The Global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers (NoC) was established 12 years ago and has since connected nearly 130 centers worldwide. Its main objective is to promote interdisciplinary research and collaboration at the intersection of technology and society.
This year, the 2024 NoC Annual Meeting took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was hosted in partnership with the Digital Asia Hub Thailand (DAH.th) and centered around the theme 'The World at a Digital Crossroads: Navigating Uncertainty, Seizing Opportunity.'
Representatives from over 50 centers, including universities, research institutes, and civil society bodies from different parts of the world, attended the meeting. The purpose of the gathering was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, foster mutual learning, and accelerate the implementation of the NoC Roadmap.
The meeting programme:
On Thursday 17 October, the meeting focused on addressing offline crises through emerging technologies. Discussions included governance challenges, the impact of technology on democracy and global cooperation, academia's role in navigating technology and society, and the launch of the HEMISPHERES initiative, a collaborative project between EU and Latin American institutions to address technology policy challenges. The day ended with talks by Nicole Manger from the German Federal Foreign Office and Charles Nesson of the Berkman Klein Center on inclusive digital futures and civil discourse and freedom.
On Friday 18 October 2024, the second day of the meeting, shifted towards practical insights and collaboration. Topics included cross-sector collaboration within the technology and society space, with a particular emphasis on lessons learned and future inquiries. Dandy Rafitrandi from Safer Internet Lab (SAIL) at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia presented ongoing efforts to study the use and misuse of AI. He also shared valuable lessons derived from SAIL's engagement with various stakeholders, ranging from government to private sectors. In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to AI governance, with updates from Thailand's AI Governance Center, including updates on evolving legislation and the upcoming AI Act. The day ended with internal sessions on NoC's governance, roadmap updates, and idea pitching.
This meeting was a highly fruitful platform for exchange, fostering valuable discussions and enabling participants to share and learn from each other's perspectives and experiences.