Internet Governance

Internet governance (IG) is described as “the establishment and application of concepts, policies, norms, regulations, de- cision-making procedures, and programmes that affect the evolution and usage of the internet by governments, the commercial sector, and civil society”.

School on Internet Governance background

The School on Internet Governance (SIG) has existed for over a decade. The European School on Internet Governance (Eu- roSSIG) in Meissen, Germany, was the first of the schools initiated in 2007. Each school created its own curriculum, depending on the requirements and resources available. Some schools prefer to bring international faculty, whereas others restrict faculty to locals.

INTRODUCTION

The ZAIGF Committee, in collaboration with the ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) and the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), convened Part B of the sixth annual meeting of the South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF). The annual meeting was convened in hybrid format under the overarching theme, ACCESS, ACCESSIBILITY, AND DIGITAL INCLUSION.

It provided a sustained and relevant forum for open, responsible, professional, and egalitarian debate on South Africa’s Internet governance.
The digital divide is defined as the difference between people with access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and those lacking access.

INTRODUCTION

The sixth annual meeting of the South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF) was hosted online by the ZAIGF Committee, in conjunction with the ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) and Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), under the overarching theme: “Digital Interdependence” paints a picture of the interconnected character that South Africa has taken on, during the 2019/2020 time period of the COVID-19 Pandemic. There has been an increase in human interaction in the ever-expanding digital web.

However, to enjoy the evolution and use of these technologies, it is important to consciously and deliberately go about it with the involvement of civil society, the private sector, and the government. This helps to recognise their interdependence and helps them work together to address the profound risks arising from the dramatic increase in interconnectivity and reinforcing the underlying interdependence.

INTRODUCTION

Government representatives, the technical community, industry, and civil society assembled at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2021 to debate ways to improve digital collaboration. The Polish Government in Katowice hosted the IGF, held for the sixteenth time since its inception in 2005. The IGF occurred from 6 December 2021 to 10 December 2021 in the famous Katowice International conference centre. The underlying theme was “Internet United”.

The assembly focused on the most critical Internet and digital policy concerns, including meaningful access, digital rights, cybersecurity, and the challenges and opportunities presented by innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.