IN THIS ISSUE
UPCOMING EVENTS


JULY 
   
 


AUGUST


7-10 Aug, Kuala Lumpur


7-11 Aug, Seoul


7-11 Aug, Bangkok


15-17 Aug, Honiara


16-18 Aug, Islamabad




21-22 Aug, Mumbai

SEPTEMBER


5 Sep, Singapore


5-8 Sep, Manila


7-8 Sep, Melbourne


7-14 Sep, Taichung


ITU Training on Spectrum Engineering and Cross-Border Radio Frequency Coordination
11-15 Sep, Xi'an


14-15 Sep, Tbilisi


18-19 Sep, Bangkok


19 Sep, Multiple locations


3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Forums on Smart Cities and e-Government
21-22 Sep, Bangkok


23 Sep, Bangkok


24-28 Sep, Busan


Submarine Networks World 2017
25-27 Sep, Singapore


25-28 Sep, Busan


25-29 Sep, Busan


25-29 Sep, Hong Kong


OCTOBER


2-3 Oct, Kuala Lumpur


2-4 Oct, Singapore


9-20 Oct, Buenos Aires


24-26 Oct, Dhaka


24-26 Oct, Trivandrum


25-27 Oct, Jakarta


26 Oct, Kuala Lumpur


30 Oct - 3 Nov, Shanghai


NOVEMBER


1-2 Nov, Kyoto


8 Nov, Auckland


9-10 Nov, Auckland


12-17 Nov, Singapore


ISOC Online Privacy Conference
14 Nov, Singapore


16-19 Nov, Lahore


bdNOG 7 Conference
18-22 Nov, Bangladesh


20-22 Nov, Bangkok


23-24 Nov, New Delhi


28-30 Nov, Yangon


DECEMBER


4-8 Dec, Singapore


18-21 Dec, Geneva

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JULY 2017
APAC Connections
  

This is a monthly e-newsletter published by the Internet Society's Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau. It has updates on the Bureau's activities and features insights on the transforming Internet landscape in and around the Asia-Pacific region.

If you like our e-newsletter, you can share it by clicking on the social media links above. 
Editorial: Cybersecurity is the Top Internet Policy Concern in the Asia-Pacific Region
This month at the Asia-Pacific Regional IGF in Bangkok we will release the fourth annual Internet Society Survey Report on Internet Policy Issues in Asia-Pacific.

Findings from this year's report show that cybersecurity, access, data protection, connectivity and privacy are the top five concerns for Internet users. These issues have more or less remained constant since 2014, however, not surprisingly this year cybersecurity has become the top issue.

Other issues that respondents expressed concern for relate to fake news, increasing digital surveillance that violates privacy rights, and more frequent instances of censorship and site-blocking that impact freedom of expression.

The survey polled more than 2,000 Internet users from across the Asia-Pacific region on their attitudes towards current Internet policy issues. This year, the survey took an in-depth look at how the region perceives and deals with personal information online, and the extent to which various entities are trusted to protect people's personal information and privacy rights.

Generally, the results are rather discouraging. The findings indicate the current level of trust in the Internet is low. Users are concerned that their personal information is not protected online, and this in turn translates to their hesitance in using online services. A large proportion of respondents (60%) also indicated they do not have the knowledge and tools to protect their privacy online. These have important implications on the rollout and use of not only commercial, but also public and social services online.

At the same time, users want to be informed, and desire to have a certain level of control over the collection and use of their personal information. Public and private organisations that collect and share user information need to take this into account when formulating or updating privacy frameworks. This includes the development of systems and tools that make it easier for users to understand the terms of service, and empower users to manage their privacy preferences.

Interestingly, users recognise that the protection of personal information online is a shared responsibility - and not just the owner's own responsibility. Both the public and private sectors, and especially the platforms through which users transact financially online, not only need to build robust and secure networks and systems, but also develop tools to equip users with the knowledge and skills to use these services safely online. This will improve their confidence in using online services, and their trust in the overall Internet ecosystem.

Read the full report here. Findings from past surveys are available here: 2014, 2015, 2016.

Regional Bureau Director for Asia-Pacific
Guest Article: Internet Society Starts New Project on Internet Accessibility
by Gunela Astbrink, Principal, GSA InfoComm
The Internet Society has launched a new project to raise awareness and promote actions to improve Internet accessibility for people with disability.

The drive to connect the next billion to the Internet must include people with disability. Over one billion people have a disability with 80% living in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for education, health, employment and reducing inequality reflect the social model of disability. This means reducing barriers for people with disability by making societal and attitudinal changes.

History

This new project builds on the Internet Society Issues Paper I wrote earlier entitled, Internet Accessibility. A previous Disability Training project offers context on how awareness can lead to action.

In 2011, through Internet Society's support to the Australian Chapter, I developed a disability training module, which was delivered at a workshop on accessibility at the annual Chapter Leaders Meeting in Sri Lanka. Naveed Haq, then with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, presented findings from a survey with mobile phone providers about their services for people with disability. Significant accessibility advances in Pakistan have occurred since then through the support and coordination of the Asia-Pacific Bureau.

At the Sri Lanka workshop, many Chapter leaders experienced for the first time how blind people use computers. Manique Gunaratne demonstrated how she used screen-reading software with audio output to access the Internet and the problems she had with poorly designed websites. Subsequent discussions between Sagarika Wickramasekera of the Sri Lanka Chapter and myself led to a further workshop in 2015 with the Chapter and other stakeholders identifying ways to support people with disability. A Beyond the Net Project is now training computer skills to people with disability in Sri Lanka, and earlier this year, the Sri Lanka Chapter hosted a multi-stakeholder Digital Accessibility Workshop that included the participation of people with disability.

The importance of involving people with disability in planning was emphasised in the initial workshop in 2011. The Hong Kong Chapter used this model at its accessibility workshop the following year. Representatives from government, industry and disability organisations all had opportunities to discuss accessibility and ways to move forward.

The new project will build upon these experiences and more.

Accessibility Toolkit

This new project will enable the development of a multimedia Accessibility Toolkit, presenting personal stories of people with disability who have used technology to make a difference to their own lives and their communities.

Whether a person has a vision or hearing impairment, a speech impairment or a physical disability, being online means that they can study, work or have fun just like anyone else - provided the barriers are removed.

The Accessibility Toolkit is more than "good news" stories. The video interviews and online content will offer ideas for the Internet community to help improve accessibility for people with disability through the implementation of key international policies and programmes.

Stay tuned for ISOC blogs as the project develops over the next few months. As I will be leading the project, feel free to email me your questions and comments.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the Internet Society.
Profile Feature: Sivasubramanian Muthusamy, President, Internet Society India Chennai Chapter
Photo of Sivasubramanian Muthusamy
After graduating with an MBA, Sivasubramanian Muthusamy set up his own business in textile exports. In the process, he discovered a keen interest in Internet governance and went on to establish the Internet Society India Chennai Chapter in 2007. Since then, he has been actively involved in Internet policy and governance issues, and has led a series of workshop and meetings in India and abroad at Internet Governance Forums (IGFs) and Asia-Pacific Regional IGFs on a diverse set of issues related to Internet standards, balancing security concerns and civil liberties, mobile access for children, and international trade. He is a member of the IGF's Dynamic Coalition on Core Internet Values, and is a participant/member in a number of ICANN working groups and meetings.

Follow him on Twitter @shivaindia
Chapter News: Internet Society India Chennai Chapter Held Roundtable on Internet Security
by Sivasubramanian Muthusamy, President, Internet Society India Chennai Chapter

Earlier this month, the Internet Society India Chennai Chapter brought together a diverse group of participants to share and discuss creative solutions to the complex issue of Internet security.

Participants around the table included Charter members of TiE Chennai, representatives of the Director General of Police in Tamil Nadu, and members of the Internet Society India Chennai Chapter. Representatives from IT companies in Chennai and Bangalore, the Internet Democracy Project, ICANN and various academic institutions were also present.

A wide range of policy issues were discussed, including the balance between the blocking of harmful online content and the right to information and expression; the urgent need to match policy push for Internet adoption with enhanced security awareness of online users; pervasive surveillance that does not always lead to increased security, but may instead create security risks and raise privacy concerns; the economic and social implications of security measures that restrict access to the Internet, particularly women's online access; the merging of online and offline security threats; and the commercialisation of security and the emphasis on technological solutions to Internet security threats.

These issues were looked at from the perspectives of policymakers and legislators, law enforcement agencies, Internet service providers, social media platforms, security experts, and civil society. This resulted in a rich discussion and deeper appreciation of the complexity of these wide-ranging but interrelated policy issues, which participants agreed, require a combination of technological, legislative, political and sociocultural interventions. Participants also agreed that there needs to be a move away from a security centric form of governance to a multi-stakeholder model.
In the News
AI To Be in Almost All New Software by 2020
Market hype and rising interest in artificial intelligence (AI) are compelling established software vendors to introduce AI into their product strategy, creating significant confusion in the process, according to Gartner.

The Australian government has proposed a new cybersecurity law to force global technology companies to give law enforcement agencies access to encrypted messages sent by suspected extremists and criminals.

Grab launched its GrabShare carpooling service in Vietnam just two months ago. The service involves both private vehicles and licensed taxis. The Hanoi People's Committee has ordered the suspension of carpooling activities involving licensed taxis, after receiving a request to do so from the country's Ministry of Transport.

The Indian government has formed a federal think-tank to examine ways to reduce urban congestion, and has included Uber in discussions. Prime Minsiter Modi has previously called for reduced car ownership and believes the use of private vehicles as shared taxis could be the ideal solution to India's traffic woes.

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