Call for Participation:
2012 Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum
Venue: Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Date: 18-20 July 2012
Important issues of Internet governance must be addressed if we are to ensure the continued successful deployment and development of the Internet.
Globally, the Asia-Pacific region has emerged in recent years as the location of some of the largest Internet populations in the world, particularly in China, India and Indonesia, the first, second and fourth most populous countries on the planet – USA is the third – the Internet’s rate of growth has been dramatic. It was the consumption of IP addresses in the Asia-Pacific that triggered the final release of IPv4 addresses at the global level by IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority). And yet there are still vast areas of the region where the Internet has yet to penetrate. IPv6 is now the route to future Internet use. But what must be done to facilitate this transition to IPv6?
Meanwhile, the borderless nature of the Internet and the potential extra-territorial impact of domestic legislative action were highlighted earlier this year when the U.S. proposed tough laws aimed at preventing the theft of copyright materials online; laws which would have made Internet users world-wide vulnerable to U.S. law. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) were proposed, but action by citizens and businesses stopped them becoming law. Some are now concerned that new domestic legislation, such as the U.S. Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) may have a similar global impact as international treaties, such as Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) or pending Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).
On the technical front, our use of smart phones and the development of increasingly sophisticated software on the Internet means that communication over data networks is rapidly displacing traditional telecommunications in use and therefore also as a source of profits. The ongoing struggle over control of the Internet can therefore only intensify. How should this be played out?
These are just three of the significant issues concerning the laws and policies governing the Internet, or Internet governance, that will be discussed at the Third Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum, to be held in Tokyo, Japan 18-20 July. Please join the Forum and please respond to this call for contributions to the Forum programme. Outcomes from the APrIGF will be presented at the 7th Global IGF to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, 6-9 November 2012.
This third APrIGF follows earlier meetings held in Hong Kong (2010) and Singapore (2011). Information about past APrIGFs can be found on the Forum’s website: http://www.APrIGF.asia/
The Third APrIGF will discuss a wide range of Internet governance issues, for example:
- Cybersecurity, privacy and data protection
- The use of the Internet and other communication technologies in disasters and emergencies
- Child safety online
- Transition to IPv6
- Influence of SOPA/PIPA/ACTA, and other legislation
- Freedom of expression and Internet democracy
- New top level domain names and their impact on the Asia Pacific
- Impact of the transition from voice to data on the network.
There are several ways for you to participate:
- submit a panel proposal of four presenters,
- volunteer to be a speaker,
- join as a hosting or supporting organization, and
- participating in the meeting.
Proposals for panels to discuss these and other Internet governance-related issues are welcome. Each panel lasts 90 minutes with time for Q&A and should present the proposed issue in an inclusive manner, incorporating a multi-stakeholder perspective.
Send your proposals of not more than 600 words, with the full name and contact details of the presenters and an abstract of each presentation to proposals@aprigf.asia. The deadline for submission is May 24 11:59 pm.
If you are volunteering as a speaker, send your name, contact details, subject area and a short statement outlining your expertise to proposals@aprigf.asia. Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of May, and an announcement made on the Forum website.
We welcome any Internet-related organization that wishes to become a supporting organization. Please contact msg@aprigf.asia for more information.
Organized by:
Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum
Multistakeholder Steering Group (MSG)
Chair: Peng Hwa Ang
Secretariat: Dot.Asia Organization/Japan Internet Providers Association