In today's interconnected world, safeguarding the rights and protection of our youth is paramount. While a global connection hub, the internet harbors significant risks, particularly for vulnerable children. From cyberbullying to exploitation, young individuals face unprecedented digital threats. This session aims to address these challenges comprehensively. We'll explore vital subtopics, including advocating for child digital rights, empowering marginalized communities, combating CSAM and gender-based violence online, and promoting cyber hygiene for mental well-being. Join us for this session which reflects APrIGF’s overarching theme of evolving and enduring principles. Our discussion will be rooted in children’s digital rights, ensuring every child's safety and rights are protected in the digital age.
We'll also collaboratively develop a strategic youth engagement plan tailored for the Asia Pacific region. Drawing inspiration from our yIGF 3-year Blueprint, this plan will serve as a roadmap for transitioning from last year's theme of "youth at a crossroads" to defending a legacy of meaningful youth participation. By devising funding models that prioritize equitable representation, we aim to empower young voices and ensure their active involvement in shaping the digital future of our region.
Date: August 20 (Tue)
Time: 15:30-16:30 local time/ 07:30-08:30 UTC Time
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (20 mins)
- Q&A (5 mins)
- Open Floor (25 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Moderators:
- Ankita Rathi, Asia Pacific yIGF (on-site)
- Bea Guevarra, Philippines Youth IGF (online)
Guest Speakers:
- Nurul Kabir, Project Manager, TdhNL Bangladesh (online)
- Boris Lo, Hong Kong (online)
- Felicia Yunike, Southeast Asian Youth IGF (online)
- Ihita Gangavarapu, Youth IGF India (on-site)
- Wei-ting Hung, Youth leader from Taiwan (on-site)
- Ananda Gautam, Nepal Youth IGF (on-site)
Discussion Questions:
For panel
- In what ways can multi-stakeholder partnerships be leveraged to develop comprehensive strategies for empowering marginalized youth and ensuring their equitable access to digital resources and protections?
- How can we tailor existing child digital rights frameworks to address the unique challenges faced by youth in the Asia Pacific region?
- What concrete steps can be taken to ensure marginalized youth in the Asia Pacific have equitable access to digital resources and protections?
- In what ways can regional collaborations among Asia Pacific countries enhance efforts to combat CSAM and gender-based violence online, particularly in ensuring youth are actively involved in these initiatives?
For open floor
- How can we encourage grassroots youth-led initiatives to promote cyber hygiene and digital well-being within local communities across the Asia Pacific region?
- What role can educational institutions play in fostering digital literacy and resilience among young people to combat cyberbullying and online exploitation?
- How can governments and civil society collaborate to ensure that legal frameworks and policies effectively protect the digital rights of children and youth while respecting their autonomy and privacy?
- What innovative approaches or technologies can be utilized to create safe online spaces where marginalized youth feel empowered to express themselves and access support networks?
- How can youth organizations and advocacy groups effectively engage with technology companies and internet service providers to promote safer online environments and address harmful content and behaviors?
The Internet has quickly moved from primarily being used for accessing information to becoming an essential element for exercising rights in a democratic society. Just like Democracy, technology is created by people, to be used by people, and to improve peoples’ lives.
It was originally envisioned as a tool to empower humanity to allow for collaboration, foster compassion & generate creativity, and has encountered numerous ongoing challenges that threaten its foundational values. These challenges manifest in various forms such as centralization of power, exploitative business models, and internet fragmentation that have led to disparities in access and connectivity among communities.
This panel discussion aims to explore these issues by focusing on the importance of embracing the multistakeholder approach in reforming the current systems to address underlying issues making it difficult to democratize the use of the Internet. Additionally, it will also explore decentralized technologies such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) while advocating for inclusive policies and regulations governing emerging technologies.
Date: August 20 (Tue)
Time: 11:35-12:35 local time/ 03:35-04:35 UTC time
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Panel discussion (40 mins)
- Q&A and Roundtable discussion (10 mins)
- Closing remarks (5 mins)
Moderators:
- Sameer Gahlot, Asia Pacific yIGF (on-site)
- Nawal Munir Ahmad, NetMission.Asia (online)
Speakers:
- Elia Kostopoulou, ISOC Youth Ambassador 2024 (on-site)
- Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia (on-site)
- Pablo Hinojosa, Senior Director, Engagement, APNIC (on-site)
- Veronica Deutrom, Assistant Director, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Australia (on-site)
Policy Questions:
- What are the benefits and challenges of implementing decentralized technologies like Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) in Internet governance and its decision-making processes?
- How can we ensure that our current Internet governance structures reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of stakeholders, marginalized communities, and underrepresented groups?
- How can Internet democratizing help in creating a responsible digital future?
In the digital age, the internet serves as a vital hub for global connection. Yet, it harbors risks that may compromise its safety. The proliferation of fake news and unchecked synthetic content is a growing concern. The velocity of information spread is such that individuals can be led astray, often without their knowledge.
This session aims to delve into the widespread challenge of misinformation and disinformation within the digital realm. We will confront the challenges posed by the spread of false information and the rise of deepfakes, powered by advancements in artificial intelligence and societal repercussions, particularly how misinformation can disrupt democratic processes, especially during elections. Participants will be equipped with knowledge of the mechanisms fueling the spread of false narratives and practical skills to enhance digital literacy and critical thinking.
We will convene misinformation and media literacy experts, along with youth organizations, policymakers, and educators. Through interactive discussions with guest speakers, participants will uncover and debate effective strategies to combat the tide of misinformation and disinformation.
Date: August 20 (Tue)
Time: 16:30-17:15 local time/ 08:30-09:15 UTC time
Format:
- Introduction (5 mins)
- Breakout group discussion (40 mins)
Moderators:
- Nattaya Kay Jaratruangsaeng, Asia Pacific yIGF (on-site)
- Socheata Sokhachan, Cambodia Youth IGF (online)
Guest Speakers:
Online
- Dikchya Raut, Advocacy Lead of Surf Smart Programme, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
- Kazim Rizvi, Founder, The Dialogue
- Kohei Kurihara, CEO, Privacy by Design
- Preeksha Malhotra, ISOC Early Career Fellow & Project Manager of Asian Dispatch
On-site
- Amrita Choudhury, APrIGF MSG member, (on-site)
- Noelle Francesca de Guzman
Local Hubs
- What measures can be taken to protect democratic processes and elections from the influence of misinformation campaigns?
- What strategies and initiatives can be employed to enable the general public to recognize and resist misinformation, particularly during electoral campaigns?
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