MEAC-SIG

Middle East and Adjoining Countries School on Internet Governance or MEAC-SIG launched as a part of ICANN's Middle East Engagement Strategy, devised by the Middle East Strategy Working Group. Through ICANN, the MEAC-SIG is an annual five-day event comprised of focused sessions tailored to fit the region's needs, covering a broad range of issues, ranging from technical to policy aspects of internet governance.^[1]

Its conferences have five tracks, targeting the following groups:^[1]

Academia and Research
Civil Society and NGOs
Government and Public Sector
Technical Community
Private Sector and Business

Asides from its annual conference, which changes host countries every year, the MEAC-SIG program intends to continue community development by creating an alumni network and have students engage in ICANN, IGF, Arab IGF, National IGFs in the region and other relevant regional activities.^[1]

Events[edit | edit source]

#4 - Ankara, Turkey, (7-11 August2017, The Middle East Technical University (METU)[edit | edit source]

Hosted by NIC.tr

#3 - Beirut, Lebanon, (8-12 August 2016, Issam Fares Institute (IFI), American University of Beirut (AUB) )[edit | edit source]

Hosted by Social Media Exchange (SMEX) in partnership with Issam Fares Institute (IFI).

#2 - Tunis Gammarth, Tunisia (May 25-29, 2014 at Regency Tunis Hotel)[edit | edit source]

Hosted by ISOC Tunisie and organized by ICANN.^[1]

Loose conference summary as follows:^[2]

Day 1: MEAC fellow learned about the history and evolution of internet governance, as well as the institutional development of it around the world. Experts and fellows discussed extending the IGF mandate for another five years through the UN General Assembly, which would allow MEAC-SIG to continue beyond 2015.
Day 2: Focused on technical aspects of the internet ecosystem, including issues related to DNS in the region, and on gTLD and IDN development and deployment around the world. Also discussed was the role of ICANN in implementing DNS.
Day 3: Brainstormed on how to bridge the digital divide between countries that have implemented IPv6 and how to help developing countries still using IPv4 shift to IPv6.
Day 4: Focused on policy, covering regulatory measures, laws, and funding priorities at both global and regional levels. Also included discussions about open internet, net neutrality, individual freedom of expression, non-discriminatory flow of traffic, and internet policies which can drive societal development.
Day 5: Centered around the IoT, or Internet of Things, which means smart digital devices connected through WiFi or Bluetooth, requiring little dependence on human beings to function. Fellows also participated in a simulated version of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, where they practiced preparing an IGF agenda and reviewing IGF workshop proposals, as well as explored best practices in internet governance.