Impact of the war – Subtopic 2:

Navigating challenges and strengthening Ukraine’s and European Internet infrastructure

Rapporteur: Boris Begović, Geneva Internet Platform

1. 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.
2. These guidelines would cover areas such as rebuilding networks, increasing resilience and creating future-proof infrastructure.

Internet fragmentation – Subtopic 2:

Internet fragmentation: what’s next?

Rapporteur: Bojana Kovač, Geneva Internet Platform

1. The Global Digital Compact (GDC) has encouraged states to address fragmentation. Taking into account the views of stakeholders, developing Internet protocols, promoting global discussions, and fostering open and competitive digital markets are vital to addressing Internet fragmentation and the digital divide. Content policies must align with international human rights principles to maintain a unified and rights-focused approach.
2. There is a need for harmonisation and cooperation among stakeholders to understand the causes of Internet fragmentation. We should rethink the Internet fragmentation discussion to not conflate it with business interests and ensure that the technical aspect is addressed carefully. There is a need to raise awareness of the risks of Internet fragmentation and also an opportunity to build on the capacities of the technical community and other stakeholders who are interested in addressing these challenges. Proven solutions, like the Internet Impact Assessment toolkit, can be a way forward.

Digital platforms – Subtopic 2:

The European Union’s digital transformation – regulatory challenges, technical impacts and emerging opportunities

Rapporteur: Bojana Kovač, Geneva Internet Platform

1. Defining security is difficult, if not impossible, due to the evolving nature of technology. Current EU regulatory frameworks aim to cover most of the risks posed by existing technologies, including the Cyber Resilience Act, which is in the making to protect the security of digital products.
2. Security is not absolute; it is always about risk management and reducing vulnerabilities. While larger companies are already equipped to comply with cybersecurity regulations and certifications, the challenge lies in ensuring security in the open source ecosystem, which relies on numerous projects run by individuals, nonprofits, and universities. Rather than solely relying on legal requirements, providing financial support to smaller open-source projects for making security audits and bug fixes would be more effective. Legal requirements should not disrupt the global and collaborative open source software development model.
3. Ensuring comprehensive technological literacy is crucial, as it empowers individuals with a deeper understanding of technology. Due to its continuous evolution, industry professionals and users must remain informed and educated about emerging risks and challenges.

Messages overview