[Chapter-delegates] A look ahead: Thank you for all your contributions in 2021 & looking forward to 2022!

Wed Dec 22 10:18:09 PST 2021

Dear Colleagues,

In this last edition of 2021 you will find:
• A big thank you!
• Some project updates:
• Encryption and the Belgian Data Retention Law
• Measuring the Internet Updates
• Looking forward to 2022:
• The 2022 Chapters Advisory Council Steering Committee members are now confirmed
• Nominations open for 2022 Internet Society Board of Trustees Elections
• Internet Society's 2022 Action Plan
• Internet Society staff on leave as of 27 December, back on 3 January

Thank you!!
=========
The year 2021 came with a range of unprecedented challenges during which the Internet became a lifeline for many of us - even more so than in normal times.

In this final 2021 edition of our Chapter newsletter, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the work and contributions you have made to support the Internet and in making it bigger and stronger for everyone.

Despite the challenges, your resilience and involvements in Internet Society's project work has been truly inspiring.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

SOME PROJECT UPDATES:

Encryption and the Belgian Data Retention Law
=====================================
As part of its redrafting of the Data Retention law, the Belgian government has included language to mandate backdoors and weaken encryption.

Through the Global Encryption Coalition The Internet Society prepared an open letter<https://www.globalencryption.org/2021/09/open-letter-48-organizations-and-cybersecurity-experts-call-on-the-belgian-government-to-halt-legislation-to-undermine-end-to-end-encryption/https:/www.globalencryption.org/2021/09/open-letter-48-organizations-and-cybersecurity-experts-call-on-the-belgian-government-to-halt-legislation-to-undermine-end-to-end-encryption/> that was supported by more than 100 organisations and individuals.

Our Belgium Chapter became quickly involved, and its chair, Frédéric Taes, was interviewed by the press, online, in print, and on the radio. All these actions have encouraged the Belgian government to drop the articles that the articles that weaken encryption.

This is a great example of collaborative work that we can accomplish with our stakeholders and especially our chapters, and is a model of successes that our community can achieve.

Measuring the Internet
===================

Two New Pulse Focus Areas

We've recently launched two new focus areas:

• Internet Centralization<https://pulse.internetsociety.org/centralization>: Data on the distribution of the market shares of core web technologies and infrastructure to see how services are concentrated among a few actors and countries. Find out more in this blog post<https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/12/internet-centralization-new-pulse-focus-area-provides-new-perspectives/>.

• Internet Resilience<https://pulse.internetsociety.org/resilience>: Tracking resiliency metrics using the Internet Society Internet Resilience Index to help support policy and infrastructure development to improve Internet resilience at the local, regional and global level. Find out more in this blog post<https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2021/11/a-new-tool-to-measure-internet-resilience-why-it-matters/>.

Take the Pulse Year-End Survey

Have you used Pulse this year in your work or studies? Let us know<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ISOC-Pulse-2021> how it helped you and what we can do to improve the platform in 2022. The survey closes on Friday 7 January 2022.

Latest from the Pulse Blog

• Internet Measurements, Collaboration and Transparency
With Internet shutdowns, disruptions and censorship events on the increase around the world, tracking where such events are happening and gathering evidence to help in the fight against them is becoming more and more important. Read more<https://pulse.internetsociety.org/blog/internet-measurements-collaboration-and-transparency>.

• IGF 2021: Measuring Internet Resilience and Shutdowns
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF<https://www.intgovforum.org/en>) 2021 took place from 6-10 December, 2021. The Pulse team gave a lighting talk on Internet Resilience and Internet Shutdowns. See the recording here<https://pulse.internetsociety.org/blog/igf-2021-measuring-internet-resilience-and-shutdowns>.

• The Human Cost of Internet Shutdowns – Trust Conference 2021
The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Trust Conference 2021 took place on 17-18 November, 2021. The Pulse team took part in a panel session on The Human Cost of Internet Shutdowns hosted by Jigsaw (Google). Read more<https://pulse.internetsociety.org/blog/the-human-cost-of-internet-shutdowns-trust-conference-2021>.

Pulse Video

Watch the new Pulse video<https://vimeo.com/643982716> for a quick overview of the Pulse platform, the data presented on it, and how you can use it in your work and studies.

LOOKING FORWARD:

The 2022 Chapters Advisory Council Steering Committee members are now confirmed!
====================================================================
Congratulations to the incoming 2022 Steering Committee! We would like to extend our gratitude to the outgoing 2021 Steering Committee members, who volunteered their time and energy over the past year to lead the work of the Chapters Advisory Council on behalf of all the Chapters.

The confirmed Chapters AC Steering Committee 2022 representatives are as below:
• Pierre-Jean Darres (Canada Québec Chapter)
• Frederic Taes (Belgium Chapter)
• Jordi Domingo-Pascual (Spain Catalonia Chapter)
• Niran Beharry (Trinidad & Tobago Chapter)
• Agang K. Ditlhogo (Botswana Chapter)
• Heba Sayed (Egypt Chapter)
• Adebunmi Akinbo (Nigeria Chapter)
• K Mohan Raidu (India Hyderabad Chapter)
• Zahir Qasrawi (Palestine Chapter)

Nominations open for 2022 Internet Society Board of Trustees Elections
=======================================================
The Internet Society's Nominations Committee is inviting nominations for candidates to serve on the Board of Trustees. If you or someone you know has the interest and qualifications to help guide the Internet Society's future, then please consider submitting a nomination.

Our by-laws specify that a total of four trustees are to be selected each year by the Society’s Chapters, Organization Members, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). To maintain the board’s balance, the number selected by each community changes each year – in 2022, Chapters and the IETF will each select one trustee, and Organization Members will select two. All new trustees will follow an orientation program and then begin three-year terms, starting with the board's annual general meeting in June.

The Board of Trustees provides strategic direction, inspiration, and oversight to advance the Internet Society’s mission of preserving the open, globally connected, secure and trustworthy Internet for everyone. Trustees also currently serve as members of the Internet Society Foundation Board.

You can find further information about the board, the role of trustees, as well as the official Call for Nominations and links to the online nomination forms here<http://www.internetsociety.org/trustees>.

The nominations period closes at 15:00 UTC on Friday 7 January 2022.

Internet Society 2022 Action Plan
===========================
As you all move to planning your activities for 2022, please make sure you read the Internet Society's 2022 Action Plan<https://www.internetsociety.org/action-plan/2022/>. The Action Plan outlines our commitment to the Internet in the year ahead, outlining key areas of work and related targets.

We’ll share more information in the new year about how you can take part in our projects and plans.

Until then, we invite you to read the Action Plan<https://www.internetsociety.org/action-plan/2022/> and join us in looking forward to 2022.

Internet Society staff on leave as of 27 December, back on 3 January
=====================================================
Internet Society staff will be on leave as of 27 December until 2 January. We will not be able to respond to requests during that time frame, but will be back and fully energized to work with all of you again as of 3 January 2022.

In the meantime, we hope that you stay safe and that you enjoy the end of the year holidays!

Best wishes,

Christine

Christine Saegesser Baethge, Sr. Director Chapters and Individual Members
saegesser at isoc.org<mailto:saegesser at isoc.org> | Twitter: ch_saebae

[cid:5568B557-D528-4A1C-B3D6-F89E01C86148 at speedport.ip]
internetsociety.org<http://internetsociety.org> | @internetsociety

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