Unfamiliar yet Familiar – Road to Internet Governance Forum

Saturday 21 October 2023
Huot Srymanit
5 Minutes Read

Getting to Know Me

Hey there, this is Huot Srymanit, a sophomore majoring in a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance and an aspiring Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) at CamEd Business School. Moreover, I serve as the Co-President for the CamEd Entrepreneur Club’s 7th Generation. I am interested in subjects relating to languages and technology. Even though I don’t have a lot of experience yet, I’m excited to start working and advance my job experience as an open-minded learner.

Prior to Joining Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum

Not sure if it’s destiny or fate, I stumbled across a post by Open Development Cambodia back in May that stated “Call For Organizing Committee”. I was intrigued by the various aspects of internet governance and decided to give it a shot. Despite my background, I decided to embark on this unfamiliar journey. Being an open-minded learner who always welcomes and looks forward to new challenges, I always took the initiative to volunteer and participate in various activities at any given chance. Thinking back to when I applied as the one of the organizing committee for Cambodia’s first ever Youth Internet Governance Forum, I never thought that I would make it.

Journey with Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum

Obviously, coming from an accounting and finance background, I never thought that I am suited with anything else other than finance, hence, I decided to start this journey by becoming a member of the administrative committee, for which I handle the admin and finance.

I was in charge of the fundamental tasks as part of administration, including assisting with venue quotes, event supplies, and translating the events agenda. I was also in charge of creating the presentation slides and certificates for the events day, which is held on the 23^rd and 24^th of September, as part of my support job on the programme committee. As a second-year student, I must balance my studies with my volunteer job. It has proven to be tough and exhausting because I have to juggle my studies, my volunteer job as a digital literacy trainer for the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, my roles as co-presidents of the CamEd Entrepreneur Club and as administrative committee of the Cam YIGF.

Expectations about Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum

As a member of the Cam YIGF, my primary goal is to promote digital inclusivity, internet governance and shaping its future in Cambodia among Cambodian youth and to give young people a voice and a forum to address digital rights, literacy, and technology-driven policy in the country. This forum will serve as an area for my future research and helps to widen my knowledge on internet governance.

During the Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum

Despite the obstacles that the team and I faced during the pre-events phase, our events went on smoothly and we successfully organized the first-ever Cambodia YIGF, surpassing our initial expectations with approximately 250 participants.

During the two-day event, I had the opportunity to work as a note-taker. The majority of this role consists of making notes, hence, I got to learn in detail about various topics, about data privacy, the General Data Protection Regulation, digital security, and cybersecurity – how to successfully secure yourself online.

During this conference, I’ve had the chance to take part in two breakout sessions that address topics like digital transformation and data protection law. Learning about the perspectives of people with various backgrounds, including those in the public, private, and government sectors, was fascinating. My understanding of the subject has completely changed as a result of their perceptive observations, and they have also made me more open to potential answers.

I had the privilege of serving as one of the cryptocurrency dealers during the Phum yIGF, which took place on the first day of the event. Making the participants aware of how they should safeguard and take care of themselves by being mindful of the unknown risk as well as understanding the risk of the investment in the market was a major focus of this game.

It was such an enlightening experience to attend the multi-stakeholder gathering. It was wonderful to watch the simulation of individuals from all stakeholders working together to develop a better concept for how to enhance internet governance for Cambodia. Looking back, it was all worthwhile because the event reached such a significant milestone. Turning the events into a reality was such a wild fantasy after spending up late days and nights for the past three months with the dream teams to plan and develop for the events.

Road to Internet Governance Forum

I am very eager to attend and participate in the 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in Kyoto, Japan from October 8 to October 12, 2023, under the theme “The Internet We Want – Empowering All People” and with eight sub themes. I am eager to learn more about the sub themes of “Data Governance & Trust, Digital Divides & Inclusion, AI & Emerging Technologies, and Sustainability & Environment” because they are of particular interest to me. My willingness to participate in these discussions stems from my conviction that there are substantial chances for influence at the nexus of emerging technologies, sustainability, and digital inclusion. Additionally, I particularly anticipate the discussion of “Rule of Law for Data Governance” and hope to contribute to the policy dialogue on key issues such as the new Data Protection law which is currently under discussion in Cambodia.

This IGF will serve as a venue for me to explore and learn beyond my capacities. It will be a fantastic chance for me to learn about current trends and advancements in internet governance as well as the perspectives of various stakeholders on important issues related to internet and data governance. This will provide me the opportunity to communicate and meet others from all over the world who are concerned about the future of the internet.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Open Development Cambodia for their support in realizing my dream of attending the upcoming 18th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, which will take place in Kyoto, Japan from October 8 to October 12, 2023.

My point of view of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023

Wednesday 20 March 2024
Bean Seynak
Events

If people ask me about my Kyoto trip, I will tell them about the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023. It was such an eye-opening experience for me. Let’s get to know IGF 2023 a bit, what is it? The IGF 2023 is the 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum which was hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto from 8 to 12 October 2023. The Forum’s theme was: The Internet We Want – Empowering All People. The following sub-themes are: AI & Emerging Technologies, Avoiding Internet Fragmentation, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime & Online Safety, Data Governance & Trust, Digital Divides & Inclusion, Global Digital Governance & Cooperation, Human Rights & Freedoms, and Sustainability & Environment. Let’s continue reading to see how my point of view of the forum is! HIGHTLIGHT OF THE PROGRAM The five-day forum was full of different program and sessions and was hosted in a hybrid format as well which some speakers gave a presentation via online. I couldn’t join all the sessions and had to schedule only selected interesting sessions. Its program was such a new experience I witnessed, involving participants from all stakeholders ranking from high-ranking level to youths. Over 355 sessions were featured in the forum with over 80 booths to share their work missions with the participants. The opening ceremony was conducted on the second day and to my surprise, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also gave a speech representing the country host of the IGF 2023. H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida said in his speech, “Generative AI not only improves operational efficiency, but also, to accelerate innovation in various fields such as drug discovery and development of new treatment, thereby bringing about dramatic changes in the world”. The United Nations Secretary General, H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres also paid a virtual visit to the forum by recording a video. In his speech, H.E. Mr. Antonio said, “I look to the gathering in Kyoto to provide critical input to advance our collective efforts. Together we can realize the ambition spelled out in the theme of your forum and the internet to empower all people”. In the evening of the second day, buffet was served with the music night as well as the welcoming firework outside of the conference building. INTERESTING SESSIONS As there were over 355 sessions, I couldn’t join all of sessions; therefore, I scheduled sessions I wanted to join. Below are sessions I found very interesting to share in this blog. EVOLVING TRENDS IN MIS- & DIS-INFORMATION Digital platform and social media are greatly beneficial to communication and information; however, it is also a concerning when it comes to the spread of inaccurate and falsified content as well as the information that causes harm. So, misinformation is intentionally and disinformation is not. Disinformation spreads through the action of both malicious actors and also mainstream media and social media platforms that are up for engaging ordinary users. What was so interesting about this session is that different stakeholders came together discussing on the issue and raising different perspective. One of the panelists, Ms. Maria Ressa who is the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, stressed on the risk of advancement of the technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) which could easily be used to spread false narrative. She called on all stakeholders to be cautious as AI is moving ahead of human right now. An interesting question for all panelists was, what can we do to protect and empower women and girls, refugees, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ people and what tools can they use to protect themselves? It is given the situation that these communities usually bear the brunt of harm caused by online disinformation and misinformation intended to target them. Ms. Vera Jourova, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, stated that the mantra in the EU treated what illegal offline the same as online as well. She also raised an issue that some big techs are running an attention economy which is the same as dirty business. It’s when those who runs the algorithms were making big money on hatred, alarming news, and dangerous information. The EU also discussed the issue with the big tech and tried to stop them with the legally binding digital services Act. Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, Professor of Law and Deputy Director of Global Research Institute of the Keio University, responded to the question that attention economy become more serious in the online world than in the real physical world; containing hate speech, disinformation and misinformation. Combining these harmful acts together could become a very impregnable force; therefore, a speedy moderation would be the solution to the problem. Ms. Maria expressed that EU’s laws that are coming out is the race of the turtles while the technology is coming out every two weeks; therefore, it’s an agile development which human need to move faster and shouldn’t rely on the tech companies alone because their motive is profit. Nic Suzor, Professor at the Law School at Queensland University of Technology, responded that what lost in this debate is the acknowledgment, that it matters. It’s very difficult for tech companies to know who the online target is. When classifying hateful content, there are only high-level figures. He proposed that we need to be more proactively to ensure that the systems that we are building are built with historical inequality in mind. If we focus on what tools people use, it would be another burden on the people who are already marginalized. EDUCATION, INCLUSION, LITERACY: MUSTS FOR POSITIVE AI FUTURE This session focuses on artificial intelligence in higher education. The foundational principles for higher education were initiated globally to promote new literacies. Six principles include: (1) People, not technology must be at the center of our work, (2) We should promote digital inclusion within and beyond our institutions, (3) Digital and information literacy is an essential part of a core education, (4) AI tools should enhance teaching and learning, (5) Learning about technologies is an experiential, lifelong process, and (6) AI research and development must be done responsibly. CONTRIBUTING TO THE INTERNET GOVERNANCE IN CAMBODIA In January 2022, Cambodia’s approach to internet governance involves a mix of regulatory frameworks and policies to manage and control various aspects of the internets. The development in Cambodia’s approach to internet governance includes Regulatory Frameworks, Internet Infrastructure, Digital Economy Policy, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cybersecurity, Online Freedom, Social Media and Online Platforms, Data Protection and Privacy, and International Collaboration. After participating in the IGF 2023, I will continue to contribute to the internet governance in Cambodia by engaging with stakeholders; attend conferences, workshops, and events to build relationships and understand different perspectives. Another contribution would be advocating and raising awareness; promote an open and accessible internet and raise awareness about the importance of digital rights, freedom of expression, and the role of the internet in economic and social development. Lastly, I will join or collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on digital rights, internet freedom, and technology policy. KYOTO, JAPAN Japan Government chose just the right and best place to host its conference as Kyoto is renowned for its historical and cultural significance. Visiting Kyoto, I find moments of peace and reflection while exploring the serene temples and scenic spots. It has well-maintained gardens, bamboo groves, and traditional landscapes contribute to a tranquil atmosphere. My overall feeling after visiting the city is a combination of admiration for its cultural richness, a sense of tranquility, and a deep connection to Japan’s historical legacy. SPECIAL THANKS All the way to IGF 2023 in Kyoto of Japan wouldn’t have been happened for me without a generous support from the Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC). The support from the ODC not only provided the necessary resources but has also served as a source of motivation and encouragement for youths who advocate internet governance in Cambodia. The impact of the support goes beyond the financial aspect; it is a testament to the power of community.

An Eyes-Opening Experience of The World: Advancement of Internet and Technology at Internet Governance Forum 2023

Wednesday 6 March 2024
Meas Molika
Events

The 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023, hosted by the Government of Japan at Kyoto for five days alongside the support of the United Nations, 12 Cambodian Youth Internet Governance Committees had their first chance to join in the world class forum. It was an eye-opening experience which strengthened interest to foster the internet topics in their home country. More than 170 countries joined the forum to discuss and raise challenges and opportunities surrounding the topic of the internet. The global multistakeholder forum for dialogue on internet governance issues was held under the theme, ‘The Internet We Want–Empowering All People’, with the aim of gathering various international stakeholders. Cambodia delegates were also included alongside with the support from the United Nations (UN). It made our dream come true to have a chance to visit and join the international conference at Kyoto, Japan for five days, from 8th to 12th October 2023. As part of the Cambodian Youth Internet Governance Committee 2023, I am enthusiastic to share what I have learnt and perspectives from the IGF 2023 at Japan for all of you, especially for those who would love to know more about this forum and internet governance topics. The program featured more than 300 sessions that span over eight sub themes. These were AI & Emerging Technologies; Avoiding Internet Fragmentation; Cybersecurity, Cybercrime & Online Safety; Data Governance & Trust; Digital Divides & Inclusion; Global Digital Governance & Cooperation; Human Rights & Freedoms; and Sustainability & Environment. I would like to share some interesting topics that I have joined during the IGF 2023 below. Cultural Showcase For the first day of the event in the evening, there was an opening ceremony which takes place at the Kyoto International Conference Center with fireworks, introducing Japanese traditional drums performance and wearing Khmer traditional clothes. It’s like exchanging cultural tradition together, I got to know the taste of Japanese culture through their art performance. The next day marked an official opening day of IGF 2023, with the opening remark from the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, stating about the significant role of the internet in society. While the advancement of the internet is important, the PM of Japan also raised concerns over issues surrounding the internet, such as unlawful and harmful information including disinformation cyberattacks, which are intimidating the safe space for socioeconomic development. Hopefully the IGF 2023 will help to improve and address those problems through the discussion in this forum, aimed at strengthening the regulation of AI and cybersecurity to make the internet a safe space for all. The present United Nations’ Secretary-General, António Guterres stated that digital technologies can be used to achieve the UN’s SDGs, such as tackling climate issues and building a sustainable world. After that there was an opportunity to dress in traditional Japanese clothes (kimono) and many nationalities around the world came to try and capture the moments of wearing Japanese traditional clothes. I felt comfortable with the vibrant pink color of their clothes and smooth textile and it doesn’t take long to dress up. I hope I can have a Kimono set. Then we enjoy visiting the stalls coming from different organizations, private companies that were showcasing their new technology, discoveries and introduced us to their companies’ mission to help tackle issues in the digital era. AI Advancement As a person who works in media, I was fascinated by Multilingual Translation Technologies that have the ability to translate multiple languages to subtitles at the same time through one language voice, using AI simultaneous interpretation technology that is currently being developed by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) of Japan. Committee members and I also joined the ‘Talking with Metaverse residents– a new identity and diversity’ workshop session during the event. It has shown the advancing technology of AI in the metaverse is moving forwards to help solving gender gaps and allowing youth to express their true identity that belong to who they are without fear of judgement or social norms in transgenders. It helps them to become any gender or appearance or dressing styles in whatever they wish by generating identity avatars and doing any activities people dream to do freely in the world of metaverse. The other workshop, ‘Involving Schools of Internet Governance in achieving SDGs’ , has shown me that there are many issues from different countries regarding education and there is a good sharing from developed countries to ensure the internet is safe to use in school and improving the knowledge of SDGs. Cambodia\'s representative also delivered key research of AI in education as well. Mr. Heng Soklay, from the Cambodian Youth Internet Committee, presented his research, ‘AI-Driving Learning Revolution in Cambodian Higher Education’. It demonstrated that AI usage likeChatGPT is controversial between students and teachers in Cambodia and we don’t have the regulations or rules yet. However, the participants from different countries also raised concerns about this matter as well, and some countries shared that it has both positive and negative sides for students’ studying and their ability to conduct research. After joining the Internet Governance Forum 2023 with Cambodian Youth Internet Governance Committee, we have seen global challenges and many perspectives from different countries in AI, internet and cybersecurity usage. We see that they are moving faster than Cambodia in terms of cybersecurity protection laws, AI usage rule, and the world is gaining higher potential of the benefits from the internet usage to develop their economy, cutting down the gender gaps and solving many issues in their countries. I hope Cambodia can improve internet safety and be able to absorb the advantages from the internet in this digital era like other countries do. As a Cambodian YIGF committee member, I am curious and optimistic regarding the future of the internet. The YIGF can serve as a community safe space regarding the internet, and advocate for all Cambodians by raising awareness, sharing concerns and facilitating multi-stakeholder discussion with public, private sectors and public to achieve digital economic success for more people.

My Internet Governance Journey

Wednesday 6 March 2024
Heng Soklay
Events

Hello! My name is Soklay. With a strong interest in internet governance, I serve as a program committee of the very first Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum. My commitment in this role has fueled my passion for shaping the digital landscape in the Asia Pacific region; therefore, I was selected as a fellow for the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF). In this blog, I will share my experience involving internet governance from local level to regional level and my expectations for the global level.Cambodia Youth Internet Governance ForumMy journey began with a growing concern about the increasing number of digital threats and emerging technology like artificial intelligence. Individuals, particularly those in rural areas with limited awareness or understanding of these issues, are more vulnerable to becoming victims. At the same time, there was an absence of a dedicated platform in Cambodia for discussing and addressing these challenges. Recognizing this gap, Open Development Cambodia took the initiative to establish the first Internet Governance Forum in Cambodia, a youth-led endeavor aimed at sharing knowledge and fostering dialogue around internet-related issues. We successfully hosted the first Cambodia Youth Internet Governance Forum with approximately 170 participants. The event brought together a diverse group of experts from various sectors, including industry professionals, researchers, government representatives, and both local and international speakers. This dynamic assembly provided a rich platform for discussing and sharing knowledge on mitigating the pressing issues related to internet governance.Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum 2023I am privileged to have been chosen as a fellow for the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF), which took place in Brisbane, Australia, from August 29 to 31, 2023. The conference brings together a diverse group of people sharing different backgrounds, including youths, researchers, policymakers, and others, to collaborate and discuss Internet issues happening in the Asia Pacific region. Various interesting topics were discussed, such as data privacy and protection, AI ethics, cybersecurity, human rights, online child protection, digital inclusion and connectivity, policies and regulations, and many others. Additionally, I participated in the APAC Youth Leaders Dialogue organized by yIGF, a truly enlightening experience that shed light on the significant role youth can play in Internet governance dialogues and the initiation of local Internet governance initiatives in their respective countries. My active participation in the regional internet governance forum has been a significant step forward, preparing me for engagement at the global level in internet governance discussions and initiatives.Internet Governance Forum 2023As a Cambodia Youth Internet Governance program committee, I am truly grateful for being selected by Open Development Cambodia to receive a travel support grant to join the 18th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2023 in Kyoto, Japan, from October 8th to 12th.The overarching theme for this year’s forum is “The Internet We Want – Empowering All People” with an emphasis on sub-themes including AI & Emerging Technologies, Avoiding Internet Fragmentation, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime & Online Safety, Data Governance & Trust, Digital Divides & Inclusion, Global Digital Governance & Cooperation, Human Rights & Freedoms, and Sustainability & Environment. By engaging in global internet governance, I expect to meet a diverse group of people coming all round the world. This will be a platform to discuss, learn, and exchange ideas, aiming to raise concerns and identify best practices that can be applied in our respective countries and to foster a stable and safe digital space for everyone.I am particularly passionate about attending the High-Level Panel V session at the IGF 2023, focused on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This session, scheduled for October 9th from 11:00 to 13:00 JST, presents a vital opportunity to delve into the complexities and rapid advancements of generative AI technology. The discussion will explore the profound impacts of AI on society and how AI should be governed to foster innovation without amplifying risks. Moreover, the session will include discussions from the Hiroshima AI process under the Japanese G7 Presidency, offering insights into the future direction of AI governance. This aligns with my belief in the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to international AI governance, a principle that the UN IGF exemplifies.In conclusion, I extend my deepest appreciation to Open Development Cambodia (ODC) for their generous financial support, which has made it possible for me to participate in the Internet Governance Forum 2023. I am enthusiastically looking forward to being an active participant in this enlightening forum, both contributing to and gaining valuable insights from the many vital discussions on internet governance.