact

It grounded the discussion in practical realities and challenges, prompting other speakers to address specific issues rather than just broad concepts. It led to a more nuanced discussion of the balance between innovation and security.

Norway believes the internet should remain open and accessible. We are committed to supporting the Global Digital Compact, with the goal of connecting all people to the internet. This will require significant investment from governments and stakeholders, especially the private sector.

speaker

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

reason

This comment emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open internet while acknowledging the need for significant investment and cooperation.

impact

It refocused the discussion on the fundamental principles of internet governance and the need for global cooperation. It prompted other speakers to consider how their countries could contribute to global digital initiatives.

Access alone is not enough. Digital information must be clear, understandable, and available in languages that resonate with people. Otherwise, it is like giving someone the key to a library, but the books are written in a language they don’t speak.

speaker

Maria Elago

reason

This metaphor effectively illustrates the importance of not just providing access to digital resources, but ensuring they are truly accessible and useful.

impact

It deepened the conversation about digital inclusion, moving beyond just infrastructure to consider content and usability. It prompted other speakers to consider the qualitative aspects of digital access in their countries.

Since we were kids, and let’s say the history of humanity in the traditional way, we learned to be citizens in this traditional world. However, nowadays, all of us beyond our citizenship, regardless if we are Argentinian, Arab, Norwegian, we are digital citizens, inside and outside.

speaker

Pamela Calletti

reason

This comment introduces the concept of global digital citizenship, transcending traditional national boundaries.

impact

It broadened the scope of the discussion to consider the global nature of digital governance and the need for international cooperation. It prompted other speakers to consider how their national policies fit into a global context.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by moving it from abstract concepts to practical challenges and solutions. They broadened the scope from national to regional and global considerations, emphasized the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in digital governance, and highlighted the need for international cooperation. The discussion evolved from focusing on technological infrastructure to considering the broader societal, economic, and geopolitical impacts of digital transformation.

How to balance regulation and innovation in data governance?

speaker

Najwa Alghmad

explanation

This was suggested as an important topic for future discussion, as some regulations might impede steps in innovation.

How can parliaments create a global forum for enhancing and facilitating global digital governance?

speaker

Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan

explanation

This was proposed as a way to foster collaboration and enact laws that align across countries, potentially removing hurdles in inter-parliamentary communication.

How can youth leaders be more effectively engaged in shaping digital policies?

speaker

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

explanation

Collaboration with youth leaders was highlighted as a successful initiative that provides valuable insights and ensures policies reflect their needs and aspirations.

What strategies can be implemented to foster collaboration between parliaments and various stakeholders?

speaker

Najwa Alghmad

explanation

This was raised as a key point for discussion, focusing on how to implement strategies that could foster collaboration through parliaments.

How can regional cooperation models, like those in the Nordic countries, be adapted for other parts of the world?

speaker

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

explanation

Regional cooperation was highlighted as an important approach that could serve as a model for other parts of the world.

How can parliaments effectively balance national interests with global cooperation in digital governance?

speaker

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

explanation

This was identified as a challenge that requires balance and compromises to protect citizens and economies while working on international frameworks.

What mechanisms can be established for regular dialogue and cooperation between parliaments and stakeholders?

speaker

Sigbjørn Gjelsvik

explanation

The need for formal mechanisms like regular meeting points or working groups was emphasized to bring together parliamentarians, industry experts, and civil society.