IGF 2020 WS #209 Empowering all citizens through a Digital Identity

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Organizer 1: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Speaker 1: Steve Olshansky, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Karine DOGNIN-SAUZE, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Amba Kak, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format:

Round Table - Circle - 60 Min

Description:

This session will be splitted into three parts. During the first part, we will introduce the idea of a digital citizenship built around a digital identity provided as a public service. The second part will explore the requirement of including citizens with various digital knowledge -- and the steps to climb -- in order to have a trustable and massively used tool. Finally, it will question the relationship between identities, data safety, system governance and citizen trust.

Issues:

Digital Identity is thought and commonly addressed as a sovereign matter. Going beyond the national framework and questioning the development of Digital Identity in an all-stakeholder approach is a way to strengthen public institutions . Digital Identity may achieve such a goal by improving the confidence of citizens and by proposing a tool that does not deepen inequalities. The digital identity is part of a broad innovation ecosystem, while at the same time supporting economic sectors.

Policy Question(s):

What is an inclusive Digital Identity? How to insure that civil society has a role in the governance of Digital Identity? What are the relevant tools for the governance of Digital Identity? Are there international norms and jurisdictions that should be created ? Private and public demand and services: how to insure data protection of the most fragile population? What innovation for digital identity tomorrow?

Expected Outcomes:

The expected outcomes will be a report of the session that will be useful to all the stakeholders who want to ensure that digital identity is developed to answer civil society needs and improve their relation with the administration.

Relevance to Internet Governance: Every institution's experiences must benefit from one another on this issue which concerns us all and which addresses a large number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Digital identity is not a static service, it embodies the wide variety of services every sector can provide. It can always be improved to develop a digital citizenship that nourishes economy and innovation while reducing digital inequalities and increasing access to rights.

Relevance to Theme: Including citizens in the governance of digital identity is a case study of trustworthy and an informational self determination system.

Discussion Facilitation:

Several calls of preparation will be conducted with the speakers before the session in order to coordinate the interventions. Public will be invited to address questions to the speakers during at least one third of the session. The platform of the IGF will be used for online participation.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool.

SDGs:

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions