Remote Participation Working Group

Take part on the discussions about Internet Governance: organize a local IGF hub in your home city

1)      The internet Governance Forum (IGF)

The IGF takes place once a year and aims to discuss issues related to Internet governance that touch directly upon the lives of Internet users, such as: privacy, freedom of expression, access to the Internet and content diversity, to name just a few. The IGF is a multistakeholder forum. This means that governments, civil society and the business sector can participate on equal footing.

In 2010, the IGF will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania. Unfortunately, several factors may hamper physical attendance, such as professional commitments and travel costs. But staying in your home city does not mean that it is not possible to follow the debates. It does not mean you cannot participate actively and make your voice heard. There will be interactive channels for e‐participation. You can follow the discussions from home, watching the webcast of the event and participating in chat. But it is also possible to organize IGF hubs.

2) What are the Hubs?

The hubs are local meetings that take place in parallel with the main meeting. People can watch the webcast together and send questions (text or video) that will be answered by panelists in IGF. In addition, hub organizers can hold debates to discuss the themes introduced at the IGF, but from a local perspective. There are several advantages in creating a hub: it helps to raise awareness about Internet Governance issues, it fosters networking among participants and community building and it encourages follow‐up activities.

3) How to organize a hub?

The requirements are very simple:

• A room or auditorium. It can be held in a university classroom or any other convenient place
• A computer with a broadband Internet connection and a video‐conference (or projector) equipment, to watch the webcast
• A hub moderator, who will plan the dynamics of the local roundtables and discussions as well as transmit the hub participants’ questions or comments to the IGF meeting through the remote participation channels.
• A general call in lists, forums, etc, to invite the interested local community
• An online training session to become familiar with the platform that will be used for interaction will be offered prior to the event

4) Dynamics of interaction during the meeting

Remote participants will be able to follow the meeting taking place in Vilnius by watching videocasts or listening to audiocasts from the meeting rooms, by viewing the PPT presentations from the speakers, and by reading real-time closed captioning.

Remote participants will be able to interact with the meeting individually or from a hub. All remote participants will be able to send text questions, using the remote participation platform. These questions will be forwarded to the panel moderator when he/she opens the floor for questions from the audience. Hubs can also send short pre-recorded video questions or statement that will be projected on the large meeting screen.

5) How to register a hub

Visit the website of the IGF and follow the instructions: http://intgovforum.org/cms/the-preparatory-process/512

6) More about remote participation in the IGF

For more information about remote participation in the IGF, please contact the Remote Participation Working Group (www.igfremote.info) at info@igfremote.info

FAQ about IGF remote moderators

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will take place from 14 to 18 September in Vilnius, Lithuania. Remote participation options will be provided and people following the webcast of the IGF from home or from a hub will be able to send their text or video questions. This year, workshop organizers have been asked to provide the name of a remote moderator. We have compiled the most frequently asked questions about remote moderators below.

Do all workshop organizers have to appoint remote moderators?

Yes, since remote participation options will be available in all sessions/workshops. Remote participation can positively increase the audience of your workshop

Who can be a remote moderator?

Any volunteer who is attending the IGF Vilnius and is not one of the speakers of the panel/workshop. The volunteer should be trained by the RPWG

How can I find a volunteer?

One possible way is to contact the list of resource persons in the IGF website: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/content/article/94-workshops/503-list-of-resource-persons

It is always better to find someone who has interest on the topic of the workshop, who will be able to select the questions to be forwarded to the panel moderator.

In case you cannot find a remote moderator in the list of resource persons nor in the community or dynamic coalitions working with topics related to your workshop, please send an e-mail to info@igfremote.info.

What is the role of the remote moderator?

A complete “job description” of the remote moderator can be found here: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/the-preparatory-process/514-job-description-for-remote-moderators. Basically, the moderator has three main functions:

• They have to connect online with the remote participants (all the equipment and software needed will be available and ready for them)
• They have to connect the online participants to the discussions in the meeting room;
• Lastly, they are responsible for some follow-up work for archiving purposes and in view of improving future remote participation efforts. (They are expected to answer very brief and objective questions after the session they moderate)

The workshop already has a remote moderator. What should I do?

Please, update your workshop proposal in the IGF website with the name and contact of the remote moderator. Please, also send this information by the e-mail to the Remote Participation Working Group info@igfremote.info, so we can plan the online training.

Do remote moderators need to take any equipment with them?

No, all the equipment (computer, projector, etc) will be already in place. In case a remote moderator needs to use his/her own laptop, please advise the IGF Secretariat in advance.

Will remote moderators receive any assistance?

Yes, the Remote Participation Working Group will assist them with any doubts they may have.  The group will also provide online training for remote moderators, prior to the IGF on flexible days/time. The training will last for about 40 min. Moderators will also receive on-site technical support.

EuroDig Madrid: You Can Be There!

Creating hubs for remote participation

About the Eurodig

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (Eurodig) is a meeting that takes place once a year to discuss issues related to Internet governance, which touch directly upon the lives of Internet users, such as: privacy, freedom of expression, access to the Internet and content diversity, to name just a few. The EuroDig is a multistakeholder forum. This means that governments, civil society and the business sector can participate on equal footing. The primary aim is to promote open dialogue between all participating stakeholders in order to prepare their participation in and contributions to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Why is this meeting important to young people?

Young people are among those who use the Internet the most, not only for leisure, but also to research, to express themselves, to create culture and to share knowledge. They have more fully understood the potential of the Internet, but currently they have little participation in the process of making decisions about its future. Young people will inherit the Internet that is being shaped today. How can youth ensure that their freedom of expression, that their privacy and interests will be protected in the future? The only way is to get involved in the process of decision‐making now.

Why is this meeting important to you if you do not live in Europe?

The discussions in the meeting aim to contribute to the general Internet governance debate, and the outcomes of the discussions in EuroDig will be taken to the IGF in Vilnius. In addition the European Commission and the Council of Europe are very forward‐looking, making ground‐breaking progress in Internet governance, and are willing and eager to incorporate world views. They have made it clear that the views of other regions are important to them, so it is an additional opportunity to make your opinions heard.

How can I get to be involved in the EuroDig?

The EuroDig usually takes place in different countries. It has been held in France (2008) and in Switzerland (2009). In 2010, it will take place in Spain. Unfortunately, several factors may hamper physical attendance, such as professional commitments and travel costs. But staying in your home city does not mean that it is not possible to follow the debates. It does not mean you cannot participate actively and make your voice heard. There will be interactive channels for e‐participation. You can follow the discussions from home, watching the webcast of the event and participating in chat. But it is also possible to organize EuroDig hubs.

What are the Hubs?

The hubs are local meetings that take place in parallel with the main meeting. People can watch the webcast together and send questions (text or video) that will be answered by panelists in EuroDig. In addition, hub organizers can hold debates to discuss the themes introduced at the Eurodig, but from a local perspective. There are several advantages in creating a hub: it helps to raise awareness about Internet Governance issues, it fosters networking among participants and community building and it encourages follow‐up activities.

How to organize a hub in your city?

The requirements are very simple:

- A room or auditorium. It can be held in a university classroom or any other convenient place

- A computer with a broadband Internet connection and a video‐conference (or projector) equipment, to watch the webcast

- A hub moderator, who will plan the dynamics of the local roundtables and discussions as well as transmit the hub participants’ questions or comments to the main EuroDig meeting through the remote participation channels.

- A general call in lists, forums, etc, to invite the interested local community

- An online training session to become familiar with the platform that will be used for interaction will be offered prior to the event

Dynamics of interaction during the meeting

Remote participants will be able to follow the meeting taking place in Madrid by watching videocasts or listening to audiocasts from the meeting rooms and by viewing the PPT presentations from the speakers. The organization is also trying to make available real-time closed captioning.

Remote participants will be able to interact with the meeting individually or from a hub. All remote participants will be able to send text questions, using the remote participation platform (more information about it will be posted here soon). These questions will be forwarded to the panel moderator when he/she opens the floor for questions from the audience. Hubs can also send short pre-recorded video questions or statement that will be projected on the large meeting screen.

Both physical and remote attendees are encouraged to tweet about the event using #eurodig. The comments on Twitter will be monitored and questions could be forwarded to the panel moderators.

How can you receive more information about remote participation in Eurodig?

Remote Participation Working Group: info@igfremote.info

Ginger Paque: VirginiaP@diplomacy.edu

Link to videos about remote participation in the IGF and messages from hubs: http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/page/igf-remote-participation

IGF February 2010 Open Consultations Remote Participation Replay

Participate in the February IGF Open Consultations

On February 9 the IGF open Consultations will take place in Geneva, at the Palais des Nations. The Open Consultations are meetings organized throughout the year aimed at evaluating the previous IGF meeting and planning the next event. The agenda of the upcoming Open Consultations can be found HERE.

The Remote Participation Working Group (RPWG) in cooperation with the IGF Secretariat will make available a moderated chat function for online interaction, using Cover It Live

The link to access the chat platform is: http://www.igfremote.info/RP/

The following hashtag will be used in Twitter: #igf10

Questions may also be sent via email to: sharmstocktaking@intgovforum.org

Meeting hours are 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00 (Geneva time, GMT +1)

To find the corresponding hours in your time zone, visit the site of the World Clock