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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>> CHAFIC CHAYA: First, thank you for the invitation. And thank you for being with us today. These discussions are very really important to share insights from the different stakeholders.
So with your question, I believe from the technical community to have an inclusive multistakeholders and impactful action lines, we need to have a strong partnership and cooperations.
These partnerships and cooperations should be in accordance with the WSIS principles and objectives.
Let me highlight three main activities. Let's say community intersects with the WSIS action lines and the GDCs. So from that point, I'll go to the first action line, which is the internet resilience, which is action line number 2.
When we talk about internet infrastructure resilience. We talk about connectivity. We talk about security. We talk about how we can connect people to the internet in a meaningful way. So to do this, we had partnerships, we had collaboration with multiple governments and regulators. And I believe we achieved a lot during the last two years. Where we can see now the region is championing security.
Another point that I would like to tackle in the infrastructure from the infrastructure perspective. [?] these are very important hubs. Because one of the challenges is to have our content hosted outside our region. Another advantage is to have the traffic and to keep the data local. Which keeps our data secure. This is the privacy from the WSIS action lines. I will go to the second pillar, which is the line number 4. Capacity building and knowledge sharing. This is very important point. Without capacity building, without knowledge, we can do nothing. What we saw in the last two years working in this region, we are consumers. We are not innovators. To be innovators, we need the knowledge and the tools. Once again, it's there to offer the tools to support members, support governments with the expertise in infrastructure. So this is very important point we need to take into consideration.
And the last pillar that is important take away for the WSIS action lines is the action line number 11, which is ensuring collaborative Internet Governance. And this is a good example. We are here today collaborating. Without collaboration, as we said [?] we need all the expertise from all the stakeholders to have an impactful actions and to achieve our goals nationally and regionally. And here, the last point, it's not about only the collaboration between the stakeholders groups. It's collaboration between the technical community, the U.N. organization, our state, all the organizations regionally and nationally. Plus the collaboration between NRIs that we discussed yesterday. We need to have this collaboration at the national and regional level to have these impactful achievements.
>> MODERATOR: Very interesting. Part of the Arab digital agenda is what you mentioned. The collaboration and partnership framework. And the platform for this collaboration framework. And we have some tools for the collaboration partnership framework initiatives. Not just an idea to be put there in the collaborative partnership. But it was innovative in the beginning and was put [?] it's a key initiatives. So this project is one of the main, let us say, fundamental initiatives that were put under the adoption of the manuscript of the Arab Digital Agenda. So we have these ideas. And, as well, put into the Collaboration Project Framework. We need all your initiatives and projects, so we can combine them together and support the implementation. And also to drive funding and investments to the region.
>> CHAFIC CHAYA: Just 10 seconds. We are working together with them in two areas, which is the IPv6 to ensure we have the good connectivity, and on the security to ensure we have a secure routing.
>> MODERATOR: Exactly. And the good news, it's part of action line 2 of WSIS. So infrastructure is fundamental. And we discussed AI last week, as well.
So I know that you want to talk about the WSIS. Unless you want to give a quick comment on the extension of the WSIS before we move to the IGF.
>> PARTICIPANT: Thank you so much, Ayman. I just want to build quickly on the introduction that you have made. And, of course, the deliberation of my colleagues. And highlight how can we make the Arab voice more impactful when it comes to the review process of WSIS20 and the IGF and so on.
And my comments will be very, very quickly. In three main pillars that, in my opinion, would shape that regard.
The first is that we should have an Arab digital agenda. And we are lucky to have. And it was very much promising to have the modality when they were starting to shape up. As a multistakeholder model. They seek input from stakeholders to contribute to the document or the agenda itself. However, we have a slight challenge. How are we going to implement this? Maybe this is something we can discuss later. It's important we don't only stop at the, you know, the drafting the agenda itself. But rather to look at the modality of how we're going to implement. Because this will be very impactful. And it go through the process of the review. When they have one voice and one solid vision about the different tracks.
The other important component is sorry. Is to be open to consult with the regional groups. Yes, we do this, but it's not very solid in the way we do business. So we need to do more consultation of the regional groups. All groups. And understand that challenges they face and opportunities they see, and share with them, as well, what we see as challenges to our region and exchange these kind of views so we together can align. So we don't go in different, you know, boats. But we go aligned in the same boat, more or less.
And the final thing, to embrace more solidly in our beliefs and the way we think about multistakeholderrism. As a concept. And I'm not referring here to multistakeholderrism with we know to be open to the technical community, academia, a Civil Society, and alike. But, also, actually include stake holders from the Arab countries. For instance, we discuss digital skills gap. Okay. And we suggest, for instance, that we need to add new curriculum in universities. We don't have one single university sitting in the room listening to our deliberations and thinking how they can take this and start to implement them in their own arena. So we need to include our own stakeholders. Whether they are private sector, whether they are academia, and so on. So that we can embrace the multistakeholderrism bottom up from our own communities, as well as to be open, of course, to multistakeholder approach organizations. Thank you so much, Ayman.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you so much. And now we continue the story. As we know, there's a story that started in 2003 2005 will continue. We will have the new aspect and the IGF end of 2005. And it really shaped in 2006. In Athens, we met, most of us, in the first year of IGF. [?] but the process will grow. Let us see in 2007 and let us see afterwards. And the process took shape. I said this before, but I would like to now mention a little bit of the Arab IGF. The Arab IGF started, as I said, in 2009. And the first edition in 2012. With the support of our champion. We established the Arab IGF in the beginning of 2012. We did the open consultation with stakeholders. Many like ICANN, and so on and so forth. It started there. We did several iterations. In Algeria, I have colleagues with us today. And in Lebanon and Egypt. Morocco. We did many junctions along the way. And now the Arab IGF will be taking place as part of the digital corporation development forum during 23 through 26 of February. But I will ask Christine. Because, Christine, is going to talk about Arab IGF. She'll talk about Arab IGF and how it can be influence part of the global IGF. It's part of the idea. We're not doing to be but we want to make a difference in the world. And the question is, how can this process, Christine, like Arab IGF in which you head of the Secretariat to be presenting for many years. And also played the substantial role. So, Christine, tell us your views now on the second segment of the question. On the IGF. Arab IGF. The relationship. And a little bit on how this moment in history of digital corporation can help bridge the gap between multilateral and multistakeholder. Christine, the floor is yours.
>> CHRISTINE ARIDA: Hello, Ayman. Can you hear me?
>> MODERATOR: I can see you. I don't know if you can see me or not.
>> CHRISTINE ARIDA: I can see you. I can see you.
So I want to start by thanking you for organizing this discussion. I think it's timely, important, and well needed, at this stage.
I'm also really happy to see this gathering happening in Riyadh. Which, I think, is nice itself. So without further thanks, I think, there's many people around the room to thank. But I think what is important, at this stage, is to look at the role of the Arab IGF among the bigger picture of the IGF. And I've been listening into discussions and participating to the discussions through Day 0 and on to today. And there is so much talk about the importance of the IGF, at this stage, with the implementation, which is starting, and with the WSIS+ 20 coming up very quickly.
And I think the Arab IGF, pretty much, like, the IGF has done a great job in opening up topics and issues and shaping up discussions. I mean, looking through the journey since it started until the last session that we had just a week ago to discuss the Lebanese IGF and the North African IGF. We've been opening up topics and discussing very important issues to the Arab region. We also had outputs. We had messages coming out. We had partnerships that happened. How do we link it to everything that is happening? How do we link the work of the Arab IGF to the other discussions among the Arab group? To discussions among Arab member states. So, basically, throwing linkages is, in my view, one of the biggest challenges that we are facing at this stage.
And in order to be impactful, we need to remember why we had the Arab IGF. Why we have the IGF itself. It's to have a multistakeholder dialogue. And to come out with Best Practices, ideas, possibly even policy recommendations that was very broad within the IGF was not alien to that. We have to take a serious step back and look at the future of the Arab IGF and see how we want to proceed in that direction. And how do we want to be impactful with other NRIs during the coming year, and shaping up, also, the GPD. I will stop here and hope I addressed some of your questions.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Sure. And the other processes, as well.
Now we move to one of the key players in the IGF process. He was a member of the global IGF for some time, Christine, as well. And he's joined the Arab IGF and he became the head of the multistakeholder programme advisory committee. So AMPAC. The global IGF team and how did we take it into consideration while we were planning the Arab IGF themes for the next February? And if you would like to shed light on the extension of the global IGF, and let us say, also, the Arab IGF.
But the floor is yours.
>> CHARLES SHA'BAN: Thank you, Ayman. We have two to three minutes, so I will not cover everything.
Well, thanks, everyone for the important question. And I think we can go back to the start. When my friend who was the head of the Arab AMPAC. Today it was mentioned. When we started, we used to know what our region needs. And based on that, we used to select the subjects we want to present for the Arab IGF. And at the same time, the connection with the global IGF, we used to take their themes into consideration. We used to think, for example, this theme is important for us, too. So we keep it to be in harmonization with the global IGF. I think the main issue we should stress on, we're putting our region in specific, as the priority. And what we need here.
What I mentioned, we will talk about three main themes this February. I hope to see everyone! We'll have one first about digital intelligence. And the second one will be about [?] especially at data privacy and data governance. And the third theme my colleagues and I, of course, we degreed on internet and digital sovereignty. It will cover, by the way, what some people are discussing globally about internet fragmentation. So these are the main three themes we will consider.
You asked, again, about the how we see the global IGF theme in generally evolving. I think we should push even as Arab IGF that we should [?] I think it seems that were somehow moving towards this. And that they know that the IGF was an important body and event that everyone is participating in and interested in.
I think I'll stop here for now. To leave time for my friends. Thank you.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you so much. Now, if we don't have other interventions in the IGF or Arab IGF. before that, I would like to give a chance for the floor inside and outside, if they want to ask one or two questions. Now WSIS and the IGF segment. We move to the GDC, which is another paradigm and the linkages between the two paradigms. So if we don't have any hands raised. One of the key members of the committee of Arab multistakeholders advisory committee.
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. An honour to participate in this. Thank you, Saudi Arabia, for hosting us. Appreciated.
Regarding the WSIS and contribution of Arab states. I think having the common agenda is a number one. I believe it's also very valuable that on the national level a community can engage with its own government. To enrich the discussion. To raise the priorities. As we know, ultimately, a multilateral negotiation. And every government will have a vote or have a voice in these negotiations. To prepare them for the priorities from the perspective and Civil Society, what is important to the private sector, to businesses, to academia. When they go to New York and negotiate, they are armed with this information. Some countries are doing this already. And I hope in the Arab region, we can approach our own governments and make them and arm them with this kind of information. Thank you.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Okay. Before you leave, I'm approaching you to ask something that people think it doesn't relate to WSIS but, from my point of view, it does.
Do you think that the AI is alien to the WSIS? WSIS cannot cover the AI. Because I would like to hear your views.
>> AUDIENCE: I think particularly emerging technologies have a role to play in the discussions. In terms of not only terms of deployment and infrastructure, but also in capacity building and businesses. They have an impact on business. They have an impact on the economy. They have an impact on knowledge. So they have a role to play. And being aware of these concepts and how they impact us and having our voice raised is very critical. They have a role to play, for sure.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Very good. Thank you so much.
And to tell us can the WSIS action lines cover emerging technologies? And Chafic Chaya snatched the mic.
>> CHAFIC CHAYA: I need to leave in two minutes.
Just to comment. I believe the strategy of the Middle East region and the advancement, the technology advancement we are facing now, plus the openness of the region could be, really, a leverage for our strength and to show our cases to the group at the global level. So what we need to do is to take success stories. Is to take our collaboration that achieve a lot of progress and achievements, and to share it with at the global level during the global processes. So I will stop here and I would like to invite you at 1:00 p.m. workshop room number 7. We'll have the workshop to show how a developing country as Lebanon. Both are leveraging their own multistakeholder approach for IGF. Thank you, Ayman. Good luck for the end of this workshop!
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you. Once we finish here, we'll go to this workshop. Because our colleague is participating. Which room? You said 7? 7. Okay. Now I move to the GBC. And one of the international experts. While we were negotiating the GDC. And now the GDC. Can you tell us what the five objectives. Just to give the audience the five objects. Until you're ready, I'll give the history. It started as an idea during the report on digital corporation in 2019. And then, as well, we did contribute to regional consultations on this digital corporation in 2019. And then during the COVID and then we took it further in 2021. In the first edition of the Arab International Digital Corporation Forum. In our views, we thought this is the way we can be in advance. Even before it's negotiated and before it went to the Summit of the Future and came out. So I asked on the main objective. Let me explain the context. The Summit of the Future, chapter 3, some articles related to science technology and digital technology and so on. But the main annex was the globally negotiated text. Another the future generations. But the objectives are the goal. So what are the five objectives?
>> PARTICIPANT: Thank you. Let me start from the previous topic which is WSIS and IGF accommodate emerging technologies.
Paragraph 72 of the agenda, which the Internet Governance Forum stated that part of the role of the IGF is to accommodate emerging technologies.
Emerging technologies, so far that is AI. That is block chain. This is just an example. So AI can be accommodated based on the fact that emerging technology was always part of the main agenda of the IGF. Since its launch. And part of WSIS, too.
Moving from there to the GDC. It was a positive proactive evolution of the WSIS. These two documents have been produced in 2005.
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Across the goals that links digital divide with the Sustainable Development Goals. And, yet, the access actually issues under the digital divide. So today connective, digital literacy, the skills, and capacities and digital public goods and Digital Public Infrastructure became part of the digital divide objective within the global. This is not a contradiction. This is an evolution. So we consider the digital divide is not only the human skill, but also the infrastructure that is available to improve the skills and use it in daily lives.
The other objective was the benefit of the digital economy and making it digitally inclusive. We need to get all individuals, stakeholders, communities, as regions, and countries, and the global world to get the benefit of the digital economy and making the digital economy inclusive to all. This is to promote innovation. This is to make the digital role more linked to our needs and requirements.
Fostering an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space. That the social network, the social platforms. The daily interaction between us in the digital space and creating a new issue. And this objective human rights, an individual right in the digital space. Internet Governance became part of the objective. The dij tral interest and safety where I need to have verified, authenticated, validated information available to me as an individual. As a business, or as a government, or as a public. And, of course, information [?] and having, also, a differentiation between the formation that is baseless and baseful information.
Objective four, advance [?] data governance. So this is a major issue today. When we talk about data privacy, security, including cybersecurity, and security for the individuals. And what is called the data exchanges and the standards. I have a good discussion with my colleague regarding exchanging data and the standards of that regards. And this is important today with the technologies like block chains, for example, to have such standards. And, of course, utilizing data for Sustainable Development Goals. So hoping to transport the data and governance of the data.
And the last objective, of course, announcing international governments artificial intelligence. So the fact is, AI with humanity and not the other way.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Very important setting the theme. As you've seen, it's the main goal. And the AI governance. Anyways, it's an important addition. They still can live together with the WSIS. Now I would like to ask your views on how can both processes, the one the IGF and its renewal and the GBC during the setting of the phase for implementation. How can they sinner guise.
>> Christine Arida:{|}: Thank you. And allow, me as well, to just play a little bit of a devil's advocate. Multistakeholderism, and so on. It took us back in ages when we were starting the process of the Wsis. And there was a kind of, you know like, heat or cloud over our heads. How should we look at the WSIS. The GDC successfully completed their discussion. And the lessons we can learn from this and link it with the IGF and the WSIS review process, is that we will not, definitely, we will agree that we will not want to go back in ages and repeat the same mistakes this emphasize the the importance of multistake holdism to discuss such issues. There are similarities between the objectives and the WSIS action lines, and that takes me, actually, to how can we indicate all this together? So we don't compete with existing models. The mandate of the IGF comprises technologies so easily with the system and the modality. So we can always incorporate new technologies within the discussions of the IGF. And maybe include, as well, how can we implement the output? And therefore integrate the processes together instead of having more than we can accommodate as international community at large. Thank you so much.
>> AYMAN EL SHIRBINY: Thanks, a lot. And we are, like, approaching seamlessly the [?] by this input. I think it's important. We are starting to get the component of the IGF can be compatible. We have 20 minutes or less to go. I would like to move to the last segment. What are the targets? The goals? And the concerns of the WSIS are areas of improvements. As durations and so on. They fit together. A plus D. We have the processes for the process. We have the process. IGF. But not only that, but we have SDI forum, and we have interagency team. And we have, also, ICM. And many mechanisms for the SDR, which is part of the GDC. They have the SDG. There's an article in the section on GDC follow up mechanisms. And CSTC is there. As explained it's mostly a few days ago in our region in AI. The scientific community of new nature is invited to play a new role. As a sign of AI and critical resources that we, like, debated 20 years ago.
So there is this kind of new mechanisms and existing mechanisms. So how can we take from you some wisdom and give it to shaping the modality of and implementation at the U.N. global level. What would you give me that I can bring to that design phase, as explained.
Okay. He got the hand first. It's good to get the hands on the floor! Mohamed is a good friend and one of the representatives of the Young Business Leaders.
>> AUDIENCE: Okay. I would like to emphasize more on objectives that was mentioned. And the global digital. About data sharing and transporting data.
How this is impacting the community of the start ups. So we are building start ups and supporting start ups, especially in D tech. This is a very important aspect that will impact three major stakeholders.
The first stakeholder is themselves. The start ups. They would like to optimize. So optimizing their operation by remote workers. Working with the data to be shared. They cannot utilize the external talents. Building on top of the existing incubators of the clouds that are available anywhere globally with certain skill sets and certain technologies to have access this. To have it on prem. I can be at the data sharing and transporters of data. I can verify that.
Also, I'm going to benefit out from the multilateral partnerships that can be across governments or private in a global scale. The second aspect, which is very important, is investments. I'm looking for scaling up. And investors are looking on a global scale. Not only on a local scale. So accessing other models of the data accessibility is not there, I cannot branch. I cannot transport. I cannot scale. So today we are working in a global village. This is a global village. And it's a win market.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: It was a bit of an open floor data. It became a shared resource.
>> AUDIENCE: Exactly. So the privacy is going to be only on the credentials. To disclose the identity base and the request that is being given to that customer profile to disclose.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you so much. It's very clear. On the data governance objective with the digital economy objective, too. With AI and many other things.
So, again, how can the mechanisms work together? And there's a laity over there. If there is someone from the remote world and here, also. Sorry, Chafic Chaya was before you. Give him the floor and come back to you.
>> PARTICIPANT: We learned that the IGF is the most inclusive platform of all these platforms. Where all stakeholders are on equal footing. Talking about all issues, including emerging technologies. So I need to compliment the IGF, which is all inclusive.
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>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Okay. Sorry. I rephrase what you said. It's strengths and some links in the existing ecosystem. Existing network to make it more ready for the new aspirations.
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>> PARTICIPANT: Inclusive platform. It exists and operates.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Okay. So what is operating? Don't break it. Just fix it. And make it more stronger. And what is missing, add it. So that is logical thinking of engineering, of course. And that can be brought in a clear message. Charles?
>> CHARLES SHA'BAN: Thank you. Well, in fact,
I'm glad I let him speak before me. I wanted to start with that and continue on one other distinction. I can continue what you started. Which is, mainly, if you go back to the WSIS. The original definition from the beginning. When they defined what is Internet Governance, they said to give each one its own role. So my addition, as I mentioned, mainly to give each stakeholder to work on his own in collaboration with everyone. Chafic Chaya also said that this is
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>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Each stakeholder is the respective role.
>> CHARLES SHA'BAN: Exactly. That's what I wanted to say.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: I'm happy that the role of the U.N. as a custodian of multistakeholderrism has taken the respective role in being that, let us say, the custodian of the multilateral and multistakeholderrism. That's a strength the Secretary general wanted to bring to the U.N. starting his initiative in 2018. And now everyone knows it's not only the government but the business sector, the Civil Society, technical community, and academia. Plus the international organizations is equal with all the stakeholders.
>> CHARLES SHA'BAN: Yeah. You work wonderful with everybody and all the roles. And since I have the floor. 10 seconds only. The Arab IGF, we started working before, to be honest. But, you know, in the region
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Yes. We were planning to do it in November. But because of the political tensions and the conflicts, we chose to do it next year.
>> CHARLES SHA'BAN: As my colleagues said and Christine online said we asked everyone to work on the themes I mentioned before. To review it again, based on the outcome. So this is, I think, to mention that we are having everything together.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you. Before I give the floor to Christine, there is a question from the gentleman here and the lady before. Can you just 20 seconds put your question. And then the gentleman here. And then I'll give the floor to Christine. And then we wrap up.
>> AUDIENCE: Thank you everyone. Creators Union of Arab. This consideration is concerned with the intellectual property rights. And I think, and I hope to add the intellectual part in this mechanism. It became an important asset in any business.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: I think we'll have a meeting. And we can do a workshop together.
>> AUDIENCE: It's my pleasure. Thank you.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: And now the gentleman here. And your workshop?
>> AUDIENCE: Hi, everyone. I'm from Microsoft.
The viewpoints
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We discussed the digital divide and the importance of AI and data governance. And, also, it's very important point about how we can introduce ourselves as members of the Arab League in front of international forums as one block. I think there's a clear lack of coordination under one legislative umbrella. Similar to what is happening in Europe, like the GDP. And would like to invest in the region when there's a business case. To be honest, there's a clear gap divide between some countries who have the resources and others who lack the resources.
All of this can happen and encourage to come to the region and address the AI gap, data governance issues by having different countries to share that.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: You're right. You're right. We have one of the objectives in the digital agenda. Pillar four. To harmonize the three. Harmonize the legal structures, and to also harmonize the memberships and positions regarding the national status. So that is an important action. We're going to also announce during the event programmatic implementation support modalities. And part would be programmes on the infrastructures. Programmes on the legal harmonization, and, also, digital economy and many other things. So please continue discussions with us!
And now we'll go back to the floor with Christine. Regarding the future of Arab IGF.
>> CHRISTINE ARIDA: Thank you, Ayman. I would mention two points.
The first point is what we've seen now is inflation and duplication of governance processes. And maybe it's good that this is put on the table. Because it's indicates that there is need. But what we need to do right now is to be aware that we, as developing countries, our region, is mostly developing countries. You might have not have enough capacity to follow and participate in all the duplication of processes. And in that context, I think we need to be very vocal as a region about making synergies and avoiding duplication. And identifying roles so we can avoid having to participate in different venues. And have just a process and process there.
In order to do that, we need to, the second point I want to mention, as a region, we need to change our perception of the false dichotomy. We tend to believe there is a strong dichotomy between both. Personally, I don't think it's the case. I think we just need to understand how processes, such as the Arab IGF, being multistakeholder, bottom up, how can they support the multilateral decisions in different venues in the region. And I see in the chat a question about how the Arab IGF involving grassroots and youth. I think we need more of that. I think we need that involvement. We need to be inclusive. We need, maybe, to look at the Sao Palo and see how our processes and enforce that, as I mentioned, in our processes.
>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Thank you so much. Of course, we are involving youth stakeholders in the process.
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>> AYMAN EL-SHERBINY: Our work on the Parliamentarian session is take shape. Also work with youth will add the youth I would like to thank our young team members working from Beirut.