Access and diversity

The session will focus on access to infrastructure with the related sub-themes of enabling environments and legal frameworks. Because of the addition of the Internet governance for development session it was decided to reshuffle some of the sub-themes between sessions, e.g. topics related to regulatory issues and frameworks for investments were transferred to Internet governance for development. In addition, some aspects related to access to content will also be considered. These include issues that involve the geolocation of hosting platforms, the global reach of social networks and the linkages between access to knowledge and security solutions both in terms of hardware and software. In the access to content discussion, the focus will be on the side effect of the tools and methods used to block content. It was observed that filters installed to block illegal or harmful content or differential access due to the absence of network neutrality could deprive populations from  the access to content they would need to realize the Internet's full potential.

Co-Moderators:
• Nii Quaynor
• Olga Cavalli

Panellists:
• Vika Mpisane
• Manal Ismal
• Yamil Salinas
• Philipp Grabensee
• Mahesh Kullarni
• Virat Bhatia

Remote Moderation:
• Raquel Gatto

Feeder workshops:
• 27 Use of Latin and Native American languages on the Internet
• 96 Protecting women’s rights: Internet content from a gender perspective
• 107 A multilingual Internet in the light of the sovereign rights of language communities
• 109 Use of ICT by people with migrant background
• 114 Digital inclusion: reaching the most socially excluded people in society
• 182 Mobile Internet Application Facilitating Access for Persons with Disabilities