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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240923T153000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240923T170000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20240919T175915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240923T150625Z
UID:10000233-1727105400-1727110800@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:UNGA 79 Ministerial Side-Event | AI for Humanity: Charting the Global Course for  Human Rights-Based Governance
DESCRIPTION:The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a host of opportunities and challenges. AI has the potential to enhance individual wellbeing\, to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and to promote the protection of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. However\, the technology poses risks to these same universal human rights when misused or when an appropriate policy infrastructure is lacking. Robust AI governance frameworks\, grounded in international human rights standards\, are essential. This event\, organised by the Netherlands as the 2024 Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition\, will address how comprehensive AI governance frameworks can be fully aligned with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights law\, as emphasised by all 193 United Nations member states in the first UN General Assembly resolution on AI (A/78/L.49). \nIn the 13 years since its inception\, the cross-regional Freedom Online Coalition\, now comprising 40 governments\, has established itself as a crucial platform for advancing human rights principles in the digital age. This discussion aims to harness key insights for human rights-based AI governance\, drawing on the final report of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on AI. \nWatch the event live by visiting www.freedomonlinecoalition.com/ministerial-event-2024/.  \nMinisterial Remarks:  \nCaspar Veldkamp\, Minister of Foreign Affairs\, Kingdom of the Netherlands \nAntony J. Blinken\, Secretary of State\, United States   \nMargus Tsahkna\, Minister of Foreign Affairs\, Estonia \nMauricio Lizcano\, Minister of Information Technologies and Communications\, Colombia \nPanellists:\nDr. Alison Gillwald\, Executive Director\, Research ICT Africa\, FOC Advisory Network (Moderator) \nNighat Dad\, Executive Director\, Digital Rights Foundation\, HLAB on AI Member \nSabhanaz Rashid Diya\, Executive Director\, Tech Global Institute\, FOC Advisory Network \nSarah Heck\, Policy\, Anthropic \nVolker Türk\, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights    \n 
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/unga-79-ministerial-side-event-ai-for-humanity-charting-the-global-course-for-human-rights-based-governance/
LOCATION:New York
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Amsterdam:20241022T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Amsterdam:20241022T183000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20241019T211622Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241019T211622Z
UID:10000234-1729616400-1729621800@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:Freedom on the Net 2024 | Europe Launch Event (co-organised by Freedom House\, the Netherlands\, and the FOC)
DESCRIPTION:The Europe launch of Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net 2024: The Struggle for Trust Online\, co-organised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Freedom Online Coalition\, will take place at 5:00PM CET on Tuesday\, 22 October.  \nThe event will feature: \n\nWelcome remarks from Ernst Noorman\, Ambassador at Large for Cyber Affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (TBC)\nA keynote from Marietje Schaake\nAn overview of research findings from Allie Funk\, Research Director for Technology and Democracy and Grant Baker\, Research Analyst for Technology and Democracy\n\nA discussion with: \n\nEvelyn Austin\, Executive Director of Bits of Freedom and FOTN author for the Netherlands report\nNasiru Deen\, FOTN author for the Gambia report\nSabhanaz Rashid Diya\, Founder and Executive Director of Tech Global Institute\n\nWatch the event live via the video below or visiting the following link (YouTube).
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/freedom-on-the-net-2024-europe-launch-event-co-organised-by-freedom-house-the-netherlands-and-the-foc/
LOCATION:The Hague\, the Netherlands
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1729194052859.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241215T154500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241215T164500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20241128T110809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241215T080631Z
UID:10000235-1734277500-1734281100@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2024: Inclusive Multistakeholderism: Tackling Internet Shutdowns
DESCRIPTION:Join the Session: Workshop Room 6 / Zoom (hybrid) \nOrganised by: The Co-Chairs of the FOC’s Task Force on Internet Shutdowns – the United Kingdom\, Access Now\, and the Global Network Initiative. \nSpeakers: \n\nKanbar Hossein-Bor\, Head of the Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Department\, UK Foreign\, Commonwealth\, and Development Office\nFelicia Anthonio\, #KeepitOn Coalition Campaign Manager\, Access Now\nScott Campbell\, Senior Human Rights Officer\, OHCHR\nJoss Wright\, Senior Research Fellow\, Oxford Internet Institute\, Oxford University\nAlex Walden\, Global Head of Human Rights\, Google\n\nSession Description: \n\nOur objective for the session is to reinforce the importance of the multistakeholder approach to tackling digital threats\, including Internet shutdowns\, exploring and showcasing ways in which inclusive multistakeholder collaboration (countries\, civil society and the private sector) can facilitate and effect positive change. We will also use the session to wrap up the UK country chairship of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC)’s Task Force on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS) showcasing learning\, progress and achievements from our two-year leadership on this work. The session will feature a panel discussion and Q&A\, bringing together experts to look at the ways in which an inclusive multistakeholder approach can effectively tackle digital threats\, including Internet shutdowns\, the challenges\, and practical ways to safeguard and further develop this collaborative approach. Speakers will represent governments\, civil society\, international organisations\, academia and the private sector. The session will aim to look at country case studies to identify both challenges and effective collaborative approaches. \nDuring 2024\, the UK is chairing the FOC’s Taskforce on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS) alongside Freedom Online Coalition Advisory Network (AN) members Access Now and the Global Network Initiative. TFIS serves as a multinational and multistakeholder coordination and response mechanism on Internet shutdowns. Through TFIS\, we are working to improve coordination among like-minded countries\, civil society\, and the private sector to anticipate and respond to Internet shutdowns and restrictions. As the biggest multilateral\, multistakeholder forum dedicated to internet governance\, the UN IGF is the ideal platform to bring partners together to progress this work.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2024-inclusive-multistakeholderism-tackling-internet-shutdowns/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241215T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241215T180000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20241128T111041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241215T080541Z
UID:10000236-1734282000-1734285600@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2024: Human Rights Impacts of AI on Marginalized Populations
DESCRIPTION:Join the Session: Workshop Room 9 / Zoom (hybrid) \nOrganised by: The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy\, Human Rights\, and Labor \nModerator: Allison Peters\, Acting Deputy Secretary of State for Democracy\, Human Rights\, and Labor\, United States \nSpeakers: \n\nAmy Colando\, General Manager\, Responsible Business Practices\, Microsoft\nNighat Dad\, Founder and Executive Director\, Digital Rights Foundation\nNicol Turner Lee\, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation\, Brookings Institution\nRasha Younes\, Interim Director\, Lesbian\, Gay\, Bisexual\, and Transgender Rights Program\, Human Rights Watch\nGuus van Zwoll\, Team Lead\, Task Force International Cyber Policies\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (closing remarks)\n\nSession Description: \nWhile AI technologies promise significant benefits\, the human rights risks they pose too often fall disproportionately on marginalized populations\, such as women and girls in all their diversity\, persons with disabilities\, members of marginalized racial\, ethnic\, religious\, or linguistic groups\, Indigenous peoples\, LGBTQI+ persons\, children\, and human rights defenders. For example\, AI systems are often used to generate harassing and harmful “deepfakes” or spread disinformation that specifically targets women and human rights defenders; AI systems can perpetuate patterns of bias found in their training data\, reinforcing historical patterns of discrimination faced by groups defined by traits such as gender\, geography\, race\, or caste; and AI tools enable advances in surveillance technologies that are too often used to interfere with rights to peaceful assembly or freedom of association\, especially by marginalized populations\, and have been used for targeting by security forces with harmful effects for civilians and privacy rights. \nThis interactive workshop session aims to collaboratively develop feasible steps that can advance the identification\, assessment\, and mitigation of risks to marginalized populations that are created or exacerbated by AI. Framed by remarks from government\, civil society\, and industry stakeholders describing the challenges and constraints they face in this area\, the workshop will explore 1) pressing issues related to AI’s impacts on marginalized populations; 2) success stories that should inform future actions; and 3) feasible steps that different groups of stakeholders can take to advance progress. The discussion will pay particular attention to how these issues and potential actions differ across diverse cultural\, geographic\, and economic contexts. After the event\, the key issues and steps identified will be collated into an outcomes document\, which could be published by the FOC.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2024-human-rights-impacts-of-ai-on-marginalized-populations/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241217T154500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241217T164500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20241128T112427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241214T183951Z
UID:10000237-1734450300-1734453900@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2024: A Rights-Respecting Approach to Emerging Tech Development
DESCRIPTION:Join the Session: IGF Village Stage / Zoom (hybrid) \nOrganised by: The Netherlands\, FOC Chair 2024\, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) \nOpening Remarks: Rasmus Lumi\, Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia \nModerator: Radka Sibille\, Digital Affairs Advisor\, EU Delegation to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva \nSpeakers:  \n\nBrendan Dowling\, Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology\nScott Campbell\, Senior Human Rights Officer\, OHCHR\nRoman Danyliw\, Chair\, IETF\nIhueze Nwobilor\, Senior Programmes Officer\, Paradigm Initiative\nAlex Walden\, Global Head of Human Rights\, Google\n\nSession Description: \nIn past years\, we have witnessed a significant increase of conversations around emerging technologies\, especially generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and systems\, in the public sphere\, peaking in 2023 following the release of ChatGPT. Since then\, there have been extensive deliberations on the way these technologies affect human rights\, and what implications new developments may have in the future. Emerging technologies have the potential to significantly impact the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms as defined by the foundational documents for international human rights law \, and pose both opportunities for development and economic and social benefit\, as well as risks for enabling and scaling human rights violations and abuses. \nBoth governments and the private sector have a role to play in ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies are harnessed\, and the risks brought about by their design\, development\, deployment and use addressed\, mitigated\, and remedied. In line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights\, businesses have a responsibility to respect all internationally recognized human rights\, avoiding infringing on the human rights of others and addressing adverse human rights impacts stemming from or linked to their business activities. This also extends to companies’ participation in technical standards-development. At the same time\, states have obligations to protect and promote human rights\, which applies to their involvement in standard-setting. As per the OHCHR’s report on Human rights and technical standard-setting processes for new and emerging digital technologies\, technical standards can have crucial ramifications for human rights. Technical standards regulating digital technologies can generate human rights impacts in several ways\, and there has been a growing body of work and research on this topic\, including by OHCHR and civil society. However\, more specific work is needed to understand the impact of technical standards on human rights in the context of AI systems\, particularly with respect to embedded biases that lead to or facilitate discriminatory outcomes\, or interfere with the rights to freedom of opinion\, expression\, privacy\, access to information\, and effective remedy. \nThis networking session will allow participants to explore the role of the private sector in ensuring a rights-respecting approach in developing emerging technologies\, including generative AI tools and systems\, as well as the role of governments in ensuring that the development and implementation of technical standards around these technologies is conducted in alignment with states’ obligation to protect and promote human rights\, and avoid fragmentation of international standards. \nThe networking session will gather stakeholders that work on or have a role in technical standards development to also learn about and discuss human rights issues that arise in technical standards-setting\, considering strategies for integrating human rights concerns and safeguards into technical standards for digital technologies. The networking format will allow speakers and participants to explore avenues for strategic cooperation on the development of technical standards for emerging technologies that is rooted in a multistakeholder approach\, and outline existing tools and (legal) frameworks that can serve as guidelines. The outcome of the session will be a raised capacity of the participants on what responsibility each stakeholder group has to ensure the development of a rights-respecting emerging technology and how to utilise the UNGPs and the OHCHR technical standards report practically\, as well as what impacts these technologies could have on human rights if they are not developed through a multistakeholder and human-rights approach and if international technical standards are fragmented. The outcomes of the session will be captured in a report\, with concrete recommendations.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2024-a-rights-respecting-approach-to-emerging-tech-development/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241219T131500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20241219T144500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20241209T102515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241214T183837Z
UID:10000238-1734614100-1734619500@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2024: Ensuring an Inclusive and Rights-Respecting Digital Future
DESCRIPTION:Join the Session: Workshop Room 6 / Zoom (hybrid) \nOrganised by: The Netherlands\, FOC Chair 2024 \nOpening Remarks: Ernst Noorman\, Ambassador for Cyber Affairs\, Kingdom of the Netherlands \nModerator: Jacco Pepijn-Baljet\, Senior Policy Officer\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Kingdom of the Netherlands \nSpeakers:  \n\nRasmus Lumi\, Director General of the Department of International Organizations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia\nSabhanaz Rashid Diya\, Executive Director\, Tech Global Institute\nAdeboye Adegoke\, Senior Manager\, Paradigm Initiative\nFiona Alexander\, American University\nOlaf Kolfman\, Executive-level Advisor and Spokesperson\, ISOC\nEmilar Gandhi\, Global Head of Stakeholder Engagement\, Meta\nAlex Walden\, Global Head of Human Rights\, Google\nRepresentative of the IGF Secretariat\nRepresentative of the Office of the UN Tech Envoy\n\nSession Description: \nWith a number of key multilateral processes underway that have a potential of changing the Internet governance landscape\, notably the UN Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)\, this session will provide a platform for the various stakeholders in this space\, including governments\, civil society\, the private sector\, academia\, the technical community\, and relevant UN bodies\, to discuss strategies for upholding the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. With the WSIS+20 Review coming up in 2025\, participants will explore the path forward in implementing the Pact and GDC through the process for a rights-respecting and inclusive digital future. Relatedly\, the session will also aim to provide an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to discuss the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in light of its mandate review in 2025. Stakeholders will examine ways to ensure the IGF’s role as a key platform for multistakeholder policy dialogue on Internet governance and for the promotion of an inclusive\, open\, safe and secure digital space\, outlined in the Tunis Agenda\, is reaffirmed and strengthened\, as well as discuss how the IGF can advance the commitments outlined in the GDC.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2024-ensuring-an-inclusive-and-rights-respecting-digital-future/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20250225T140000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20250225T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250213T095043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T095043Z
UID:10000239-1740492000-1740495600@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:RightsCon | From Countering to Building: Finding the Keys to Promote Information Integrity Online
DESCRIPTION:The following session will take place during the 2025 RightsCon Summit\, 24-27 February\, Taipei\, Taiwan. For more information on the Summit\, visit www.rightscon.com.  \nRoundtable discussion facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark\, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands\, and the Wikimedia Foundation \nEveryone\, everywhere should be able to participate freely and safely in the creation\, consumption\, dissemination\, and evaluation of information and ideas. A healthy information ecosystem should support and advance human rights\, in particular freedom of expression. But recently\, efforts to protect free speech and reliable information online – including with legitimate reason – risks undermining human rights. This includes both governments’ and companies’ active actions to control speech (including under the guise of countering disinformation)\, as well as their lack of addressing phenomena such as disinformation and hate speech to ensure people can safely access pluriform information without interference. \nThe right to freedom of expression and the global information ecosystem are complex topics. Global discourse as well as a majority of initiatives\, and policies seem to primarily focus on the effects of the rapid spread of disinformation and misinformation that pollute the information ecosystem (which is accelerated by the developments of generative artificial intelligence). While disinformation is serious issue\, overfocusing on content that needs to be removed may lead governments and companies to insufficiently address the essential ideas\, values\, and strengths of a healthy information ecosystem. Recent announcements from big tech platforms further underscore the need to refocus the conversation to what kind of global information ecosystem we wish to build and promote – rather than just focusing on what we would like to remove\, block or take down. \nChaired by the Governments of Denmark and The Netherlands\, and the Wikimedia Foundation\, the Freedom Online Coalition’s (FOC) Task Force on Information Integrity Online launched a Blueprint on Information Integrity\, which articulates a positive vision for a healthy online information ecosystem that supports the production and sharing of accurate\, trustworthy and reliable information\, and that protects and promotes human rights and democracy. The Blueprint presents three interconnected pillars: Agency – Trust – Inclusion. \nDuring this roundtable conversation\, the co-leads of the Task Force will briefly present this framework\, and open up for a discussion about the key principles that underpin a healthy information ecosystem and how these manifest in different contexts. Participants are encouraged to contribute to this conversation on how we can utilize this framework to move forward this agenda\, and to shift our attention towards the promotion of the key components needed to support a healthy\, trustworthy\, reliable\, and inclusive information ecosystem.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/rightscon-from-countering-to-building-finding-the-keys-to-promote-information-integrity-online/
LOCATION:Room 402A\, Taipei International Convention Center\, No. 1\, Section 5\, Xinyi Rd\, Xinyi District\, Taipei City\, Taiwan 110
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20250227T090000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Shanghai:20250227T100000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250213T095303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250226T095629Z
UID:10000240-1740646800-1740650400@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:RightsCon | Unlocking Progress through Inclusive and Rights-Respecting Digital Public Infrastructure
DESCRIPTION:The following session will take place during the 2025 RightsCon Summit\, 24-27 February\, Taipei\, Taiwan. For more information on the Summit\, visit www.rightscon.com.  \nDialogue session featuring Sabhanaz Rashid Diya (Tech Global Institute)\, Rasmus Lumi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia)\, Amy Colando (Microsoft)\, Liz Orembo (Research ICT Africa)\, and Shruti Narayan (Access Now) – Room 102\, TICC  \nDigital technologies have the potential to significantly impact the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms\, and offer unprecedented opportunities for development and innovation\, with the potential to generate social and economic benefits. In this sense\, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) often understood as a key tool to achieve the SDGs\, and has been recognised as such through various initiatives\, including the UN SG’s Envoy on Technology and UNDP initiative at the 78th UNGA to develop the Universal Safeguards Framework for DPI leading up to the Summit of the Future\, and the UN Global Digital Compact (GDC). \nIn general\, DPI is any digital technology that can enable the delivery of public services. There are three functional categories of DPI: digital identity systems\, digital payment systems\, and data exchanges. While DPI is an important enabling component towards digital inclusion\, certain examples have shown how implementation without proper safeguards can lead to negative outcomes\, including adverse impacts on human rights. \nThis session will explore human rights-respecting approaches to the design and implementation of DPI systems\, that account for contextual realities in terms of access\, diversity\, equity\, and inclusion\, and examine ways to meaningfully engage with communities throughout the lifecycle of DPIs. Various stakeholders from the FOC community and beyond\, including government\, civil society\, and technical community\, will share perspectives and insight into ensuring that DPIs work towards securing social and economic benefits for communities\, while upholding human rights in an inclusive and collaborative manner with access to effective remedy and redress.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/rightscon-unlocking-progress-through-inclusive-and-rights-respecting-digital-public-infrastructure/
LOCATION:Room 102\, Taipei International Convention Center\, No. 1\, Section 5\, Xinyi Rd\, Xinyi District\, Taipei City\, Taiwan 110
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250429
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250502
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250401T191329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T191329Z
UID:10000241-1745884800-1746143999@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:Digital Rights & Inclusion Forum (DRIF) 2025
DESCRIPTION:Estonia\, 2025 Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC)\, will host a multistakeholder dialogue session as part of the 2025 Digital Rights & Inclusion Forum (DRIF). The session will explore rights-respecting approaches to the design and implementation of DPI systems that account for contextual realities in terms of access\, diversity\, equity\, and inclusion\, and examine ways to meaningfully engage with communities throughout the lifecycle of DPIs.  \nThe dialogue will also serve as a consultation between stakeholders from the FOC community and beyond\, including government\, civil society\, private sector\, and technical community\, to support the development of ‘Rights-Respecting Digital Public Infrastructure Principles’. The principles will establish a common understanding within the FOC of rights-respecting and inclusive DPI\, and will draw on global best practices and frameworks\, including the Universal DPI Safeguards and the GovStack Principles. \nFurther information on the session will be available shortly on the DRIF event page. The forum will take place in Lusaka\, Zambia from Tuesday 29 April to Thursday 1 May. For more information\, and to register your attendance\, visit the following link: https://drif.paradigmhq.org/.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/digital-rights-inclusion-forum-drif-2025/
LOCATION:Lusaka\, Zambia
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250512T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250512T141500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250509T095048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250509T095256Z
UID:10000242-1747054800-1747059300@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:EuroDIG 2025: Multistakeholder Consultation on the FOC's Rights-Respecting Digital Public Infrastructure Principles
DESCRIPTION:Estonia\, 2025 Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC)\, will host a multistakeholder consultation on the FOC’s draft Rights-Respecting Digital Public Infrastructure Principles during the 2025 EuroDIG Conference\, taking place in Strasbourg\, France from 12 – 14 May. For more information on EuroDIG and to register your attendance\, visit the following link: https://www.eurodig.org/. \nSession Overview: \nDigital Public Infrastructure (DPI) are digital technologies that can enable the delivery of public services. There are three functional categories of DPI: digital identity systems\, digital payment systems\, and data exchanges. It is crucial for such systems to have built in safeguards that ensure human rights commitments are adhered to in their design and implementation. During the session\, we want to hear perspectives from the community on how the design and implementation of DPI can balance the benefits of digital innovation with the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms. Whether through examples of successful approaches or lessons learned. We will explore the most critical safeguards that should be in place to prevent DPI from exacerbating discrimination\, exclusion\, or other human rights harms. We also seek to discuss how governments\, civil society\, the private sector and technical experts can collaborate to ensure accountability within DPI processes and how these can include access to redress. Lastly\, we invite EuroDIG participants to look ahead and provide suggestions on the emerging risks and opportunities that stakeholders\, especially governments\, should anticipate as DPI continues to evolve\, and what steps can be taken to proactively start addressing the potential human rights challenges on the horizon.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/eurodig-2025-multistakeholder-consultation-on-the-focs-rights-respecting-digital-public-infrastructure-principles/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250526T163000
DTEND;TZID=Asia/Dubai:20250526T180000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250525T175100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250525T175100Z
UID:10000243-1748277000-1748282400@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:Yerevan Dialogue: FOC Panel Discussion on DPI for Resilience & Inclusion - Advancing Human Rights Online
DESCRIPTION:Join the FOC during the 2025 Yerevan Dialogue (May 26-27) for a panel session on “Digital Public Infrastructure for Resilience and Inclusion: Advancing Human Rights Online”. \nAs digital technologies reshape every aspect of our social\, economic\, and political lives\, ensuring equitable access and meaningful participation in the digital ecosystem has become a pressing global priority. The panel will bring together policy makers and civil society to explore how DPI can be designed and deployed to advance digital inclusion and uphold human rights online. For more information on the Yerevan Dialogue\, visit www.yerevandialogue.com/agenda/.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/yerevan-dialogue-foc-panel-discussion-on-dpi-for-resilience-inclusion-advancing-human-rights-online/
LOCATION:Seven Visions Resort & Places\, The Dvin\, Yerevan\, Armenia\, 40 Paronyan St\, Yerevan\, Armenia
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250625T104500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250625T114500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250618T202303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T202303Z
UID:10000244-1750848300-1750851900@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2025: Shaping Global AI Governance Through Multistakeholder Action
DESCRIPTION:Join the FOC’s Task Force on AI & Human Rights for the following IGF Open Forum taking place in Workshop Room 4 / Online on Wednesday\, 25 June from 10.45 – 11.45 CEST. \nSession Description: \nThis session launches the 2025 Joint Statement on AI and Human Rights\, which reaffirms the need for international AI governance to be grounded in international human rights law and developed through inclusive\, multistakeholder processes. As AI systems are increasingly used in ways that suppress dissent\, enable arbitrary surveillance\, amplify discrimination\, and erode democratic participation\, the statement highlights the urgent need to embed human rights protections throughout the entire AI lifecycle\, from design and development to deployment and oversight. The session will explore how global governance efforts can uphold these principles and advance a human-centric\, accountable\, and rights-respecting approach to AI. \nModerator: Zach Lampell\, Senior Legal Advisor & Coordinator\, Digital Rights\, ICNL \nOpening remarks: Ernst Noorman\, Ambassador for Cyber Affairs\, the Netherlands \nSpeakers: \n\nMaria Adebahr\, Director for Cyber Foreign and Security Policy\, Germany\nDivine Selase Agbeti\, Director-General\, Cyber Security Authority of Ghana\nErica Moret\, Director UN & International Organisations\, Microsoft\n\nClosing remarks: Rasmus Lumi\, Director General\, Department of International Organisations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2025-shaping-global-ai-governance-through-multistakeholder-action/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250627T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250627T100000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250618T202618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T113819Z
UID:10000245-1751014800-1751018400@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2025: How Do Technical Standards Shape Connectivity and Inclusion?
DESCRIPTION:Join the FOC during the following IGF Open Forum taking place in Workshop Room 2 / Online on Friday\, 27 June from 9.00 – 10.00 CEST. \nSession Description: \nTechnical standards are the backbone of global connectivity\, enabling data to flow seamlessly across borders and ensuring access to digital services. Yet\, standard-setting processes often lack inclusive participation—particularly from the Global South\, civil society\, and marginalized communities. This session will examine how open and interoperable standards can improve connectivity\, reduce digital inequalities\, and enhance access to affordable digital services\, especially in underserved regions. \nA key focus will be the role of standards in global communication infrastructure\, such as undersea cables\, and in areas like data transmission\, network compatibility\, and cybersecurity. As technologies evolve (optical fiber\, wavelength division multiplexing\, quantum communications\, etc.) standards must adapt to ensure reliability and resilience. \nDespite their importance\, bodies like the ITU\, IETF\, IEEE\, and W3C often operate with limited stakeholder input. This session will explore barriers to participation in standard-setting and propose strategies to enhance transparency\, accessibility\, and representation. It will also highlight how inclusive digital cooperation can align technical standardization with broader goals—such as human rights\, digital inclusion\, and the SDGs—supporting WSIS Action Lines C2 (Information and Communication Infrastructure)\, C3 (Access to Information)\, and C11 (International and Regional Cooperation). \nThrough expert insights and interactive dialogue\, participants will identify actionable steps to make standard-setting more open\, collaborative\, and equitable\, advancing a secure\, inclusive\, and resilient global digital ecosystem. \nModerator: Laura O’Brien\, Senior International Counsel\, Access Now \nOpening Remarks: Rasmus Lumi\, Director General\, Department of International Organisations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia \nSpeakers: \n\nDivine Agbeti\, Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana\nStephanie Borg Psaila\, Director for Digital Policy\, Diplo Foundation \nNatálie Terčová\, At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC)\, ICANN / Founder and Chair of IGF Czechia\nAlex Walden\, Global Head of Human Rights\, Google\nRose Payne\, Lead\, Policy and Advocacy\, Global Partners Digital
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2025-how-do-technical-standards-shape-connectivity-and-inclusion/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250627T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250627T123000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250618T203427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T203427Z
UID:10000246-1751022000-1751027400@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:IGF 2025: Universal Principles\, Local Realities: Multistakeholder Pathways for DPI
DESCRIPTION:Join the FOC for the following co-organised IGF Workshop taking place in the Conference Hall / Online on Friday\, 27 June from 11.00 – 12.30 CEST. \nSession Description: \nWe are witnessing a global movement toward the adoption of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)\, with countries all over the world deploying systems such as digital identity\, payments\, and data exchanges. While DPI has emerged as a driver of inclusive digital transformation and innovation\, its design and implementation must respect and promote human rights to avoid risks such as exclusion\, surveillance\, and discrimination. \nThis workshop aims to examine how DPI systems are being shaped by diverse political\, societal\, and economic factors across regions. The session will explore the intersection between global DPI frameworks (like the UN Global Digital Compact and the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework) and country-level realities that influence DPI outcomes\, and examine the importance of ensuring rights-respecting approaches to the design\, development\, and deployment of DPI systems. Building on regional outreach by the FOC\, this session will draw insights from stakeholder experiences in India\, Estonia\, Brazil\, South Africa\, and the Dominican Republic\, with speakers highlighting how DPI design choices reflect local political economies\, the roles of state and market actors\, and the implications for digital inclusion\, civic participation\, and human rights. The FOC will also highlight its efforts to develop “Rights-Respecting Principles for Digital Public Infrastructure”\, and use the session as an opportunity to hear recommendations from the IGF community on how to strengthen the principles. \nThis conversation is particularly timely in light of the WSIS+20 Review Process\, where DPI may feature prominently in revising the WSIS Action Lines. Furthermore\, DPI has become a central element in international cooperation\, with the Indian and Brazilian G20 Presidencies prioritizing it\, and its relevance to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is widely acknowledged.  \nModerator: Sabhanaz Rashid Diya\, Executive Director\, Tech Global Institute  \nSpeakers: \n\nRasmus Lumi\, Director General for International Organisations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Estonia\nArmando José Manzueta Peña\, Vice Minister for Public Innovation and Digital\, Ministry of Public Administration of the Dominican Republic\nAnil Kumar Lahoti\, Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India\nBidisha Chaudhury\, University of Amsterdam\nLuca Belli\, FGV Law School\nKeith Breckenridge\, University of the Witwatersrand
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/igf-2025-universal-principles-local-realities-multistakeholder-pathways-for-dpi/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250710T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250710T105000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250704T144335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T084209Z
UID:10000248-1752141600-1752144600@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:WSIS+20 High-Level Event | Global Digital Governance & Multistakeholder Cooperation for WSIS+20
DESCRIPTION:Date & Time: 10:00 – 10:50 CEST\, Thursday\, 10 July \n\nLocation: Plenary Room C\, Palexpo\, and online \nAs the global community approaches the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20)\, inclusive and ethical digital governance remains critical to upholding human rights and advancing sustainable development. This roundtable will examine how to strengthen multistakeholder engagement—across civil society\, the academic and technical communities\, the private sector\, and end users—to advance WSIS Action Lines C10 (Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society) and C11 (International and Regional Cooperation). \nRecognizing the inextricable link between human rights and equitable global progress\, the session will focus on best practices\, challenges\, and strategies for rights-based digital governance and enhanced international collaboration. A central theme will be the role of artificial intelligence (AI)—particularly generative and decision-making systems—in shaping the integrity of online information and public discourse. Participants will explore how AI influences trust\, democratic participation\, and human rights\, and how governance frameworks can promote transparency\, accountability\, and equity while safeguarding freedom of expression\, privacy\, and non-discrimination. As AI technologies increasingly amplify existing trends\, such as the spread of disinformation and the erosion of trust\, the session will also consider to what extent current international agreements\, human rights frameworks\, and platform regulations remain adequate to address these compounded challenges. \nThe session will also highlight practical\, collaborative approaches to bridging the digital divides through inclusive and rights-respecting strategies. Emphasis will be placed on how responsible AI governance and the promotion of healthy\, trustworthy information ecosystems contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while preventing emerging technologies from deepening existing inequalities. \nBy fostering meaningful engagement and generating concrete policy recommendations\, particularly around the WSIS+20\, this session aims to help shape a more inclusive\, sustainable\, and human rights-based digital future. \nModerator: Ernst Noorman\, Cyber Ambassador\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands \nSpeakers: \n\nRasmus Lumi\, Director General\, Department of International Organisations and Human Rights\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia\nDan York\, Chief of Staff\, ISOC\nGitanjali Sah\, Strategy and Policy Coordinator\, ITU\nIsabel Ebert\, Strategic Adviser\, B-Tech Project\, OHCHR\nJan Gerlach\, Public Policy Director\, Wikimedia Foundation
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/wsis20-high-level-event-global-digital-governance-multistakeholder-cooperation-for-wsis20/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250710T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250710T164500
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250704T143841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250704T143841Z
UID:10000247-1752163200-1752165900@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:WSIS+20 High Level Event | Embedding Human Rights in AI Standards: From Principles to Practice
DESCRIPTION:AI Governance Dialogue at WSIS+20\n\n\nFreedom Online Coalition (FOC) – International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)\n\n\n\nDate & Time: 16:00 – 16:45 CEST\, Thursday\, 10 July \nLocation: Room E\, Palexpo\, and online  \nEmerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming societies at an unprecedented pace. While they offer vast opportunities\, they also pose risks to the enjoyment of human rights. Technical standards\, as foundational elements of digital infrastructure\, can either safeguard or undermine these rights depending on their design and implementation. \nIn the Global Digital Compact\, Member States call on standards development organizations (SDOs) to collaborate in promoting the development and adoption of interoperable artificial intelligence standards that uphold safety\, reliability\, sustainability\, and human rights. In line with this vision\, the Compact also recommends establishing an AI Standards Exchange to maintain a register of definitions and applicable standards for evaluating AI systems. Moreover\, the Freedom Online Coalition’s 2024 Joint Statement urges SDOs and all stakeholders to embed human rights principles in the conception\, design\, development\, and deployment of technical standards. \nThus\, this side event will explore how such standards and tools can be developed to uphold human dignity\, equality\, privacy\, and non-discrimination throughout the AI lifecycle. \nModerator: Ernst Noorman\, Ambassador at Large for Cyber Affairs\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands \nSpeakers: \n\nTomas Lamanauskas\, Deputy Secretary-General\, ITU\nPeggy Hicks\, Director of Thematic Engagement\, OHCHR\nKaren McCabe\, Senior Director of Technology Policy\, IEEE\nCaitlin Kraft-Buchman\, CEO & Founder\, Women at the Table\nDr. Florian Ostmann\, Director of AI Governance and Regulatory Innovation\, Alan Turing Institute
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/wsis20-high-level-event-embedding-human-rights-in-ai-standards-from-principles-to-practice/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250919T075911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T075911Z
UID:10000249-1758794400-1758799800@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:UNGA 80 | Building on the Foundations: Securing the Future of the Open Internet
DESCRIPTION:On the margins of the UNGA 80 High-Level Week in New York\, the Republic of Estonia\, 2025 Chair of the FOC\, will convene representatives from government\, the technical community\, civil society\, academia\, and the private sector for the side-event “Building on the Foundations: Securing the Future of the Open Internet”.  \nAs the global community marks the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) and advances efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals\, ensuring that the Internet remains free\, open\, globally connected\, accessible\, interoperable\, secure\, and rights-respecting has never been more critical. \nThis side-event will examine how to strengthen resilience\, mitigate risks such as Internet shutdowns and attacks on critical infrastructure\, and promote meaningful connectivity\, particularly for marginalized communities. Together\, speakers will examine how technical\, policy\, and rights-based approaches can protect the architecture of the Internet and support a digital environment that upholds human rights and fundamental freedoms. \nThe event will commence with opening remarks from the 2025 FOC Chair\, followed by interventions from high-level representatives of FOC Member States\, Members of the Advisory Network\, and other key stakeholders. Nabiha Syed\, Executive Director\, Mozilla Foundation\, will provide a keynote address in advance of a multistakeholder panel discussion moderated by Lea Kaspar\, Executive Director\, Global Partners Digital\, and featuring: \n\nH.E. Margus Tsahkna\, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia\nDr. Jamal Tonzua Seidu\, Deputy Director-General\, Regulatory Affairs\, Cyber Security Authority of Ghana\nAlex Walden\, Global Head of Human Rights\, Google; Member of the FOC Advisory Network\nAvri Doria\, Principal Researcher\, Technicalities; Member of the FOC Advisory Network \nSabhanaz Rashid Diya\, Executive Director\, Tech Global Institute; Member of the FOC Advisory Network\n\nPlease note attendance at this event is by invitation. If you would like more information\, please contact events@freedomonlinecoalition.com.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/unga-80-building-on-the-foundations-securing-the-future-of-the-open-internet/
LOCATION:New York
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251009
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251011
DTSTAMP:20260403T183907
CREATED:20250919T080340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T080416Z
UID:10000250-1759968000-1760140799@freedomonlinecoalition.com
SUMMARY:Tallinn Digital Summit | FOC Engagements
DESCRIPTION:Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Member States\, Observers\, and the FOC Advisory Network will convene on the margins of the upcoming Tallinn Digital Summit (TDS)\, taking place from 9 – 10 October 2025. \nFurther information on FOC engagements at TDS will be shared in the coming weeks. Should you have any enquiries\, please reach out to events@freedomonlinecoalition.com.
URL:https://freedomonlinecoalition.com/event/tallinn-digital-summit-foc-engagements/
LOCATION:Tallinn\, Tallinn\, Estonia
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END:VCALENDAR