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On Sunday – Wednesday, 4–7 October 2026, the Internet Governance Institute, with Internet Exchange Nepal (npIX) and the Internet Society Nepal Chapter as co-hosts, presents APrIGF 2026, the 17th edition of the forum, at The Plaza in Kathmandu and online, under the overarching theme ‘Safeguarding a Resilient Internet in Times of Crisis‘. All sessions are livestreamed on the APrIGF YouTube channel.
The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) serves as a regional platform for dialogue, collaboration, and exchange on Internet governance. Bringing together national IGF discussions, it fosters progress in Internet governance throughout the Asia Pacific region. Twenty-nine sessions were selected from 105 proposals, arranged across four sub-themes: Future of APrIGF & Multistakeholder Ecosystem, AI Governance for Good, Digital Resilience and Building of Trust, and Universal and Meaningful Connectivity.
Taking place alongside APrIGF 2026, and organised by a regional youth organising committee, the yIGF runs on Saturday – Sunday, 3–4 October 2026. The Asia Pacific yIGF is a dedicated space for young people across the Asia Pacific to engage with pressing Internet Governance issues, exchange perspectives, and develop a collective youth voice on the issues shaping the region’s digital future.
Session times below are Nepal Time (NPT, UTC+5:45).
DAY 0 – SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2026
KANGCHENJUNGA HALL, LEVEL 7
15:00 NPT (09:15 UTC) — DAY 0 CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM (2 hours)
DAY 1 – MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2026
GAURISHANKAR HALL, LEVEL 7 – PLENARY
09:00 NPT (03:15 UTC) — OPENING CEREMONY & PLENARY
Welcome Note: Babu Ram Aryal – Chair, Host Steering Committee
Opening Remarks: Amrita Choudhury – Chair, Multistakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of APrIGF
Remarks from IGF MAG Chair: Jennifer Chung – MAG Chair, UN IGF
Chief Guest: Chief Justice Rt. Hon. Dr. Manoj Sharma
Presentation of Token of Appreciation by Local Host: Babu Ram Aryal – Chair, Host Steering Committee
Closing of the inaugural ceremony: Rupesh Shrestha – Managing Director, NPIX
Plenary Roundtable: ‘SAFEGUARDING RESILIENT INTERNET IN TIMES OF CRISIS’
Subhash Dhakal – Joint Secretary, Government of Nepal, Information Technology and Digital Governance Office (ITDGO)
Nuwan Waidyanatha – Senior Research Fellow, LIRNEasia
Rukamanee Maharjan – Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Tribhuvan University
Tahani Iqbal – Digital Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Ruzan Sarwar – Public Policy Manager, Meta
Moderator: Dr. Bhoj Raj Ghimire – Co-Convenor, Program Committee, APrIGF
LANGTANG HALL, LEVEL 3
11:15 NPT (05:30 UTC) — SEEING THE BIAS: A REGIONAL INTERACTIVE IDEATION WORKSHOP ON AI BIAS, MISINFORMATION, AND INCLUSIVE DIGITAL FUTURES
Pahani Weerakkodi – Factum
Farieha Aziz – Bolo Bhi
Saritha Irugalbandara – Center for the Study of Organized Hate
Dr. Dovan Rai – Body & Data
13:15 NPT (07:30 UTC) — THE ALGORITHMIC BREACH: BREVITY BIAS, COGNITIVE SOVEREIGNTY, AND THE CASE FOR A DUTY OF CARE IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Nhasala Joshi – Open Knowledge Foundation Nepal
Priya Lamichhane – Open Knowledge Foundation Nepal (online)
13:55 NPT (08:10 UTC) — WHO GETS A SAY? A REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE (DPI) GOVERNANCE IN ASIA-PACIFIC
Khushbakht – NetMission
Manas Joshi – NetMission
Haris Ahmad Khan – NetMission
Shiang Yen Eow – Malaysian Youth Council (online)
Charlotte Fang Hendro – UNSW (online)
Moderators: Bea Guevarra – NetMission; Sherry Shek – NetMission
15:10 NPT (09:25 UTC) — THE COST OF A CLICK: UNBOXING AI AND INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURES TO SHAPE A GREENER INTERNET IN THE APAC
Try Thy – Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Open Development Cambodia
Itsaraporn Daoram – Regional Consultant for Asia and the Pacific, 5 Rights Foundation
Gabe Mercado – Executive Director, Vivita Philippines (online)
Namrata Srihari – Co-Founder, Vyuha Learning Labs (online)
Moderators: Dhanyashri Kamalakannan – Governance Lead, The Pranava Institute; Titiksha Vashist – Co-Founder and Lead Researcher, The Pranava Institute (online)
16:30 NPT (10:45 UTC) — TOWNHALL SESSION
KANGCHENJUNGA HALL, LEVEL 3
11:15 NPT (05:30 UTC) — A GUIDE TO INTEGRATING GENDER TO CYBERSECURITY POLICY
Gaelle Demolis – UN Women (online)
Moderators: Pavitra Ramanujam – Association for Progressive Communications (APC); Cho Thazin Aung – Association for Progressive Communications (APC) (online)
13:15 NPT (07:30 UTC) — GOVERNING AI TRAINING DATA IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC: TRANSPARENCY, VERIFIABILITY, AND CREATOR RIGHTS
Seungwoo Jang – KISA EG@IG, Chungang University
Eunsun Lee – KISA EG@IG, Korea University
Seoyeon Han – KISA EG@IG, Ewha Womans University (online)
Moderator: Sodam Kum – KISA EG@IG, Ewha Womans University
13:55 NPT (08:10 UTC) — COMMUNITY RADIO IN THE DIGITAL ERA: STRENGTHENING INTERNET RESILIENCE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATION IN SOUTH ASIA
Arti Jaiman – Community Radio Gurgaon ki Awaaz
Dr. Ramnath Bhat – AMARC Asia-Pacific
Ananda Gautam – Internet Society Nepal Chapter (Open Internet Nepal)
A. H. M. Bazlur Rahman – Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
Shita Laksmi – Internet governance consultant (online)
Moderator: Suman Basnet – AMARC Asia-Pacific
15:10 NPT (09:25 UTC) — BACKDOORS, BLACKOUTS, AND BIG TECH: MAPPING ENCRYPTION RULES ACROSS THE ASIA PACIFIC — AND FILLING THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAP
Farieha Aziz – Bolo Bhi
Moderator: Masayuki Hatta – Surugadai University / MIAU
15:50 NPT (10:05 UTC) — LET’S MEASURE THE INTERNET: RIPE ATLAS FOR APAC DIGITAL RESILIENCE
Om Prakash Sharma – RIPE Atlas
Lia Hestina – RIPE NCC (online)
DAY 2 – TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2026
LANGTANG HALL, LEVEL 3
09:00 NPT (03:15 UTC) — FROM BARRIER TO ENABLER: RETHINKING POLICY FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INTERNET ACCESS
Lay Puthineath – Cambodia Digital Government Committee
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurul Nuha Abdul Molok – Knowledge for Change & Advancement, International Islamic University Malaysia
Adelaine De Castro – Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippines
Moderator: Adrian Wan – Internet Society
10:15 NPT (04:30 UTC) — DRAWING THE LINE: ONLINE HARM, QUEER EXPRESSION, AND PLATFORM GOVERNANCE IN ASIA-PACIFIC
Dr. K S Park – Korea University and Open Net Korea
Shambhawi Paudel – ILGA Asia
Mish Pony – Scarlet Alliance and Flat Out (online)
Moderator: Jeremy Malcolm – Center for Online Safety and Liberty
11:30 NPT (05:45 UTC) — FROM LOCAL EVIDENCE TO REGIONAL DIALOGUE: TRUST, INCLUSION, AND AN OPEN INTERNET IN THE AGE OF AI
Edmon Chung – DotAsia
Bikram Shrestha – Nepal Internet Foundation / Policy SIG, APNIC
Shamima Akhter – Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum (BWIGF)
Pensri Arunwatanamongkol – THNIC Foundation (online)
Cheryl Langdon-Orr – Internet Australia (online)
Moderator: Anthony Lee – Taiwan Network Information Center (online)
13:30 NPT (07:45 UTC) — WHEN AN ENERGY CRISIS BECOMES A CONNECTIVITY CRISIS
Matthew James – Distant Curve
Anisha Hassan – SolShare
Ulrich Speidel – University of Auckland (online)
Moderators: Neeti Biyani – APNIC Foundation; Michael Ginguld – AirJaldi
14:45 NPT (09:00 UTC) — ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION AND SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION IN EDUCATION AND THE WORKPLACE
Udit Pandey – Internet Society Accessibility Standing Group
Gunela Astbrink – GSA InfoComm
Krishna Maharjan – Disability Empowerment Society Nepal (DESN)
Manique Gunaratne – The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (online)
Georgina Naigulevu – Tetra Tech International Development (online)
Moderators: Suvasini Shrestha – Surevi Impact; Kiran Harisinghani – Abha Healing Foundation (online)
16:00 NPT (10:15 UTC) — CONNECTED BUT NOT SAFE? RETHINKING DIGITAL INCLUSION THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG WOMEN IN TAIWAN
Chiuyin Wang – National Cheng Kung University
16:30 NPT (10:45 UTC) — TOWNHALL SESSION
KANGCHENJUNGA HALL, LEVEL 3
09:00 NPT (03:15 UTC) — BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PACIFIC CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS: PARTNERSHIPS, SKILLS AND REGIONAL RESILIENCE
Ashutosh Maharaj – Fiji National University
Sarai Tevita – PICISOC / National University of Samoa (online)
Priscilla Kevin – PNG Digital ICT Cluster (online)
Carole Cholai – PNG Computer Society (online)
Moderators: Russell Deka – PICISOC / UPNG; Takehiko Harada – PICISOC / UPNG; Swaran Ravindra – PICISOC / Fiji National University
10:15 NPT (04:30 UTC) — CLOSING THE LAST-MILE GAP: A CIVIL SOCIETY APPROACH TO INTERNET QUALITY MEASUREMENT IN RURAL INDONESIA
Ramzy Muliawan – SAFEnet
Sohini Rajiyung – Internet Society
Maria Xynou – OONI (online)
Moderator: Unggul Sagena – SAFEnet (online)
10:55 NPT (05:10 UTC) — FROM COMPLIANCE TO CONFIDENCE: HOW ASIA’S STARTUPS ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF AI GOVERNANCE
Koh Liang Wei – Digital Prosperity Asia (online)
Jeffrey Tjendra – Shieldbase.AI (online)
Moderator: Aakriti Gautam – Internet Governance Institute
11:35 NPT (05:50 UTC) — ECOINTERNET INDEX (EII): APAC LEADS THE WAY
Taruna Bamrah – NetMission
Nancy Kanasa – ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee Representative (PG) (online)
Avri Doria – Technicalities (online)
Moderator: Edmon Chung – DotAsia Organisation
12:15 NPT (06:30 UTC) — COMMUNITY WI-FI AND CYCLONE ALERT SYSTEMS FOR MARGINAL FISHER VILLAGES BARGUNA, COASTAL BANGLADESH TO IMPROVE INTERNET AND SAVE LIVES
Mustafa Bakuluzzaman – Shushilan
Kazi Faisal Kabir – Shushilan
13:30 NPT (07:45 UTC) — GOVERNING GENERATIVE AI IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: ADDRESSING ELECTORAL MANIPULATION AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN RISKS & ENSURING ELECTORAL INTEGRITY THROUGH RESILIENT DIGITAL PRACTICES
Santosh Sigdel – Digital Rights Nepal
Liza Garcia – Foundation for Media Alternatives
Rishiti Choudaha – Centre for Communication Governance, National Law University, Delhi
Anup Neupane – Election Commission of Nepal
Moderator: Catherine Setiawan – Global Index on Responsible AI
14:45 NPT (09:00 UTC) — SURVEILLANCE BY DESIGN: DIGITAL ID, DATA PROTECTION AND THE TRUST CRISIS IN SOUTH ASIA
Farieha Aziz – Bolo Bhi
Priya Ahsan Chowdhury – BLAST
Dr. Dovan Rai – Body & Data
Nilay Shah – SFLC.in
Moderators: Sameer Bajaj – Aapti; Pahani Weerakkodi – Factum
16:00 NPT (10:15 UTC) — AI IN THE KILL CHAIN: ACCOUNTABILITY, HUMAN CONTROL, AND THE CASE FOR A BINDING REGIME IN ASIA PACIFIC
Paula Claire Cuasay – Chatham House, Common Futures Conversations (online)
DAY 3 – WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2026
LANGTANG HALL, LEVEL 3
09:00 NPT (03:15 UTC) — BEYOND ACCESS: WHO KEEPS CHILDREN SAFE ONLINE ONCE THEY ARE CONNECTED?
Dhanyashri Kamalakannan – The Pranava Institute
Syed Kazi – Council for Social and Digital Development
Lang Thi Nhat – LeaderInYou (online)
Kelsey Hallahan – Digital Future Aotearoa (online)
Moderators: Thy Try – Open Development Cambodia; Dr. Velislava Hillman – EDDS Institute
10:15 NPT (04:30 UTC) — FROM SHUTDOWN TO SOLIDARITY: CO-DESIGNING A SOUTH ASIA RAPID-RESPONSE PROTOCOL FOR INTERNET SHUTDOWNS
Priya Ahsan Chowdhury – Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
Farieha Aziz – Bolo Bhi
Moderator: Disha Verma – Tech Global Institute
11:30 NPT (05:45 UTC) — APRIGF FELLOWSHIP PRESENTATION
KANGCHENJUNGA HALL, LEVEL 3
08:30 NPT (02:45 UTC) — OPEN HOUSE WITH MSG
09:00 NPT (03:15 UTC) — FROM TECHNICAL DEBT TO STRATEGIC LIABILITY: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBER RESILIENCE, AND INTERNET GOVERNANCE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC
Joey Chen – Cisco Talos (online)
Jo-Fan Yu – TWNIC (online)
Aaron Lin – Taiwan Law and Society Association (online)
Moderator: Crystal Hsu – Cisco Systems (online)
10:15 NPT (04:30 UTC) — THE RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN BY AI: WHO OWNS HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IN THE AGE OF FOUNDATION MODELS?
Milan Adhikari – APNIC
Tayyaba Iftikhar – Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Shraddha Pandey – Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan
Dr. Muhammad Aslam – UET Lahore (online)
Moderator: Iqra Ejaz – UET Lahore
11:15 NPT (05:30 UTC) — WHEN SUBMARINE CABLES GO DARK: FROM PUBLIC FEAR TO INTERNET GOVERNANCE THROUGH OPEN RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Cheng Peng – Cyborg Resilience Co-lab (online)
Moderators: Krishna Maharjan – Disability Empowerment Society Nepal (DESN); Irvin Chen – Open Culture Foundation (online)
12:10 NPT (06:25 UTC) — APPEALING HATE SPEECH: USING THE GRIEVANCE APPELLATE COMMITTEE TO HOLD PLATFORMS ACCOUNTABLE
Nilay Shah – SFLC.in
GAURISHANKAR HALL, LEVEL 7 – PLENARY
13:30 NPT (07:45 UTC) — OPEN DIALOGUE ROUNDTABLE: ROLE OF APRIGF IN IMPLEMENTING THE PERMANENT MANDATE OF THE IGF
Organised by the APrIGF Working Group on Global Internet Governance Processes (AP-WGIGP)
Jennifer Chung – MAG Chair, UN IGF
Amrita Choudhury – MSG Chair, APrIGF 2026-2028
Subhash Dhakal – Joint Secretary, Government of Nepal, Information Technology and Digital Governance Office (ITDGO)
Izumi Aizu – Principal Researcher, Institute for HyperNetwork Society
Moderator: Pavitra Ramanujam – Social and Environmental Justice Programme Manager, Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
14:45 NPT (09:00 UTC) — TOWNHALL SESSION
16:00 NPT (10:15 UTC) — CLOSING REMARKS + PLENARY
Plenary Roundtable: ‘TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ASIA PACIFIC’
Adesh Khadka – Joint Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Masanobu Katoh – Chair, Japan Internet Governance Supporting Organisation (JPIGFSO)
Neeti Biyani – Senior Adviser, Strategy and Development, APNIC Foundation
Sajana Maharjan – Team Leader, Adam Smith International
Tek Tamata – Portfolio Manager, UNDP Nepal
Moderator: Dr. Pradip Paudyal – Deputy Director, Nepal Telecommunications Authority
Closing Remarks: Babu Ram Aryal – Chair, Host Steering Committee; Edmon Chung – DotAsia Organisation, Secretariat of APrIGF
Remarks from Guest of Honour: Hon. Dr. Bikram Timilsina – Minister, Ministry of Communication
Announcement of new MSG Leadership: Ashirwad Tripathy – Outgoing MSG Vice-Chair, 2024-2026; Umera Rana Asmat – Incoming MSG Vice-Chair, 2027-2029
Announcement and Remarks from Host Country for APrIGF 2027: Hiro Hotta – Vice President, JPIGFSO
#APrIGF2026 #APrIGF #InternetGovernance #APAC
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