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IGF 2024 – Daily 1

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IGF Daily Summary

for Sunday, 15 December 2024

Dear readers, 

Hello! Diplo’s IGF reporting is back with new features providing in-depth analysis of IGF sessions and discussions. In addition to summary reports and knowledge graphs, you can find surveys of agreements, disagreements, takeaways, and much more.

Our first IGF 2024 daily report looks at the intensive debates which took place during Day 0. A comprehensive coverage of yesterday’s discussions can be found on our IGF 2024 dedicated web page, which includes an analysis of discussions, a summary of the day, an Ask IGF AI assistant based on daily discussion, and much more.

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Artificial intelligence: It is not surprising that AI dominated yesterday’s discussions, with the technology and/or its governance being mentioned 1,136 times in transcripts. Most of the debates followed the typical AI narratives of ‘opportunities and risks’, biases, and ethics. However, we did notice a few shifts. Compared to last year, discussions on the concrete impact of AI on development, education, and health overtook the more hypothetical debates on the long-term impact on humanity. 

The AI governance debate focused on an interoperable regulatory framework and voluntary industry commitments. Several specific initiatives were mentioned. For instance, The Hamburg Declaration on AI and SDGs (to be signed in 2025) was mentioned as one of the concrete proposals for addressing the nexus between AI and development. In 2025, the Freedom Online Coalition will focus on the impact of AI on marginalised groups.

Access and digital divide: Locally accessible cloud solutions supported by portable Wi-Fi capable batteries and solar-powered micro-data centres have started emerging as a combination of technologies that could boost connectivity for the unconnected 2.6 billion people. Another obstacle to access has been a sharp increase in internet shutdowns by 41% since 2022.

Mis/disinformation: The good news is the impact of AI-generated content on many elections worldwide was not as high as many expected. However, mis/disinformation remains a major issue impacting social fabric, trust, and security in societies worldwide.

Cybersecurity: In addition to regular debates on threats and ways to deal with them, a newer element was a focus on women, still underrepresented in the cybersecurity field. 

We invite you to read more on these and many other issues below and chat with our AI assistant based on yesterday’s discussions.

Please let us know your comments and suggestions at [email protected]!

The Digital Watch team, with support from DiploA.

AI roots in the Islamic Golden Age 

In his traditional pre-IGF reflection, Jovan Kurbalija traced the roots of key AI concepts—algorithms and probability—to mathematicians and thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age. He also discusses historical views on virtuality, ethics, and privacy protections.


Summary of discussions
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AI governance 

The AI governance debate centred around three approaches that could complement each other: interoperable regulatory frameworks, voluntary industry commitments, and international processes such as the G7 Hiroshima AI process.

Yesterday’s discussions looked into the Council of Europe’s recently concluded Convention on AI, human rights, democracy, and the rule of law that could serve as global standards for striking a balance between innovation and protection of human rights. 

The Hamburg Declaration on AI and SDGs was presented as an initiative aimed to address the gap between AI and development dynamics by, among others, dealing with the environmental sustainability of AI, access to AI infrastructure in developing countries, and AI governance structures. The Hamburg Declaration is to be presented during the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (2-3 June 2025) and at the IGF 2025.

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) introduced their approach to ethical AI governance, focusing on six key principles: accountability and oversight, transparency and explainability, fairness and non-discrimination, privacy protection, sustainability and environmental impact, and human-centredness. They also presented a prototype AI ethics evaluation tool designed to help developers and deployers assess and mitigate human rights risks associated with AI systems.

The impact of AI on education was a central theme at the IGF Youth Summit, with discussions on ethical considerations, accountability, the digital divide, and equitable access to AI-powered education. 

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Fastest speakers during Day 0

Data governance and digital sovereignty

Data remains high on the IGF agenda. A call for a fourth way in data governance (in addition to the approaches taken by the USA, the EU, and China) was proposed, in which data would be treated as a strategic asset for developing countries, and used for socio-economic development. This approach, as proposed by Lenovo, will, for example, ensure that personally identifiable information and sensitive data are not inputted into large language models.

Discussions also highlighted the centrality of digital public infrastructure (DPI) as a foundation for inclusive, open, and effective use of data.

Challenges in implementing data governance frameworks were discussed, including the need for international cooperation, the importance of transparency, and the difficulties in standardising approaches across different jurisdictions.

Ai assistant

The IGF about the IGF

The future of the IGF, particularly in light of the upcoming WSIS+20 review, was addressed in a few sessions. The importance of multistakeholder collaboration in internet governance was emphasised, with a focus on issues such as stakeholder inputs, facilitating dialogue, and youth integration. Other discussions explored the potential contribution of national, regional, and youth IGF initiatives (NRIs) in shaping the future of the IGF post-2025. Furthermore, several speakers called for strategic thinking about the next 20 years of IGF.

The launch of UNESCO’s updated Internet Universality Indicators framework, now more streamlined and future-ready, provides a valuable tool for countries to assess and improve their digital governance on rights, openness, accessibility, and multistakeholder participation.

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Access and digital inclusion

Locally Accessible Cloud Systems (LACS) were discussed as a solution for bringing internet access to the 1.6 billion unconnected, particularly in rural areas. LACS could be vital in the case of disasters where connections to the wider internet can be broken. 

Cybersecurity and online safety

Cybersecurity and online safety continue to be top priorities on the IGF agenda. The increasing prevalence of non-consensual sharing of intimate images, sextortion, and AI-generated deepfakes was highlighted as a trend and growing concern.

A sharp increase in internet shutdowns is another worrisome trend affecting cybersecurity, access, and human rights. Among approximately 270 internet shutdowns across over 40 countries in 2024, seven countries implemented shutdowns for the first time.

Dis-/misinformation 

The risk of the negative impact of AI-generated content on elections in 2024 was mitigated. While AI was (mis)used, it did not have a significant impact on elections. 

However, misinformation and disinformation continue to hold significant relevance, particularly in divided societies and conflicts where it can have life-threatening consequences.

A multistakeholder approach is needed to combat misinformation, especially through private-public partnerships between tech companies and governments. While there was overall agreement about the need for international cooperation, participants raised nuanced approaches, with some focusing more on global standards and others arguing for more local and context-specific action in combating misinformation.

AI can have a double-edged impact, as it can be used to both generate and combat misinformation.

The key challenge is to balance combating misinformation with ensuring freedom of expression. Some panellists from the industry argued for labelling rather than removing misinformation as a preferable solution.

The echoing message from Day 0 of the IGF was that platforms must be responsible for content moderation within a regulatory framework. However, these calls are not answered in reality as there is a noticeable regression in platform content moderation.Various initiatives for dealing with dis/misinformation are put in place at a regional level, including the European Digital Media Observatory, the Africa Facts Network, and growing debates on this issue in Southeast Asia.

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Gender inclusion

Women are the most affected by underdeveloped digital infrastructure. The lack of direct access to the internet impacts social inclusion as, given the growing reliance on electronic identification (e-IDs) for various social and administrative purposes. In Africa, out of 400 million people without any legal form of identity, 60% are women. Challenges for women do not stop with access. They are the most exposed to cybercrime in Africa. In Afghanistan, the restrictions on women’s rights under Taliban rule are mirrored online, including access to education. Culturally and context-sensitive projects and approaches are needed to effectively address such challenges.

Women are also underrepresented in the cybersecurity field. This has to be addressed through a holistic approach combining capacity building, including training, mentorship, role modeling, community building, and real-world exposure.

Unique metaphors and analogies

  • Technology sandwich: Describing the layered approach to AI implementation in enterprises.
  • You can’t bring logic to a feelings fight: Highlighting the emotional aspect of misinformation consumption.
  • First aid online: Describing the role of safer internet centres in protecting children online.
  • Troll parenting: Referring to adults setting negative examples online, including sharing embarrassing content about their children.

Interesting statistics and facts

  • 96% of all deepfake content online is non-consensual sexual content targeting women.
  • Only 30% of women in Africa are connected to the internet compared to 44% of men.
  • The cost of digital-related fraud and corruption is estimated at 6% of global GDP annually.
  • 80% of fraud within procurement occurs at the specification stage, before data even enters digital systems.

Thought-provoking ideas

  • The concept of a ‘fourth way’ for data governance beyond the approaches of the USA, EU, and China.
  • The proposal for a ‘Last Mile Coalition’ within the IGF to focus on remote and underserved communities.
  • The suggestion to create intergenerational spaces for AI development and deployment. 
  • Digital identity is not a digital service but a fundamental digital infrastructure.

Day 0 in numbers

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Diplo/GIP at IGF2024

Diplo and the GIP are actively engaged at IGF2024 organising and participating in various sessions. If you want to learn more about the use of AI in reporting, IGF knowledge ecology, and DiploAI, please join us for the session titled Leveraging AI tools to explore IGF knowledge, on Tuesday, 17 December, between 10:30 and 11:30 (IGF Village stage).

At 14:40, we invite Diplo alumni and friends for a brief get-together where we’ll present our most recent publication, ‘Unpacking Global Digital Compact: Actors, Issues, and Processes’, and continue in an informal manner. We’ll be in the Lightning talks room.

For a more philosophical discussion on the relations between AI, humans, and humanity, join our Intelligent machines and society session, between 16:30 and 17:30 (workshop 7). 

If you’re joining the meeting online, check out our space in the virtual village.

If you’re attending the IGF in Riyadh, make sure to drop by our Diplo and GIP booth, numbered U-21.

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Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2024 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at [email protected].