IGF 2008

Event
Process	IGF
Date	Dec. 3, 2008 – Dec. 6, 2008
Region	AP
Country	India
City	Hyderabad
Venue	Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC)
← IGF 2007 IGF 2009 →

IGF 2008, the third Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting, was held in Hyderabad, India, from December 3 to 6, 2008.

Context

Before the IGF, on November 26, Mumbai suffered a series of terrorist attacks. Even so, the event was held, with an overall attendance of 1280 participants from 94 countries, of which 133 were media representatives.

It was structured in five main sessions organized around the meetings themes. Parallel to the main sessions, 87 workshops, best practise forums, dynamic coalition meetings and open forums were scheduled around the broad themes of the main sessions and the overall mandate of the IGF. Five workshops were cancelled because of the attacks.

Theme

The overall theme was "Internet for All". The specific themes planned for the agenda are the following:

• Reaching the next billion;
• Promoting cyber-security and trust;
• Managing critical Internet resources;
• Emerging issues;
• Taking stock and the way forward

Discussion

The first three days of the Forum were designed around three main themes for each day: "Reaching the Next Billion", "Promoting Cyber-Security and Trust" and "Managing Critical Internet Resources". Each morning, two panel discussions examined key issues of the day's theme, followed by an afternoon with an open dialogue session.

First Day

The first day was dedicated to "Reaching the Next Billion", with two panels.

The first panel was "Realizing a Multilingual Internet", which discussed issues related to multilingualism and promoting diversity on the Internet, including accessibility and the importance of enabling access for people with disabilities. It was chaired by Ajit Balakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer at Rediff.Com, and moderated by Miriam Nisbet, Director of the UNESCO Information Society Division.

The second panel was "Access: Reaching the Next Billions", which emphasized a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach to closing the global digital divide. It was chaired by Kiran Karnik, Member of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India and Founder-Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation's Development and Educational Communicational Unit, and moderated by Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

Second Day

The second day was dedicated to "Promoting Cyber-Security and Trust", with two panels.

The first panel was "Dimensions of Cyber-security and Cyber-crime", which addressed the growing threat of cyber-crime amid global reliance on the Internet. It emphasized that while the Internet’s openness is a strength, it also creates vulnerabilities, which are increasingly exploited by technically advanced malicious actors - often outpacing defenders, especially in developing countries.

ITU presented during the first panel on the second day the organization’s Global Cyber Security Agenda. A High Level Expert Group had been set up, comprising some 100 experts, representing all stakeholder groups.

The panel was chaired by Rentala Chandershekhar, Special Secretary of the Department of Information Technology in the Indian Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, and moderated by Bertrand de la Chapelle, Special Envoy for Information Society of the French Foreign Ministry.

The second panel, "Fostering Security, Privacy and Openness", examined the complex tensions and overlaps between national security, individual privacy, and the free flow of information on the Internet. It emphasized that building trust, protecting rights, and enabling openness must be tackled simultaneously and not as mutually exclusive goals. It was chaired by chaired by Pavan Duggal, President of Cyberlaws.Net and Dr. Gulshan Rai, Director CERT-In. The moderator of the session was Jonathan Charles, BBC Foreign Correspondent and News Presenter, and co-moderated by Natasha Primo, the National ICT Policy Advocacy Coordinator for the Association for Progressive Communications, and Everton Lucero, Counselor for Science and Technology at the Embassy of Brazil to the Unites States and Vice- Chairman of ICANN's GAC.

Third Day

The third day was dedicated to "Managing Critical Internet Resources", with two panels.

The first panel was "Transition from IPv4 to IPv6", which focused on the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, exploring the policy, technical, economic, and governance dimensions of the shift. It emphasized that a coordinated, inclusive, and forward-looking approach was needed to ensure a smooth and secure transition to IPv6. It was chaired by Dr. Gulsham Rai, Director of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and was moderated by Bernadette Lewis, Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU).

The second panel, "Arrangements for Internet Governance: Global, Regional and National", explored the arrangements for Internet governance at global, regional, and national levels, with a central focus on the concept of “enhanced cooperation” as outlined in the Tunis Agenda, which was understood in multiple ways—from intergovernmental public policy development to broader multistakeholder collaboration.

UNDESA reported on the state of enhanced cooperation based on input from organizations like ITU, UNESCO, WIPO, ICANN, ISOC, etc., highlighting:

• focus on dialogue, knowledge transfer, capacity-building, and consensus-building;
• lack of clear operational guidance on how to implement “enhanced cooperation”.

Some speakers framed enhanced cooperation as a government-led process, while others insisted on inclusive stakeholder roles.

There was no consensus on where this cooperation should happen. Some viewed ICANN as central, others saw OECD, ITU, and UNESCO as relevant depending on the issue.

The panel was chaired by was chaired by Ramlinga Raju, Founder and Chairman of Satyam Computer Services Limited and moderated by Emily Taylor, Director of Legal and Policy, Nominet (UK).

Fourth Day

The last day covered "Emerging Issues - the Internet of Tomorrow" and "Taking Stock and the Way Forward".

The first session, "The Internet of Tomorrow: Innovation and the Evolution of the Internet", was introduced with the goal of addressing topics that had not been discussed in the IGF to date. The moderator asked the participants to propose and discuss issues the IGF should consider in the next year at the IGF in Egypt and beyond. These topics should fit with the five themes of the session:

• the growing popularity of social networks and user-generated content;
• the impact of policy frameworks on creativity and innovation from an entrepreneurial perspective;
• the policy challenges and frameworks in ensuring an "Internet for All";

• the impact of the global nature of the Internet on jurisdiction and legislation; • the policy challenges to providing an environmentally sustainable Internet as the network reached the next billion users.

Some of the key points brought by speakers were sustainability, the next billion users, Internet access, education and the IGF role.

This session was chaired by S. V. Raghavan, Professor and Chairman of the Computer Science Department, IIT, Chennai, and moderated by Jonathan Charles, BBC Foreign Correspondent and News Presenter, and co-moderated by Stephen Lau, CEO of EDS.

The second session, “Taking Stock and the Way Forward”, reflected on the IGF’s progress and future, centering on its structure, agenda relevance, and mandate renewal beyond its initial five years. Participants agreed that the IGF had matured into a trusted, multistakeholder platform for open dialogue on complex Internet issues, offering a unique space to bridge technical, social, political, and economic concerns. Participation was highlighted as a critical area for improvement, with calls to better engage underrepresented groups such as youth, parliamentarians, and broadcasters, while continuing efforts toward gender balance. The session noted that dialogue - not decisions - is IGF's strength, but questioned whether consensus outcomes could emerge in select areas like child protection. In closing, the Chair emphasized the IGF's comparative advantage: discussing Internet governance in holistic, people-centered terms and maintaining a neutral, non-negotiating space where all stakeholders can engage as equals.

Outcomes

IGF 2008 solidified the Forum's role as a multistakeholder space for dialogue about Internet Governance issues.

Considering the theme of "Internet for All", the Forum reaffirmed that universal access is a multidimensional challenge requiring work on affordability, infrastructure, multilingualism, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. It emphasized that technical connectivity alone is insufficient without localized content, educational tools, and inclusive design strategies.

Cyber threats were acknowledged as a primary risk to digital trust. Participants stressed that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, requiring coordination among stakeholders and nations, trust networks, and proactive, preventive measures. Trust was framed as central to the growth of e-commerce, governance, and Internet use.

The need for IPv6 deployment was declared urgent with IPv4 exhaustion approaching. Although full migration was deemed impractical in the short term, stakeholders recognized the importance of managing IPv4-IPv6 coexistence, resolving vendor and incentive gaps, and raising public and operator awareness.

The session "Taking Stock and the Way Forward" prepared the ground for the formal UN review process, which would culminate in 2010 with a decision on whether to extend the IGF beyond its initial 5-year mandate. Broad support was expressed for the IGF's continuation.

Asia/Australia/Pacific, according to the ICANN Geographic Regions (ICANN Geographic Regions).

Internet Governance Forum

International Telecommunication Union

Computer Emergency Response Team

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).

World Intellectual Property Organization

Internet Society

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development