Is the Internet fragmenting? Is the global, open Internet moving away from a network of networks that is universally accessible to a series of networks fragmented along policy, technical or economic lines? As some governments pass laws related to data localization and restriction of cross-border data flows, what will the impact be? What about the increasing use of DNS and content filtering? What other factors have the potential for causing fragmentation?

Please join us for a panel discussion on Tuesday, May 10 from 3:30 – 5:00 pm US EDT (UTC-4) sponsored by Microsoft and the Greater Washington DC Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC-DC). This session will bring together policy stakeholders, including government, the technical community, civil society, industry, and other organizations to consider these issues more fully. Panelists will discuss the different types of Internet fragmentation, their associated technical, economic, and political impacts and when fragmentation may be desirable or problematic. Additionally, the panelists will examine how these should be taken into consideration in policy making.

Participate on location:

• Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center, 901 K Street, NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC. Registration is requested.

Participate remotely:

• Live video stream (The video will be recorded for later viewing.)
• Twitter hashtag: #Fragmentation

Speakers and panelists include:

• Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Kathryn Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer, Internet Society
• Dr. Laura DeNardis, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Communication at American University and Director of Research, Global Commission on Internet Governance
• Danil Kerimi, Head of Digital Economy, World Economic Forum
• Paul Mitchell, Senior Director of Technology Policy, Microsoft
• Jeremy West, Senior Policy Analyst, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

More background information and resources related to Internet fragmentation can be found on the Internet Society’s page for the event.

Please see also:

• Microsoft event invitation on Facebook
• ISOC-DC event page

Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on the Internet Society blog.