What kind of rules do citizens claim in order to make and keep the internet a free and safe space?

Nearly 50 randomly selected citizens of the city of Mannheim dynamically discussed requirements for creating digital identities, rules for transparency with regards to collection of private data as well as ideas and strategies for fighting disinformation in the internet. In preparation of each dialogue-session where people discussed specific questions in small groups of 5 or 6, they received information material and an oral input with background information on the topic and its aspects.

The event took place on Saturday, October 26th 2019 in the rooms of the “Abendakademie” in the heart of Mannheim and was organized by Missions Publiques and the City of Mannheim. nexus supported facilitation of the discussions.

The idea of the citizens’ debate on the future of internet is that for one day, hundreds of citizens worldwide meet, learn, and discuss in small groups, assisted by facilitation and deliberation experts. The protocol followed for each debate and the questionnaires is to be the same for all participating countries: France, the US, Japan, Bangladesh, Brasil and Rwanda so far.