Session
Organizer 1: Xiao Zhang, 🔒
Organizer 2: Lang Wang, 🔒
Organizer 3: Xitao Jiang, China Internet Network Information Center
Organizer 4: Yuqing Ying, China Internet Network Information Center
Speaker 1: Health Yao, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Edmon Chung, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Abdalmonem Tharwat Galila, Government, African Group
Speaker 4: Anil Kumar Jain, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Mrs. Xianhong Hu - Secretariat of Information for All Programme (IFAP), UNESCO
Xiao Zhang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Lang Wang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Xitao Jiang, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The three key speakers, all top experts in the field of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and Universal Acceptance (UA), will each have an average of about 15 minutes for their presentations, which is conducive to a thorough and in-depth discussion of the issues. An additional 15 minutes will be allocated for interaction between the speakers and the audience, both on-site and online, to maximize the effectiveness of communication and discussion. The theater-style format is beneficial for creating a relatively formal yet relaxed atmosphere for discussion, facilitating the speakers to supplement their personal viewpoints on the same topic.
A) The importance of a multilingual Internet - How do Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) support a multilingual Internet and help people, especially those in non-English speaking countries, access the web in their native languages?
B) Successful practical experiences of various stakeholders - What is the current state of universal acceptance (UA) readiness for various internet applications among users?
C) Possible future innovations - In which areas should we focus on promoting IDNs and UA in the future?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain insights from the conference on the significance of multilingual Internet access and the current development of internationalized domain names (IDNs), along with the latest readiness for widespread application of related software. Particularly for users from developing countries with low Internet penetration rates, they will learn about the technical feasibility of accessing the Internet in their local languages, which can enhance their awareness and interest in digital life.
Description:
According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), there were approximately 2.6 billion people worldwide without access to the Internet as of 2023. A significant barrier to Internet access is the unfamiliarity with the English language. Supporting users in accessing the Internet in their native languages is crucial for helping those who are not proficient in English to more conveniently integrate into an information society and the digital process, which holds significant practical importance. In the realm of Internet foundational resources, internationalized domain names (IDNs) provide technical feasibility for accessing the Internet in one's mother tongue. The promotion of IDNs not only benefits the global spread and application of the Internet but also aids in the dissemination of local cultures and brands across different countries and regions. This contributes to the diverse and prosperous development of the Internet.
A) Successful practical experiences in multilingual Internet for your reference.
B) Policy recommendations for promoting multilingual Internet, Internationalized Domain Names and Email Addresses.
C) Policy suggestions for Internationalized Domain Names in the Next Round of New gTLD and Universal Acceptance Day.
Hybrid Format: At the end of each topic discussion, opinions and comments will be solicited from both on-site and online audiences. The host will introduce the main topics and guest speakers at the beginning of the meeting. A summary of the topics will be conducted before the meeting concludes, and a brief of the meeting will be promptly uploaded after its end.
Report
Brief Introduction
The "My Language, My Internet – IDN Assists Next Billion Netusers" workshop, held on December 18, 2024, during the 19th United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed to address the critical role of multilingualism in the Internet and the importance of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in bridging the digital divide. The workshop featured a panel of distinguished experts from various regions, each contributing unique perspectives on the challenges and successes of implementing IDNs and promoting a multilingual Internet.
Key Points & Guest Contributions
1) Opening Remarks by Carol Roach - Carol emphasized the importance of multilingualism in ensuring representation and inclusion in the digital world. She highlighted the acronym "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) and adapted it to "LOMO" (Left Out Missing Out) to illustrate the exclusion experienced by those unable to access the Internet in their native languages. She stressed the need for accelerated action behind multilingualism enablers to connect the 2.6 billion unconnected users, primarily due to language barriers.
2) Multilingualism and Internet Safety - Abdalmonem Galila from Egypt discussed the challenges faced by the Arab region, including lack of awareness, limited online content in Arabic, and technical barriers. He argued that IDN and EAI are not just about choice but about language justice and safety, as multilingual Internet users can more easily identify phishing and scams in their native languages.
3) Experience to Share and Challenge to Face - Anil Jain from India shared the Indian government's efforts to promote IDN and EAI, including free EAI service and lower costs to encourage adoption. He also mentioned the "Real Mail" program, which supports 20 million local emails in Hindi for various official communications. Edmon Chung from Hong Kong SAR focused on the choice and language justice aspects of IDN, advocating for a multilingual Internet that includes minority languages in countries where English is the majority language.
4) Innovation & Future Directions - Jiankang Yao from China suggested exchanges between countries, such as using each other's domain names and email addresses, to promote IDN. He also emphasized the need for more education and support for users unfamiliar with IDN configurations. Edmon Chung proposed a grassroots movement to encourage ISPs and email providers to enable Universal Acceptance and for governments and industries to create roadmaps for systemic changes.
5) Government Policymaking and Private Sector Involvement - Abdalmonem Galila suggested that governments should mandate IDN use and EAI certification in procurement policies and encourage companies to adopt Universal Acceptance. Anil Jain highlighted the Indian government's efforts to bundle IDN with other services and lower costs to promote adoption.
Conclusion
The workshop concluded with a call for continued dialogue and collaboration to advance multilingualism in cyberspace. The panelists agreed that a multilingual Internet is not only a matter of choice and language justice, but also a critical factor in ensuring Internet safety and accessibility for the next billion users. The discussions underscored the need for governments, tech companies, and civil society to work together to overcome challenges and leverage the potential of IDN to create a more inclusive digital world.
Recommendations
- Continue to raise awareness about the importance of multilingualism in Internet accessibility and safety.
- Encourage governments to develop national strategies that integrate IDN and multilingualism into their digital transformation policies.
- Foster collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to develop and implement roadmaps for IDN adoption.
- Promote grassroots movements to engage ISPs and email providers in enabling Universal Acceptance.
- Support educational initiatives to increase understanding and use of IDN among Internet users.
Acknowledgement
The workshop is attribute to the insightful contributions from the panelists and the active participation of the audience. Special thanks to Carol Roach for her inspiring opening remarks and to all the panelists for their valuable insights and recommendations.