Session
Global Digital Governance & Cooperation
Cyber Diplomacy and Peace on the Internet
Digital Commons as a Public Good
Organizer 1: ENERST MAFUTA KATOKA, Internet Society ( Affordable Internet Access SIG ) / E-TELECOM CONSULT
Organizer 2: Gabriel Karsan, 🔒Ongea Na Demokrasia
Organizer 3: Levy Syanseke , Internet Society Zambia Chapter
Speaker 1: Monojit Das, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Catherine Kimambo, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Thokozile Precious Miya, Intergovernmental Organization, African Group
Speaker 4: Innocent Adriko, Civil Society, African Group
Levy Syanseke , Civil Society, African Group
Gabriel Karsan, Civil Society, African Group
ENERST MAFUTA KATOKA, Technical Community, African Group
Round Table - 60 Min
A. What is the role of media plurality and digital media in democracies?
B. How far are we from fully digital elections and will they improve or destroy local democracies?
C.How do we define digital democracies? Are they the inevitable form of modern governments?
What will participants gain from attending this session? participants and attendees can expect to gain knowledge and insights into the role of digital tools and technology in promoting democracy, especially from the perspective of the youth.
Specifically, they might take away:
- Understanding of how digital tools impact democratic processes
- Knowledge of successful stories and examples of youth-led digital democracy initiatives
- Insights on the challenges and opportunities of using digital tools to promote democracy
- Tools and practical tips on how to promote digital democracy as a youth and/or as an active citizen
This session will provide a platform for participants and attendees to share their experiences, stories, and ideas on how digital tools can be used to shape and influence democratic processes, and inspire them to actively engage in promoting digital democracy as a means of civic participation and empowerment.
Description:
Democracy is a system that values equal opportunity and pursuit of happiness through liberties, such as the right to innovate, to be connected and access to the internet. The core pillars of an inclusive open society are reflected in the design of the internet as an open, decentralized, interoperable infrastructure of nodes equal for all, for the progress of humanity. However, democracy as an institution is under attack, and the digital era plays a critical role in this matter. From fake news, misinformation and disinformation, cyber warfare, targeting and surveillance, all these factors feed into the larger structure of innovative democracies producing authoritarian controls to centralize their power, a vicious uncontrolled cycle of breaking the morals of society. Digital institutions have amplified divides through polarization, and democracies are getting hit hardest. With governments manipulating elections, mass surveillance and control, digital civil liberties are under attack and the democratic promise of the right to be connected and protected is dismantling its purpose.
Our workshop aims to explore the challenges and opportunities of digital democracy from the youth perspectives. We will tackle three topics:
Topic 1: What is the role of media plurality and digital media in democracies?
Topic 2: How far are we from fully digital elections and will they improve or destroy local democracies?
- Topic 3: How do we define digital democracies? Are they the inevitable form of modern governments?
The workshop aligns with the IGF 2023 subtheme of Global Digital Governance & Cooperation, as it addresses how digital technologies can foster or hinder democratic values and processes across different regions and contexts.
The expected outcomes of the workshop are: -
A narrative report based on the discussion from youth across the globe on their definition and recommendations for healthy democracies.
- Recommendations for improving the modern democratic processes for youth.
- Building a network of digital democracy advocates.
The workshop report will be submitted to the IGF Secretariat within two weeks after the event. The report will summarize the main points raised during the workshop, highlight the policy questions addressed and provide concrete suggestions for future actions. The report will also include a list of key recommendation and strategic mechanism of adoption for best practices.
Hybrid Format: the workshop will be highly interactive and participatory, with ample time for discussions and debates among attendees. We will also use online tools such as polls, surveys, chat rooms and collaborative boards to facilitate engagement.
Our workshop will adopt a hybrid format that allows both online and onsite participation. We will use the IGF zoom conferencing platform that supports live streaming, recording, chat and Q&A features. We will dedicate our website for the public awareness and digital engagement for our workshop that will host the programme details, speaker bios, presentation slides, workshop report and other relevant information. We will promote the workshop through social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using hashtags such as #OngeaNaDemokrasia #IGF2023 #DigitalDemocracy. We will also reach out to potential participants through mailing lists, blogs and newsletters of relevant networks and organizations.