IGF 2022 Open Forum #85 Security for whom?: Manifestations of weakened encryption

Time
Friday, 2nd December, 2022 (10:45 UTC) - Friday, 2nd December, 2022 (11:45 UTC)
Room
CR3

Break-out Group Discussions - Round Tables - 60 Min

Description

Despite the integral importance of end-to-end encryption to safety and security online, including its role in preventing cybercrime, attempts to undermine encryption continue to be proposed as a way to address online harms. This roundtable will allow participants to assess the different manifestations of attempts to undermine encryption, the specific ways in which these attempts undermine encryption, and identify key trends globally. It will allow stakeholders from industry and civil society to speak to the security and human rights risks associated with these attempts, and put forward constructive solutions and recommendations to address harm online while protecting end-to-end encryption. This will involve remarks from experts (industry and civil society) followed by Q&A in two rounds, allowing for audience participation throughout.

The session is designed to feed into an ongoing debate about the need to protect encryption while addressing online harms. Therefore, after hearing from experts from countries where encryption is under threat, members of the audience will be invited to share other examples. Following this, experts will explain exactly how these proposals threaten encryption and members of the audience will also be invited to share examples of the consequences of undermining encryption. Recommendations on protecting encryption will be discussed, and feedback solicited from the audience. These inputs will be equally available to those participating remotely and in person.

Organizers

The Global Encryption Coalition Steering Commitee:

  • Greg Nojeim, Center for Democracy & Technology, civil society, WEOG
  • Mallory Knodel, Center for Democracy & Technology, civil society, WEOG
  • Jeff Wilbur, Internet Society, technical community, WEOG
  • Ryan Polk, Internet Society, technical community, WEOG
  • Sheetal Kumar, Global Partners Digital, civil society, WEOG
Speakers

Radhika Jhalani, Counsel at Software Freedom Law Centre, India (SFLC.in), civil society, Asia and the Pacific

Luiza Brandão, Instituto de Referência em Internet e Sociedade (IRIS), civil society, GRULAC

Olaf Kolkman, Internet Society, technical community, WEOG

Sheetal Kumar, Global Partners Digital, civil society, WEOG

Raphael Robert, Phoenix, private sector, WEOG

Elina Eickstädt, Chaos Computer Club/EDRi, civil society, WEOG

Onsite Moderator

Mallory Knodel

Online Moderator

Ryan Polk

Rapporteur

Sheetal Kumar

SDGs

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
16.1
16.10
16.2
16.3
16.4
16.5
16.6
16.7
16.8
16.9
16.a
16.b

Targets: The Cyber Programme of Action proposal, a proposal initiated by France and Egypt, and supported by EU member states amongst others, represents an opportunity to put forward an alternative approach to state behavior in cyberspace based on multi-stakeholderism, capacity-building, and democratic norms. Within that are opportunities for global internet governance that strengthens encryption itself, including end-to-end encryption, for people-centric cybersecurity, and strengthens the governance and institutional mechanisms that are required for strong and ubiquitous use of encryption.