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CIGF 2024

Canada on the
world stage 

November 27th

Ottawa
ON

Canadian

IGF

2024

CIGF 2024

Canada on the world stage

The intersection of global affairs and internet governance

What is CIGF

The Canadian Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is Canada’s premier multistakeholder forum for digital policy dialogue.

  • National initiative: we’re a national initiative of the global, United Nations-led Internet Governance Forum

  • Our mandate: foster bottom-up, inclusive, open, transparent, non-commercial and multistakeholder digital policy dialogue to gather and represent Canadian priorities globally
  • Our mission: give the Canadian internet community a chance to discuss the most pressing public policy issues facing the internet and find common solutions underpinned by shared values 
50
Years
90
Meetings
1060
Speakers
more about CIGF

What we do

more about CIGF
01
Convene leaders

Convene engaged leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, academic and technical communities with a diverse set of viewpoints

02
Foster dialogue

Foster digital policy dialogue to identify Canadian priorities based on shared values

03
Represent Canada

Represent Canadian priorities on internet governance and digital policy on the global stage at the United Nations IGF

04
Share information

Complete intersessional work to facilitate information-sharing throughout Canada’s internet community about what’s going on in global internet governance

Agenda

Morning
Afternoon
Keynote 1: Byron Holland, CIRA
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This panel explores the challenges and solutions to keeping the internet open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure in the 2020s.
Panel 1: Upholding the principles of the internet in the 2020s
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Readout from the Youth Internet Governance Forum Canada
Youth spotlight
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Dive into the lessons learned from the U.S. election and what Canadians can expect online in the 2025 election.
Panel 2: How democracy is faring in the deepfake era
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Virtual
Keynote 2: Frances Haugen
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Engaged Canadian leaders in global internet governance will do a deep dive in the halfway point to the World Summit on the Information Society +20 Review.
Panel 3: Shaping our shared digital future: Canadian interventions in global internet governance
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How might regulations, litigation and consultations about AI impact search, intermediary liability, privacy and security online?
Fireside chat: How developments in global AI policy and law could re-shape the internet
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What can Canada learn from its international counterparts and how will the new rules of the road affect Canadian digital infrastructure and the online experience?
Panel 4: Lessons from the globe: How the Online Harms Act will work in practice
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Join us

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Discussion
List

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Topics and speakers were outstanding

Normally ISPs don’t really consider things like “Internet Governance” to be within their purview. This week I attended the Canadian Internet Governance Forum #CIGF2023 in #Montreal and the topics and speakers were outstanding. One of the most interesting discussions was “Canadian communications policy and internet governance” with a really engaged panel. Thanks to #CIGF for putting on a great conference.

Todd Hoffley
Vice President, Policy and Communications, Beanfield 
Fantastic platform

The CIGF2023 was a fantastic platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the public, private, and third sectors. The event brought together diverse perspectives on data governance from these different societal domains. The insightful cross-sector discussions have reinforced our collective commitment to ethical data practices that balance innovation with privacy, sustainability, and social responsibility. 

Cristiano Therrien
Program Manager, Open North  
Brings the right people together

The CIGF brings the right people together to facilitate meaningful conversations. In 2023 I spoke on a panel discussing Canada’s ideal priorities for its G7 presidency, a session that brought together the key person creating that agenda with civil society, academia, and industry stakeholders representing different perspectives. The conversation was public, wide-ranging, and interactive, exemplifying the critical role the CIGF can play in Canada’s digital policy-making. 

Brenda McPhail
Director, Executive Education Program, McMaster University
Essential forum

The CIGF is the essential forum in Canada’s internet policy landscape. It is one of the few spaces dedicated to bringing together a full range of perspectives - government, industry, academic, civil society and consumer - to address the important tech policy issues of the day.

David Fewer
Director, Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic 
Canada’s multistakeholder voice is heard

The CIGF is important as it convenes an independent community and public perspective on Internet governance issues relevant to Canada and makes sure that Canada’s multistakeholder voice is heard at the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). 

Nancy Carter
ARIN Board Member 
Meaningful interactions with the audience

The 2023 CIGF was a distinctive occasion for ICANN's North American engagement team to connect with the vibrant Canadian Internet community. ICANN Board Chair, Tripti Sinha, delivered the keynote address and was delighted by the meaningful interactions with the audience. 

ICANN Org.
North American Engagement Team 
    Have your voice heard

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    The CIGF wants to hear from you! Got a great idea for a future CIGF session? We welcome event topic suggestions.

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