Elon University

Global Internet Governance Forum, 2018

A Survey of Participants’ Opinions About issues and Trends Recorded at the 13th Global IGF, at UNESCO in Paris, France, Plus Coverage of Plenary Event Featuring Global Leaders

2018 IGF Paris Assembly PhotoThe 13th Global Internet Governance Forum took place in Paris Nov. 12-14, 2018. IGF is a multistakeholder effort to illuminate issues and cultivate constructive discussions. People from civil society, government, technology, business and academia  share information and create coalitions in an effort to move dialogues forward and share best practices. IGF contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Thousands of people from more than 100 nation-states annually participate in Global IGF.

Elon University’s Imagining the Internet Center conducted interviews at Global IGF 2018 to gather opinions about Internet evolution and issues, inform policy and create a historic record. Click on the links below to view clips from interviews with 154 IGF participants from 55 nation-states across the globe; see and hear their responses to four questions:

1 – The Best New Digital Technologies? What new digital technologies will create the best opportunities for a better world for all over the next decade – why?

2 – Top Internet Challenge Today? What is the one most important Internet challenge or issue globally today and why? What action can be taken to address it?

3 – How Can We Enhance Global Cooperation in the Digital Age? What will bring people together for better cooperation on digital issues – what mechanisms might be employed? Should the UN Declaration of Human Rights be updated to include digital rights?

4 – What is the Future of the Internet? In just one word or a brief phrase – in just a few seconds – briefly describe the Internet’s future.

Interview highlights:

Click here for Digital Cooperation highlight video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUt_M0mDHns

Click here for Future of the Internet highlight video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mrH78fbqsI.

Photo Album: Click here to see 172 photos taken during dozens of IGF 2018 events.

Macron Keynote: Click here to view video clips and read a news story on French President Emmanuel Macron’s IGF 2018 Opening Plenary Keynote.

The Imagining the Internet Interview Team

Imagining the Internet’s ethnographic documentary work at Global IGF 2018 is being conducted by undergraduate researchers Alexandra Roat, Jared Mayerson, Grace Morris, Cammie Behnke, Anton Delgado, Sophia Ortiz, Jack Norcross and Sam Casamento of Elon University’s School of Communications, under the supervision of Elon faculty Janna Anderson, Alex Luchsinger and David Bockino.

2018 IGF Imagining the Internet Team Photo

You can read the full question set here.