The legal course at the Internet Governance School in Brazil began this Tuesday (24), at IDP Asa Norte, with an opening seminar that brought together authorities, experts and representatives from the public and private sectors around the challenges of digital regulation and Internet governance.
Organized by the Brazilian Internet Governance School (EGI) and the Brazilian Institute for Teaching, Development and Research (IDP), the course is held within the scope of the Danilo Doneda International Chair and aims to deepen the debate on the impacts of digital transformations on the application of law. Specifically aimed at legal professionals, the program seeks to provide resources for understanding technical and legal issues related to the Internet in Brazil and worldwide.
The opening ceremony featured the participation of Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), who highlighted the importance of preparing the legal field to deal with the growing complexity of the digital environment.
Next, Laura Schertel, from IDP, and Hartmut Glaser, from CGI.br, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia, government, and the productive sector in building solutions for contemporary digital challenges.
The seminar continued with the panel “Digital Sovereignty and the new paths of digital regulation,” moderated by Laura Schertel. Participants in the debate included Renata Mielli, coordinator of CGI.br; Lorrayne Porciuncula, from the Datasphere Initiative; Beatriz Vasconcellos, from the Civil House; and Sergio Sgobbi, director of Institutional and Governmental Relations at Brasscom.
During the debate, it was emphasized that digital sovereignty goes beyond the regulatory dimension, also encompassing economic, technological, and strategic aspects. In this context, it was highlighted that addressing these challenges requires an integrated vision of the digital world, involving everything from infrastructure and data to governance, talent development, and national innovation capacity.
The panel also highlighted Brazil's structural challenges, such as its dependence on foreign infrastructure for data processing and the need for greater institutional coordination among different government agencies. At the same time, it emphasized the country's strategic assets, such as its predominantly renewable energy matrix, its potential in artificial intelligence and the relevance of the Brazilian consumer market, and the management of Brazil's technical internet infrastructure by NIC.br.
The meeting concluded with a cocktail reception, fostering integration among participants and marking the start of a program intended to strengthen the legal debate on Internet governance.
The Danilo Doneda International Chair is thus consolidated as a fundamental space for qualified debate on digital regulation, bringing together different sectors of society around themes that directly impact the future of the country. By honoring Doneda's legacy, the initiative reinforces the importance of an approach that unites fundamental rights, innovation, and technological development.
