IGF 2021 WS #141
Internet Governnance in the Era of Gatekeepers

Organizer 1: Yonglin Yao, CNNIC
Organizer 2: Xiao Zhang, CNNIC

Speaker 1: Xiao Zhang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Sandra Planes-Satorra, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 3: Benfu Lu, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

Moderator

Xiao Zhang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Online Moderator

Xiao Zhang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Rapporteur

Yonglin Yao, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Format

Panel - Auditorium - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

Regulation, competition and innovation: How could regulatory and self-regulatory frameworks help foster more competitive Internet-related markets, a larger diversity of business models, and more innovation? How to enable equitable access to data, marketplaces or infrastructures for fostering competition and innovation on the Internet?
Additional Policy Questions Information: To refine the selected question, the main question is: How to balance the challenges and the benefits of Internet "gatekeepers"?

The sub-questions are:
How significant is Internet competition in this era different from before? What are the structural risks that gatekeepers bring to the market and to social development? What are the benefits of the platform-based development of the Internet for economic transformation, social governance upgrading and diversified development?

How can we identify or evaluate the impact of gatekeepers? How to balance the development of the Internet platform with the innovation and development of small and medium-sized enterprises and a fair competition environment? What are the risks and difficulties in governance?

How shall the public administration "collaborate with", instead of "govern" the gatekeepers in pandemic era and beyond? How to resolve the contradiction between monopoly and universal welfare and realize the harmonious coexistence of platform and governance?

The issues in this regard are Internet competition, big tech, concentrated market structures, network effects, as selected from the Guide (“Guide to IGF 2021 Issues and Policy Questions”). However, the session shall focus on "Internet gatekeepers". The main question has therefore evolved from "How to constraint the giants?", to "How significant is Internet competition in this era different from before?" In other words, "How does public administration "collaborate with", instead of "constraining" the gatekeepers in pandemic era and beyond?"

Internet gatekeepers contribute in advancing human development into a new era, yet in their unique way: they pave ways for accelerating digitalization via large platforms, and partly act like public service providers, yet taking disproportionate responsibilities. However, simply breaking down the "gatekeepers" is neither achievable or constructive, nor is it economically or legally reasonable.

Preventing disorderly expansion and promoting sustainable growth and innovation are two sides of one sword. the expansion of Internet platforms into "gatekeepers" is a natural result of the development of the digital economy, profoundly reshaping people's livelihood, social and public governance, market vitality, and economic order. On the one hand, the Internet platform plays an irreplaceable role in innovation in business model, on the other hand, technology giants benefit from network effects: through the advantage of big data, they obtain significant value and social capital. Subsequently, investment, social development formed the "path dependence" on the gatekeepers, resulting in depression upon SMEs and expanding the digital divide, the risk of damage the interests of consumers.

SDGs

8.3


Targets: SDG8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

The issue of Internet giants is at the interface of tech innovations, gig labors, SMEs, finance, business models, market structures, social welfare and public governance. Tackling related issues requires efforts from a wide range of communities, and thus inspires structural thinking and constructive governing. The session is not intended to merely "constrain" tech giants, but to promote long-term development of Internet-related markets, and to fundamentally enhance the sustainability of the digital era.

Description:

Digitalization is a general trend of mankind as the globe is entering a new stage of development. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are concerned with economic growth, industrial innovation, equal opportunity, and strengthening peace and order. The COVID-19 emergency has accelerated global digitalization and made it clear that tech giants are growingly more like "gatekeepers" than ever. How significant is Internet competition in this era different from before? How shall public administration "collaborate with", instead of "constraining" the gatekeepers in the pandemic era and beyond? Since gatekeepers benefit from the globe and their influence exceeds state boarder, governing them is a global concern. Moreover, this requires more wisdom and courage in governance, as well as more collective effort than ever.

This session will invite experts from diverse fields, including Internet industry, law, economics, public administration to exchange observation and views on tackling Internet gatekeepers. In order to achieve effective communication, great depth and high concentration, the session is to build on existing discussions on Internet gatekeepers, while save time for describing "what" but talk more about "how", aiming at delivering food for further thoughts for Internet governance in the emerging and cross-cutting areas in the mist of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, starting with identifying the key characteristics and structural impacts that gatekeepers have, speakers will talk about the challenges of existing governance and options available. The session is expected to contribute to enhancing the regulatory and self-regulatory frameworks, so as to foster more competitive Internet-related markets, a larger diversity of business models, and more innovation, and to enable equitable access to data, marketplaces or infrastructures for fostering competition and innovation on the Internet.

Expected Outcomes

Publications of policy advice from a multistakeholder perspective, and a series of reports to Internet authorities or non-government organizations.

The session is planned for online participation.

【Work division】 There will be two types of facilitators: remote moderator (1 person), technical supporters (2 persons). The moderator will be responsible for facilitating the general process of discussion, keep the discussion focus on the main issue and control the pace. Technical support 1 will closely cooperate with the IGF staff, respond to technical problems that attendees come across, and make sure the online platform function well before and during the whole session. Technical support 2 will standby for additional technical issues, and assist the moderator to collect suggestions or/and questions on the chat board.

【Design of the session】
1. The moderator will open the session by welcoming participants, framing the topic, briefly introducing panelists and mentioning their commitment in the discussion. The moderator will notify the participants the work division and code of conduct at the opening of the session. (5 mins)

2. Two speakers will give presentations one by one. (20 mins)

3. Panel discussion (40 mins) A lively conversation to get their perspectives on the questions as outlined below. - How significant is Internet competition in this era different from before? What are the structural risks that gatekeepers bring to the market and to social development? - How do gatekeepers impact Internet-related entities of different scale? - How does public administration "collaborate with", instead of "govern" the gatekeepers in pandemic era and beyond?

4. Onsite and online Q&A (20 mins) The moderator will invite onsite and online audience to pose brief questions to the panelists, asking audience members to identify themselves.

5. Summary and Closing (5 mins) The moderator will share the top takeaways from the discussion and bring the session to a close.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: The session will be held via Zoom. The organizers will email the attendees the instruction and calendar, notifying them to leave adequate time for technical testing beforehand.

The moderator can assign speakers for specific question, and all panelists are welcomed to speak under the moderator's permission, e.g. raise a sign of "hand" in the chat so that the moderator will unmute the panelist.