IGF 2012

1. Workshops

A number of workshops are being organised. The community is warmly invited to attend, either physically or remotely:

• New Delegates Briefing Session (Day 1, Tuesday 6th November, at 2.30 pm, Conference Room #11). This session, co-organised by DiploFoundation, has been organised with IGF first-timers in mind. The afternoon session is split in two: Part I will be dedicated to (a) Navigating the IGF: providing practical hints and inputs on how to navigate the IGF during the meeting, and (b) Mapping the IG field: providing quick reflections of the panelists' understanding of Internet governance. Part II will be dedicated to (a) Diplomacy, IG process and actors, and (b) Getting involved: capacity building mechanisms, remote participation, national IGFs, and preparations for IGF 2013.

• Session on Capacity building as a key element to strengthen the multistakeholder model in the Internet Governance environment (Day 2, Wednesday 7th November, at 2.30 pm, Conference Room #11. The aim of this session, coorganised by DiploFoundation together with the European Youth Forum, EuroSSIG , the participation of ISOC, Together Against Cybercrime and others, is to bring together various players which developed different kinds of capacity building programmes for IG issues during the last years. A number of successful programmes are promoting the multistakeholder model, which is still a challenge for many parts of the world. The session shall also serve as an exchange between fellows of some of the most successful programmes.

• Workshop on Remote participation: Reality and principles (no. 52, on Day 4, Friday 9th November, at 11:00 am, Conference Room #9). The workshop, organised by DiploFoundation in cooperation with the Remote Participation Working Group, the Dynamic Coalition for Access and Disability, and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, will address a main question: What are the policy challenges around free flow of information and freedom of expression?

• Workshop on Local Content Production and Dissemination as a Driver of Access (no. 133, on Day 4, Friday 9th November, at 11:00 am, Conference Room #4). This workshop, organised by the Technology Education Institute in cooperation with DiploFoundation, will address the question: Is the creation of local content that expands and deepens the pool of knowledge all of us share on the Internet a driver of access?

• Workshop on Localisation of Data and its Implications for Economic Development (no. 194, on Day 3, Thursday 8th November, at 2:30 pm, Conference Room #11). This workshop, also organised by the Technology Education Institute in cooperation with DiploFoundation, discusses the questions: What can we learn from countries who have implemented local data directives, with a focus on economic impact, and what can developing counties expect as challenges and tradeoffs when they look at implementing local data directives?

2. Social reporting from the IGF

Diplo has awarded a number of fellowships to participants to attend the IGF. The team of fellows sponsored by VeriSign and fellows sponsored the Central European Initiative will attend workshops, discuss themes, and blog about main and emerging issues HERE, on Diplo's Internet governance community.

We invite you to join in the discussions, by blogging (tag: igf12) about themes and workshops, sharing videos and photos (tag: igf12), and tweeting using #igf12. This short guide will help you post your content on your page.

A dedicated community group, IGF 2012, has been created to serve as a virtual meeting place for community members who will attend the IGF in person, as well as those who will be participating remotely, to discuss, share information, and network before, during and after the IGF. Please join the group!

3. Results of the pilot study on The Emerging Language of Internet Diplomacy

Earlier this year, Diplo launched an evidence-based research project on the development of Internet diplomacy discourse focusing on the reference frameworks, concepts and approaches, terminology, and patterns of communication used. The main aim of The Emerging Language of Internet Diplomacy project is to contribute towards informed Internet governance processes by providing evidence-based research.

During the pilot phase, which has been taking place in the past few weeks, the project team databased and analysed 2006-2011 IGF transcripts. A first analysis of the content will be presented on Day 4, Friday 9th November (more details soon).

4. Diplo community get-together

Diplo will be organising a get-together for alumni and friends, on Day 2, Wednesday 7th November, at around 6.15 pm. The location will be announced soon. Bookmark this page, or follow the IGF 2012 group on Diplo’s online community for more details.

Finally, if you are attending the IGF in Baku, don't forget to pass by at DiploFoundation's Booth at the IGF Village. Our Diplo team will be happy to meet you in person!

Remember to follow us during the IGF:
- Twitter: @igcbp
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/igcbp
- Facebook page: www.facebook.com/internetgovernance
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/DiploFoundation