Good Internet Policy: How, What, Why, Where, and For Whom?

As our digital society advances, an increasingly diverse array of stakeholders are seeking to have a greater say in its governance (Calandro, 2015, Aguerre, 2020, Tjahja et al, 2022), making the challenge of policymaking for the Internet more complex and contested (Kettemann, 2020, Belli et al, 2023). 

The 2024 Policy & Internet conference, hosted by the University of Sydney, invites scholars, policymakers, civic interest groups, platform providers and regulatory bodies to participate in a dialogue about the nature of ‘good Internet policy’. Set against the backdrop of significant global events like NetMundial+10 and the United Nations Global Digital Compact, the conference seeks to unravel the complexities of Internet governance and policymaking and to explore diverse pathways towards a ‘good’ future for the Internet for all. 

This conference aims to explore foundational questions and new frontiers in Internet policy and invites contributions that address but are not necessarily limited to the following topics:

• Defining Good Policy: What constitutes good Internet policy? Which norms and values are pivotal in shaping these policies?
• Policy Innovation and Ecosystems: What current innovations are shaping policy landscapes? Are these ecosystems effective, and how might they be reimagined?
• Norm Entrepreneurship: How are different stakeholders championing innovative norms to address the myriad challenges in Internet policy?
• Processes and Mechanisms: What are the key processes and mechanisms in crafting effective Internet policies?
• Policy Spaces: Where is Internet policy formulated? Which forums or platforms are or should be central to these discussions?
• Inclusivity in Policymaking: Who currently influences Internet policy, and who should be involved in these discussions?
• Impact of Emerging Technologies: How do emerging technologies reshape the frameworks and priorities of Internet policy?
• Regulatory Expertise: What expertise is necessary to navigate and enhance the efficacy of Internet policy-making?

We invite submissions that address the above themes, but also encourage papers that propose new perspectives or challenge existing paradigms in Internet policy and governance. Submissions may include empirical studies, theoretical analyses, policy reviews, case studies, and more.

Please submit your 300-word abstract, plus a 100-word author biography, by August 11, 2024 through conftool here.
Please email j.gray@sydney.edu.au if you have any questions.

For more information, visit:
https://internet-policy-meco.sydney.edu.au
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19442866

Additional information:
– Information about visa’s is available here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651
– If you are selected to present your paper, we are able to provide a visa letter.

References

Aguerre, C. (2020) ‘The who, the what and the how. Mapping stakeholders, issues and mechanisms of Internet governance in Latin America’, p. 12.

Belli, L., Curzi, Y., Walter, B.G. (2023) ‘AI regulation in Brazil: Advancements, flows, and need to learn from the data protection experience’, Computer Law & Security Review 48, p105767. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0267364922001108?via%3Dihub

Calandro, E. (2015) Stakeholders’ Involvement and Participation in the Internet Governance Ecosystem: An African perspective. Internet Policy Observatory, Center for Global Communication Studies, p. 20. Available at: https://global.asc.upenn.edu/app/uploads/2015/12/Policy-paper-multistakeholder-participation-Africa1.pdf (Accessed: 12 October 2020).

Kettemann, M.C. (2020) The normative order of the Internet. New York: Oxford University Press.

Tjahja, N., Meyer, T. and Shahin, J. (2022) ‘Who do you think you are? Individual stakeholder identification and mobility at the Internet Governance Forum’, Telecommunications Policy, 46(10), p. 102410. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102410.