On September 23th, at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time, the Valdai Club will hold an expert discussion, titled “Open Source: Benefits of the Digital Non-Aligned Movement”, during which the new Report “Digital Realpolitik: Sovereignty, Alliances and Non-Alignment in the 21st Century” will be presented.

       Given the emerging competition between the two main technological platforms - the American one and the Chinese one - the prospects for the formation of a digital non-aligned movement are becoming more and more real. Russia, which today is one of the three main developers of open source, could become a leader in digital non-alignment. The inclination to nationalise key digital instruments is not only evident among global players, but also regional powers and stronger states. The preference of open solutions over proprietary ones is also recognised by the leaders of the community of developers and programmers, which increases the moral authority of a state, which will put forward such an initiative in the international arena.

       A commitment to open source can be fundamental to the parameters of the future digital world. Open source solutions avoid the risks of using equipment and solutions with so-called undocumented capabilities that allow their owners to covertly monitor the user or collect his or her data. It also excludes the possibility of the owners of proprietary solutions exerting remote influence on the speed and functionality of their hardware and software.

       What will the world order look like in the new technological cycle? Who will set the rules of conduct in the new digital era, and how? How widespread will open source solutions become? Which states can join the digital non-alignment movement? These and other questions will be answered by the participants in the discussion.

       Speakers:

       ？ Andrey Bezrukov, MGIMO professor, president of the Technological Sovereignty Exports Association;

       ？ Mikhail Mamonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation (2018-2020);

       ？ Rashid Ismailov, President of VimpelCom PJSC, Russian candidate for the post of Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union;

       ？ Oleg Shakirov, PIR Center Consultant, Expert of the Russian International Affairs Council;

       Moderator:

       ？ Andrey Sushentsov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club.

       Working languages: Russian, English.

       Information for the media: To get accredited for the event, fill out the form on our website or call +79269307763 .