As artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies increasingly shape critical decisions in society, robust data governance frameworks are essential to promote fairness, accountability, and ethics. This session will explore how such frameworks can reduce algorithmic biases, ensure responsible decision-making, and clearly establish accountability when AI systems cause unintended consequences. We will examine practical examples of successful governance models, such as the EU's GDPR, LGPD Brazil, and Canada's Algorithmic Impact Assessment framework, and discuss their potential for replication. The conversation will also focus on public engagement strategies that foster trust and transparency, addressing the need for governments and companies to empower individuals with greater control over their personal data. As only 15% of countries worldwide have comprehensive personal data protection laws (UNCTAD, 2024), this gap underscores the urgency of developing accessible, understandable mechanisms for data consent. We will further delve into the role of Open Data initiatives in providing unbiased public information and the challenges of tailoring governance processes to local and global contexts. Finally, the session will consider how multi-stakeholder approaches can ensure governance structures remain agile in the face of technological change, and how debates around digital sovereignty are reshaping the future of data governance worldwide. Through dialogue and exchange of practices and experiences of different NRIs, this session will focus on ways to govern data responsibly.
This NRIs session will focus on action-oriented, concrete exchanges around advancing fairness, accountability, and ethics in AI and data governance. It will explore practical approaches to reducing bias in AI systems, establishing clear accountability mechanisms, and identifying replicable governance frameworks. The session will also examine how to build public trust through greater transparency and stakeholder engagement, especially regarding how personal data is used. Discussions will include strategies for promoting open, unbiased public data, ensuring accessibility across regions, and aligning data protection policies with local and global values. Finally, it will address how multistakeholder and institutional frameworks can adapt to emerging technologies, considering the growing relevance of digital and data sovereignty.
This session is co-organized by representatives from various National, Regional, and Youth IGF initiatives (NRIs), including
Henry Wang and Una Wang from the Singapore IGF, Judith Hellerstein from IGF-USA, Laurianne-Marie Schippers and Vinicius W. O. Santos from the Brazil IGF, Levy Syanseke from the Zambia Youth IGF, Poncelet Ileleji from The Gambia IGF, Tiago Martins from the Portugal IGF, Umut Pajaro Velasquez from the Colombia Youth IGF, Shin Yamasaki from the Japan IGF, Zeina Bou Harb from the Lebanon IGF, Yao Amevi A. Sossou from the Benin Youth IGF, Martha Giraldo from the Colombia IGF, Agustina Ordonez from the Argentina IGF, Ahmed Farag and Tijani Ben Jemaa from the North African IGF, Mary Uduma from the West African IGF, and Saba Tiku from the Ethiopia Youth IGF.The session is open to all participants and encourages active engagement. It will begin with scene-setting inputs from experts representing different regions and stakeholder groups, designated by the NRIs’ multistakeholder organizing committees.
Expert panel will set the stage before the floor opens to everyone:- Mr. Ahmed Fraag, Officer at the National Telecom Regulatory Authority | North African IGF (Egypt)
- Ms. Una Wang, Data Sovereignty and Governance Expert, Founder and CEO for LingoAI | Singapore IGF (Singapore
- Ms. Beatriz Costa Barbosa, Member of CGI.br board, Journalist and human rights specialist from USP | Brazil IGF (Brazil
- Ms. Chelsea Horne, Data Protection Expert, American University | IGF-USA, (USA)
- Ms. Nancy Kanasa, Senior Data Officer, Digital Government & Information Delivery | Pacific IGF (Papua New Guinea)
Session flow:- Welcome by the moderator and introduction (5 min)
- Setting the stage by designated and endorsed speakers (20 min)
- Open floor discussion (20 min)
- Conclusion and closing (5 min)
Onsite moderator: Mr. Poncelet Ileleji, The Gambia IGF
Online moderator: Ms. Aicha Jeridi, Vice chair, North Africa IG
Rapporteur: Mr. Yao Amevi B. Sossou from Benin Youth IGF
