Intersesional

Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation

PNIF session at IGF 2024 : 19 December, Riyadh, 9:00-10:15 ( 6:00-7:15 am UTC) 

The PNIF is crowdsourcing examples of measures that cause of risk to cause fragmentation : submit your examples here 

Introduction

The IGF Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation (PNIF) focusses on policy, technical, legal and regulatory measures that threaten the open, interconnected, and interoperable nature of the Internet. The PNIF, an IGF intersessional activity, emerged from a community effort led by a multistakeholder coalition of civil society, business and technical organizations. The PNIF aims to raise awareness of actions and measures that risk fragmenting the Internet and wants to serve as a platform tor fostering dicussions on how avoid such fragmentation.

PNIF Framework for Discussing Fragmentation

The PNIF Framework for Discussing Fragmentation was developed bottom-up through discussions held in 2022 and 2023. Its overall goal is to serve as a general guiding and guiding tool for continuing the dialogue about fragmentation, engaging more people and stakeholders in a holistic and inclusive debate. Simultaneously, it aims to create a space for focused discussions, and working towards concrete solutions, policy approaches and guidelines to avoind Internet fragmentation.  The framework conceptualises three key dimesions of fragmentation: Fragmentation of the Internet user experience, Fragmentation of the Internet's technical layer, and Fragmentation of Internet governance and coordination. (link)

PNIF 2024 activities

PNIF Webinar 1 - Avoiding Internet Fragmentation. Still a matter of concern in 2024?   19 June 2-3:30pm UTC

When the PNIF launched in 2022, it was strongly inspired by the UN Secretary General's call to address 'avoiding fragmentation of the Internet' in the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Two years later, with ongoing preparations for the GDC and the upcoming WSIS+20 discussions, the PNIF seeks to evaluate how this call is being followed up and how the PNIF platform and framework can be most effective in fostering holistic and inclusive discussions on fragmentation, thereby reflecting on and contributing to these critical dialogues.

PNIF Webinar 2 - Avoiding Internet Fragmentation. Still a matter of concern in 2024 and beyond?  9 October 1:30-3:00pm UTC

After the Summit of the Future and with the GDC agreed, the webinar wants to repeat the same two questions participants discussed during the first webinar:

  1. Is avoiding Internet fragmentation still a major concern in the outcome text? In what way is Internet fragmentation reflected in the outcome text?
  2. How can the PNIF effectively contribute to future holistic multistakeholder discussion on fragmentation ? (including but not limited to the WSIS+20 review)

PNIF Webinar 3 - Contributing to Operationalising the GDC Commitment ? 19 November 1:00-2:30pm UTC

In the Global Digital Compact UN Member States commit to 'Promote international cooperation among all stakeholders to prevent, identify and address risks of fragmentation of the Internet in a timely manner (SDG16)’ (Objective 3, art 9, (c)) . The 3rd PNIF webinar will focus on how the PNIF and stakeholders in general can contribute to operationalising this commitment.

Ongoing - crowdsourcing examples of measures that risk to cause fragmentation 

A small team has begun exploring how to conduct empirical research to document government actions and their intended or unintended impact on Internet functionality. This initiative aims to help governments understand and mitigate the effects of their decisions, ultimately improving future policymaking. This was a suggested action point that emerged from the first webinar.  For this work stream the PNIF is crowdsourcing examples of measures that cause of risk to cause fragmentation : submit your examples here. 

 

 

 

participate All interested stakeholders can join an open dedicated mailing list and take active participation through regular meetings and others means of collaboration. ‎ The PNIF 2024 proposal was confirmed at the IGF 2024 MAG Meeting, 28-29 February 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within the PNIF is a Multistakeholder Working Group of experts which ‎supports transforming community’s expressed views into concrete actions, such as outputs and actionable next steps.

PNIF output reports