Workshop Format. Please click here for a description of available Workshop Session Formats. Panel |
Duration of proposed workshop 90 minutes |
IGF 2015 subtheme that this workshop falls under Internet and Human Rights |
Description Encryption is a basic building block of trust on the Internet. It is needed to ensure freedom of speech, privacy and to facilitate e-commerce. Encryption ranges along a continuum from no encryption at all to unbreakable encryption with no backdoors. Technology, politics and public sentiment all factor in to determine the appropriate or socially optimal level of online encryption. This balance is not static, either over time or across countries. Often, technological moves toward high levels of encryption generate higher efforts to break encryption by state agencies, cueing off a proverbial “crypto war”. Likewise, extreme political positions either in favour or against encryption generate their opposite. These trends raise several questions that this panel will address: What is the appropriate balance of encryption online? How should the systems of Internet governance respond to changing levels of demand and supply of encryption? After the Snowden disclosures, what protocol design approaches are needed to bring trust back into the system? This panel will bring together experts from private business, government, technologists and civil society to discuss the politics of encryption. The intended outcome of this panel is to develop a forward looking perspective on the encryption debate. Given where we are, how can we move forward and what is the appropriate direction? |
Name, stakeholder group, and organizational affiliation of workshop proposal co-organizer(s) Gordon Smith |
Has the proposer, or any of the co-organizers, organized an IGF workshop before? yes The link to the workshop report http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/wks2014/index.php/proposal/view_public/47 http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/wks2014/index.php/proposal/view_public/63 http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/2013/scripts/wks2013/report_view.php?xpsltipq_je=61 |
Subject matter #tags that describe the workshop #Encryption #Privacy #Surveillance #HumanRights #CyberSecurity |
Description of the plan to facilitate discussion amongst speakers, audience members and remote participants This panel is designed to encourage an open dialog and exchange of ideas between the participants. It is envisioned that each of the panelists will provide a brief introductory comment (of 5 minutes), which will then be followed by a question and answer period, engaging audience members, remote attendees and other panelists. The Moderator will ensure that there is equal distribution of time allocated to differing view-points, to ensure a robust discussion and inclusive discourse. Moreover, the panellists have been selected to represent and embody the geographic, cultural and gender diversity, as well as the diversity in stakeholder type, with representation from civil society, the academy, and government. |
Names and affiliations (stakeholder group, organization) of the participants in the proposed workshop
Anne Carblanc |
Name of in-person Moderator(s) Bill Graham |
Name of Remote Moderator(s) Samantha Bradshaw and Eric Jardine |
Name of Rapporteur(s) Samantha Bradshaw and Eric Jardine |
Description of the proposer's plans for remote participation
CIGI plans to engage and include remote attendees using a combination of video and social media technologies. This will allow the CIGI IGF panel content to be shared in real time around the world to all those who wish to participate. To keep the workshop lively and accessible to all, remote attendees will be able to chat throughout the workshop with other remote attendees. During the Q&A periods of the workshop, remote attendees will be given an equal opportunity to directly engage with local workshop participants. |
Background paper |
Agenda
Panel introduction by the moderator |
Key Issues raised (1 sentence per issue): This panel examined encryption technology, and associated questions around freedom of speech, national security and privacy. It discussed the appropriate levels of encryption online; how systems of Internet governance responded to changing levels of demand and supply of encryption; and how encryption can be used to restore trust in the Internet. |
Please describe the discussions that took place during the workshop session (3 paragraphs):
The panel discussed Encryption - a technology used to secure online communications, which works by scrambling data sent across the network so that only intended recipients can access it. The panel discussed how it is a fundamental technology for establishing trust on the Internet, as it prevents unlawful or unauthorized access by a third party, making it essential for upholding and protecting freedom of speech, privacy and security online. |
If there were presentations during the workshop session, please provide a 1-paragraph summary for each presentation: There were no presentations |
Please describe any participant suggestions regarding the way forward/ potential next steps/ key takeaways (3 paragraphs):
The panel came up with 3 key lessons for policymakers: |
Estimate the overall number of the participants present at the session: There were about 70 people in the room and 10 remote participants. |
Estimate the overall number of women present at the session: Less than half of the participants were women |
To what extent did the session discuss gender equality and/or women’s empowerment? It was not seen as related to the session’s theme and was not raised |
If the session addressed issues related to gender equality and/or women’s empowerment, please provide a brief summary of the discussion: N/A |