ISEA recently participated in APrIGF in Taiwan with the support of a grant from the APC Member Engagement and Travel Fund (METF), and this blog post shares some of the thinking and outcomes of the experience.
The year 2024 could well be pivotal for the internet. At the recently concluded Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) in Taiwan, the discussions illuminated both pressing concerns and missed opportunities in shaping the digital landscape. As someone engaged in sustainable development and, more recently, in inclusive digital development representing the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), I found the forum’s themes both enlightening and alarming.
A significant concern emerged from the conversations: a growing push for government and corporate control over the internet framed as “national security” and “digital sovereignty”. While this may seem legitimate, this rhetoric threatens to fragment the global internet, undermining the very principles that have made it a powerful tool for innovation, communication and social progress.
Amid the critical discussions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), internet fragmentation and outages, a glaring oversight became clear – there was insufficient focus on the most marginalised communities who remain disconnected in the digital world. Without targeted efforts to prioritise community-centred connectivity initiatives, we are failing to provide the right opportunities for our collective call on #InternetForAll. Without proper access to meaningful connectivity, these underserved populations will continue to be denied access to basic services such as e-government portals, online education, telemedicine and digital financial services. This digital exclusion perpetuates and exacerbates existing socio-economic inequalities, creating a two-tiered society where some reap the benefits of digital advancements while others fall further behind.
The apparent absence of community-centred connectivity initiatives as an agenda in APrIGF 2024 is an oversight of concern, given the crucial role these networks play in bridging the digital divide across the Asia-Pacific region. Community-centred connectivity initiatives have proven to be vital in providing last-mile connectivity to underserved areas, empowering local communities, and fostering digital inclusion, which is a key focus of internet governance discussions.
Community-centred connectivity initiatives represent an important segment of social enterprise development that deserves far more attention and support. These initiatives go beyond merely providing internet access; they give agency to local communities, foster digital literacy, and create sustainable models for connectivity that are tailored to local needs and contexts. By treating internet access as a social good rather than just a commercial service, these initiatives can bridge the digital divide in ways that traditional top-down approaches often fail to achieve. They create jobs, build local technical capacity, and ensure that the benefits of connectivity are equitably distributed within communities.
Talking to other attendees, it was clear that APrIGF 2024 also overlooked environmental and social costs of these technologies as a result of digitalisation. A colleague pointed out that contrary to the perception of digitalisation as harmless and ethereal, the industry relies heavily on resource extraction, including mining for critical minerals, water consumption and energy use and that the current trajectory is unsustainable, exacerbating existing inequalities and environmental challenges. Another participant observed that while digital technologies are often presented as solutions to increasing efficiency and sustainability in farming, they actually represent a new form of corporate control and data extraction, undermining farmers’ autonomy, traditional knowledge and agroecological practices. It raises concerns about data ownership, environmental impacts of digital infrastructure, and the potential for further consolidation of power in the industrial food chain.
In the Philippines, ISEA, together with partners, has been supporting the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy (Open Access in Data Transmission) Bill, which is aligned with the principles of a democratic internet – one that is accessible, collaborative, and driven by multi-stakeholder participation. As we advocate for lower barriers to market entry, faster network deployment and improved spectrum management, we are not just thinking about domestic connectivity; we’re contributing to a global conversation about the future of the internet. To date, the Konektadong Pinoy bill has made significant progress in both houses of our Congress. It represents a crucial step towards ensuring that our national policies align with the vision of an open and accessible internet.
The discussions at APrIGF reinforced the importance of community and civil society participation in these critical debates. As we move towards the Global Digital Compact in September, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Saudi Arabia later this year, and even stretching towards the culmination of the WSIS+20 review process in 2025, it’s crucial that voices from the communities and poor and marginalised constituencies are heard.
Looking ahead, ISEA is committed to intensifying our efforts on multiple fronts. We will continue to push for the passage and implementation of the Konektadong Pinoy bill, ensuring that it remains true to the principles of open access and community empowerment. Simultaneously, we will work to raise awareness about the global internet governance processes and their potential impact on our local initiatives.
Moreover, we recognise the need to build stronger coalitions across the Asia-Pacific region to advocate for an internet governance model that prioritises human rights, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation. There is a need to empower communities towards control over digital technology and knowledge, centre marginalised voices in development, and treat digital rights as human rights with robust accountability measures. We stress the importance of constituency-based governance models that prioritise the voices of the marginalised over big-tech companies, and for building the capacity of civil society organisations to engage effectively with governments on digital issues. The challenges ahead are significant, but so are the opportunities to shape a digital future that truly serves all.
ISEA has set up the Technological Innovations for Sustainable Development Platform, one of five envisioned to build back fairer and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. This platform, launched during the Social Enterprise Advocacy and Leveraging Asia Conference in February 2023, co-convened by ISEA, UNESCAP and the APRCEM – Social and Community Enterprise Constituency, offers a space for institutions and organisations that would like to work with us in seeding and mainstreaming community-centred connectivity initiatives to provide meaningful connectivity to marginalised sectors and communities.
As we navigate this critical period for internet governance, let’s remember that the decisions made in global forums have real implications for communities on the ground. This year is crucial, and it’s up to us to make our voices heard in shaping an inclusive, accessible and equitable digital future for all. The time to act is now – to ensure that the internet truly becomes a tool for empowerment and development for every community, leaving no one behind in our increasingly digital world.
To truly realise the potential of the internet as a force for empowerment and equitable development, we must place communities and people at the heart of internet governance. This shift requires moving beyond top-down, technocratic approaches to a model that actively engages and empowers diverse voices, especially those from marginalised and underserved populations. By centring the needs, experiences and aspirations of real people in our governance frameworks, we can ensure that the internet evolves in ways that genuinely serve humanity’s collective interests.
This means prioritising digital inclusion initiatives, fostering local innovation and creating spaces for meaningful participation in decision-making processes. It involves recognising that internet access is not just about infrastructure, but also about digital literacy, relevant content and the ability to shape the digital environment. Community-centred governance models can help bridge the digital divide, protect digital rights as human rights, and nurture an internet ecosystem that reflects the rich diversity of human experience.
As we move from session to session in global internet policy, let us commit to putting people first – ensuring that the future of the internet is not determined solely by governments and corporations, but by the collective wisdom and needs of the communities it serves.
Image via @galbaatar_l on X
Gomer Padong is a Supervising Program and Development Cooperation Specialist at APC network member Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA). His work includes coordinating policy and regulations in Asia for the Local Networks initiative, a collective effort led by APC and Rhizomatica. He is based in the Philippines.