Defending Our Voice: Global South Participation in Digital Governance
Derechos Digitales
Session 309
NetMundial+10 reaffirmed the importance of ensuring effective and meaningful multistakeholder participation in global internet governance spaces, building on the pioneer advances made within the WSIS processes since 2005. This session will focus on identifying alternatives to overcome multiple existing challenges for its achievement within the current geopolitical landscape, focusing on the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and activists in global, regional and national arenas. Identified challenges to meaningful participation, especially by Global South independent CSOs , include the dismantling of established global governance regimes, and coordinated attacks against those who defend human rights and social justice values, including in the context of digital governance.
The lack of transparency, visa and travel constraints and limited influence over agenda-setting are also barriers to meaningful participation, whether in debates around AI regulation, technology facilitated gender-based violence, or cross-border data flows. These challenges are compounded by the proliferation of governance arenas that often replicate exclusionary practices from earlier processes. This session will address how civil society, particularly from the Global South, can meaningfully participate in global digital governance and sustain that engagement amidst growing financial and political constraints. Civil society holds a key role since it represents the voices and demands of historically marginalized groups in digital governance scenarios, setting approaches that respect human rights and seek for equality at the center. Interventions will address the particularities of internet and AI governance; challenges for participation within technical and standard setting bodies; and concrete proposals to advance processes that allow historically marginalized groups to have a voice in decision-making processes affecting their rights.
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
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C6. Enabling environment
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C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
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C11. International and regional cooperation
Our session links to WSIS actions lines C1 (The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development), C5 (Building confidence and security in use of ICTs), C6 (Enabling environment) , C10 (Ethical dimensions of the Information Society) and C11 (International and regional cooperation) by:
- Reaffirming the importance of the effective, inclusive and meaningful participation of all stakeholders in developing the Information Society: regarding C1, we highlight the challenges faced by Global South civil society in digital governance, which impede truly inclusive international cooperation informed by local and regional needs. We stress the cruciality of democratic multi-stakeholder processes, specifically prioritizing Global South civil society inclusion.
- Building rights-based trust in ICTs: considering C5, we state that democratic participation in digital governance is foundational for building human rights-based confidence in ICTs. This session underscores the critical role of civil society in ensuring a people-centered approach to ICT development and governance. By bringing communities’ priorities -such as privacy, data protection, transparency, and accountability- to the forefront, CSOs help shape digital governance frameworks that align with human rights principles and prevent violations of human rights.
- Demanding inclusive mechanisms: taking into account C6 objectives, we emphasize the necessity for early, open and sustainable participation, especially for Global South civil society, in key debates regarding AI, gender and technology, cybersecurity, data, among others. Civil society cooperation is critical for establishing internet governance centered on human rights, built upon transparency, democracy, and inclusion.
- Promoting ethical ICTs for the common good: resonating with C10 our session argues that meaningful Global South participation grounds the Information Society's ethical dimensions in human rights protection. This prevents abusive ICT uses that exacerbate structural inequalities harming marginalized groups.
- Strengthening international cooperation: finally, regarding C11, we stress that inclusive multistakeholder cooperation is essential for effectively implementing the WSIS Action Plan and ensuring that the demands of all regions are duly addressed. The underrepresentation of civil society from the Global South in digital governance discussions excludes the local concerns of historically marginalized groups, leaving their rights unaccounted in decision-making arenas affecting their rights. International cooperation must be grounded in the needs and priorities of all stakeholders.
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Our session relates to SDGs 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls), 10 (Reduce inequality within and among countries), 16 (Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies), and 17 (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development) by:
- Advocating for Inclusive Governance: resonating with SDGs 5 and 10, we emphasize that meaningful participation in technology governance must actively include historically marginalized groups -particularly women and LGBTQIA+ communities- ensuring their voices, in many cases represented by CSOs, shape decisions affecting their digital rights. The session addresses how discussions on gender and technology, while increasingly prominent, often replicate exclusionary practices. Effective addressing of issues like algorithmic bias, women under representation, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence require the direct involvement of affected individuals for truly informed and sustainable measures.
- Addressing Global Power Imbalances: considering SDG 10, our session highlights the specific barriers faced by Global South independent civil society organizations in established governance regimes. This focus critically examines the Global North-South power dynamics and growing financial and political constraints that hinder the development of truly equitable technology governance that serves the majority.
- Regarding SDG 16, the session frames meaningful participation as essential for building effective, accountable, and inclusive technology governance institutions, thereby advancing access to justice for all online and offline.
- Resonating with SDG 17, we assert that achieving sustainable development through technology needs to incorporate diverse stakeholder voices and perspectives, especially from the Global South, into digital cooperation and governance arenas. This enables a people-centered approach, which is fundamental for effective multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at sustainable development.