The Secretariat of the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network released its 2020 Progress Report.
It is more crucial than ever to bring stakeholders together to understand global trends and enable them to frame and address common challenges collaboratively. The Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network demonstrated in 2020 its resilience as a thriving global community based on trust, collaboration and a spirit of governance innovation.
Bertrand de La Chapelle and Paul Fehlinger, Co-Founders of the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network
The Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network was founded in 2012 with a mission to address the tension between the cross-border internet and national jurisdictions. Since then, its Paris-based Secretariat has grown and facilitates a global policy process engaging over 400 key entities from governments, the world’s largest internet companies, technical operators, civil society groups, academia and international organizations from over 70 countries.
The reliance on the internet for social and economic life has never been more evident than during the COVID pandemic. It further propelled digital issues to the forefront of transnational policy topics along with climate change or global health. The I&JPN 2020 Progress Report presents how stakeholders in the Policy Network have advanced policy solutions through mutual understanding, cooperation and responsible behavior.
The Report shares highlights including the two Regional Conferences of the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network that took place in May 2020 in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the African Union Commission.
In 2020, the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network released 15 outcomes that can be used by all categories of decision-makers when developing, evaluating, and implementing policies around cross-border access to e-evidence, content moderation and restrictions as well as Domain Name System (DNS) level action to address abuses.
The release of the Internet & Jurisdiction and ECLAC Regional Status Report 2020 was another significant milestone. Launched in a special session within the framework of the 7th Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean on November 24, 2020, it aims to serve practitioners as a roadmap to some of the most pressing issues surrounding policymaking and the cross-border nature of the Internet in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In November 2020, I&JPN also launched a Free Flow of Data and Data Sovereignty Framing Study. The study, involving consultations with stakeholders around the world, sought to unpack the data sovereignty concept and explore its implications for data flows and governance regimes by consulting stakeholders from governments, international organizations, business, civil society, technical community, and academia. It was made possible with the support of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Looking Ahead
2021 has already seen the release of I&JPN Toolkits on Cross-border Access to Electronic Evidence, Cross-border Content Moderation, DNS Level Action to Address Abuses. Designed for and by internet policy practitioners, each Toolkit includes: Overview of a core jurisdictional challenge in the field of data, content, and domains, insight into the I&JPN innovative methodology for multistakeholder policymaking, tools, common typologies, and frameworks to benchmark best practices and support practitioners.
The Free Flow of Data and Data Sovereignty Framing Study will see expansion in 2021 as I&JPN releases the report “We Need to Talk About Data: Framing the Debate Around the Free Flow of Data and Data Sovereignty” in April 2021 in partnership with the Japanese government. I&JPN will also hold further consultations with stakeholders on building an understanding of the common Datasphere in view of launching a dedicated new Datasphere Initiative.
Building on the success of the Internet & Jurisdiction Global Status Report 2019 and Internet & Jurisdiction and ECLAC Regional Status Report 2020, the I&JPN Secretariat prepares a similar report for Africa in collaboration with the Africa Union Commission. The I&J Africa Regional Status Report will use the proven I&J Global Status Report methodology. The effort will see the launch of new regional engagement mechanisms and data collection in 2021.
The Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network looks forward to continuing to facilitate an innovative and scalable approach to international digital policymaking by convening diverse stakeholders and equipping them with a space and methodology to address transnational challenges.
What stakeholders say about the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network
