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

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.