Session
Organizer 1: Gael Van Weyenbergh, Meoh
Organizer 2: Dana Cramer, Individual
Organizer 3: Vladislav Ivanets, Free Moscow University
Organizer 4: Tabitha Wangechi, Civil Society
Speaker 1: Natalie Tercova, Technical Community, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Dana Cramer, Civil Soecity, Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: James Nathan Adjartey Amattey, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 4: Keith Andere, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 5: Denise Leal, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Dana Cramer, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Turra Daniele, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Aaron Promise Mbah, Private Sector, African Group
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This session will follow a classroom-style format, fostering an interactive and collaborative environment. Participants will be seated in a traditional classroom arrangement, facilitating clear communication and active engagement. With a focus on capacity building and networking through interactive discussion, the 90-minute duration provides sufficient time for each speaker to share their perspectives, expertise, and insights, as well as for meaningful audience participation through discussions and Q&A sessions. This setup aims to encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and the exchange of diverse viewpoints, making for an immersive and participatory experience. The classroom arrangement fosters a sense of community and connection, particularly with online attendees showcased on a screen, thereby promoting collaboration.
1. What specific provisions of the GDC pose the greatest challenges for different regions, and how can young people contribute to overcoming these challenges through creative and innovative mechanisms?
2. What governance frameworks are needed to support the successful propagation of youth-initiated digital or data cooperatives across various global contexts, and how can global institutions champion these initiatives?
3. How can current digital governance frameworks be adapted to prioritize youth leadership in decision-making, ensuring effective tracking of funding and resource allocation, and what lessons can be learned from other Internet governance spaces involving young digital leaders?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain valuable insights into the role of youth in shaping global digital governance, how youth evaluate key provisions of the GDC, and youth’s standpoints on promoting digital inclusion. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on critical digital issues while learning from the experiences of peers from different countries and backgrounds. These participants will also explore innovative concepts such as data cooperatives, and gain practical knowledge in initiating and managing collaborative digital entities. By interacting with diverse stakeholders, participants will deepen their understanding of the ethical considerations and best practices necessary for effective digital governance. Ultimately, participants will leave the session empowered to advocate for their digital rights and actively contribute to developing inclusive digital frameworks that reflect the needs and aspirations of their communities.
Description:
The workshop aims to reignite the Internet's spirit of openness and community-driven innovation, highlighting the voices of youth in the global digital governance landscape. It will provide a platform for young people to discuss the goals and principles of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), focusing on digital accessibility, data privacy, the digital divide, and other critical issues presented in the final version of the GDC, set to be released in September 2024. Young professionals from various stakeholder groups and continents will explore how youth can promote key issues and challenges within Internet governance, with the reflexivity in their diverse and multi stakeholder backgrounds. Emphasizing diverse social, cultural, and economic contexts, the discussion will allow young people to engage with one another, share experiences, and learn from different approaches to digital challenges across regions.
Another central focus of the session will be the novel concept of data cooperatives, which update cooperative principles for the digital age by promoting democratic governance and inclusive participation. The session will serve as a platform to lay the groundwork for establishing youth-initiated data cooperatives as entities, where young individuals collectively control and benefit from shared data resources. This will highlight youth initiatives, such as the 50-year Internet celebrations, including insights from the Internet 50 Youth (i50y) event and from discussions at the Science Summit during the UNGA. Speakers will address key questions such as who needs to be part of this conversation, what values are being pursued, and what ethics and best practices should guide future data cooperatives. The workshop aims to pave the way for starting with a simple digital cooperative that embodies the values of traditional social cooperatives, entailing the collective management of an Internet platform by multiple organizations, serving as a foundational step before advancing to data collection and management.
The workshop is designed to strengthen the Internet’s commitment to openness, security, and innovation by focusing on the vital role of youth in digital governance. It will bring together young professionals to explore the implications of the GDC and examine how youth can lead in addressing pressing digital issues in line with the new universal provisions. The session will delve into innovative approaches such as data cooperation platforms, aiming to establish practical frameworks for youth-led initiatives. By fostering discussion and collaboration, the workshop aims to equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to drive meaningful change in emerging digital governance.
Hybrid Format: The workshop will be held in a hybrid format to ensure effective interaction between onsite and online participants. To facilitate this, the session will be overseen by two moderators — one onsite and one online. The onsite moderator will pose questions and manage the overall flow of the discussion, while the online moderator will engage with virtual participants in the chat, summarizing key points, and involving those who wish to contribute verbally. Strict time limits for speakers and attendees will ensure active participation, allowing as many participants as possible to share their thoughts. To ensure smooth integration, the session will utilize the Slido poling platform, enabling parallel input on the discussion through real-time questions and polls. A feedback form at the end of the session and providing contact details for continuous networking will foster ongoing engagement and lasting impact between speakers and attendees.
Report
Youth as Key Stakeholders in Digital Policy and Governance: Youth should not only be included but actively prioritized as stakeholders in shaping digital governance frameworks like the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Their perspectives and innovations are critical for addressing challenges such as digital inequity, data governance, and inclusive technology design.
Barriers to Youth Engagement Must Be Removed: Financial, structural, and logistical obstacles hinder youth participation in decision-making processes. Targeted interventions, such as funding support and capacity-building initiatives, are necessary to enable equitable access and effective youth leadership.
Data Cooperatives and Digital Education as Pathways to Inclusion: Data cooperatives offer a community-centered approach to ethical data governance and empowerment. Additionally, incorporating emerging technology education into mainstream systems is essential for equipping youth with the skills to lead and innovate in the digital economy.
Advocate for Youth Engagement in Digital Governance: Push for the institutionalization of youth as a distinct stakeholder group in global digital governance, ensuring their involvement in the design, adoption, and implementation of frameworks like the GDC.
Promote and Fund Data Cooperatives: Advocate for the creation and support of data cooperatives as models for inclusive governance, emphasizing their potential to give communities control over their data and ensure ethical data practices aligned with local and global needs.
Report: Youth-Led Digital Futures — Integrating Perspectives and Governance
Introduction
As the digital landscape evolves, youth must be recognized as central stakeholders in shaping its future. The Global Digital Compact (GDC) provides a unique opportunity to align global and regional frameworks with the aspirations and innovations of the next generation. This report outlines key takeaways and actionable recommendations from discussions on youth-led digital governance, emphasizing inclusivity, equitable access, and the transformative potential of data cooperatives.
Key Takeaways
1. Youth as Key Stakeholders in Digital Policy and Governance
Youth must be integrated as active participants in digital governance processes. Their diverse perspectives, innovative ideas, and lived experiences are essential to addressing challenges such as digital inequity, data sovereignty, and ethical technology use. Institutionalizing youth engagement ensures policies are future-proof and inclusive of generational needs.
2. Removing Barriers to Youth Engagement
Financial, structural, and logistical obstacles prevent equitable youth participation in global and regional decision-making. Without targeted interventions, such as financial support and logistical assistance, policies risk marginalizing the very generation they aim to serve. Addressing these barriers is critical to fostering a participatory digital ecosystem.
3. Data Cooperatives and Digital Education as Pathways to Inclusion
Data cooperatives offer an ethical, community-driven model for data governance that empowers individuals while promoting collective benefits. Coupled with education on emerging technologies such as AI and IoT, these cooperatives provide a framework for youth to lead innovations and bridge the digital divide.
4. Regional Nuances and Local Realities
Regions face distinct challenges, from data harmonization gaps in Africa to infrastructure deficits in rural and Indigenous communities. Recognizing these disparities and adopting localized approaches to data governance and internet access is essential for global frameworks to succeed.
Recommendations and Calls to Action
1. Institutionalize Youth Engagement
- Action: Advocate for youth to be formally recognized as a distinct stakeholder group in global digital governance processes such as WSIS and the GDC.
- Impact: Ensures youth perspectives are reflected in policies, enhancing their relevance and inclusivity.
2. Invest in Capacity-Building and Digital Education
- Action: Fund programs to educate youth on emerging technologies (AI, IoT, data governance) and their ethical implications.
- Impact: Equips young people with the skills to lead technological innovations and fosters digital sovereignty.
3. Support Data Cooperatives as Models for Inclusive Governance
- Action: Promote awareness of data cooperatives and provide financial and logistical support for their development.
- Impact: Empowers communities to manage their data ethically, fostering trust and equity in digital ecosystems.
4. Address Regional Disparities in Digital Access and Data Policies
- Action: Develop localized frameworks that address data harmonization gaps, infrastructure deficits, and connectivity issues, particularly in underserved regions.
- Impact: Enhances inclusivity and ensures policies reflect local realities, bridging the digital divide.
5. Enable Equitable Participation Through Funding and Support
- Action: Establish funding mechanisms to enable youth participation in global decision-making forums, removing financial and logistical barriers.
- Impact: Creates equitable access to governance processes and empowers youth-led initiatives.
Case Studies and Examples
1. Collaborative Localization of Technology
Young innovators have enabled the inclusion of traditional languages like Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani in translation tools, bridging linguistic gaps and fostering inclusivity.
2. Community-Led Digital Ecosystems
Programs like SEBRAE’s Local Innovation Agents in Brazil showcase how youth can bring innovation to underserved regions, training small businesses on ESG principles and data frameworks.
3. Indigenous Data Sovereignty
Policies recognizing the sovereignty of Indigenous communities over their data align with the UN Biodiversity Convention and promote culturally respectful governance.
Conclusion
Youth are not just beneficiaries but essential contributors to the digital future. Through equitable inclusion, education, and innovative models like data cooperatives, they can address the challenges of digital governance while fostering a more inclusive and ethical digital landscape. To ensure the success of initiatives like the GDC, stakeholders must prioritize youth engagement, invest in capacity-building, and develop localized approaches that bridge gaps in access and equity.
This report serves as a call to action for governments, civil society, and the private sector to work collaboratively with youth in building a human-centric, equitable digital future.