The following are the outputs of the captioning taken during an IGF intervention. Although it is largely accurate, in some cases it may be incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. It is posted as an aid, but should not be treated as an authoritative record.
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>> ANNOUNCER: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the opening statements of the 18th Annual of the Internet Governance Forum. May I have your attention, please.
Simultaneous interpretation service in six United Nations language and Japanese is available with the receiver. Please turn on your power button and switch to channel 1 for Arabic, channel 2 for Chinese, channel 3 for English, channel 4 for French, channel 5 for Russian, channel 6 for Spanish, and channel 7 for Japanese.
May I kindly ask you at the end of this session, please hand over the used receivers to the staff at the exit doors. Thank you.
Please be noted that annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum will be streamed online. Lastly, if there is an emergency, please follow the instruction of staff including security services.
The opening statements will begin shortly from 2:00 p.m. Please kindly be seated for a while. Thank you for your patience.
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you very much for joining us today for the opening statements of the 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum.
Now I would like to invite the United Nations member. First, I would like to ask His Excellency, Mr. Suzuki Junji, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Government of Japan, to deliver his statement. So, Mr. Suzuki, you have the floor.
(Applause)
>> JUNJI SUZUKI: Under‑Secretary‑General for Economic and Social Affairs; Ms. Vera Jourova, Vice President European Commission; Ms. Doreen Bodgan‑Martin, Secretary General International Telecommunications Union; His Excellency, Mr. Abdullah Alswaha, Ministry, MCIT Saudi Arabia; Dr. Jun Murai, Dean of Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University; Ms. Tripti Sinha, Board of Directors Chair, ICANN; and His Excellency, Mr. Sigbjorn Gjelsvik, Norwegian Ministry of Government and local development; Mr. Vint Cerf, Chair of IGF Leadership Panel; Mr. Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary‑General, Council of Europe; judge Eliamani Laltaika, High Court of Justice, Tanzania.
Ladies and Gentlemen, very good afternoon to you. It gives me a great pleasure and privilege to welcome so many of you to the Internet Governance Forum where various stakeholders from around the world gather together to discuss a wide range of issues related to the internet, which Japan is hosting for the first time.
On behalf of the Host Country, I would like to welcome you to Kyoto. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the United Nations and all those who are involved for the leadership of the forum over the past 18 years.
In the three decades, the internet has become so pervasive that it has transformed the way we live, work and communicate. Today over the internet a variety of services have been provided transnationally. As such, the internet has become indispensable infrastructure for our daily lives and economic and social activities. It allows access really to diverse forms of expression, knowledge and news from around the world and serves as the foundation of democracy.
During the 18 years since the inception of this forum, many innovations have been won and services that provided over the internet keep growing and in its diversity and importance. We believe this is highly significant which discusses the internet in depth has its basic philosophy and democratic process. When discussing ever evolving topics, the this basic philosophy of multistakeholder to bring all this dialogue will be the source of fruitful outcome.
The internet that is free and undivided will lead to free, prosperous and democratic future. I am hopeful, confident that this meeting in Kyoto will lay the foundation for that future. Japan wishes to make contribution to this meeting as a host.
Benefits of the internet can only be enjoyed when telecommunications infrastructure is ready and readily available to all. While highly ‑‑ high quality, low‑cost access is currently available to many around the world, it is also true that there are still people who are yet to be connected to the internet.
At the same time, we must anticipate future technological innovation and plan as to how we can develop more advanced networks and put such innovations into practice, application.
Of course, we must not turn our eyes away from the negative effect of the internet, spread of illegal and harmful information, including disinformation, cybercrimes such as phishing scam, and cyberattacks. These serious challenges are the impacting our society and we need to work together.
This year, the overarching theme of the annual meeting is the Internet We Want, Empowering All People. Under this theme, to ensure that no one is left behind and that all people can enjoy the benefits of the internet, I hope very much that you will have a fruitful discussion on what wide range of stakeholders should do.
Lastly, the place that you are in today, city of Kyoto, let me inform you as flourished as a centre of Japan for centuries and has rich history and tradition that are living and practiced. Even as of today.
So, I hope you will find time in between the sessions or after your serious discussion will end for the day, to enjoy culture, cuisine and art, welcoming visitors of Kyoto and Japan.
I would like to conclude my opening remarks. Thank you very much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next, I would like to ask Ms. Vera Jourova, Vice President for value and transparency European Commission to deliver her statement. Ms. Jourova, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> VERA JOUROVA: Dear minister, dear guests, dear members of the Internet Governance Forum community. Thank you for giving me the honour to address you following minister Suzuki's inspiring words.
I am glad that we are meeting today in beautiful Kyoto. This city has that unique combination of preserving the splendor of the past with the big promise of the future.
And it is that the same combination that we must achieve when we think about today's internet. When the web was created, its $14 invisaged an open, worldwide space where knowledge would spread, equality would rise by bringing down barriers, and freedoms would flourish.
Alas, we all know it did not turn out exactly that way. Models of internet governance are on the rise around the world, where the state is at the centre and information flows are controlled and filtered.
Rather than spreading knowledge of two people, the internet sometimes feels like a tool to extract knowledge about people. A tool that divides and where disinformation spreads, diminishing trust in our governance systems and in each other.
The exponential growth of AI heralds great opportunity for human advancement but also major risk if we don't learn our lessons and act very, very swiftly.
But just as Kyoto as managed to do, our multistakeholder community can preserve the purity of the past, while addressing the challenges of modernity.
Now is the time to defend a vision of the internet that remains open, accessible, where the freedom and dignity of the individual is fully respected. This is not a matter of ideology or block mentality. This is whether the UN charter will be upheld in the 21st Century. This is the aim of the declaration of the future of the internet launched in April 2022, and now signed by 70 countries. I would like to use the opportunity and encourage those of you who have not signed, to consider joining.
And these are the various the EU will promote launched the digit compact launched by the UN Secretary General.
I am also happy to confirm at this place that under the leadership of Minister Suzuki, today we have agreed to launch the stakeholder consultations on the draft of the guiding principle for generative AI and also with the feedback received from the multistakeholder community, we will be finalizing the code of conduct for endorsement by G7 leaders still this year. All developers of generative AI will be invited to sign up.
We see this as a strong basis to ensure safety, acting as a bridge until regulation is in place. The EU is now finalizing our AI Act which will ensure principles will have legal force.
Ladies and Gentlemen, 2024 we will see the largest number of citizens participating in democratic elections in memory. Citizens have a right to make informed decisions and not to be manipulated through deception, especially by foreign states. The EU is taking actions through the Antidisinformation Code of Practice and the Digital Services Act. We show that there is no contradiction between protecting freedom of speech and ensuring a safe and fair online environment.
Yesterday we had an eye opening panel debate. I believe the UN has a role to play, and this is a topic that should feature strongly in the Global Digital Compact.
Dear friends and colleagues, the challenge ahead of us cannot be underestimated, but sometimes by looking at the past, one can take inspiration for the future. This is what Kyoto feels like for me. And this is what I hope we will all take away from this year's forum.
Thank you very much for your attention.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next, the ITU Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bodgan‑Martin was scheduled to speak next. But we had to change the order slightly as the next two speakers has to go to an urgent meeting.
So, next, I would like to ask His Excellency, Mr. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister MCIT Saudi Arabia, to deliver a statement. So, Mr. Alswaha, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> ABDULLAH ALSWAHA: Your Excellencies, esteemed guests of IGF '23, the world that we live in today has so much polarization and fragmentation, both when it comes to the analog world and digital world. In the traditional economy, fragmentation, and internal trade barriers are costing us close to 7% of the global economy. That's $7.4 trillion worth of missed opportunities.
This is translating into a loss of more than 100 million jobs. And collectively, this is posing an impact on our ability to achieve net zero, yielding a gap, a funding gap of close to $3.5 trillion. Digitally, the situation with generative AI could be 10X better or worse. The choice is ours to make sure that we deliver the internet that we all deserve, empowering all people.
With generative AI, we could see things worsening, like the polarization when it comes to the digital trade. As 50% of them today are digital, we could be seeing challenges such as misinformation and disinformation that is impacting the globe today by $80 billion grow by a 10X fold.
And last but not least, we could see this impact, delaying our ability to close down the digital divide. This is why we propose today as part of IGF '23 and we continue this dialogue in real IGF '24, to come together to deliver an internet governance framework that is inclusive, innovative and indisputably engraved in multistakeholderism in partnership with you.
When it comes to inclusivity, we must leave no one behind. 2.6 billion people are still not connected. And this is why we take the great pleasure of working with Doreen with the ITU on making sure that we connect the unconnected world by 2030. We have worked together on a study in 2020 and the cost is going to be so big unless we come up with a new disruptive business model. It's going to cost us half a trillion dollars to connect the unconnected world from the ground. And this is why we are working with the ITU and with you, our multistakeholders, to make sure that we can deliver nonterrestrial networks to connect the unconnected from the ground and from the skies.
When it comes to innovative regulation, we need to move from a world of regulate and innovate or innovate and regulate to innovative regulation, and this is why under the guidance of leadership of his Royal Highness, we have launched the largest generative AI acceleration and sandbox called GIA. Within this sandbox we have invited more 50 startups from 50 nations and placed $200 million to solve and tackle challenges such as bias, such as ethics, and such as hallucination.
Last but not least, this governance framework has to be engraved in multistakeholderism. And we took the pleasure to join hands with you during the toughest year that humanity have seen in 2020 where we hosted the IOs, the Internet Society, governments and business leaders, and were able to pledge during that year $5 trillion to safeguard the economy, $20 billion to accelerate the push on science and technology towards a vaccine, and more critically, support Japan in delivering the data free flow with trust and adopt with OECD the AI framework for a trusted and worthy AI.
This brings me to my end of my speech. But I would like to conclude with an open and candid invitation. Let's make sure that during IGF '23, we open up the dialogue and the cooperation to deliver the internet that we all need and deserve, empowering all people, and we look forward to welcome you to deliver cohesive and collective action and impact and consensus on this agenda in IGF Riyadh '24 and I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Next, I would like to ask Ms. Doreen Bodgan‑Martin, Secretary General ITU, to deliver a statement. So, Ms. Bogdan‑Martin, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> DOREEN BOGDAN-MARTIN: Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocol observed. It's an honour for me, as I would say a long time friend and supporter of the Internet Governance Forum to address you for the first time as ITU Secretary General.
Let me commend Japan for hosting the IGF and for placing digital high on the agenda for the G7 summit in Hiroshima where ITU contributed in the technological partner in the ministerial track. Digital technology is dominating global conversations from the G7 to the G20, to the G77 to last month's UN General Assembly. The world is turning to digital technologies to tackle our most pressing global challenges.
One number captures the significance of this moment more, I think, than any other. That's the percentage of sustainable development goal targets that directly benefit from these technologies. The ITU puts this number at 70%. 70%. It's a major takeaway of the SDG digital acceleration agenda that we launched with UNDP during the SDG digital event that was held in New York just prior to the UNGA high‑level week.
I think this is game changing, as we know that only 15% of the SDG targets are on track, and we know that AI, if harnessed safely and responsibly, actually, has a multiplier effect.
But ultimately the measure of success will hinge on our capacity, Ladies and Gentlemen, to deliver these technologies to everyone, everywhere. Right now, as we just heard from His Excellency, Minister Alswaha, 2.6 billion people are offline. Digitally excluded, too many nations, too many women, too many vulnerable groups find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Not to mention those that struggle with access to basic digital infrastructure, while a select few benefit from the latest in AI technologies.
Is this the digital world we want? We can turn things around, and we can do that together. That's why the cooperation that was fostered by the World Summit on the Information Society is so important. What WSIS did by embracing the multistakeholder model in the face of shifting digital issues way back when in the early 2000s was, actually, very forward thinking. It was ahead of its time.
IGF emerged as a crucial outcome of WSIS solidifying its role as a Multistakeholder Forum for global digital governance issues.
The other critical out, the WSIS forum has compliment this process well by focusing on grassroots digital development. The discussions taking place at the IGF and the WSIS forum are fundamentally interconnected.
In the same way that the WSIS action lines and the SDGs are inextricably linked. As we look to next year's Summit of the Future, I think we have a once in a generation opportunity to shape the digital world that we want. One that empowers us all.
I am pleased that the Global Digital Compact discusses are benefiting from the collective learnings that have been acquired through the WSIS IGF process.
The WSIS+20 review process is a time for us all to take stock, to understand the gaps and to plan for the road ahead, the road to 2030.
During the first IGF, back in 2006, one of the speakers compared the internet to a child. A child who is expected to change rapidly. And today the internet has grown into one of humanity's most powerful resources.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, let us bridge divides. Let us get the SDGs back on track. Let us write the next important chapter in the life of the internet. Let's do it together. Let's do it now. And let's create the internet we want.
Thank you.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next I would like to ask Dr. Jun Murai, the Dean of Graduate School of Media and governance, Keio University, to deliver a statement. Dr. Murai, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> JUN MURAI: Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Kyoto, Japan. I really want to welcome you here.
In this 2023 is going to be a very big year for the internet community in this country. So, we hosted the IGF in spring. We hosted the APNIC meeting here. And we are hosting Internet Governance Forum here. So, that's my pleasure that so many people visiting this country and share the wisdom about the future of the internet and the issues of the internet as well.
So, talking about the 2023, I can think about the historical reason of the internet development for the past three decades that maybe two decades, three decades. It's starting from the very few number of us working on development of the internet. And at that time we said internet was for us. I mean, we have been developing the internet for the community of the internet people.
And then I remember Vint, myself, started to discuss in 1995, that the internet is for everyone as an ISOC model. But, actually, even in that year 2000, the internet population was just 6% of the world. It's now reaching to 70%. And then and now we need to work together for the inclusion of the internet.
And during that history, I would like to add one more thing from Japanese point of view. In 1995, we were suffered with a huge earthquake in the council area, this area. And then at that time was very much the people recognized the internet and the power of the global collaboration to support the human life and the recovery from the disaster. So, that time, 1995, was a very mature internet initial year to this country. And since then, we suffered several times with a big earthquake, and every time 2011 was with a Smartphone already in there and saving a lot of people's life with the location information and everything.
So, the last past three years, we all were suffered with a global, you know, COVID‑19, I think. And that was something that the people really understand the meaning of the video, videoconferencing, working remotely all over the world. This is accelerating I think 10 times faster for the people to understand the benefit and the importance of the internet infrastructure as well.
So, now we have been discussing a lot about AI and the new technology relating to the internet. I think it's really important that whenever we are having the advanced technology available to us, then we will think about the proper use of the technology.
And then also, we have other user of the technology. Cybersecurity is one of the areas that we should work together for the, to deal with the other user of the internet technology as well. But at the same time, with the proper use of the technology of the internet, we can work together for the ethical use of the internet as well.
So, I hope this opportunity we all get together with a multistakeholder people to discuss about the future of the internet governance, then we hope that this Kyoto meeting is going to be one of the startup time for the future ethical use of the internet environment.
Thank you very much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next I would like to ask Ms. Tripti Sinha, board of director chair ICANN to deliver her statement. So, Ms. Sinha, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> TRIPTI SINHA: Dear ministers, your Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good afternoon.
It is a great pleasure to be here today at the 18th Internet Governance Forum in the beautiful city of Kyoto, Japan. The internet, one of history's most transformative creations, has revolutionized the way we communicate, conduct business, access information, and connect with the world.
With over 5 billion of the world's 8 billion inhabitants online, we are now more interconnected than ever.
Recent global events like the COVID‑19 pandemic have underscored how vital the internet is in our modern age. It has become our lifeline, connecting us to essential information, education, and most importantly, to each other in times of crisis.
In essence, the internet today is a critical resource and access to it is a fundamental human right.
At this forum, we have been tasked with contemplating the internet we want, empowering all people. While diverse backgrounds and cultures envision this future, a Universal Design emerges, an internet that is open, accessible and inclusive, ultimately empowering all individuals.
As we envision the internet we want, allow me to comment briefly on history. For as we know so well, the future is built on historical lessons, both good and bad.
So, I would urge you to keep some past principles sacred as we look to the future. One of the foundational principles upon which the internet is constructed are open standards, open architecture, interoperability and I would add two more to the list. An open mind and imagination. It is these principles that the technical community sacredly embraced which served us well and created the amazing transformation that the internet is and the transformations that the internet itself has enabled, indeed it has changed our lives in the most remarkable of ways.
So, now I will share a few comments on what we want as the internet evolves. Our priority and the internet that we want is one of digital inclusivity, a future where anyone, regardless of location, language, socioeconomic level or culture can use the internet. The world has seen emerging economies flourish, education levels rise, and nations grow because of access to this global resource.
Despite the internet's ubiquity in many parts of the world, significant portions of the global population remain unconnected. A lack of access to the internet impacts access to education, services, healthcare and economic opportunity.
Expanding access to the internet is not just a matter of developing the infrastructure. It requires addressing affordability, digital literacy and the creation of locally relevant content and services. Governments, the private sector and civil society must collaborate to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their location or native language, can reap the benefits of the digital age.
We must advocate for participation by all stakeholders. The internet should be a bustling interchange of varied ideas and dialogues driven by active participation from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Thereby reflecting the global internet community's multifaceted nature.
Internet governance has organically evolved through an internal multistakeholder process uniquely addressing challenges in a user developed network of networks. The multistakeholder model of internet governance is one that enables stakeholders from multiple sectors to come together in dialogue to share viewpoints and drive towards consensus‑based decision making.
This approach of broad inclusivity and democratization of stakeholder participation has yielded a system of voluntary standards, best practices, cooperation and trust.
ICANN deeply rooted in the multistakeholder model emphasizes transparency, inclusion, participation, and expertise as imperatives for governing internet‑related discussions. We strive for transparency and security. In a time where trust is vital, our commitment is to persistently develop and uphold the technical underpinnings of an open, secure and resilient internet. Merging procedural transparency with robust data safeguards establishing a foundation for a safer, user friendly internet.
As we pursue this critical mission, leveraging the multistakeholder model is crucial, requiring ongoing involvement from policymakers, academia, businesses and civil society, beyond just the technical community, to foster a unified vision for the internet's future.
Guided by the internet technical community, we must, alongside all stakeholders advance towards our collective aim, the internet we want. Our unified objective must be to sustain the internet as a catalyst for good, a platform for change, and a pathway to a brighter, more interconnected future.
Before I conclude, allow me to make a few comments on new technologies in our evolving digit experience. The past year has been marked by great innovations in technology that are bound to enhance the internet. We are now at a pivotal point in time with break‑through developments in artificial intelligence, or AI, and advances in quantum technology and communications ready to transform or even redefine our digital experience.
The potential of AI cannot be denied. We have yet to fully understand how this will shape and influence our lives. But one thing is clear. It will be globally impactful. Quantum technologies are similarly poised on the brink of innovation. These technologies serve as undeniable agencies of change whose outcomes and impact will rely on and be delivered by the power of interconnected networks, the internet.
Let us persist in our collaborative efforts to forge a superior yore and luminous ‑‑ superior and luminous digital future, ensuring the internet remains a well spring of inspiration, creativity and prosperity.
So close, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the IGF Jarrett and to our host for ‑‑ Secretariat and to our host for convening this meeting. I would like to thank you for your contributions which are integral to the success of this forum. Together and with an open mind we can imagine and then create the internet we want, empowering all people.
Thank you.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Next, I would like to ask His Excellency, Mr. Sigbjorn Gjelsvik, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norway, to deliver a statement. Mr. Gjelsvik, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> SIGBJORN GJELSVIK: Ministers, Excellencies, members of parliament, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen. First, I would like to thank the Japanese government for hosting this important forum here in the beautiful and historic city of Kyoto.
The Internet Governance Forum has been a strong advocate for an open, accessible, and inclusive internet since the first forum in 2006. It has provided a platform for stakeholders from various sectors and regions to collaborate and shape the internet we want, by empowering all people. Which is the fitting overarching theme from our kind Japanese host.
The impact of the internet has never been more significant than it is today. IGF plays a central role as a facilitator and the forum for important discussions, for governments, civil societies, the academic sector, the technical community, and the private sector.
The innovation government supports the current forums and discussions and the willingness to include all stakeholders. When we endorse the existing structures, we acknowledge the need for continuous improvement and dialogue to address our concerns.
As the strategic importance of the domain increases, there is a growing number of initiatives in the internet governance sphere. But as a small state, we are concerned about the paradox of inclusion, which will ultimately give us all a smaller impact on shaping the future of the internet.
As we struggle to deal with an increasing number of arenas and initiatives. We wish to contribute to keeping and developing the IGF as a vital and inclusive format and a meeting place for all stakeholders. That is why Norway earlier this year announced our bid to host the Internet Governance Forum in 2025.
The small state perspective is a key to an inclusive, multistakeholder internet governance. With this in mind, we know that the major growth in internet users is happening in Africa and in Asia. The growing economies in these regions have an incredible opportunity to leapfrog into digitalization in both the public and private sectors, by ensuring that the right enabling environment is in place.
Norway will continue to work with both bilateral and multilateral partner and the private sector to stimulate investment in developing countries.
Because the building of fundamental infrastructure is crucial for implementing digital technology. We know that digital solutions have a critical role to play in development. The die ad has enabled Ukrainian citizens to access over 80 governmental services through Smartphones, adapting the service to the new reality and the needs of internally displaced people during a war was made possible because of the Ukraine government's commitment to digitalizing its public services.
The government's capacity to respond to Ukraine needs during the war is a powerful reminder of how investing in development reform and public administration is critical to crisis governance.
Having the digital system in place, the technical knowhow is in the government and the ability to scale up quickly is how we can ensure people get the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
The current discussions on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, has shown us that technological development is still not without risk.
Furthermore, innovation government, it is an important priority to develop regulations that ensure that technological innovation and development are responsible, respecting human rights and privacy.
The Norwegian position is clear. Human rights are not only valid in the physical world, but also in cyberspace. To strengthen the multistakeholder model in the internet governance where we need to keep working on the principles of no discrimination based on nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sex or economic status.
After all, the internet should be a place where individuals can exercise their civil, political, economic and social, and cultural rights.
Norway remains dedicated to preserving and promoting these rights in the digital realm. Therefore it's crucial to make IGF even more relevant by promoting more sharing of best practices and minimum regulations to give countries the necessary tools for development.
All, you know, Member States have support the framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace. We must continue to uphold the globally agreed ground rules, including international law in cyberspace.
Sustainability is another main priority for Norway. We will seek innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of digital infrastructure and utilize the same infrastructure to reduce emissions in various sectors in society.
Moreover, the IGF can facilitate dialogue on the role of digital technologies in addressing broader sustainable challenges.
This includes using technology for climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and smart cities. By sharing stories and innovative solutions, we can inspire and empower each other to use technology as a tool for sustainable development and for a better future for us all.
We extend an open invitation to each of you to join us in strengthening the IGF, and I hope we will be able to welcome you all to Norway for the IGF in 2025. Together we will strengthen diversity and collaboration, which is crucial for vibrant and sustainable digital ecosystem.
Thank you so much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next I would like to ask Mr. Vint Cerf, Chair of the IGF Leadership Panel, to deliver his statement. Sir Mr. Cerf, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> VINT CERF: Oh, to be young again. First of all, it's a great pleasure to return to Kyoto, a beautiful city with a wonderful history and a place where our innovation and our deliberations, I think, will be inspired.
I want to thank also as others have, the Host Country of Japan for its generosity and all of the planning, which has gone into the IGF 2023.
I am very resonant with many of the comments made by the Prime Minister this morning, and as a member of and the Chair of the Leadership Panel for the Internet Governance Forum, I am looking forward to a very productive week. We have already had a very productive day zero, which by the way, resonate with as a programmer because everything should start at zero, not 1. So we thank you for acknowledging that.
I think that the members of the Leadership Panel, you will see, attending many of the sessions that are planned, and there are literally some 300 of them, according to the last report I got from Chengetai Masango, who is the head of the Secretariat. That's an enormous number. We won't go to all 300. We will go to as many as possible.
We are focused primarily on promoting the ideas arising out of the IGF deliberations. And we are hoping that their insights, your insights will inform the decisions that are made by other bodies in the world that have an impact on the way in which the internet can operate.
We greatly appreciate the work of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, which organizes these meetings every year and together with the Secretariat. And I specifically want to call out and thank Paul Mitchell for his service as Chair of the MAG. This is his outgoing year. And could I call for a round of applause for the work that Paul has done?
(Applause)
>> VINT CERF: We anticipate with great interest the work of the co‑facilitators in Rwanda and Sweden on the Digital Governance Compact. We have had an opportunity to meet with them. They are open to inputs, informal and formal on their work. That work will continue, as you know, into 2024. Its outcomes are vital to all of our future with regard to the internet.
We also anticipate the Summit of the Future and its conclusions, which I hope will also inform the way forward towards the structure and operation of not only the internet, but also many of the other subjects, including global warming challenges that we have. Those must occupy us in the years ahead.
I'm very eager, as a member of the Leadership Panel, to draw attention both to the MAG, the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, and to all of you as participants in the IGF, to thinking beyond the internet we want. We are articulating the internet we want. But we won't get it unless we figure out how to get there. And so I want to strongly urge the IGF participants to start thinking more about how we will achieve the objectives that we have already articulated in the internet we want, which the Leadership Panel has also expressed what we believe is a consistent view with regard to that subject. But we now must focus on how to get there. And that should be the outcome of the IGF meetings in Riyadh next year and in the future as well.
Some people have used the term the internet we deserve. And I worry that if we don't focus on the how, we will end up with the internet we deserve, but it may not be the one that you want.
We must be alert to the risks and hazards of the strong connectivity that the internet offers and as has been said many times, that connectivity allows the spread of misinformation, disinformation, as well as all the other positive things that we know the internet can deliver and has delivered.
So, we must wrestle with suppressing the useless information that shows up and focus on that which is useful. Which means we are going to have to focus on both accountability and agency. Accountability for actions, and agency to create and maintain a safe and secure and connected network.
So, the Leadership Panel is looking forward to engaging with all of you during the course of this week and in the course of the year ahead. We also look forward to the national and regional IGF meetings which are just as important as the annual one in terms of focusing our attention on what needs to happen to the internet to make it a productive environment.
It's very important for us to incorporate experiences from those events as well as the one we have every year.
So, we are all on the Leadership Panel looking farred to a particularly productive multistakeholder week, and we look forward to seeing all of you this year and next.
Thank you very much.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
So, next I would like to ask Mr. Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary‑General, Council of Europe, to deliver his statement. So, Mr. Berge, the floor is yours.
(Applause)
>> BJORN BERGE: Ministers, Excellencies, distinguished participants and guests. Some people in this room today will not be able to remember what life was like before the internet existed. The telephone booths, the printed encyclopedias, waiting for the postman to deliver handwritten letters. The opening up of the online world with its high‑speed connections has changed all of this. Maybe it has even changed us.
So much of modern life would grind to an instant halt if one day it simply stopped working. The internet is the transformative invention of our times.
So, it's indeed an honour for me to speak after Vint Cerf. Along with his colleagues, he pioneered internet and designed the protocols that determine how internet works today. The Council of Europe is an International Organization made up of 46 Member States. We recognized early, both the opportunities and the threats posed by the digital world. That's why in 1996, we began negotiations for what became our Budapest convention on cybercrime.
Today 68 countries have joined it, and over 100 have used it as an inspiration for their domestic legislation. Helping them to combat crime online. This treaty was indeed born in Europe, but is open to the world. Along with its two protocols, one on combating racism and xenophobia online and the other on how to treat evidence on the cloud. Negotiating the Budapest convention taught us the importance of a multistakeholder approach when regulating the digital world with public authorities, of course, but also civil society, the private sector, and technical and professional organizations taking part. All their experience is needed and we depend on them.
I know that the Internet Governance Forum has embraced that inclusive approach. That is why we have been so supportive of it, ever since its early days as the World Summit on Information Society 20 years ago.
Of course, the advance of technology means that there is always more to do, for the government and others, helping to set relevant standards, so that innovation remains a force for good to the benefit of all. Artificial intelligence is both a pressing and pertinent example of this. Harnessing its benefits and mitigating its dangers, it's a defining challenge for all of us today. That's why the Council of Europe is now at work on an international treaty on the design, development and use of AI systems.
Negotiations on its component are underway. These include the 46 Member States of our organization, along with our observer states, plus countries from outside Europe, and the range of international organizations, the private sector, professionals, as well as others. Again, a true multistakeholder process.
We are open, welcoming, in fact, of others joining, where we share our objectives and values, because our aim is to make this treaty as strong, relevant and global as possible. And I hope we will be able to finalize the negotiations by May next year.
So, dear friends, finally, I want to express my deep gratitude to the excellent Japanese hosts and also the IGF Secretariat for organizing this important conference. Japan is renowned for its innovation. And this country is a perfect place to discuss how to make sure the internet is an open, free and global space for all.
I thank you for your attention.
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much.
Next I would like to ask Judge Emiamani Laltaika, High Court of Tanzania, to deliver a statement. The floor is yours.
>> ELIAMANI LALTAIKA: Honorable Ministers, honorable members of parliament present, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocols observed.
Imagine there is a meeting taking place somewhere in some distant country or even somewhere in the outer space, but that would be too far. And you nominate yourself, you go there, you meet fantastic people. They look friendly and they are wonderful. But after a few minutes, you realize that you are different. You don't look and think like them. And they are in thousand, there are 5000, 9000 registered. What do you do? That's exactly how I feel, Ladies and Gentlemen. Because out of everyone here, I'm the only one who has this title of the bench holder. I'm the only judge here.
So, if you were my clients, imagine how many opinions I would write to send some of you to some places that are not pleasant.
On a very serious note, I have realized that you are doing a very, very important process that impacts the rest of the world, but you have not included the judiciary. Please allow me to speak on behalf of judges and magistrates around the world, but also our closest relatives, the prosecutors.
When I was invited here, the Secretariat had some difficulties placing me in some track, because it is the first time they have a judge who is interested in even delivering a speech. So, they were not sure where does he fit. They ended up putting me in the parliamentarians track.
(Laughter)
>> ELIAMANI LALTAIKA: I shared the podium with members of parliament yesterday and it felt like being an Attorney General. Because in most of the Commonwealth countries, an Attorney General is a judge who has served for some time, then is taken to parliament and you can hear him answering questions. So, yesterday I acted for a few minutes like an Attorney General, and, basically, delivered my speech, and one of the panelists were the honorable member Froelich from South Africa, reminded me of ‑‑ reminded us of the importance of moving together. He said, if you want to move very, very fast, go alone. If you want to move very far, go with others.
I challenge everyone here to take this message very seriously and ensure that next year, God willing, if I am invited again to this wonderful occasion, I don't feel lonely, because honestly speaking, I have not heard anyone who thinks like me or who has, you know, this kind of aspiration like I do.
But why do we need judges in a process like this? Number one, the law making process ends with the judiciary. Everything you are discussing in parliament with think tanks remains more or less theoretical, until a judge gives it briefest life to it by saying this is the correct interpretation. It would be very sad for your process to fail to take off simply because a judge who is supposed to decide about an aspect of internet governance uses a few minutes to strike out an entire application because they do not understand. And for your information, the judges never said that they do not know. You must say the honorable judge has slipped into error.
So, please don't allow us to slip into error. Kindly facilitate the IGF Secretariat to probably establish a track for the judiciaries. Thank you very much.
Having seen that what you are discussing is impactful, it is meaningful, it goes down to internet freedom, protecting children in the internet, ensuring freedom of information, embracing AI. Making the most of Web 320, 3.0, all this boil down to the rule of law in the digital space. We cannot advocate for the rule of law outside and then leave the digital space with judges who have no idea what internet freedom is all about.
To conclude, some of you have heard that I come from Tanzania. If you are wondering where Tanzania is, on the map is where the highest mountain in Africa and, actually, the highest, free standing mountain in the world, mount Kilimanjaro is found. So if you can't remember Tanzania and you take this prayer from the judge because we usually make orders. But today I make a prayer that kindly invite judges from your countries, kindly push the agenda to ensure that the judges in your countries are also a part of your national IGF and then UN IGF.
This is from that judge from the land of Kilimanjaro who happened to come from academia, who taught in science university before and had participated in the national IGF. So, I have a little bit of an idea of the incredible thing you are doing. And I can guarantee you that when I was appointed, I used some of the ideas I got from IGFs that I attended in my country to do what I did much better.
So, I want to thank you and wish you all the best and specifically thank the government of Japan. In my previous training as an intellectual property lawyer, I read a lot about Japan. Very hospitable people, very innovative and it was always my dream to come here. Seeing Minister Suzuki and in the morning seeing Prime Minister Takasihda was a dream come true. And with all participants also, thank you for enabling Japan to showcase its hospitality to the world.
>> MODERATOR: Thank you very much
(Applause)
>> MODERATOR: So, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now approaching to the end of the opening statements. Allow me to extend our appreciation on behalf of the United Nations and the Government of Japan to all Member States for your active participation and productive exchange of views.
And before you depart, kindly ensure you have all your belongings with you. And please also be sure to hand over your simultaneous receiver to the staff at the exit door when you leave the room.
So, tonight music night is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at the prince hall located in B2 floor of the Prince Kyoto Takaragaike, which is right next to this conference centre. So, please feel free to join our remarkable night. Once again, thank you very much for your attendance.
(Applause)