December 22, 2019
The following CSISAC members have been appointed for the 2020-2021 CSISAC Steering Committee:
1. Hanno Wagner (EDRi, DEU)
2. Valeria Milanes (ADC, ARG)
3. Marc Rotenberg (EPIC, USA) (Caitriona Fitzgerald represents EPIC from 2020-04-25)
4. Claire Milne (individual, UKN)
5. Carolina Botero (Karisma, COL)
6. Sonigitu Ekpe (individual, NIG)
7. Fouad Bajwa (individual, PAK)
8. Kathleen Diga (APC, ZAF)
The CSISAC Steering Committee is elected by the CSISAC members to manage the coalition and to represent it for a two-year term. The maximum size of the Steering Committee is eight members, and they are elected in two steps. First, a maximum of 5 members are elected by the membership. Second, the elected candidates can appoint other CSISAC members to improve the territorial, gender and expertise balance of the final composition.
The election for the 2020-2021 Steering Committee took place without incidents. The first five members were elected in the first stage, having five candidates and therefore making unnecessary to cast a ballot. The three remaining members were elected in the second stage, which required an extension of 7 days to finalise deliberation.
With this notice, the 2020-2021 Steering Committee of the CSISAC gets formally constituted.
The former members of the Steering Committee will remain subscribed until the end of the transition period to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and integration of the new members.
Update 20201028: the post was updated to correctly reflect the term period 2020-2021.
Update 20200425: Caitriona Fitzgerald replaces Marc Rotenberg as EPIC representative
November 30, 2019
The CSISAC Steering Committee is elected by the CSISAC members to manage the coalition and represent it for a two-year term. The following candidates have been nominated to run in the election (ordered by date of nomination):
* Hanno Wagner (European Digital Rights, EDRi, Germany)
* Valeria Milanes (Asociación por los Derechos Civiles, ADC, Argentina)
* Marc Rotenberg (Electronic Privacy Information Center, EPIC, USA)
* Claire Milne (Individual member, United Kingdom)
* Carolina Botero (Fundación Karisma, Colombia)
The number of candidates (5) is the same as the number of members to be elected in the first stage (5), so no vote is needed to complete the first stage of the renewal process. In the second stage, the new Steering Committee will be called to evaluate the composition of the resulting Steering Committee and appoint up to three additional CSISAC members to address any concern about regional, gender or expertise diversity.
Provided that no vote is needed, the second stage will start on the 8th of December. The allocated time for the new SC to decide on diversity is 7 days, so the final SC composition will be announced on the 15th of December at the latest. The updated renewal schedule shows as follows:
2019-11-13 Election call. Census review and nominations ends 2019-11-30 00:00
2019-12-01 Announcement of nominations
2019-12-08 Call for extra SC members
2019-12-15 Proclamation of 2020-2021 SC
2019-12-31 End of transition period
2020-01-01 Start of 2020-2021 SC term.
November 13, 2019
The CSISAC Steering Committee is elected by the CSISAC members to manage the coalition and represent it for a two-year term. The following schedule has been agreed for the election of the Steering Committee members for the 2020-2021 term (always Paris time, CET/ CEST timezone):
2019-11-13 Election call. Census review and nominations ends 2019-11-30 00:00
2019-12-01 Announcement of nominations
2019-12-08 Vote starts
2019-12-15 Announcement of voting results, call for extra SC members
2019-12-22 Proclamation of 2020-2021 SC
2020-01-01 End of transition period.
Any member of the CSISAC can nominate candidates for the Steering Committee, posting a message in the elections internal thread (see the regular updates) with the following information:
- Full name, mail and country/ region of the candidate
- Brief statement on the expected contribution of the candidate
- Short bio, including reference to the most related CSISAC goals
Alternatively, they can send the nomination to liaison@csisac.org with copy to the CSISAC Members mailing list. The list of nominees will be announced once finalised and published in the CSISAC website.
Once the nomination period is over, voters will receive a ballot to select up to five candidates. Consistently with the committment of the CSISAC with diversity, the elected candidates will be able to appoint other CSISAC members to ensure gender, regional and expertise balance. The maximum final size of the Steering Committee is eight members.
The full detail of the Steering Committee election can be found in the document describing CSISAC election process. CSISAC members are asked to nominate candidates and update their contact mail address so they can receive and cast their ballot, until 2019-11-30 00:00 Paris time.
Update 20201028: the post was updated to correctly reflect the term period 2020-2021.
November 13, 2019
The 80th session of the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) will take place on 18-22 November 2019 in the OECD headquarters in Paris (France).
The Committee and its Working Parties will continue the work on Phase II of the Going Digital Horizontal Project, with an exploration of future policy and measurements for the Digitalisation Toolkit. The work on Artificial Intelligence will continue with an implementation guide for the Artificial Intelligence Recommendation, and the configuration of an expert network linked to the OECD AI Observatory. New proposals refer to topics such as Data Portability, Anti-terrorist reporting, and Regulatory Sandboxes. The Committee will continue the review of the Recommendations on Privacy, on Broadband and on Children Online. The review of the 2015 Digital Risk Management instrument will be kicked off, including discussion about the Global Security Forum and panels on Responsible Disclosure of Vulnerabilities, and about Digital Security Innovations. Other reports include topics on Bundled Communication Price Baskets, Measuring Data and Data Flows, Measuring Cloud Services, and the Digitalisation of Science, with an emphasis on privacy in the case of the reports on data breach notifications, and enhanced access to data. As usual, the meeting will include discussion about organisational aspects such as the program of work, budget and bureau nominations.
The CSISAC will take part in this set of meetings to bring the voice of Civil Society to the OECD policy making process. Confirmed participants include CSISAC Steering Committee member and Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Marc Rotenberg, CSISAC Steering Committee member Valeria Milanes from Asociación Derechos Civiles (ADC, Argentina), and CSISAC member Carolina Botero from Fundación Karisma (Colombia), all of them supported by CSISAC Secretariat Suso Baleato. The CSISAC wants to thank the EPIC for supporting this effort, together with the European Digital Rights (EDRi), and other contributors. Civil Society participants involved in the related topics are encouraged to express their interest towards getting involved in the ongoing work and join the CSISAC delegation at the OECD.
October 23, 2019
CSISAC member the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has opened endorsement to the Public Voice Declaration: A Moratorium on Facial Recognition Technology for Mass Surveillance.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the privacy commissioners, CSISAC Steering Committee Member, and EPIC President Marc Rotenberg presented a declaration from civil society calling for a moratorium on the further deployment of facial recognition. The declaration, organized by the Public Voice coalition, has gathered the L5[support] of more than 60 organizations and many leading experts in 30 countries. The declaration calls on countries to (1) suspend the further deployment of facial recognition for mass surveillance; (2) review all facial recognition systems to determine whether personal data was obtained lawfully; (3) undertake research to assess bias and risk; and (4) establish legal rules, technical standards, and ethical guidelines before further deployment occurs. Mr. Rotenberg explained that around the world there is growing opposition to the deployment of facial recognition and urged the international data protection commissioners to act.
Civil society participants are called to endorse the call for a moratorium on Facial Recognition, consistently with the CSISAC Civil Society Principles, and the 2009 Madrid Privacy Declaration.
September 22, 2019
CSISAC member the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is co-organising the OECD Workshop on Enforcement and Emerging Technologies, to be hosted by the OECD on 18 November 2019. This event, co-organised by EPIC with the United Kingdom Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is planed to review the challenges to enforcement of privacy and personal data protection, in the context of the review of implementation of the OECD Privacy Guidelines. The CSISAC calls for civil society participants to engage in this work sharing their expressions of interest to take part in this meeting, specially those engaged in the impact of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence or Blockchain.
About CSISAC
The CSISAC is the voice of civil society at the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy Policy. We facilitate the exchange of information between the OECD and civil society participants, leading to better-informed and more widely accepted policy frameworks. The formal recognition of this Advisory Committee by the OECD was the result of an effort initiated in the 1990s decade to promote participation parity in the global policy-making. Today, the CSISAC is the main venue to channel the participation of civil society in the OECD work on the digital economy. To learn more about the CSISAC and how to engage in the OECD work, please feel free to contact the CSISAC Liaison at liaison@csisac.org
September 20, 2019
The CSISAC calls for expressions of interest of Civil Society participants to take part in the OECD work on blockchain. Consistently with the CSISAC recommendations, the OECD is taking part in the global policy making process around blockchain. Blockchain based technologies are expected to have a profound social, economic and political impact. The CSISAC is taking part in the OECD work on blockchain to contribute with a civil society perspective consistent with the Civil Society Principles adopted in the 2008 OECD Seoul Ministerial Meeting.
In addition to the Blockchain Policy Forum, civil society experts are needed to engage in the OECD policy guidance and working groups, such as the Blockchain Pillar of the Going Digital Phase II reports, the Blockchain Advisory Board, and the Blockchain Policy Centre. You can learn more about the OECD work on this topic in the site of Blockchain Policy Forum latest edition.
About CSISAC
The CSISAC is the voice of civil society at the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy Policy. We facilitate the exchange of information between the OECD and civil society participants, leading to better-informed and more widely accepted policy frameworks. The formal recognition of this Advisory Committee by the OECD was the result of an effort initiated in the 1990s decade to promote participation parity in the global policy-making. Today, the CSISAC is the main venue to channel the participation of civil society in the OECD work on the digital economy. To learn more about the CSISAC and how to engage in the OECD work, please feel free to contact the CSISAC Liaison at liaison@csisac.org
September 3, 2019
The CSISAC calls for expressions of interest from Civil Society participants to take part in the second consultation of the expert group on the review of the OECD Recommendation on the Protection of Children Online.
While the Internet can bring considerable benefits to children's education and development, it also exposes them to online risks such as access to inappropriate content, abusive interaction with others, exposure to aggressive marketing practices and privacy risks. The OECD has undertaken considerable work on the protection of children as users of the Internet. The CSISAC is taking part in the OECD work on children online contributing with a civil society perspective consistent with the Civil Society Principles adopted in the 2008 OECD Seoul Ministerial Meeting. You can learn more about the work of the OECD on this topic at the Protecting children online website.
About CSISAC
The CSISAC is the voice of civil society at the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy Policy. We facilitate the exchange of information between the OECD and civil society participants, leading to better-informed and more widely accepted policy frameworks. The formal recognition of this Advisory Committee by the OECD was the result of an effort initiated in the 1990s decade to promote participation parity in the global policy-making. Today, the CSISAC is the main venue to channel the participation of civil society in the OECD work on the digital economy. To learn more about the CSISAC and how to engage in the OECD work, please feel free to contact the CSISAC Liaison at liaison@csisac.org
September 18, 2019
CSISAC member the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has published the first compendium on AI policy. Authored by EPIC President and CSISAC Steering Committee member Marc Rotenberg, the EPIC AI Policy Sourcebook provides essential information to policy makers, researchers, journalists ,and the public. The EPIC Sourcebook includes global AI frameworks such as the OECD AI Principles and the Universal Guidelines for AI. The Sourcebook also includes AI materials from the European Union and the Council of Europe, national AI initiatives, as well as recommendations from professional societies, including the ACM and the IEEE. The Sourcebook also includes an extensive resources section on AI, including reports, articles, and books from around the world. You can learn more about the EPIC AI Policy Sourcebook in the EPIC website
July 24, 2019
OECD and partner countries formally adopted the first set of intergovernmental policy guidelines on Artificial Intelligence (AI) today, agreeing to uphold international standards that aim to ensure AI systems are designed to be robust, safe, fair and trustworthy.
The OECD's 36 member countries, along with Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Romania, signed up to the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence at the Organisation's annual Ministerial Council Meeting, taking place today and tomorrow in Paris and focused this year on "Harnessing the Digital Transition for Sustainable Development". Elaborated with guidance from an expert group formed by more than 50 members from governments, academia, business, civil society, international bodies, the tech community and trade unions, the Principles comprise five values-based principles for the responsible deployment of trustworthy AI and five recommendations for public policy and international co-operation. They aim to guide governments, organisations and individuals in designing and running AI systems in a way that puts people's best interests first and ensuring that designers and operators are held accountable for their proper functioning.
"Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising the way we live and work, and offering extraordinary benefits for our societies and economies. Yet, it raises new challenges and is also fuelling anxieties and ethical concerns. This puts the onus on governments to ensure that AI systems are designed in a way that respects our values and laws, so people can trust that their safety and privacy will be paramount," said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. "These Principles will be a global reference point for trustworthy AI so that we can harness its opportunities in a way that delivers the best outcomes for all."
The AI Principles have the backing of the European Commission, whose high-level expert group has produced Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, and they will be part of the discussion at the forthcoming G20 Leaders' Summit in Japan. The OECD's digital policy experts will build on the Principles in the months ahead to produce practical guidance for implementing them.
While not legally binding, existing OECD Principles in other policy areas have proved highly influential in setting international standards and helping governments to design national legislation. For example, the OECD Privacy Guidelines, which set limits to the collection and use of personal data, underlie many privacy laws and frameworks in the United States, Europe and Asia. The G20-endorsed OECD Principles of Corporate Governance have become an international benchmark for policy makers, investors, companies and other stakeholders working on institutional and regulatory frameworks for corporate governance. For more information, please visit the OECD announcement.
June 24, 2019
The 79th session of the OECD Committee on the Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) will take place on 1-3 July 2019 in the OECD headquarters in Paris (France).
The Committee will discuss the progress of the Going Digital Horizontal Project, and the plans for a second phase, with proposals including topics on online platforms and blockchain. Artificial Intelligence will be another prominent item, focusing on the framework to implement the recently adopted Recomendation. The Committee will discuss the outlines of the Digital Economy Outlook 2020, and the new proposals on the ongoing legal instrument reviews including on privacy, critical infrastructures, broadband development, an children online. Working parties and member countries are expected to provide an update on their latest activities. Organisational discussions will focus on internal review, the mandate, and updating about the G7/ G20 dialogue and the 2017-2018 program of work and budget.
The CSISAC will take part in this set of meetings to bring the voice of Civil Society to the OECD policy making process. Confirmed participants include CSISAC Steering Committee member and Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Marc Rotenberg, supported by CSISAC Secretariat Suso Baleato. The CSISAC wants to thank the EPIC for supporting this effort, together with the European Digital Rights (EDRi), and previous contributors. Civil Society participants involved in the related topics are encouraged to express their interest towards getting involved in the ongoing work and join the CSISAC delegation at the OECD.
May 10, 2019
Economies and societies are undergoing digital transformations that bring both opportunities and challenges and countries' preparedness to seize the benefits of a digital world is largely dependent on the skills of their population. This edition of the OECD Skills Outlook 2019 aims to understand how policies, and in particular those that affect skills development and use, can shape the outcomes of digital transformation and translate into more equally shared benefits among and within countries' populations. Ensuring people can benefit from new technologies and are not left behind requires a comprehensive and co-ordinated policy effort. This package of co-ordinated policies needs to simultaneously promote digitalisation where the latter increases productivity and well-being, and otherwise cushion its negative impacts.
May 22, 2019
Today the OECD announced the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence, the first international standard for AI, with the backing of 42 countries. The OECD AI principles make central "the rule of law, human rights and democratic values" and set out requirements for fairness, accountability and transparency. OECD Secretary-General Gurría said the OECD AI principles "place the interests of people at its heart." Gurría also quoted Alan Turing, who once said, "We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done." Civil society groups, working through the CSISAC played a key role in the development of the OECD AI Principles as did the EPIC Public Voice project. Earlier this year, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg commended the US administration for backing the OECD process, but also wrote in the New York Times that there is much more to be done. "The United States must work with other democratic countries to establish red lines for certain AI applications and ensue fairness, accountability, and transparency as AI systems are deployed."
May 22, 2019
Today the OECD announced the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence, the first international standard for AI, with the backing of 42 countries. The OECD AI principles make central "the rule of law, human rights and democratic values" and set out requirements for fairness, accountability and transparency. OECD Secretary-General Gurría said the OECD AI principles "place the interests of people at its heart." Gurría also quoted Alan Turing, who once said, "We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done." Civil society groups, working through the CSISAC played a key role in the development of the OECD AI Principles as did the EPIC Public Voice project. Earlier this year, EPIC President Marc Rotenberg commended the US administration for backing the OECD process, but also wrote in the New York Times that there is much more to be done. "The United States must work with other democratic countries to establish red lines for certain AI applications and ensue fairness, accountability, and transparency as AI systems are deployed."
February 20, 2019
The CSISAC is planning to attend the OECD Going Digital Summit to be held 11-12 March 2019 at the OECD Conference Centre, Paris. This event will serve as the high-level closing of the two-year Going Digital Project, and will feature the presentation of several outcomes of this work including the reports on Measuring Digital Transformation, the Going Digital Toolkit and a finaly synthesis report.
The CSISAC will take part in the Summit facilitating the participation of civil society NGOs, activists and academics towards fostering a sustainable and ethical digitalisation process. Due to space constraints at the conference venue, participation will be by invitation, so participants planning to join the CSISAC delegation should contact the Secretary before the end of February to check for participation options. Alternatively, the OECD will be providing a live stream of the event to allow online participation.
