NRIs Collaborative Session on cybersecurity: Bridging the gaps for a safer cyberspace

Time
Tuesday, 10th October, 2023 (02:00 UTC) - Tuesday, 10th October, 2023 (03:30 UTC)
Room
WS 1 – Annex Hall 1
About this Session
While Internet governance establishes mechanisms to safeguard critical infrastructures and data, ensuring a secure cyberspace, the effective cybersecurity builds trust among users and supports privacy and data protection. It also fosters a secure environment for social and economic development and innovation. The exchange of national and regional multistakeholder practices is crucial within Internet governance to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and learning from diverse perspectives, enabling comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. 

Through the interactive exchange of inputs between national and regional IGF initiatives, this session will address several important policy questions from the cybersecurity domain:

  • Are global cyberspace operations guided by universal principles, and how well do existing regional and international policies align with global cybersecurity best practices?
  • What are the critical gaps in current international cybersecurity cooperation efforts, and what strategies can be employed to bridge these gaps and establish a more unified approach?
  • How can we ensure a safe cyberspace that respects fundamental rights and freedoms, including privacy, data protection, and freedom of speech?
  • What role should schools play in addressing the cybersecurity challenges faced by new generations, and how can comprehensive cybersecurity education be effectively integrated into school curricula through collaborative efforts?
  • In what ways can stakeholders ensure the protection and upgrading of existing digital infrastructure to meet current and future security needs, while considering the cultural and linguistic diversity at the local, regional, and national levels?

The session is hosted in a hybrid format and the expected outcome is to understand specific challenges and examples of good practices at local levels and inspire positive action for ways forward.

The speakers and moderators for this session will be announced.

The session is co-organized by the below listed NRIs.



Join Zoom: https://intgovforum.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEqd-uurT4pHdOZQlsMfXIGyRXeyUFB-8SV

NRIs Collaborative Session on Cybersecurity, cybercrime, and online safety

NRI Name

Your name as the NRI coordinator

Experts delegated by the NRIs multistakeholder organizing committee to join the organizing team

Albania IGF

Fotjon Kosta

Fotjon Kosta

Armenia IGF

Katarina Gevorgyan

Kristina Hakobyan

Asia Pacific Youth IGF

Jenna Manhau Fung

Jenna Manhau Fung

Benin IGF

Muriel ALAPINI

Ganiath BELLO

Chad IGF Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong Abdeldjalil Bachar Bong

Colombian IGF

Julián Casasbuenas G.

Mariana Jaramillo Lopez, Google Colombia

Nelson Rivera, Fundación Renacer

Angela Cortes, Ministry of ICTs

Ivan Marrugo, Ministry of ICTs

María Camila, Ministry of ICTs

Gina Carolina Paz Romero, Red PaPaz

Clara Patricia Muñoz, ISOC Colombian Chapter

Côte d'Ivoire IGF Salyou Funny  Salyou Funny 

Croatia IGF

Zdravko Jukić

Zdravko Jukić

Ecuador Youth IGF Carlos Vera, Alexandra Maldonado Alexandra Maldonado

Ethiopia IGF

Samuel Lemma

Samuel Lemma

Ethiopia Youth IGF Saba Tiku Saba Tiku

FGI Québec

Pierre-Jean Darres

Pierre-Jean Darres

France IGF

Lucien Castex

Lucien Castex

Ghana IGF

Wisdom Donkor

Wisdom Donkor

Francis Amaning

Honduras IGF

Denis Jesus Aguilar Ortega

Denis Jesus Aguilar Ortega

Sandy Karyna Palma Rodríguez

India Youth IGF

Ihita Gangavarapu

Ihita Gangavarapu

Italy IGF

Concettina Cassa

Concettina Cassa

Giacomo Mazzone

Japan IGF Masanobu Katoh 

Junko Kawauchi

Shin Yamasaki 
Junko Kawauchi

Liberia IGF

Peterking Quaye

Peterking Quaye

Mauritius IGF

Mahendranath Busgopaul

Mahendranath Busgopaul

Nigeria IGF

Igonor Oshoke Samson

Igonor Oshoke Samson

North African IGF

Tijani Ben Jemaa

Mohamed Farahat

North Macedonia IGF

Marko Paloski

Marko Paloski

Panama IGF

Lia Hernandez

Lia Hernandez and María Elena García 

South Sudan Youth IGF

Denaya Dennis

Denaya Dennis

Tanzania IGF

Nazar Nicholas

Nazar Nicholas

United Kingdom IGF

Ellice Mansfield

Ellice Mansfield

Uruguay IGF

Laura Margolis

Laura Margolis

Zambia Youth IGF

Levy Syanseke

Levy Syanseke

Key Takeaways (* deadline 2 hours after session)

It is important to work on demystifying cybersecurity to engage everyone, emphasizing active involvement and addressing gender and diversity concerns.

Fragmentation of Data Regulations: Different countries have different scope or perspective in data security, most especially for cross border transfer of data and this negatively impacts the cybersecurity situation.
Call to Action (* deadline 2 hours after session)

In the Global South, address cybersecurity by focusing on controllable factors, integrating sociology, child-friendly media, local languages, and diverse policy approaches.

There needs to be streamlined regulation for cybersecurity on regional level. These cybersecurity and data governance regulations need to be harmonized to improve cybersecurity.

Session Report (* deadline Monday 20 December) - click on the ? symbol for instructions

Introduction

This session acknowledged that the global landscape of cybersecurity and internet governance was rapidly evolving, presenting multifaceted challenges and opportunities. It delved into the intricate web of issues surrounding these domains, emphasizing the need for collaboration, harmonization, and innovative approaches. It explored questions about universal principles in cyberspace, the balance between security and fundamental rights, cybersecurity education, government responsibilities, infrastructure upgrades, and protection of vulnerable communities. The session, through its speakers, underscored the importance of international cooperation and knowledge exchange through national and regional Internet Governance Forum initiatives. It shed light on critical policy considerations, addressing the nexus between cybersecurity, privacy, digital inclusion, Gender issues, cultural considerations, and the safeguarding of democratic processes, especially during pivotal events like elections.

  • Key takeaways
    • There is a need to integrate law, technology, sociology, and cultural values for comprehensive cybersecurity.
    • It is important to work on demystifying cybersecurity to engage everyone, emphasizing active involvement and addressing gender and diversity concerns.
    • Fragmentation of Data Regulations: Different countries have different scope or perspective in data security, most especially for cross border transfer of data and this negatively impacts the cybersecurity situation.
    • It is needed to target the younger generation to improve capacity to stay safe online.
    • There is a need for Public-Private consensus on cybersecurity policies and frameworks. Multistakeholder is important to come to consensus that considers all internet stakeholders.
    • Sharing Similar Initiatives between countries is incredibly helpful.
    • There is a need to invest more into education for each populace on responsible use of the internet. Teaching Information Literacy across the world needs to be standardized.
    • It is currently difficult to actively collaborate with other organizations on information sharing.

​​​​​​

  • Call-to-action points
    • Bring gender focused perspective to cybersecurity policy.
    • There needs to be streamlined regulation for cybersecurity on regional level. These cybersecurity and data governance regulations need to be harmonized to improve cybersecurity.
    • There is a role that each one of us can play in raising the next generation and ensuring that thew internet is safe and secure.
    • In the Global South, address cybersecurity by focusing on controllable factors, integrating sociology, child-friendly media, local languages, and diverse policy approaches.
    • It is important to keep separate the interests of the Public Sector and Private Sector and focus on human-centric interests first.
    • Capacity Building and Security training should be pursued by all stakeholders.
    • International Human rights law should be utilized as a guide to apply norms for Cybersecurity Frameworks on an International Level.

 

In conclusion, this session highlighted the evolving challenges in cybersecurity and internet governance, emphasizing the need for collaboration, gender inclusion, and harmonized regulations. It called for proactive measures to educate the younger generation, streamline policies, and promote international cooperation. The session's insights underscore the importance of a holistic approach to cybersecurity, aligning with global human-centric values and international norms