The end of the calendar year is traditionally a busy time with several important events taking place centred around internet governance. The APC network actively engages in internet governance processes, one of the main cornerstones of our work, and will be organising and participating in key spaces, including regional and global Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) and the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG).
It is an opportune moment to take stock of our engagement so that we can consolidate and strengthen our global advocacy in these important governance spaces. We will be sharing updates and information on how the network can participate and follow along, both in-person and online, in the following forums.
17th Latin American and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF) 2024
7 to 8 November 2024 – Santiago de Chile, Chile
The 17th Latin American and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF) is being co-organised this year with APC member Colnodo. It will cover key topics in internet governance including AI and emerging technologies, human rights, cybersecurity, universal access and meaningful connectivity, digital governance and cooperation, environment and sustainability, education and digital literacy, gender and diversity, and ethical and legal challenges. LACIGF will offer several modes of participation; those not able to attend in person can follow along via the official YouTube livestream and through Zoom. Read on to discover how our network is engaging.
Day 1 - Thursday, 7 November
Technologies and Human Rights: building consensus between advances and challenges
11:00 - 12:30 local time (14:00 - 15:30 UTC) / Room 1
The panel aims to explore the main challenges and opportunities for universal access and the full exercise of human rights in digital environments in Latin America and to build consensus from different sectors on how to overcome existing gaps. To this end, it will address topics such as connectivity and meaningful access, cybersecurity, surveillance, freedom of expression, and access to information, among others.
APC member Derechos Digitales speaking
Innovation in Artificial Intelligence: How to Build a Future for All in Latin America
9:00 - 10:30 local time (12:00 - 13:30 UTC) / Room 1
The panel will focus on analysing the impact, opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Latin American region. The panelists, from different sectors of the ecosystem, are expected to share their vision and experiences on how AI is transforming their areas of work, as well as its potential to promote economic, social and technological development in the region.
APC member Derechos Digitales speaking
16:00 - 17:30 local time (19:00 - 20:30 UTC) / Room 3
With the participation of representatives from civil society, academia and government, a specific form of online disinformation will be discussed: that used to discredit and invalidate women who participate in public debate, including journalists, social leaders, women in politics and those who hold public office, among others. This is a form of gender violence that aims to silence women and prevent their participation in decision-making spaces. The session will focus on describing the phenomenon and the ways in which different sectors are trying to respond to and combat this phenomenon in the region, including legal and public policy approaches.
APC speaking
Day 2 - Friday, 8 November
10:45 - 12:15 local time (13:45 - 15:14 UTC) / Room 1
The panel will have as its main input the RELE report (presented by the Rapporteur Pedro Vaca), and will then give way to interventions by representatives of different interested parties – companies, civil society and states – who participated in the Dialogue of the Americas and provided input for the same to debate its contents.
APC member Intervozes speaking
Socio-environmental justice, digital technologies and raciality
14:15 - 15:45 local time (17:15 - 18:45 UTC) / Room 1
The exploration of minerals in traditional territories for the sustainability of the digital economy and the construction of autonomous alternatives for technological sovereignty, or the debate on socio-environmental justice, digital technologies and raciality is crossed by a series of nuances. What are the impacts of digital colonialism on racialised territories? How are these territories produced technologies for our lives? How can governments implement digital public policies that advance the promotion of socio-environmental justice? These are some of the questions that will be debated in this session.
APC member Intervozes speaking
Learn more about the event here.
African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) 2024
14 to 19 November 2024 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 12th edition of the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) will take place in the immediate lead-up to the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF). It will focus on data governance and build on the work done in previous years. The event is by invitation, bringing together stakeholders from across all sectors, and is being convened by APC, the African Union Commission (AUC) and Research ICT Africa.
Learn more about the event here.
Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF)
20 to 22 November 2024 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The 2024 edition of the Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF) is being organised under the overarching theme “Building Our Multistakeholder Digital Future for Africa”. Through 43 sessions, it will examine opportunities and challenges with a focus on empowering inclusivity, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and promoting innovation across the continent. Join APC at the following session:
Day 2 - Thursday, 21 November
Gender Responsive Cybersecurity Policy in Africa
9:00 - 10:30 local time (8:00 - 9:30 UTC) / Room CR5
APC organising and speaking
Learn more about the event here.
19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
15 to 19 December 2024 – Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Under the overarching theme of “Building our Multi-stakeholder Digital Future”, this year’s global IGF is taking place in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The four main themes include harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space, enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development and sustainability, advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age, and improving digital governance for the Internet We Want.