The advancement of technology and global Internet connectivity have accelerated the spread of information, human progress, and innovation across diverse areas. While we are experiencing the benefits of the improvement on the Internet, the pandemic has changed the way we live.
In the past decades, we have been addressing the rapidly changing development of technology and its impacts on us. With an online presence comes the realisation that the world we’re living in is a data-centric one, how are we going to minimise the impacts and inequality within the marginalised communities across the globe? How are we going to govern digital technology before the issues of digital divide part our world into two extremes?
In this year’s program, we are going to cover the following topics. By exploring the possibility to address and tackle the issues of inequality and introducing a more inclusive policy-making and discussion process, we wish to redefine the existing normality, eliminate systematic bias and engender equality with no one left behind.
In yIGF 2022, we are going to cover the following topics:
-- Internet Governance ABCs: Algorithm Bias -- Big Data -- Cyber Crime
-- Emerging Technology Virtual Reality: Growing up with Metaverse and NFT
-- Youth at the Centre: Empowering & Strengthening Youth Representation from Asia Pacific
Internet Governance ABCs:
Algorithm Bias -- Big Data -- Cyber Crime
The existence of bias isn’t something limited to the “real-world”, one might think that with systems and algorithms churning out decisions or suggestions for us is a better alternative to error-prone “us”, but the real danger is how hidden personal attributes can be predicted through the data you generate.
The pandemic has forced most of us online. The shift in lifestyle makes it important to have new foundational skills. Digital literacy as we know it was confined to search and navigation skills, but the ever-changing nature of the Internet has forced us to confront newer, bigger and more intangible problems.
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Speaker’s sharing (25 mins)
- Breakout group discussion (40 mins)
- Roundtable discussion (20 minutes)
Policy Questions:
- How important is cyber crime awareness for youths?
- How do we differentiate between digital literacy and digital citizenship (digital literacy?
- What are the impacts of algorithm bias on everyday life and why is awareness important?
- What is the youth’s role in building digital citizenship?
- How do we cultivate the digital citizenship competencies of our next generation by building a new understanding of IG ABCs? Or is there a better way?
Guest Speakers:
- Natalie Pang, NUS
- Shah Zahidur Rahman, APrIGF MSG member
- Cherie Lagakali, APrIGF MSG member
- Pavitra Ramanujam, APrIGF MSG member
- John Panes, Cybersecurity Director, Security Operations Center Manager of SGV, EY Philippines
- Aris Ignacio, Dean, College of Information Technology. Southville International School and Colleges
Emerging Technology Virtual Reality: Growing up with Metaverse and NFT
Internet-related technologies have drastically altered the speed, scale, and scope of human communication, affecting how people work, play, shop, meet new people and learn about others. The "norm" that the GenZ has experienced as children was a fast-paced, large-scale world. They developed early capabilities with powerful digital tools that allowed them to be both self-sufficient and collaborative.
With the COVID-19 pandemic severely limiting consumers' ability to spend disposable income on travel, dining out, and other in-person experiences over the past year, GenZ has become more interested in trends in our cyber world, such as NFTs, Cryptocurrency, and the Metaverse. Though such technologies are not a foreign or futuristic concept to us, technologies like the Metaverse influences how the modern generation thinks, acts, and socialises.
As impressive as it sounds, of course, it will usher in new problems. For instance: users need to have their own avatars to traverse in the virtual world. Therefore, it's time for us to think about what form of policies should be implemented to protect us in the virtual world? What effect will these policies have after being implemented? How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
Since we are also living in a digital era, our interaction and socialisation with each other has increasingly become technology-reliant. Digital citizenship helps us in exploring the ethical dilemmas that might occur through our interactions within the digital world, and how we can effectively navigate it for the benefit of ourselves and others.
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (30 mins)
- Q&A (10 mins)
- Breakout group discussion (20 mins)
- Roundtable discussion (20 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Policy Questions:
- How does NFT shape youth perspectives on intellectual property, such as art and culture?
- How will Metaverse affect the youth’s perception of self-identity? For example, body image concerns, LGBTQ+.
- What form of policies should be implemented to protect the users in the virtual world? What effect will these policies possibly have after being implemented?
- How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
- How important is digital citizenship for youths in an online environment?
Speakers:
- Dr. Nirosha Wedasinghe, Faculty of Computing, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
- Wan Hafiz Irshad, Co-founder of Hackstitute
- Fernanda Galera Soler, Faculty of Law of the Universidade de São Paulo (FDUSP); FGVLaw
- Dr. Hafizul Fahri HANAFI PhD, Senior Lecturer, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Perak, Malaysia
Internet-related technologies have drastically altered the speed, scale, and scope of human communication, affecting how people work, play, shop, meet new people and learn about others. The "norm" that the GenZ has experienced as children was a fast-paced, large-scale world. They developed early capabilities with powerful digital tools that allowed them to be both self-sufficient and collaborative.
With the COVID-19 pandemic severely limiting consumers' ability to spend disposable income on travel, dining out, and other in-person experiences over the past year, GenZ has become more interested in trends in our cyber world, such as NFTs, Cryptocurrency, and the Metaverse. Though such technologies are not a foreign or futuristic concept to us, technologies like the Metaverse influences how the modern generation thinks, acts, and socialises.
As impressive as it sounds, of course, it will usher in new problems. For instance: users need to have their own avatars to traverse in the virtual world. Therefore, it's time for us to think about what form of policies should be implemented to protect us in the virtual world? What effect will these policies have after being implemented? How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
Since we are also living in a digital era, our interaction and socialisation with each other has increasingly become technology-reliant. Digital citizenship helps us in exploring the ethical dilemmas that might occur through our interactions within the digital world, and how we can effectively navigate it for the benefit of ourselves and others.
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (30 mins)
- Q&A (10 mins)
- Breakout group discussion (20 mins)
- Roundtable discussion (20 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Policy Questions:
- How does NFT shape youth perspectives on intellectual property, such as art and culture?
- How will Metaverse affect the youth’s perception of self-identity? For example, body image concerns, LGBTQ+.
- What form of policies should be implemented to protect the users in the virtual world? What effect will these policies possibly have after being implemented?
- How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
- How important is digital citizenship for youths in an online environment?
Speakers:
- Dr. Nirosha Wedasinghe, Faculty of Computing, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
- Wan Hafiz Irshad, Co-founder of Hackstitute
- Fernanda Galera Soler, Faculty of Law of the Universidade de São Paulo (FDUSP); FGVLaw
- Dr. Hafizul Fahri HANAFI PhD, Senior Lecturer, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Perak, Malaysia
Internet-related technologies have drastically altered the speed, scale, and scope of human communication, affecting how people work, play, shop, meet new people and learn about others. The "norm" that the GenZ has experienced as children was a fast-paced, large-scale world. They developed early capabilities with powerful digital tools that allowed them to be both self-sufficient and collaborative.
With the COVID-19 pandemic severely limiting consumers' ability to spend disposable income on travel, dining out, and other in-person experiences over the past year, GenZ has become more interested in trends in our cyber world, such as NFTs, Cryptocurrency, and the Metaverse. Though such technologies are not a foreign or futuristic concept to us, technologies like the Metaverse influences how the modern generation thinks, acts, and socialises.
As impressive as it sounds, of course, it will usher in new problems. For instance: users need to have their own avatars to traverse in the virtual world. Therefore, it's time for us to think about what form of policies should be implemented to protect us in the virtual world? What effect will these policies have after being implemented? How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
Since we are also living in a digital era, our interaction and socialisation with each other has increasingly become technology-reliant. Digital citizenship helps us in exploring the ethical dilemmas that might occur through our interactions within the digital world, and how we can effectively navigate it for the benefit of ourselves and others.
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (30 mins)
- Q&A (10 mins)
- Breakout group discussion (20 mins)
- Roundtable discussion (20 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Policy Questions:
- How does NFT shape youth perspectives on intellectual property, such as art and culture?
- How will Metaverse affect the youth’s perception of self-identity? For example, body image concerns, LGBTQ+.
- What form of policies should be implemented to protect the users in the virtual world? What effect will these policies possibly have after being implemented?
- How will the virtual world have an impact on the minds of the users?
- How important is digital citizenship for youths in an online environment?
Speakers:
- Dr. Nirosha Wedasinghe, Faculty of Computing, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
- Wan Hafiz Irshad, Co-founder of Hackstitute
- Fernanda Galera Soler, Faculty of Law of the Universidade de São Paulo (FDUSP); FGVLaw
- Dr. Hafizul Fahri HANAFI PhD, Senior Lecturer, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Perak, Malaysia
Roundtable Discussion – Scrolling through the Stigma: The Impact of Cyberspace on Youth Digital Well-being
Youth at the Centre: Empowering & Strengthening Youth Representation from Asia Pacific
Youth are at the centre of transformative change and are the most active and prominent users of the Internet when compared with other age groups. Hence, this dialogue wishes to address how we might empower and strengthen the youth’s participation in the Asia Pacific Internet Governance scene and youth representation from Asia Pacific in the global Internet governance scene.
To encourage participation and inclusion through collaboration among youth NRIs and initiatives, yIGF initiates this collaborative session organised by 10+ youth organisations. This dialogue aims to provide a platform on a regular basis for youth of our region to stay informed with each others’ work and plan strategically for our future participation at the regional and global Internet governance forum.
Format:
- Intro of the session (5 mins)
- Panel: The Internet governance scene in the Asia Pacific (30 mins)
- Q&A for the panel (10 mins)
- Open Floor (40 mins)
- Wrap up (5 mins)
Discussion Questions:
For the panel
- What are the challenges in reaching out to the youth in your community?
- What are the strategies you have used to encourage youth participation? Any events or initiatives?
For the open floor
- What are the key factors for sustainable youth participation?
- How can we strengthen Asia Pacific representation in the global IG scene?
- How can we sustain youth participation in the APAC region?
- What can we do as leaders of youth initiatives to “win a seat” at the regional or global IG policy-making discussion table?
Guest Speakers:
- Grace Huang & Cheng Peng, TWNIC representatives
- Jae-Won Son & Jae-Young Lee, VOY@IG representatives
- Phyo Thiri Lwin & Zin Myo Htet, yIGF Myanmar
- Ananda Gautam, Youth IGF Nepal
- Astari Yanuarti & Bhredipta Socarana, Indonesia yIGF
- Moh. Fahim Mayar, YIGF Afghanistan
Asia Pacific Youth Leaders Dialogue – #YouthPower: Building Collaborative Partnerships for Youth Inclusion in Internet Governance
As the world becomes more digital, young people need to have a voice in shaping the future of the Internet. Being the most frequent users of digital technologies, young people have a distinctive viewpoint on internet governance.
Youth-led initiatives can play a significant role when it comes to Internet policy and governance as they put forward new ideas and points of view. We can advance youth inclusion in Internet governance and make sure that the needs of youngsters are taken into consideration by collaborating with youth leaders and encouraging partnerships between youth organisations and the private or public sector.
This dialogue also aims to consider the issue of Internet accessibility and affordability. For many lower middle-class and rural populations in developing nations, the cost of internet service is still extremely high. This restricts their capacity to fully engage in the digital economy and benefit from opportunities provided by the internet. To realise the vision of "Internet for all," it is necessary to collaborate with the telecommunications sector to develop practical options that make Internet access and affordability possible for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (30 mins)
- Q&A (10 mins)
- Open Floor (40 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Discussion Questions:
For the panel
- What leadership or influential roles within the Internet governance landscape should be undertaken by young people more actively?
- How can young people be prepared to pursue these opportunities?
- How does limited Internet access affect your engagement with the local youth community and their involvement in the Internet governance community overall?
For the open floor
- What are the most crucial skills and subject-matter expertise that young people should acquire in order to contribute to the Internet governance discourse?
- What are the indicators for meaningful participation? How can we foster and support the meaningful participation of youth?
- What are the potential risks of telecom having too much power on the market and more influence over Internet governance and policy? How can these risks be overcome?
- How can youth influence the policies that address the key challenges young people face in terms of data privacy, online safety and protection of their digital rights?
- What strategies can be adopted to enhance collaboration between youth-led organizations and the private/public sector in shaping Internet governance policies?
Guest Speakers:
- Faisal Ahmed Bhubon, Bangladesh Youth IGF
- Susan Garae, GFCE Pacific Hub, Vanuatu
- Cheng Peng (Paul), TWyIGF/ TWSIG
- Bea Guevarra, Philippines yIGF