Agenda

The Fourth Industrial Revolution dramatically reshaped the international economic and political landscape. The Internet has become a repository of knowledge and achievements of mankind, as well as the main means of production in the modern world. However, the opening of new digital horizons not only created opportunities for business and science, but also became a challenge for citizens and states around the world.

Government systems are increasingly forced to transform, adapt to new realities, respond to information risks and protect the physical world from the digital one. The state is creating a brand-new framework for sustainable digital dialogue based on setting the individual at the center of the digital transformation as a response to the issues of our time. It relates to the cooperative promotion of common approaches to the regulation of the digital environment within the context of international processes.

During the session, it will be proposed to discuss what values underlie this new approach, what role the state should take in modern Internet Governance processes, and how to maintain human-centric digital technologies. The panelists will also consider the role of such initiatives as the Global Digital Compact, which proclaims its goal to create a fair and equitable digital world order.

In order to ensure technological independence from foreign solutions and to independently regulate the digital information space, countries must have what is known as “digital sovereignty”. This means they has to be able to provide the necessary infrastructure for the steady advancement of the information society on their territory. The Internet, due to its comprehensive cross-border nature, acts as the main driving force that develops the global digital information space. At the same time, the desire of many states to ensure their own digital sovereignty directly stimulates the process of “splitting” the Internet into regional and country zones with a special regulatory regime and rules for the circulation of content and services.

Within the framework of the session, it will be proposed to consider the experience of ensuring digital sovereignty in various countries and regions of the world, as well as to assess the possible consequences of the growing fragmentation of the global Internet. There will also be discussion of potential scenarios and management strategies for Russia's domestic Internet market, as well as potential opportunities for foreign marketing.

Machine learning and ultra-efficient neural networks, Internet technologies, immersive Internet and metaverses, distributed ledger technologies, cryptocurrencies, quantum computing, industrial automation – these and other technologies are becoming a reality and trends of today's development, and are beginning to perform increasingly critical economic and social functions.

During the session, it is proposed to consider scientific developments, innovations and already implemented projects in various industries and fields of application – medicine, education, public administration, urban infrastructure, etc. Representatives of various platforms will be able to share information about their projects, new opportunities, main tasks, difficulties and prospects for further development. During the discussion, the problems of a comprehensive assessment of the impact of digital innovations on the economy and the socio-humanitarian sphere, issues of regulation and standardization will be touched upon.

We are witnessing an unprecedented amount of online misinformation as geopolitical tensions grow. Fake information itself is not the only threat to Internet users; intentional information operations aiming at dividing society are also a threat. How can the Runet expert community work together to address these issues? How can the Russian experience be useful to those who are interested in effectively countering fake information and digital discrimination?

In 2010, the Coordination Center for Top Level National Domains established a special award, Virtuti Interneti (Service to the Internet), which is the only one of its kind in the Runet. The winners of the award are representatives of the Internet community, business, science and the state, who have made a significant contribution to the development of Runet and the global Internet. The candidate of the future laureate is chosen by the Program Committee of the Russian Internet Governance Forum (RIGF). The award ceremony, as well as the laureate's subsequent lecture, have become a traditional element of the RIGF program.

The session will address issues such as how the Internet affects personality development, how children and youth interact in a virtual environment, how to create the ideal conditions for the younger generation's development and education in a digital society, how participants in educational relationships form media and information cultures, and the legal issues surrounding Internet space for children regulation.

Scientists, practitioners, including innovative sites of the Safe Information Environment for Childhood project, representatives of specialized non-profit organizations, and experts are invited to participate in the work.

Only professional personnel are able to achieve the goals set within the framework of the entire federal program “Digital Economy”.

Session questions:

• Current challenges: staff shortage of 1 million (will it grow?), technological separation from the West, the rapid growth of databases and AI.
• Lack of employees VS lack of competencies: what is the ratio? Where is the deficit most acute, including in CDTO digital transformation teams in the regions?
• Is it possible to quickly and efficiently cover the deficit of 1 million specialists? Where is the main potential? In which segments is quantity better, and where is quality needed? Short-term and long-term strategies.
• Educational mechanisms for responding to challenges: professional standards, retraining programs, continuous education, early career guidance, accessibility of education.
• Non-educational mechanisms: revealing hidden personnel potentials in related areas, waves of migration, personnel mobility, outstaffing.
• Theoretical foundation and practical skills: what is more important?

The session participants will discuss approaches to reforming the current regulation in the field of healthcare based on the best international practices for the development of artificial intelligence technologies.

Topics for discussion:

• Artificial Intelligence in medicine.
• Validation of large datasets: can all the data be used or is it mandatory to select them?
• Barriers to data processing using AI systems in medicine: will be there a consent?

Internet Governance plays a special role in sustainable development and digital transformation. Focusing on the Internet, it is important to take into account the opinion of stakeholders, and especially the younger generation.

The youth has always been an important driver of digitalization. However, there is still a lack of informing young people about the existing opportunities to participate in digital transformation processes in Internet Governance ecosystem. Projects that provide such opportunities must be open and accessible in order for the younger generation to become the positive force that it can become.

The session will present the results of the IGF 2022 youth track, the results of the RIGF special course for youth, programs for youth in the world (ITU, NetMission, IGF, ICANN), as well as information about the youth projects of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ.