IGF 2015

The Internet has become an integral and essential part of our daily lives. It is determining our access to knowledge, how we communicate with each other and increasingly, new arteries of commerce. At the same time, we are alarmed to see how both our private and public spaces are being co-opted and controlled for private gain; how private corporations are carving the public Internet into walled spaces; how our personal data is being manipulated and proprietised; how a global surveillance society is emerging, with little or no privacy; how information on the Internet is being arbitrarily censored, and people's right to communicate curtailed; and, how the Internet is being militarised. Meanwhile, decision-making on public policy matters relating to the Internet remains dangerously removed from the mechanisms of democratic governance. The workshop will discuss the need and the modalities of a global Internet Social Forum, to explore the Internet we want and how to build it, and to begin a process to develop a 'People's Internet Manifesto'.
Internet Social Forum aims to create a global space precisely to take up these issues, where we will discuss the Internet we want, share information on our endeavours and struggles for democracy, human rights and social justice in relation to the Internet, and develop collective action agendas. The Internet Social Forum (ISF) takes its inspiration from the World Social Forum (WSF) process and its visionary call that “Another world is possible”—we are suggesting that "Another (People's) Internet is possible”. See www.InternetSocialForum.net .