Subtopic 1:
Shattered neutrality: Internet at crossroads of war and geopolitics
Rapporteur: Andrijana Gavrilović, Geneva Internet Platform
- The Internet has changed how war is fought, and how it is covered by media. At the same time, the war has put ‘One world, one Internet’ to a stress test. The foundations of global and interoperable Internet should not be affected by the deepening geopolitical divide, even though it has fragmented the content layer.
- Measures interfering with the Internet’s ability to operate as a global communications infrastructure, such as revoking the delegation of a TLD, IP address prefix or ASN, are problematic. The Internet should be kept as a global space for communication, free from disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions.
- More needs to be done about constraining online propaganda content. Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act will be helpful in this regard. Media literacy of users should also be strengthened to equip users to discern propaganda effectively.
Subtopic 2:
Navigating challenges and strengthening Ukraine’s and European Internet infrastructure
Rapporteur: Boris Begović, Geneva Internet Platform
- Ukrainian operatives are seeking to share their unique experiences in responding to Internet disruptions, threats, and other challenges with the wider community. A call for action was made at the Best Current Operational Practices Task Force, urging the community to help document Ukrainian operators’ experiences and turn them into practical guidelines.
- These guidelines would cover areas such as rebuilding networks, increasing resilience and creating future-proof infrastructure.
Subtopic 3:
Protecting citizens in times of crisis
Rapporteur: Katarina Bojović, Geneva Internet Platform
- Promoting and upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law is and has always been the best defence against aggression and authoritarianism. To protect people in times of crisis, there must be proper procedures and approaches before the crisis breaks out. In addition, state institutions and other key stakeholders must be adequately prepared to combat hate speech and build resilience against disinformation.
- Journalism is vital in the situation of conflict or aggression. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge the role of journalists and provide them with protection, access to information, and adequate work conditions. Journalists must adhere to ethical standards of professionalism, a rule-based approach and respect for basic principles when reporting, especially in times of crisis. One should always get to the bottom of the information and adhere to basic values and principles when evaluating it.
Messages overview
