Call for Topics 2024 - Submissions
From IGF-USA
The Call for Topics for the IGF-USA 2024 runs until March 16 2024. This page serves as the interactive hub for navigating these submissions. Entries can be made via https://www.igfusa.us/igf-usa-2024-call-for-topics/
Stakeholder Groups[edit]
- Civil Society / Academia
- Government / Intergovernmental Organization
- Private Sector
- Technical Community
- None / Other
Issue Areas[edit]
- Access and Digital Inclusion
- Artificial Intelligence
- Content Policy
- Cybersecurity, Cybercrime and Online Safety
- Data Governance and Privacy
- Digital Markets and Competition
- Emerging Technologies
- Online Harms
- Sustainability
- Other
Submissions[edit]
| Submission Number | Submission | Issue Areas | Links | SG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submission Number | Submission | Issue Areas | Links | SG | |
| 2024 Submission 1 | This is a test entry to see if the form is working, but I might suggest digital preservation. | Content Policy | This is something that Vint has pushed • and ISOC-NY ran a couple of events with him back in 2018. https://digitalpreservationnow.com | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 2 | Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost, and without needing to ask permission. Unlike traditional copyrighted resources, OER have been authored or created by an individual or organization that chooses to allow for re-use and adaptation of their work.
In some cases, that means you can download a resource and share it with colleagues and students. In other cases, you may be able to download a resource, edit it in some way, and then re-post it as a remixed work. How do you know your options? OER often have a Creative Commons license or other permission to let you know how the material may be used, reused, adapted, and shared. You can use OER to supplement (or even replace) traditional educational resources. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Emerging Technologies | https://ait.libguides.com/openeducation | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 3 | AI governance and Innovation
Platform regulation Data Protection & Cybersecurity with a Human Rights Perspective | Artificial Intelligence • Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies | Civil Society / Academia | ||
| 2024 Submission 4 | Development in Critical infrastructure in America has been rapid in the past decade. There has been upgradation of the Technology integrated with the critical infrastructure facilities in the region. With the development of the IoT sector and 5G technology, there are opportunities for growth and potential vulnerabilities of national security concerns. Massive foreign investment also seems to add to the exposure as it potentially influences the foreign policy agenda of many American countries. Depending on these investments and diplomatic ties, the protection of critical infrastructure may be compromised - reflecting the need for cyber diplomacy as a tool to prevent cyberattacks as an act of war. Therefore we must discuss the connection of critical infrastructure security with Cyberdiplomacy | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies • Sustainability | https://www.thecyberdiplomat.com/post/global-supply-chain-cyber-security-and-barrier-to-international-trade-in-latam-countries https://www.thecyberdiplomat.com/post/latin-america-cyberdiplomacy-and-foreign-ties-for-critical-infrastructure | Government / Intergovernmental organization | |
| 2024 Submission 5 | Digital Public Infrastructure is the key for Internet Development | Access and Digital Inclusion | https://www.indiastack.global/ | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 6 | Persuasive computing Child online safety | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety | Civil Society / Academia | ||
| 2024 Submission 7 | Taking the US Cyber Trust mark global to protect consumers around the world. | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety | Anne Neuberger • White House Mike Bergmat • CTA Amit Elizari • Open Policy | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 8 | State Digital Equity windfall, how best to deploy? | Access and Digital Inclusion | "On Feb 29 2024 • all 50 States • D.C. • and Puerto Rico submitted their Digital Equity Plans to the NTIA. This year alone • nearly $800 million will be available to states through the State Capacity Grant program. https://www.internetforall.gov/blog/first-time-all-states-will-have-plan-address-digital-equity Panel could include Angela Thi Bennett of NDIA • someone from NDIA • and a couple of state officers. One that I know is Jodia Vanel (NY) • who can be seen at https://youtu.be/-mAmmSdJbkM?t=2035" | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 9 | NIL - an increasingly big number!
NIL = Name, Image, Likeness, has become an established legal concept in the sports world, even leading to a Supreme Court case that wrested it from the NCAA's control for amateur athletes. Now, in other fields, particularly music, NIL is being seen as a fungible IP right, equivalent to composition, mechanical, or performance. Just as the onset of digital formats and networked distribution caused a revolution in that industry, leading to regulated systems of monetization such as Sound Exchange, the development of AI and social media influence presages entirely new markets that may require governance and regulatory intervention." | Content Policy • Digital Markets and Competition | Podcast interview with Jim Griffin • music industry veteran • who pioneered major label digital distribution. https://www.musictectonics.com/post/name-image-and-likeness-with-jim-griffin I know him and could recruit. | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 10 | 'The VR headset OS cold war' | Emerging Technologies | - while Microsoft's Hololens runs on Windows • and the recently introduced Apple's Vision Pro runs on visionOS • both proprietary OS's • in 2022 Meta's Oculus abandoned XROS in favor of forking Android's Open Source Project (AOSP) for it's Quest headsets. In 2023 Google announced a deal with Samsung • for which it was building its own AOSP fork - Android XR. Meta declined Google's offer to 'contribute' • as that would have them playing second fiddle. Meta has a good library of established 3D content • which could enhance Android XR's takeup. Meanwhile • Google has declined to make Google Play's 2D library available for Quest. Meta recently announced a deal with LG. Thus the stage is set for an old fashioned 3 way OS war between Meta • Google and Apple. Apple • notably • is yet to implement the OpenXR API standard. https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-rejected-google-android-xr-partnership-request/ | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 11 | Online Privacy: safety, design, and controls. From policy and regulatory perspectives, much attention has recently turned to privacy design and settings. Because of its current popularity in lawsuits, penalties, and even mainstream news, privacy controls would be a worthwhile topic for IGF-USA this year. | Cybersecurity • Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Online Harms | Civil Society / Academia | ||
| 2024 Submission 13 | Threats to functioning multistakeholder governance - local, federal and international efforts to undermine existing, working governance models and replace with less open and transparent regulatory regimes. | Other | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 14 | Debate the efficacy of a “duty of care” standard for platform content policy. | Content Policy | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 15 | US election security threats created by AI - video, calls, ads, social media posts that can be used to spread dis and misinformation and undermine 2024 election integrity. | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 12 | Leveraging the Multistakeholder Approach for Combatting Online Abuse: Effective and Ineffective Engagement Strategies | Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Online Harms | Anti-abuse is wide ranging. Some of it is being addressed in multistakeholder venues. Some is appropriately not • as no existing venue makes sense to discuss all types of abuse. However • looking back at what has and hasn't worked to address online harms could give us a roadmap on whether there is a more efficient path forward to work on models where we collectively work to make the Internet a better • safer place. | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 16 | Promoting the deployment of Internet Standards and ICT best practices, by teaching large organisations, public and private, to procure secure by design and make consumer protection and advocacy organisations understand they have to take the IoT components into account when judging, respectively testing products, devices and services. Start a discussion on how tertiary cyber security education can close the skills gap between the offered education and the demand coming from industry and the technical community. | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Online Harms • Other | IGF Dynamic Coalition Internet Standards • Security and Safety (IS3C) has produced reports and tools on a diverse range of topics concerning the deployment of Internet standards and ICT best practices. They can be found on our website here:
https://is3coalition.org/docs-category/research-reports/ Internet security is an ever more important topic • yet the most obvious ways to reach a higher level of security and safety are widely underused: the newer generation of Internet standards and best practices developed by the technical community. For many and different reasons • One of them a lack of knowledge in procurement departments. This can be changed. IS3C's report shows the current state of affairs. We can present the outcomes • the solutions and on the next steps • including two tool we have made. Potential presenters are Mallory Knodel and Liz Orembo • the researchers and David Huberman and myself as team leads on the tools. IS3C's research has shown that in general there is a large skills gap between supply and demand. For society to become safer and more secure this needs to be closed. IS3C has proposed a model to do so • which is now a part of the IGF's Best Practice Forum on Cybersecurity programme for 2024. This model can be discussed and tested in a workshop. We are willing to do so. Presenters can be Janice Richardson and Wout de Natris. | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 17 | The inclusion of cybersecurity awareness and basic principles in early/adolescent public education. This inclusion would potentially improve cybersecurity gaps in the workforce, reduce the victimization in cybercrime on an individual level, boost national defense in a sense that the average citizen would be cyber-savvy enough to reduce attack surface. | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety | I do not have any links • but can provide a thesis I wrote about this topic | Government / Intergovernmental organization | |
| 2024 Submission 26 | The Internet, over 50 years strong, owes its success to one secret ingredient: multistakeholder collaboration. This powerful force has allowed the Internet to help many in the world increase productivity and overcome major challenges. In this ever-changing geopolitical landscape, with entrenched political divisions, we can learn valuable lessons from the past five decades to navigate the coming years. | Other | Suggested speakers: Joe Catapano • Veni Markovski | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 20 | Interplanetary Internet Governance/Solar-System Internet Architecture and Governance, including new protocol requirements, deep-space challenges to the DNS and cybersecurity architectures, Interoperability/Artemis Accords, and emerging multistakeholder governance challenges | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies | Internet Society Interplanetary Networking Special Interest Group Report on "Solar-System Internet Architecture and Governance" https://drive.google.com/file/d/1anMcVEqXjNtk5gdo_qce28SowusXKkfi/view
White Paper on "Interplanetary Internet Governance" https://www.cigionline.org/publications/interplanetary-internet-governance/ Recommended Speakers: Vint Cerf (Google) • Laura DeNardis (Georgetown) • Jim Schier (NASA) • Scott Pace (GW) • Yosuke Kaneko (JAXA • Chair IPNSIG) | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 21 | While AI appears to be the flavour of the moment, clearly it is a double edged sword; an extremely dangerous and pervasive technology that is so terribly open to abuse in so many sectros of society.
Therefore it would seem imperative that trustworthy AI (and the underpinning data structures) that need to be implemented and should form the basis of new legislation emerging from our various political leadership groups. Unfortunately, these representatives have very little understanding of the problem space, let alone having ever implemented such computational techniques. Perhaps the IGF can come up with soem guidance on how AI could be made compliant with forthcoming legislation? | Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy | Not yet! This requires a great deal of work and would only be undertaken if the subject were to be taken forward. | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 18 | It is time in the wake of the growing capability and use of AI that serious consideration be given to establishing a legal framework to protect individuals from having their image and likeness used without informed consent - deep fakes. In addition, the unauthorized use of such images, to include (audio recordings), that are altered without informed consent should constitute a cause of action resulting in civil penalties. Government regulatory bodies such as the FCC should be given the authority to sanction persons or entities that do so. | Artificial Intelligence • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies • Online Harms | Civil Society / Academia | ||
| 2024 Submission 19 | The role of national and regional IGFs (NRIs) in supporting and spreading multistakeholder approaches to internet governance. This is a critical topic at the moment given the ongoing Global Digital Compact, World Summit for the Information Society, and NetMundial processes where questions of multistakeholder and multilateral approaches to internet and tech governance are once again being raised. | Other | Other | ||
| 2024 Submission 22 | The Future of Internet Governance: Can Multi-Stakeholderism be Saved from Corporate Capture? | Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Digital Markets and Competition • Emerging Technologies • Online Harms | https://medium.com/@rick.lane22/the-crisis-of-icanns-failed-internet-governance-1684d789de33 | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 23 | (duplicate of 2024 Submission 22) | Private Sector | |||
| 2024 Submission 24 | 1. Responsible use of the Internet.
2. Potential fragmentation caused by artificial intelligence. 3. The need for free tools for privacy to protect Human Rights. 4. Potentially harmful packaging (e.g., privacy loss, restricted access, lack of competition, etc.) of core Internet functionality (data transmission, management, prioritization, identity/IP protection, etc.) as products to users. 5. Governments using the Internet to build small business capacity and global competitiveness. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy • Digital Markets and Competition • Emerging Technologies • Online Harms | suggested speaker: Joe Catapano | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 25 | A big reason for the Internet’s success is that everything interoperates: applications all work using the same network: the Internet, built on a set of common protocols that are defined and refined in open standards development processes. Open standards bodies such as the IETF and W3C ensure that protocols we all rely on are designed with technical excellence, rigorous testing, and interoperability foremost in mind. There are actors that seek to undermine these open processes and instead turn to the ITU and other closed bodies to invent new protocols. The global Internet community should come together to ensure the governance models of these and other standards bodies remain the places these processes are developed. | Other | Technical Community | ||
| 2024 Submission 27 | Globally, language usage is diverse. English comes third in terms of native speakers around the world. English represents 57% of the total written content online and the percentage is decreasing. The United States is a diverse country; the number of people in the US who spoke a language other than English at home nearly tripled from 1980 - 2019. Across the US, there are communities where business is primarily conducted in a language other than English. A linguistically diverse Internet significantly contributes toward a knowledge-based society by bridging the digital divide. A key aspect of this is the Universal Acceptance (UA) of top-level domains (TLDs). UA adoption is low. Governments (federal/state/local) in the US and the private sector need to lead the world in enhancing a multilingual Internet through adopting Universal Acceptance. | Access and Digital Inclusion | https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/languages-we-speak-in-united-states.html • https://uasg.tech • suggested speaker: Joe Catapano | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 28 | Responsible use of the Internet. Privacy tools for consumers as a Human Right. AI’s impact on fragmentation. Potential harms associated with the increase in commodification of core Internet infrastructure. Government, small business and the Internet. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy • Digital Markets and Competition • Online Harms | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 34 | The current digital landscape struggles to offer a system that installs trust and confidence in online interactions. Despite the rapid growth of online services and the critical need for secure identification, there is no cohesive mechanism in place to introduce a level of trust that mirrors what we experience in the physical world. This has resulted in inconsistencies, vulnerabilities, and a myriad of security challenges. The Decentralized Identity Verification System (DIVS) aims to bridge this gap by introducing the trust of the physical world (e.g., governmental entities) into the digital space. By leveraging secure cryptographic systems and learning from experiences like the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), the goal is to build a digital identity framework that can serve as a robust layer of trust. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies • Online Harms | Government / Intergovernmental organization | ||
| 2024 Submission 29 | Challenges of Internet Governance in Developing Countries | Access and Digital Inclusion | Each and every country has its own challenges of Internet Governance but there are certain common issues faced by developing countries such as : lack of uninterrupted connectivity • affordability • illiteracy • reach.
In case these issues are addressed effectively life of people in these countries will be more comfortable. Suggested panelist: Pradeep Gupta | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 30 | How municipalities are working with federal, state, and private partners to increase broadband deployment, digital equity and consumer protection. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Digital Markets and Competition | Suggested panelist: Ryan Johnston | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 31 | Access and Digital Inclusion This panel will focus on redlining in the US and what does exclusion of these communities mean for our efforts to close the digital connectivity divide. The Panel will offer a retrospective on why many communities are being redlined, even during the past year when the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) has been available, and what can be done to make communities more attractive to providers. The panel will also attempt to provide some solutions on how communities can make themselves more attractive and bring in providers. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy | Suggested panelist - Judith Hellerstein | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 32 | Access and Digital Inclusion
This panel will provide a review of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and why with all its successes in enabling many communities to be able to afford Broadband has not led Congress to provide additional funding to continue the program. Are there other solutions that have yet to be tried that could bring us closer to ending the connectivity gap in the US? | Access and Digital Inclusion | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 33 | Artificial Intelligence represents one of the greatest paradigm disruptions that the FBI has ever seen. AI technology has the potential to augment and empower the agents and analysts of the FBI, leveraging technology to supercharge their ability to achieve decision advantage in previously unforeseen ways. Keeping up with the pace of technology evolution, and continuously evolving to the shifting governance landscape is no small task for any agency. The stakes involved when integrating AI, and any emerging technology into law enforcement processes are particularly immense. Done well and justice prevails in new and vigorous ways, but when done poorly cases can be compromised and the wheels of justice may fall off with disastrous consequences. The FBI will discuss how the Bureau is approaching integration of AI into no-fail law enforcement operations, including areas of focus, governance and oversight, as well as other guardrails to ensure that the Bureau can embrace the benefits of AI while avoiding the creation of unnecessary risks. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Content Policy • Data Governance and Privacy • Emerging Technologies | Government / Intergovernmental organization | ||
| 2024 Submission 35 | The US lack of uniform data governance and data privacy policies. States are moving forward creating inconsistent requirements. Competing around the world is increasing challenges for US companies. | Data Governance and Privacy • Digital Markets and Competition | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 36 | The threat and promise of AI for the rights and privileges in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and why they should be the model for an agreed common set of human values for AI alignment. Pained but not surprised Human Rights not in your list of Issue Area categories. Most of the focus has been on the potential challenges AI poses for HRs, not on the positives. | Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy • Other | Taylor • RD • 2024. "Saving Global Human Rights: A “Global South+AI” Strategy: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4690772 Suggested panelist - Richard D Taylor | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 37 | Little research has focused on geography as a context for AI deployment and policy. Further, even within current contexts for investigations, there is a distinct bias for scrutinizing technology and impacts within an urban context. This ignores the people and communities in non-urban spaces that, too, are and will be impacted by the creation and use of artificial intelligence. Therefore, a discussion of rural as a context for AI creation, deployment, and sustainability is long overdue. This discussion should also include discussions of privacy, data governance, and security. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Artificial Intelligence • Data Governance and Privacy | https://www.techpolicy.press/we-need-a-policy-agenda-for-rural-ai/ Suggested speaker: Jasmine McNealy | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 38 | I am interested in debates around safety and protections among and between online sex workers and the consumers of online sexual activity. Right now there is a confrontation between P*rnhub and the states of Virginia and Mississippi, where new age verification laws have made it difficult to provide their content without significant roadblocks. Many sex workers and activists are contesting the age verification laws, saying it makes it unreasonably difficult to provide their content. I saw an activist present on this topic at the 2023 Association of Internet Researchers and think its among the more important topics to discuss at an Integer governance forum. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Digital Markets and Competition • Online Harms | Sorry • I'm on my phone and don't have links. Plus I'm concerned that if I actually posted some of the links here • my topic suggestion would be flagged as spam! | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 39 | It's 2024. Why isn't everyone using digital cash and digital wallets? Since Cybercash was launched in 1994, Internet users have wanted an easy, private way to easily send dollars over the Net. Who and what has blocked such services? Privacy concerns? Incumbents? Police? Lack of standards? Lack of trust? | Access and Digital Inclusion • Emerging Technologies • Other | Founders of Cybercash (Steve Crocker) and other e-cash pioneers. Experts on new government digital currencies (e.g. Ribert Greene). Privacy advocates. Federal financial regulators. Suggested speaker: Mike Nelson | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 40 | What happens when Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Prime Ministers provide real "Digital Leadership"? Today, most of the thorniest digital policy issues have been unresolved because within each national government, agencies have competing agendas. What can we learn from countries (including the U.S.) where top polotical leaders have forced the consensus needed to craft clear digital policies? | Access and Digital Inclusion • Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Other | https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/02/28/lessons-on-standards-and-standardization-from-united-states-pub-91844
Report cards on Digital Leadership: https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/02/28/introduction-korea-standard-setting-and-digital-transformation-pub-91848 Brad Smith's book • "Tools and Weapons" (Brad or one of his colleagues could be a great panelist or kickoff speaker) Laura DeNardis • Georgetown University • who has written essential books on global Internet policy. Ira Magaziner or former White tech policy officials (e.g. CTO • White House CIO) like Megan Smith • Lynne Parker • et al. Mike Nelson | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 41 | I suggest to discuss the feasibility and paths toward building an inclusive international regulation framework of artificial intelligence. Currently, the benefits generated by AI are mostly shared among developed countries, while the risks tend to go to developing countries and under-developed countries. Unequal distribution of AI-related benefits and risks is likely to lead to "geopolitization" of artificial intelligence. Therefore, I suggest that the IGF-USA organises a panel to investigate the opportunities to build an international regulation framework of AI, such that AI becomes a technology that buttresses global solidarity in the long term. | Artificial Intelligence | Speakers: Yong Hu • Professor at Peking University-
Aifang Ma • Lecturer at Peking University - Dominique Cardon • Professor at Sciences Po Paris - Florence G'sell • Professor at Sciences Po Paris Subject areas: 1) Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the regulation of artificial intelligence; 2) Participation of BRICS countries in the international regulation of AI; 3) Relations between values and AI regulation at the international level; 4) Multilevel regulation of AI and local initiatives; | Government / Intergovernmental organization | |
| 2024 Submission 42 | The great telecom swindle. As per Bruce Kushnick who has been dragging skeletons out of incumbent closets for years to illustrate how they have been building their wireless (= non-regulated) fiber infrastructure by dumping the capital cost onto legacy utility (Title 2) customers, repeatedly promising fiber to the home in return for rate increases, all the while reporting losses and letting the copper rot in the ground, until consumers have no alternative but to get gouged for wireless, with the resultant latency etc. This is an old story in the east. Now AT&T customers in the west are finding out the hard way. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Other | https://kushnickbruce.medium.com/dear-at-t-california-residents-who-are-being-threatened-with-a-shut-off-of-the-aging-copper-c24bd6c28c07. Suggested panel: Bruce Kushnick • Chuck Sherwood • Karl Bode • Harold Feld • Lauren Weinstein | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 43 | At IGF-USA 2024, we propose discussing the intersection of cyber norms and the metaverse, exploring how evolving digital landscapes shape international law and governance. Additionally, topics such as AI in cyberdiplomacy, the impact of cyber feminism on normative frameworks, and the role of drone technology in cyberspace security could foster insightful discussions on emerging challenges and opportunities in the digital realm. These discussions are crucial for promoting responsible conduct, safeguarding fundamental rights, and advancing global cybersecurity efforts in the digital age. | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety | The intersection of cyber norms and the metaverse represents a crucial frontier in digital governance. As the metaverse continues to evolve • it presents unique challenges in regulating virtual environments • protecting user rights • and ensuring cybersecurity. This session aims to explore the implications of cyber norms in the metaverse and their intersection with international law. Through in-depth discussions • we seek to understand how emerging technologies • such as AI and blockchain • influence normative frameworks and shape diplomatic efforts in cyberspace. Furthermore • we aim to examine the role of multistakeholder collaboration in developing and enforcing cyber norms • fostering responsible conduct • and promoting digital inclusivity
The Evolution of Cyber Norms: Understanding the development of cyber norms and their adaptation to the metaverse environment. International Law and Governance in the Metaverse: Exploring legal frameworks and governance structures to address challenges in the metaverse. AI and Cyber Norms: Assessing the role of AI in shaping cyber norms and its impact on diplomatic efforts in cyberspace. Multistakeholder Collaboration: Discussing the importance of collaboration among governments • tech companies • civil society • and academia in establishing and enforcing cyber norms. Digital Inclusivity and Human Rights: Examining how cyber norms can promote digital inclusivity and protect fundamental rights in the metaverse. Suggested speakers: Ajay Panchal • Sanjana Rathi | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 44 | Connectivity opens new opportunities for Rural communities improving their quality of life. It is increasingly a necessity for economic development, education, and healthcare while helping the rural community’s achieve economic self-sufficiency. However, there are many challenges, opportunities, and options to providing sustainable, reliable, and affordable connectivity to rural areas. Addressing the rural connectivity problem is crucial for bridging the digital divide, ensuring that all individuals regardless of where they live will have access to the benefits of the digital age. The CR Bolo project will be used as an example of what is possible for Rural communities within the US. | Access and Digital Inclusion • Digital Markets and Competition | The CR Bolo Project: An IVR enabled hybrid connectivity enabling rural entrepreneurship environment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe07AXuzK4Y
IEEE P1941.1TM Recommended Practice for Internet Grades of Service in Rural Areas This standard contains recommendations for Grades of Service offerings by internet service providers in rural areas. Service scenarios include generations of cellular networks. Recommendations include access service and core network parameters • service concentration • service availability and reliability. This document recommends metrics for service performance measurements in the access segment and end-to-end • and it provides recommendations for mapping of Grades of Service to Quality of Experience by end-users for a variety of multimedia applications. https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/1941.1/10274/ Suggested speaker: Karen Mulberry | Technical Community | |
| 2024 Submission 45 | 1. Cancel Culture 2. The shadowbanning of conservative Christians. | Content Policy • Data Governance and Privacy | Current liberal Western media companies • including Fox. | Other | |
| 2024 Submission 46 | How does the ruling in NetChoice supreme court cases affect federal and state government powers to impose requirements on social media content moderation practices? | Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Digital Markets and Competition • Online Harms | Suggested speaker: Steve DelBianco • CEO of NetChoice • who brought these lawsuits. Spoke about these cases in multiple settings • including the State of the Net in 2024 | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 47 | What are the respective roles of government, business, civil society and parents in controlling how minors access online services and apps? | Access and Digital Inclusion • Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Digital Markets and Competition • Online Harms | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 48 | Should ISPs, App stores, and domain name resolution services monitor user activity in order to enforce government restrictions, such as the TikTok ban? | Access and Digital Inclusion • Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Online Harms | Private Sector | ||
| 2024 Submission 49 | To what extent is robust encryption a crucial part of the cybersecurity and privacy landscape? Should government be able to compel access to in transit messages? | Content Policy • Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Data Governance and Privacy • Online Harms | Suggested speaker: Bartlett Cleland - More than 25 years working on federal encryption public pollic | Private Sector | |
| 2024 Submission 50 | Online safety and well-being is a focus area for state and federal policymakers in the United States as the United Kingdom, European Union, Singapore, Australia and other companies are implementing new online safety regulations for social media and other online services. What are areas of consensus and opportunities to standardize online safety measures and compliance across regulatory systems? Are there measures that Congress or state legislators should pass that can improve the health, safety, and privacy of children online? | Cybersecurity Cybercrime and Online Safety • Online Harms | Nearly everyone supports children’s online safety regulation. Despite bipartisan agreement • legislation is stalled in Congress and state laws are being struck down in the courts.
The kids online safety debate has gone around in circles for nearly three decades in the United States. New momentum has resulted in proposals to set a baseline for reasonable safety design measures that protect the most vulnerable teens • hold platforms accountable • and empower all to have a positive online experience. Youth safety policy experts will discuss efforts to find consensus on legislation that actually keeps kids safe while protecting everyone’s privacy and free expression rights. The panel will cover frameworks for safety design in policy and debates on parental controls • age assurance • and a duty of care that protects free expression while empowering young users with default safety and privacy protections. SPEAKER SUGGESTIONS - Aliya Bhatia • Free Expression Project Policy Analyst • Center for Democracy and Technology - Nichole Rocha • Head of U.S. Affairs • 5Rights - John Perrino • Policy Analyst • Stanford Internet Observatory - Corbin Evans • Senior Director • Congressional and Federal Relations • American Psychological Association - Haley Hinkle • Policy Counsel • Fairplay - Camille Carlton • Policy Director • Center for Humane Technology - Amanda Lenhart • Head of Research • Common Sense Media - Andrew Zack • Policy Manager • Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) - David Sullivan • Founding Executive Director • Digital Trust and Safety Partnership - Josh Blumenfeld • Government Affairs and Public Policy • Google/YouTube - Jess Miers • Senior Counsel • Chamber of Progress - Jennifer Huddleston • Research Fellow • Tech Policy • Cato Institute | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 53 | An important debate in the Internet Governance community is the appropriate role of domain registries and registrars in content regulation. While these entities have a responsibility to enforce contractual provisions related to DNS abuse, they must also navigate complex legal and jurisdictional issues when responding to requests to take down or suspend domain names hosting allegedly abusive content. Given the proximity to important government and industry stakeholder related to DNS abuse and content regulation here in DC, this panel wants to explore solutions that strike a balance between safeguarding internet users and preserving the openness and resilience of the internet ecosystem. Through multistakeholder collaboration and dialogue, stakeholders in the region will speak to various approaches that address the complexities of DNS abuse and content regulation while upholding the values of a free, open, and secure internet. | Content Policy • Online Harms | This panel could consist of: Kathy Kleiman • Washington College of Law and the Non-commercial stakeholder group at ICANN • Becky Burr • ICANN Board Member • a representative from EFF • and representative from NTIA • and several representatives from registries. | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 51 | Although there is a trending movement towards youth inclusion in the Internet Governance ecosystem, these movements are often disconnected and inaccessible to youth without a mentor in the field. This panel would discuss mechanisms to ensure best practices across youth initiatives and foster meaningful engagement among young people in Internet Governance. It will explore creating an organization devoted to cross-organization discussion on creating mentorship opportunities, bridging the gap between seasoned professionals and youth participants, and empowering young voices to contribute effectively to policy discussions and decision-making processes. Additionally, the panel will address ways to make existing youth-focused initiatives more inclusive and accessible, including providing a detailed and updated list of opportunities tailored to the needs and interests of young participants. Through collaborative efforts and shared insights, the panel aims to cultivate a supportive environment that nurtures the next generation of leaders in Internet Governance and promotes diversity, inclusion, and innovation in the field. | Access and Digital Inclusion | This panel could consist of the following speakers: Natálie Terčová • Vice Facilitator of the Internet Society Youth Standing Group • Siranush Vardanyan • Fellow Manager at ICANN • a representative from the ARIN fellowship program • a representative of the ITU to speak on their Youth Advisory Board and Yong Professionals Program Initiatives • and Emily Taylor • founder of the DNS research federation to present their research on the impact of Youth IGFs globally (https://dnsrf.org/).
This panel seeks to start the conversation regarding youth movement best practices and identify next steps to continuing the conversation. Suggested speaker: Kathleen Scoggin | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 52 | An important debate in the Internet Governance community is the appropriate role of domain registries and registrars in content regulation. While these entities have a responsibility to enforce contractual provisions related to DNS abuse, they must also navigate complex legal and jurisdictional issues when responding to requests to take down or suspend domain names hosting allegedly abusive content. Given the proximity to important government and industry stakeholder related to DNS abuse and content regulation here in DC, this panel wants to explore solutions that strike a balance between safeguarding internet users and preserving the openness and resilience of the internet ecosystem. Through multistakeholder collaboration and dialogue, stakeholders in the region will speak to various approaches that address the complexities of DNS abuse and content regulation while upholding the values of a free, open, and secure internet. | Content Policy • Online Harms | This panel could consist of: Kathy Kleiman • American University Washington College of Law and the Non-commercial Stakeholder Group at ICANN • Becky Burr • ICANN Board • a representative from EFF • a representative from NTIA • and a representative from several registries | Civil Society / Academia | |
| 2024 Submission 54 | The federal government, through collusion with, and coercion of social media platforms censored speech that countered the government position on policies (covid treatment, origin and vaccination) and was detrimental to Democratic party officials (Hunter Biden laptop, election integrity). Shockingly, the Biden administration is doubling down in a supreme court battle to continue those anti-free-speech activities.
There seems to be a coordinated shrug among the usual guardians of free speech in the press and NGO's like the ACLU. How do we reign in Big Brother? | Content Policy | Private Sector |
