IGF 2020 WS #365 Global Perspectives On Intermediary Liability

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Topic(s):

Organizer 1: Christian Dawson, i2Coaltion
Organizer 2: Lars Steffen, eco – Association of the Internet Industry
Organizer 3: Snead David, Internet Infrastructure Coalition

Speaker 1: Caroline Greer, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Snead David, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Lars Steffen, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format:

Debate - Classroom - 60 Min

Description:

On the Internet, generally, a third party is always involved. Discussions around the responsibility of that third party is a matter of determining liability in circumstances of real or perceived wrongdoing. Right now, intermediary laws are being reconsidered in major jurisdictions including the United States, the EU, and India. Data flows across borders. This panel will discuss the global ramifications for that regarding how it will affect the growth of the Internet economy, barriers to trade, and the ability of the Internet to continue to flourish as a tool that keeps us all connected.

Issues:

proactive monitoring, mandatory local incorporation, enabling the traceability of originators (which would impact encryption), timelines for content takedown, and user data sharing.

Policy Question(s):

Will leaving the policing of the Internet to intermediaries rather than authorities holds major risks, because the incentive will always be to shut down content first, rather than presuming to have sufficient expertise to determine legality? Will tbis lead to more silenced voices and a strong risk of forcing criminal networks further underground? Will larger sized companies ultimately be the only ones able to create, develop, or implement costly filtering procedures (through a combination of humans or sophisticated AI algorithms), which in turn could make it impossible for smaller companies to compete? Will taking measures to disable encryption will add fundamental weaknesses to communication infrastructure?

Expected Outcomes:

i2Coalition and eco plan to continue the debate started at IGF in a series of workshops in both the EU and U.S, to attempt to foster an ongoing conversation about the relevant themes, after hearing from the broader global community.

Relevance to Internet Governance: The goal is to engage in spirited debate on whether changing intermediary laws is a threat to a single global Internet, and whether changes will result in further fracturing.

Relevance to Theme: This sits at the nexus between trust, which is at the heart of the debate around intermediary liability, and digital soverignty.

Moderator:

Snead David, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Online Moderator:

Lars Steffen, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Rapporteur:

Christian Dawson, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Discussion Facilitation:

Questions will be posed to people with opposing views who will be asked to engage one another, and then time will be left to ask the audience to engage the debaters directly.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool.

SDGs:

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

Reference Document

Main menu

IGF 2020 WS #365 Global Perspectives On Intermediary Liability

Information