IGF 2023 Day 0 Event #185 The Internet WE Want: Perspectives from the Amazonian Region

Most stakeholders will agree with the need to connect “the other half”, as the Internet enables the exercise of Human Rights, including Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Civil and Political Rights. However, there is much less consensus regarding how to bring the underserved communities online. Many have point out to infrastructure as the main barrier to universal connectivity, with the resulting problem of economic incentives, especially regarding communities that inhabit areas far from the big urban centers, which are often impoverished communities as well. Many of the unconnected communities are traditional communities. To reduce the discussion to the technical and economic from a Global North/Western approach, not only lacks a deep understanding of the problem, but is also carries the dangers of colonialist oppression. Instead of imposing one single access model to the Internet, it is necessary to listen to the local communities, their needs and desires, in order to create solutions with the community, at their scale, that are respectful of their wishes and their culture. We have coordinated joint research on the Amazonian region, as the latest entry on our Latin America in a Glimpse series, that we have presented at previous editions of the IGF. Based on this research, in this session we want to present this new edition of the report and to explore the different challenges —technical and economic, but also political, cultural and environmental— faced by the communities in the Amazonian region and the people trying to come up with alternatives approaches to connectivity. What kind of processes are required to ensure effective community participation in the definition of accessibility policies? How can governments stimulate new approaches to connectivity? What’s the role of the private companies regarding alternatives to commercial access to the Internet? What are the environmental challenges related to connectivity and how can be mitigated? This are some of the questions that we expect discuss during the session, with stakeholders from Latin America and the rest of the world.

In order to ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participation, we will take a number of precautions: First, the agenda of the session will be set beforehand, so it will be easier for people online to follow the discussion, even if connectivity problems arise. Second, we will compile questions a week before the session, so even if people could not attend or have connectivity problems, we can assure their question will be ask. Third, we will be reporting on social media during the session in Spanish, so people who are not able to follow the streaming or do not speak English, could follow the session. We will use tools like Miro and Mento, to engage with the audiences and collect opinions and impressions from attendees online and onsite.