[cooperation-wg] Internet Governance Forum 2023: Draft schedule now available

Hi Michele,

Have had some discussions about that, and no definitive answers. I think we probably saw the bounce back from COVID at last year’s event, so I don’t think a continuation of that would account for such a significant increase. More likely the plethora of activities in relation to digital policy, whether at the UN/global level or in specific states/supranational formations, has simply brought a lot more attention to these issues and to the IGF itself.

There remain significant challenges in terms of institutional and financial support for the IGF going forward, so it’s great to see that bottom-up enthusiasm for participation - hopefully it can translate to the kind of engagement that will be required to strengthen the IGF’s place in the landscape of closed, top-down instituions and processes that seem to be multiplying!

Chris

> On Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023 at 12:21 PM, Michele Neylon - Blacknight <michele at blacknight.com (mailto:michele at blacknight.com)> wrote:
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> Chris
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> Thanks for the update.
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> Is the volume of proposals etc a post-Covid bump? Or do you think there’s something else going on?
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> Regards
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> Michele
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> --
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> Mr Michele Neylon
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> Blacknight Solutions
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> Hosting, Colocation & Domains
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> https://www.blacknight.com/
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> https://blacknight.blog/
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> Direct Dial: +353 (0)59 9183090
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> Personal blog: https://michele.blog/
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> Some thoughts: https://ceo.hosting/
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> Blacknight Internet Solutions Ltd, Unit 12A,Barrowside Business Park,Sleaty Road,Graiguecullen,Carlow,R93 X265,Ireland Company No.: 370845
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> I have sent this email at a time that is convenient for me. I do not expect you to respond to it outside of your usual working hours.
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> From: cooperation-wg <cooperation-wg-bounces at ripe.net> on behalf of Chris Buckridge <chrisbuckridge at gmail.com>
> Date: Wednesday, 16 August 2023 at 10:12
> To: Michele Neylon - Blacknight via cooperation-wg <cooperation-wg at ripe.net>
> Subject: [cooperation-wg] Internet Governance Forum 2023: Draft schedule now available
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> [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Please use caution when opening attachments from unrecognised sources.
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> Dear colleagues,
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> Just a quick update to alert you that the draft schedule of this year’s IGF (taking place from 8-12 October in Kyoto, Japan, and online) has been published:
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> https://intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/290/26092
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> This is the most tightly-packed IGF schedule ever (which is saying something!), and features a mix of workshops, Open Forums and Town Halls (generally sessions prepared by international or inter-governmental organisations), lightning talks, and main sessions. It’s worth noting that the number of workshop proposals received this year (398 in total) was nearly double the number received last year (a significant increase was also recorded for other session types), so whittling down to the final selection was a challenge. Some more detailed stats are available here:
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> https://www.intgovforum.org/en/filedepot_download/272/25975
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> …and the proposals received are accessible here:
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> https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2023-sessions
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> This year’s IGF is taking place at a significant moment for global Internet (or more broadly, digital) governance, particularly with the ongoing development of the Global Digital Compact, next year’s 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), ongoing review of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and developments in response to ssues such as artficial intelligence. As the primary (perhaps only) multistakeholder space in the UN for discussing these issues, the IGF is an opportunity to prevent discussion and decision-making around these issues from being completely drawn into the multilateral political space (and making sure that the Internet technical community, alongside civil society and private sector interests, have a seat at the table!).
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> If you have any questions about this year’s even in general, or any specific sessions, feel free to reach out - hapy to help or explain where I can!
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> Cheers,
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> Chris
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> (IGF MAG member for the Internet technical community)
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