Ad Hoc Working Groups & Other Entities
Our work
The FOC’s ad hoc Working Groups and Task Forces provide a mechanism for focused and issue-based engagement, facilitiating substantive contibributions by the FOC on key Internet Freedom issues. These groups are able to run continuously throughout the year and in-between physical FOC meetings.
FOC Working Groups also provide an avenue for multistakeholder engagement with FOC governments. By providing a forum of regular communication with other stakeholders, this engagement encourages concrete and substantive cooperation, enabling tangible outcomes.
Present Ad Hoc Working Groups and Task Forces
Within its mandate, T-FAIR held the pen in drafting the FOC Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in 2020. Building on the Joint Statement and the previous work of the FOC, T-FAIR brings together a network of diverse stakeholders representing states, academia, civil society, and industry. T-FAIR aims to increase the capacity of members to collaborate on relevant policy issues and contribute to a common understanding of international norms on human rights respecting AI.
For more details on T-FAIR and its work, please click here.
The Task Force on Digital Equality builds on the Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion, aiming to translate the Statement’s recommendations into concrete action that has tangible, positive outcomes for promoting digital equality in the global North and global South alike. The Task Force on Digital Equality serves as an invaluable opportunity for the AN and FOC to actively promote diversity and inclusiveness, including in its communication tools, language, and venues. In particular, the Task Force encourages and fortifies global South participation and perspectives, and is committed to a cross-cutting, normative human rights-based approach (including fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion).
For more information on the Task Force on Digital Equality, please click here.
Launched in December of 2021, the Task Force on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS) is chaired by the United States, alongside FOC Advisory Network members Access Now and the Global Network Initiative (GNI). The Task Force will build on the work of the FOC’s 2017 Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Governments on State Sponsored Network Disruptions as well as the 2021 G7 Leaders’ Communique and Foreign and Development Ministers Communique to improve coordination, among likeminded countries, civil society and the private sector, to anticipate, address and respond to Internet shutdowns.
For more information on the Task Force on Internet Shutdowns, please click here.
The Silicon Valley Working Group was launched in 2021 with the aim to build new forms of cooperation between the FOC and the global technology sector whose products or services potentially impact human rights, many of which are headquartered in Silicon Valley and the US West. By providing an avenue for continuous private sector engagement with FOC governments, the working group strengthens opportunities for collaboration on the protection of internet freedom and enables tangible outcomes.
For more information on the Silicon Valley Working Group, please click here.
