Internet Technology and Policy: Challenges and Solutions online course
Internet infrastructure and critical internet resources are no longer dry tech-geek topics.
They have drawn the attention of the wider internet community through discussions on internet names and numbers (domain names such as .amazon, .wine), the internet of things (self-driving cars, drones affecting air traffic safety) and other current issues. DiploFoundation offers an interactive online course focusing on technology and core infrastructure issues in the context of public policy.
This course will be of interest to technical experts who are keen to learn more about digital policy, and to policy people who wish to learn more about internet technology. The interplay between these two communities will add value to the course interaction.
Prominent internet experts and leading policymakers will contribute to the review and development of course materials and/or join course discussions.
This course can be taken as part of the Advanced Diploma in Internet Governance.
What will you learn?
- To analyse and discuss the interplay between underlying internet and digital technology concepts, core values and principles, and related internet policy issues
- How to explain in simple ways how the internet works by following the journey of internet packets
- To make a distinction between the different layers of the internet and the policy issues associated with each of these layers
- To define and explain the overarching telecom/internet infrastructure issues, including wired and wireless infrastructure, and issues that account for infrastructure development
- How to explain the function of internet protocols, the reasons why upgrading to IPv6 is necessary, and the opportunities and challenges that accompany the new version
- How to explain the role of the DNS, the distinction between various types of top-level domains (TLDs), and the role played by ICANN
- To discuss the concept of network neutrality, its importance for the internet, and the current controversies surrounding the issue
- How to explain the role of technical standards as a bridge between technology and policy
- To discuss the interplay between the internet, AI and other emerging technologies
How will you learn?
In this course you will interact intensively in discussions with classmates and lecturers from around the world. You will receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team.
How long will you learn?
The course lasts for 10 weeks:
- 1 week of course introduction and orientation to online learning
- 8 weeks of addressing the course topics one by one (see below for more details)
- 1 week for the final assignment and completing pending tasks
Who should apply
This course will be of interest to technical experts who are keen to learn more about digital policy, and to policy people who wish to learn more about internet technology. The interplay between these two communities will add value to the course interaction.
Diplo seeks applications from the following, from both developed and developing countries:
- Officials in government ministries, departments, or institutions dealing with Information Society, internet and ICT-related policy issues (e.g., telecommunications, education, foreign affairs, justice)
- Postgraduate students, academics and researchers in the IG field (e.g., in telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, development studies)
- Civil society activists in the IG and Information Society fields
- Journalists covering IG issues
- Individuals in internet business-related fields (e.g., ISPs, software developers)
This course may also be of interest to:
- Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge of more technical issues, under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics.
- Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats.
Overview
The course consists of 8 modules:
- History and values behind the internet and digital technology: We start with the historical evolution of technology and its profound impact on society. We then look at values and principles that shape internet and digital developments.
- How does the internet function? Setting the scene for the rest of the course, we give a high-level overview of how the internet works by following the journey of an internet packet from sender to receiver.
- Telecommunications infrastructure: Understanding the basis for core infrastructures fosters better policy shaping, leading to the development of policies and principles that are compatible with underlying internet architecture. Infrastructure and policy must be analysed together to enhance their functionality.
- Critical internet resources: This module focuses on unpacking two key elements behind the internet as we know it today: internet protocols and domain names. We look at some of the main policy issues associated with these internet resources.
- Applications and content: The applications layer, also called the content layer, is the interface where end-users directly engage with digital services, applications, and content. This dynamic layer encompasses a diverse range of applications, including web browsers, email clients, video streaming platforms, and mobile apps, and builds on the foundation of the infrastructure and transport layers. This module explores Cloud Computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Net Neutrality.
- Security and encryption technology: This module examines encryption technology within the framework of internet connectivity, including implications for privacy and other rights and government responses and actions in this area.
- Technical standards: Standards describe rules, requirements, and guidelines for how technology, products, and services are developed and function. This module explores the role of standards across the spectrum of infrastructure, protocols, and applications, the organisations responsible for setting standards, and ongoing policy discussions involving standards.
- AI and other emerging technologies: This module delves into a few emerging and advanced technologies that are inextricably linked to the internet, such as AI, virtual reality, and quantum internet.