On the occasion of Manthan Award 2012, the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) is organising a Round Table Discussion on Internet Governance, focusing on ​‘Emerging Internet Governance: Issues and Challenges in South Asia’, along with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC). The Round Table is an effort to understand the scope of Internet governance issues in the context of South Asian countries. The session aims to meet the following objectives:

• In the light of recent incidents on internet and reactions from governments and administrations, where do we stand?
• Do we need collective wisdom to work towards Internet Freedom at South Asia level?
• Do we need South Asia Consortium of relevant stakeholders to work together?

Anja Kovacs will join the Round Table as an invited speaker. Other invited speakers are Rajnesh Singh, Regional Director, Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau, ISOC; Subho Ray, President, IAMAI; Madanmohan Rao, Research Director, Mobile Monday; Mishi Choudhary, Director of International Practice, Software Freedom Law Center; Parminder Jeet Singh, Executive Director, IT For Change; and Chinmayi Arun, Asst. Prof at National Law University in Delhi & Fellow at the Centre for Internet & Society.

The Round Table will be chaired by Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of IT, Govt. of India.

Co-chair and moderator is Anriette Esterhuysen, Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)