Navigating Geneva's Digital Policy Landscape

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Most Geneva-based institutions and organisations are now tackling digital aspects as part of their work. The Geneva digital policy landscape has therefore become richer and more diverse. How can we navigate this landscape and understand who is dealing with what, how to overcome policy silos, and how to build on the work and collaborate with other organisations to pursue common goals and solutions?

In addition to well-established digital policy areas such as cybersecurity, e-commerce, and human rights online, digitalisation is impacting other policy areas. Health aspects include the use of health data, which has become essential for public health and medical research. Digital technology can significantly address climate and environmental issues. The attainment of the sustainable development goals relies on the advancement and use of digital technology and digital solutions.

Knowing how to navigate such a rich landscape is crucial in dealing with digital issues. What are the needs of the different stakeholder groups, namely the diplomatic community, international organisations, and the media? What would be a good approach to understanding policy issues, and how we navigate specific policy areas in Geneva, such as data, SDGs, cybersecurity, and e-commerce? Join the Geneva Internet Platform, online, on Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, at 13:00 – 15:00 CEST (11:00 – 13:00 UTC) for a timely discussion on how to navigate Geneva’s digital policy landscape.

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PROGRAMME

13:00 – 15:00 GENEVA TIME (CEST)

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Opening remarks: A vibrant International Geneva

What are the ‘mapping’ needs of different communities?

DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
THE MEDIA
THE PRIVATE SECTOR

How can we navigate specific policy areas?

Panel: Mapping digital policy areas – Approaches and initiatives

CYBERSECURITY
DATA & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

E-COMMERCE

Wrapping up

diplofoundation conference tech lab
TIME EVENT
13:00–13:15
 Opening remarks: A vibrant International Geneva

  • Mr Oliver Hoehne (Head of Global Affairs, Multilateral Division, Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva)
  • Mr Olivier Coutau (Delegate to International Geneva, Republic of Geneva)
  • Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP))
  What are the ‘mapping’ needs of different communities?

Stakeholders play various roles in shaping digital policy. In turn, they need guidelines and tools to help them navigate the many initiatives, processes, and fora for discussion and decision-making. What are the specific needs of different stakeholder groups, and how can mapping initiatives or tools serve these needs?

Four break-out sessions will address the needs of diplomats, officials working in international organisations, journalists, and companies. The 30-minute parallel sessions will explore how mapping initiatives can help address those needs.
DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY

Room 1
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

Room 2
THE MEDIA

Room 3
THE PRIVATE SECTOR

Room 4
13:15–13:45 Led by:
Ms Katarzyna Gorgol (Adviser, Digital Affairs and Telecommunication, Delegation of the EU to the UN in Geneva)		 Led by:
Mr Torbjorn Fredriksson (Chief ICT Policy Section, UNCTAD)		 Led by:
Ms Paola Ceresseti (Spokesperson, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva)		 Led by:
Mr Jean-Yves Art (Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Microsoft)
13:45–14:00
14:00–14:20 Mapping digital policy areas: Approaches and initiatives
With digitalisation affecting practically every aspect of our lives, the policy area around digital and technological developments is increasingly broader and more complex. What are the different approaches and toolkits to understanding the various policy issues and processes, and the interplay among the main issues?The panel will discuss existing mapping approaches and initiatives. Panellists will also discuss how Geneva’s policy landscape is evolving, and what the main trends are.

  • Prof. Jovan Kurbalija (Executive Director, DiploFoundation; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (GIP))
  • Prof. Michael Kende (Visiting Professor, Graduate Institute in Geneva; Senior Advisor, Analysys Mason)
  • Mr Chengetai Masango (Head, UN Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF))

Moderator: Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila (Director Digital Policy, DiploFoundation)
  How can we navigate specific policy areas?
Geneva’s digital policy landscape is rich and complex. Mapping initiatives help in bringing clarity to who does what. What do existing mapping initiatives tell us about specific digital policy areas in Geneva, such as cybersecurity, and SDGs? How are these policy areas developing?
Four break-out sessions will explore Geneva’s landscape across four specific policy areas.
CYBERSECURITY

Room 1
DATA & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Room 2
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Room 3
E-COMMERCE

Room 4
14:20–14:50 Led by:
Mr Vladimir Radunovic (Director Cybersecurity Programmes, DiploFoundation)		 Led by:
Dr Katharina Hoene (Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Project Manager, DiploFoundation)		 Led by:
Ms Aziyadé Poltier-Mutal (Head, Perception Change Project, UNOG)		 Led by:
Ms Marion Jansen(Chief Economist, International Trade Centre (ITC))
14:50–15:00 Wrapping up
The discussion will conclude with lessons learned, as well as take-aways on how to improve digital policy mapping initiatives.

Last updated: 22 June 2020

Session descriptions

San Francisco

06.00 – 09.00

New York

9.00 – 12.00

London

14.00 – 17.00

Geneva
15.00 – 18.00
Moscow
16.00 – 19.00
Beijing
21.00 – 24.00

Track lead: Mr Arvin Kamberi, Lead – Online Meetings, DiploFoundation

The technology track will focus on platforms, tools, and apps used in online meetings. The discussion will bring new insights and understanding for choices we have to make in selecting and deploying technology for online meetings. In the second part, we will turn towards the future which has already started emerging via holograms, virtual/blended reality, AI, and other frontiers: What can be used today and what is ahead of us?

Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams, and Jitzi are among the options in the fast-growing online meetings market (see: ConfTech Lab detailed summary). How do we make an optimal choice of platform to meet our needs? Are our decisions informed or a matter of inertia? What are the ‘hidden’ criteria which emerge once we start using the platform?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila, Director Digital Policy, DiploFoundation

In addition to online meeting platforms, our meetings can be enriched with a wide range of other tools to help us with registrations, running surveys, and creating effective icebreakers and animations. The session will kick-start a survey of apps and tools that can enrich future meetings (online and in situ).

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Sherna Alexander Benjamin, The Center for Building Resilient Communities

Holograms and ‘various’ realities are not a matter of science fiction any more. They are within our reach. But they can also be used as a gimmick. This discussion will provide a reality check and a peek into the future. In particular, we will focus on augmented reality for in situ meetings which is likely to become a bridge between online and onsite meetings in the years to come.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Prof. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of DiploFoundation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is part of our meetings as it is part of our daily lives. It is used to identify trending topics for meetings, level of interaction, interests, etc. But new functions are also emerging around the use of chatbots in replacement of moderators, and the use of facial recognition to gauge the mood and ‘temperature’ in online meetings. AI and other new technologies open numerous ethical, technical, legal and practical questions as our discussion will show.

Moderator and Lead Discussant: Mr Michael Aaendenhof, Cyberdiplomacy Envoy –  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium

Track lead: Vladimir Radunovic, Director of Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy – DiploFoundation

The security track will bring more insights into the discussion on the risks arising from the use of Zoom and other platforms. What are the perceived and real security risks in attending online meetings? How can we deal with these risks? How can we make informed trade-offs between usability and security? Are open-source platforms a possible solution for some of these risks? Join us for a discussion on these and other cybersecurity questions.

This session will discuss a cognitive and practical toolkit for thinking about cybersecurity of online meetings. It will identify the main cybersecurity risks and place them in the broader context of the use of online meeting platforms and our digital reality. Ultimately, we will start developing our toolkit for making informed trade-offs and decisions on cybersecurity.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Trishia Octaviano, Asia-Europe Foundation

‘Zoombombing’ has been in the media headlines for weeks. While Zoom has now fixed its backdoors, it remains to be seen how online meetings can be inclusive, but also safe from blatant misuse. ‘Zoombombing’ will be used as a case study for this cybersecurity and organisational challenge for online meetings.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Andrijana Gavrilovic, Digital Policy Programmes Assistant, DiploFoundation

The Chatham House rule is probably the most popular procedural rule in meetings worldwide. Will these rules remain as relevant in online meetings? How can online meetings preserve a certain level of discretion and non-attribution?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Mr Andrej Skrinjaric,  Online Programme Coordinator – DiploFoundation

Meetings generate video and sound records and textual transcripts. These make up a rich record of our interactions. Online meeting platform servers are becoming major repositories of such data. How do we preserve this rich record of our public and professional life? How can we prevent surveillance and the misuse of meeting records for political and commercial ends? Do we need open-source platforms that will ensure the protection of meetings of public institutions such as the UN, parliaments, governments, and local communities?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Mr Vladimir Radunovic, Director, E-diplomacy and Cybersecurity, DiploFoundation

Track lead: Ms Natasa Perucica, Research Officer, DiploFoundation

Are good moderators born or bred? What type of talents do they need? What skills can be acquired? Why are some good onsite moderators not as effective online? The discussion should contribute to outlining the ‘profile’ of an ideal moderator and training curriculum for online moderation.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Priyanthi Daluwatte, Registrar – Northshore College, Sri Lanka

Planning, preparation, and patience are probably the keywords for a successful online meeting. Given that technology is sometimes unpredictable, online meetings are prone to technical issues. The threshold of tolerance for failures in the online setting is low. A crackling sound or an unmuted mic can easily distract participants and compromise the quality of the meeting. How should we respond to these surprises? What qualities should an online moderator possess to cope with such a situation effectively? What should an online meeting scenario include? The aim of this session is to discuss scenario preparation and the division of roles as a formula for success in organising an online meeting.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Selly Muzammil, World Food Programme

Starting and finishing on time is the golden rule of online meetings. In the online world, should we wait for late arrivals as we sometimes do in physical meetings? When should polls be introduced, and how should long statements be wrapped up? Our sessions in today’s conference are an example of conducting rich exchanges in a very limited timeframe. An example to emulate?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Kimberly Ibrahim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Trinidad and Tobago

Even when we plan and prepare ahead of the meeting, there is always a chance that things can go wrong. What can go wrong and what should we do about it? Staying calm, and making fast decisions are imperative. For instance, if a speaker has poor audio, he or she should be muted immediately. When making decisions on the spot, one should keep in mind that participants are just a click away from the next online event, chat, or social media update. How do we envisage potential problems and prepare adequate solutions? Join us to discuss practice recommendations.

Moderator and Lead discussant: Mr Carlos Polo, Cybersecurity Expert, Republic and Canton of Geneva

Track lead: Dr Tereza Horejsova, Project Development Director, DiploFoundation

Meetings are a deeply human and social experience. They are much more than an exchange of information or an attempt at finding solutions to problems. Meetings validate us as persons, and nurture the social fabric of organisations and communities worldwide. The behaviour track will focus on these hidden aspects of online (and offline) meetings which are often more relevant than official outcomes and outputs. Join us in navigating the psychological, cultural, and emotional aspects of meetings.

Each of us has experienced the challenge of following meetings attentively, irrespective of whether they take place onsite or online. Many scientific studies have shown that our attention span in situ lasts no more than 10 minutes. When we are online, preserving the attention span is even more demanding. Respecting participants’ time is the first step to gaining trust, and to show that their time will not be wasted. Our session will address practical aspects of ensuring that participants remain engaged in meetings.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Ines Hfaiedh, Tunisia Coordinator of the Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation

Body language, which is one of the richest conveyors of emotions and signals among humans, is limited in online communications. What are the limits of online meetings when it comes to body language? What type of meetings should be held in a face-to-face setting, instead?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Mr Mohamed Gawad Allam, Permanent Mission of Egypt to WTO, Geneva

Corridor chats, bilateral meetings, conversations over dinner, or informal chats while waiting in line for coffee often turn out to be very valuable. These encounters, however, are clearly not happening online. How will this change the way we network and dialogue informally? How do we address this aspect whenever we are faced with the question of whether to run a meeting online or onsite?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Charline Van Der Beek,  Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations – Geneva

Politeness nurtures social fabric. It is essential for diplomacy and societal encounters in general across different communal, professional, and other barriers. What does it mean to be polite in online meetings? How do we ensure that the standing and emotions of other people are not hurt? How do we take cultural differences into account, when it comes to e-politeness and the smooth running of online meetings?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Christiane Herre, Head of Leadership Development, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Track lead: Dr Katharina Hoene, Senior Lecturer, Researcher, and Project Manager, DiploFoundation

Meetings and negotiations are at the core of diplomacy. Online events pose new challenges for diplomacy as a profession, and as a tool for solving conflicts in the relations between communities and states. The diplomacy track will focus on the interplay between the centuries-old rules of diplomatic protocol, procedures, and etiquette, and the fast emerging digital tools for meetings and negotiations. Join us in outlining this new type of hybrid and blended diplomatic meetings which are emerging at the intersection between diplomatic tradition and technological innovation.

After witnessing a strong push towards online meetings, will the pendulum swing back towards onsite meetings? We need to capitalise on the new practices and approaches that have emerged and that will continue to do so in the future. How can we combine onsite and online events in order to create dynamic experiences, especially for the prolonged work of negotiating bodies and working groups that can sometimes take years?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Ursula Wynhoven, International Telecommunication Union

Tradition and innovation are two dynamics that have shaped diplomacy throughout history. The times we are living in could mark another important turning point. What elements of diplomacy will survive, despite the technological changes? What diplomatic practices need to be updated, adapted, or abandoned?

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ambassador Stefano Baldi, Embassy of Italy in Bulgaria, Sofia

The practice of diplomacy boils down to discussion, drafting, and voting. Starting with the ‘bread and butter’ of diplomatic work, this session will discuss the criteria for deciding what diplomatic practices can be accomplished online and which tasks can be handled only offline. This discussion will reflect on ongoing debates on diplomatic ‘business continuity’ during the COVID-19 crisis held in many diplomatic centers worldwide.

Moderator & Lead Discussant: Ms Katharina Frey, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations in Vienna

Translation and interpretation are the key elements for inclusion in deliberations, and a formal requirement for multilateral meetings. Are online meetings more ‘linguistically inclusive’ than traditional ones? Can technology help with interpretation and translation? Our discussion will address these and other questions related to translation and interpretation for the new brand of online meetings in post-COVID diplomacy.

Moderators & Lead Discussants: Mr Christopher Mcinnes, College of Europe & Ms Virginia Paque, DiploFoundation