Professor Rodolfo Avelino, who teaches at the Engineering programs of Insper, was elected representative of the third sector on the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br). The entity establishes strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet and recommends technical standards for operators in the country, among other duties.

 

In the committee, Avelino sees immediate challenges in Internet security and privacy, new technologies and technological sovereignty. He has been working on digital inclusion, cybersecurity and data privacy projects for 28 years and is part of the management team of Coletivo Digital – an organization that works on digital inclusion projects and development of tools with free software. “There is the prospect of disseminating web access and carrying out the digital inclusion of people who are still excluded from the Internet, which is currently recognized by the United Nations as a human right”, he says. Check out the interview below.

 

What are CGI.br’s main challenges currently?

 

Internet governance has faced several challenges. We noticed how society follows various discussions related to platform regulations. In a way, platforms have been infiltrating and often penetrating political decisions, as was the case with Bill 2,630, of 2020 [which establishes the Brazilian Law on Freedom, Responsibility and Transparency on the Internet]. There is also a big discussion about the use of artificial intelligence, which is completely linked to the Internet. So, these are factors that have social and political impact on decisions about the Internet and that require greater discussion by society.

 

The biggest challenges are these legislative pressures from the small oligopoly, which dictate standards. In Brazil, the steering committee is a multisectoral forum, with representatives from the government, civil society, academia and companies. The idea is for everyone to come together to discuss issues about strategic guidelines related to the development of the Internet, especially regulatory issues. CGI.br does not have the power to legislate, but its mission is to present studies and research that can strengthen decision-making moments. There is also the prospect of digitally disseminating web access and carrying out the digital inclusion of people who are still excluded from the Internet, which is currently recognized by the United Nations as a communication right and, therefore, a human right.

 

What are the main issues surrounding security and privacy on the Internet?

 

We have socially consolidated a data-based business model. The so-called big techs are large platforms that maintain their business or have a dependency on data collection, and the Internet has become this fertile field for them to collect data in a much faster and richer way. This is directly linked to privacy and people’s rights. I believe that, in relation to security, privacy is one of the main pillars to be addressed and discussed. A large part of the Internet infrastructure is concentrated in the hands of a few companies. For example, almost 80% of cloud computing, that is, the main part of Internet’s infrastructure, is supported by five American companies. Therefore, there is a huge power not only in data collection, but in the concentration of the entire communication flow.

 

And within this there is another security issue, related to technological sovereignty, which may also be linked to cases of surveillance and espionage through e-mails and other technology communication tools, such as those presented 10 years ago by Edward Snowden.

 

In this security context, there are several topics that can be addressed in addition to our rights as citizens. A business issue is to what extent it is actually possible to innovate and develop new technologies for the Internet, considering the dependence on consuming technologies that are produced by few countries. All of them are topics that CGI.br has already been discussing intensely.

 

One of the commitments made by representatives of the third sector is to increase diversity, transparency and spaces for participation at CGI.br. How do you see the committee’s inclusion in the part of society that is not as familiar with these discussions about the Internet and digital rights? What could be improved?

 

This is an important point, because it is the first time that civil society will be represented by black people since the creation of CGI.br. There have already been members appointed by the government. However, Bianca Kremer and I were the first elected legitimately and democratically by vote. The idea is to bring diversity, plurality of ideas and cultural plurality. And above all, that this culture can be present in the debates I mentioned previously, such as privacy and Internet security. The majority of the Brazilian population declares themselves black and mixed race, meaning we are the most affected by surveillance and privacy issues. On the other hand, there is the problem of access: we are also the largest percentage of people excluded from the Internet world. We believe that our participation is essential to make these issues more present and active in CGI.br meetings.

 

Changes brought about by new technologies tend to occur faster than people are able to assimilate. How can CGI.br keep up with this pace in terms of impacts on society?

 

The committee has a publication strategy that follows these scenarios, implemented and guided by researchers. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in two CGI.br working groups, which discussed artificial intelligence and digital platforms. We have seen how artificial intelligence is increasingly permeating decisions. I’m not talking about decisions related to “what’s the next song you’re going to listen to” or “what’s the next product you’re going to buy”. These are decisions with significant social effects. In addition to publications, these groups also make it possible to propose training strategies, promote events and public hearings and publish guidelines. These guidelines or recommendations can add value to discussions of regulatory frameworks in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

 

What have been the most recent advances in digital rights?

 

We have made progress on issues that are not technical, because there are technical limitations in decisions about technology or protocols. After all, most of the infrastructure comes from abroad. But, speaking of privacy and data protection regulation, one of the main advances is the law that establishes the rights and duties of citizens and also companies, the General Personal Data Protection Law (LGPD). Even though I understand that there are several improvements that should be implemented, I think it was a good discussion and an achievement. Within the scope of CGI.br, some very rich publications on the data economy and platforms in education were recently launched. And the committee has accumulated more than 10 years of studies on the evolution of the Internet in Brazil. TIC Domicílios (ICT Households), for example, is a thermometer of how much we lack to achieve the goal of universal Internet access, updated annually.

 

Regarding universalization, the 2023 edition of TIC Domicílios, released in November, highlights the persistent digital exclusion in Brazil’s urban peripheries. How can this exclusion be reduced?

 

We understand that this exclusion is not being solved at a reasonable speed by the market, that is, through the sale of links. Because this more remote population is probably not the market focus of large telecom companies. Our role within CGI.br is to foster spaces and public policy projects that can take a more careful and caring look at this population. The Internet Forum in Brazil (FIB) is held annually, and it is a national reference. The event enables various Internet players to come together — companies, government, civil society and academia — to discuss the paths and spaces that can be occupied to increasingly reduce digital exclusion.

 

Were you already part of the day-to-day activities at CGI?

 

In recent years, as a specialist and as an academic, I have had several invitations to participate in CGI working groups. So, in the last three years, I have probably had a greater presence within these working groups, contributing to some guidelines, mainly on artificial intelligence and platforms. The civil society entity in which I participate is Coletivo Digital. About ten years ago, we formed the Rights on the Network Coalition, which collaboratively built a platform of 11 principles related to the Internet and which was joined by 78 social entities.



This website uses cookies

Learn how Insper handles your personal data in our Privacy Notice, available on the Privacy Portal.

Privacy Notice

Cookie Settings

Cookie Usage

Learn how Insper handles your personal data in our Privacy Notice, available on the Privacy Portal.

Privacy Notice