IGF 2026 WS #328 When AI Meets Patriarchy: The Internet Governance Game

Description

Traditional discussions on AI governance often end with more questions than answers. This workshop takes a different approach. Instead of listening to experts, participants become decision-makers navigating the real tensions of governing AI in an unequal world. Through an interactive Internet Governance Game, participants assume the roles of governments, technology companies, civil society, researchers, journalists, youth, and the technical community. Through realistic scenarios including AI-generated election misinformation, online gender-based violence, algorithmic bias, content moderation disputes, and unequal access to AI technologies, participants negotiate competing priorities, respond to emerging challenges, and work together to develop practical governance solutions. The game demonstrates that AI systems are not neutral; they are shaped by existing social norms, institutional practices, and power structures that can reinforce gender inequalities if governance frameworks fail to address them. By placing participants in the position of policymakers and stakeholders, the session encourages deeper understanding of the difficult trade-offs involved in governing intelligent technologies while protecting human rights, inclusion, innovation, and freedom of expression.The goal is not to find perfect answers,but to understand why effective AI governance requires collaboration across sectors and communities. Aligned with the IGF 2026 theme, "Governing the Internet in the Age of Intelligence: Our Shared Responsibility," the workshop moves beyond discussion to collective action. Participants will collaboratively develop practical recommendations for gender-responsive AI and Internet governance that can inform future policy dialogues, national AI strategies, and regional Internet governance initiatives. The workshop also launches the Internet Governance Game Toolkit, an open educational resource containing facilitator guidance, stakeholder role cards, policy scenario cards, and gameplay instructions.Freely available after IGF 2026 the toolkit will enable universities, youth IGFs, national and regional IGFs, civil society organizations, and policymakers to replicate the game and continue conversations on inclusive AI governance in their own contexts.

Policy Question(s)

How can Internet governance frameworks better address the gendered impacts of AI systems and platform governance while safeguarding innovation and human rights?
What shared responsibilities should governments, technology companies, civil society, academia, and the technical community assume to ensure AI does not reinforce existing gender inequalities?
How can participatory policy games and multistakeholder dialogue contribute to more inclusive, evidence-informed AI governance and policymaking?

Expected Outcomes

The workshop will produce a practical output entitled The Nairobi Recommendations for Gender-Responsive AI Governance, developed collaboratively by participants during the policy game.
The recommendations will identify priority actions for governments, technology companies, civil society, technical communities, and international organisations to strengthen inclusive AI governance. Following the session, the organizing team will refine and publish the recommendations as an open-access policy brief to share with IGF participants, regional Internet Governance Forums, policymakers, and partner organizations.
Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how AI governance intersects with gender equality, democracy, digital rights, and platform accountability, as well as practical experience negotiating policy trade-offs through a collaborative governance exercise

Format

Roundtable Duration (minutes): 60 Format description: The Internet Governance Game is designed as a collaborative policy exercise rather than a traditional panel discussion. Round-table seating enables participants to work in diverse multistakeholder teams, encouraging equal participation, negotiation, and joint decision-making. Each table functions as a policy task force responsible for responding to governance challenges and developing recommendations.

A 90-minute format provides sufficient time for gameplay, facilitated discussion, stakeholder negotiation, presentation of recommendations, and collective reflection. This structure maximizes participant engagement while ensuring the session produces concrete outputs rather than remaining a purely theoretical discussion.

Hybrid Format

Hybrid Format: The workshop will ensure meaningful participation from both onsite and online attendees by integrating them into the Internet Governance Game. Online participants will join virtual teams supported by a dedicated online facilitator and collaborate with onsite groups through shared digital workspaces.

Collaborative platforms such as Miro, Padlet, and Mentimeter will enable all participants to analyze scenarios, submit policy proposals, prioritize governance actions, and vote on the final recommendations in real time. Each group—whether onsite or online—will present its governance approach during plenary discussions, ensuring that all perspectives contribute equally to the final outcomes.

The session is designed to maximise interaction, collaboration, and co-creation, ensuring that hybrid participation strengthens rather than limits the policy dialogue.

Organizers

Organizer 1: Najma Matengo, Gender Responsive Digital Transformation Working Group Organizer 2: Judith Mwombeki, BBC MEDIA ACTION Organizer 3: Emmanuel Simon Mwang'onda, Gender-Responsive Digital Transformation Working Group Organizer 4: Khalila Mbowe, Unleashed Africa Enterprises Organizer 5: Rose Reuben, Tanzania Media Women's association - TAMWA

Speakers

Speaker 1: Najma Matengo, Technical Community, African Group Speaker 2: Judith Mwombeki, Technical Community, African Group Speaker 3: Emmanuel Simon Mwang'onda, Technical Community, African Group Speaker 4: Khalila Mbowe, Private Sector, African Group Speaker 5: Rose Reuben, Civil Society, African Group

Moderator

Najma Matengo, Technical Community, African Group

Online Moderator

Judith Mwombeki, Technical Community, African Group

Rapporteur

Rose Reuben, Civil Society, African Group

Participant Benefits

What will participants gain from attending this session?

SDGs

Gender Equality 5.1 5.5 5.b 5.c
Reduced Inequalities 10.2 10.3
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions 16.10 16.7 16.b
Partnerships for the Goals 17.16 17.17

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