It’s been a little over two years since I first encountered the term “Internet Governance.” As an undergraduate student of computer science and cybersecurity, I’ve always been a technology-first person, passionate about researching advancements in emerging technologies. However, my perspective transformed dramatically after attending India School on Internet Governance (inSIG) as a fellow in 2022. There, I discovered an exciting world where technology intersects with policy and society. This experience opened my eyes to the critical importance of regulating technology through well-thought-out policies and the necessity of multi-stakeholder collaboration – from technical communities to private sectors to government bodies. What struck me most was the role of youth stakeholders, who bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to complex digital challenges. As a young technologist myself, this realization motivated me to step further into the field of Internet Governance, determined to contribute to shaping a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.
This year has been very fruitful for me as I was selected as a fellow in APNIC 58, which gave me the opportunity to learn from global Internet governance experts, and I’m also selected as an upcoming fellow for ICANN 81. At APrIGF, I organized a session exploring AI governance challenges and ethical frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region. Most significantly, I became part of the organizing committee of the Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum (yIGF), an opportunity I had always aspired to experience and contribute back to the community after being a yIGF 2023 Fellow myself. It’s been a collective effort of all organizing committee members, preparing months in advance to ensure the smooth functioning of the event. I am truly inspired to see everyone dedicating their time voluntarily to make this event a great success.
Facilitating Youth Voices at Asia Pacific yIGF 2024
As part of the organizing committee, I was assigned to the remote team to facilitate the hybrid event format of yIGF 2024, guiding participants from various countries. The event was structured around several engaging components, including panel discussions, expert meetings, and youth leader dialogues. One of the most impactful activities was the idea wall exercise, where participants collaborated on mind maps across three major categories: Security & Trust, Resilience, and Ethical Governance. It was fascinating to see how participants pinpointed various issues within these topics, which later formed the foundation of our Youth Policy Statement. The Youth Statement Presentation session was particularly thought-provoking, where young leaders shared their perspectives on creating a more inclusive and safer digital space. This year, we also introduced huddle sessions – short, informal online discussions where participants could freely share their reflections on Internet Governance topics and session takeaways. As I facilitated these remote discussions, I was truly amazed by the depth of thought and diverse perspectives that participants brought to the table. Their suggestions and ideas for the youth policy statement demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges we face in digital governance and a strong commitment to finding innovative solutions.
Leading My First International AI Governance Session
yIGF is a smaller part of a bigger event APrIGF, where yIGF marks as a Day 0 event. Following this, I had the opportunity to organize a session titled “Is Asia-Pacific Ready for AI? Balancing Innovation, Ethical Governance, and Marginalized Needs” under APrIGF. This session was inspired by my yIGF 2023 presentation on AI bias resulting from poorly managed training data. As I observed the rapid progression of technology in the modern world, I questioned whether regulations were keeping pace. Our session explored how the widespread implementation of AI technologies across the Asia-Pacific region brings significant ethical concerns, particularly given the region’s diverse cultural, legal, and socioeconomic landscape. Thanks to my amazing team members – Iqra Ejaz, Jasmine Ko, Karlina Octaviany, Rupam Barui, and Socheata Sokhachan – we received very positive feedback from our session. Though we ran slightly overtime, the discussion concluded with valuable insights on developing comprehensive AI regulations that balance innovation with ethical governance while ensuring inclusion of marginalized communities. For me personally, organizing this session was a challenging yet rewarding experience, where I gained firsthand experience in speaker outreach, session planning, and execution.
APrIGF Townhall – A Platform for Regional Voices
One of the most valuable aspects of APrIGF is its commitment to amplifying diverse voices. The Townhall session particularly stands out, where participants share insights from various sessions and discuss challenges faced in their local communities. What makes this platform powerful is how local issues often resonate across regions, revealing common patterns that need addressing. During the session, I shared my concerns about digital resilience, specifically regarding the role of multinational corporations in critical infrastructure. Drawing from the recent CrowdStrike outage, I highlighted how it exposed a single point of failure for numerous global systems, with essential services relying solely on one company. This incident raises crucial questions about the need for governance frameworks that separate business models from critical infrastructure management. Recognizing the importance of these discussions, I joined the drafting committee this year. In this role, I have the responsibility of documenting these valuable perspectives and incorporating them into the final synthesis document. This process helps transform community concerns into actionable items for stakeholders, ensuring that our collective voice shapes future policies and regulations.
The Road Ahead
Looking back, I’ve realized something important: technology alone isn’t enough. We need robust policies to ensure it’s used safely and ethically. As young people who use technology every day, we should actively participate in these conversations. My journey in Internet Governance has been eye-opening, and I continue to learn new things every day. I hope others will find, as I did, that Internet Governance offers a meaningful platform to help create a better digital future for everyone.