The Council of Europe is taking part in the 17th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) from 28 November to 2 December. Held in a hybrid format under the theme “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, the IGF will bring together various stakeholder groups including representatives of government, business, civil society, the academics, and international organisations to discuss public policy issues relating to the Internet. While it does not have a decision-making mandate, the IGF informs and inspires policies and encourages knowledge exchange on how to maximise internet opportunities and address risks and challenges.
In addition to participating in the general discussions, the Council of Europe will put a specific focus on artificial intelligence, digital citizenship education, combatting hate speech and cybercrime. On 28 November, Jan Kleijssen, Director of Information Society and Action against Crime, will be the keynote speaker at a panel on the regulatory challenges of addressing advanced technologies (AI and Metaverse). On 29 November, an open forum will examine ways in which a Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation adopted in 2019 aims to promote digital citizenship education. On 30 November, in cooperation with the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, the Council of Europe will organise an open forum on how to combat hate speech, including the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on combatting hate speech adopted in May 2022. Finally, on 1 December the organisation will co-organise a workshop exploring how to best to obtain the electronic evidence needed to attribute cyberattacks, ensure accountability and bring offenders to justice.
