About the Symposium
The 2nd South Asian Symposium on Cybersecurity & Digital Rights, 2026 is a landmark international forum under the 3rd South Asian Global Intellectual Property Summit, 2026; Organised by the Centre for Development of Intellectual Property and Research (CDIPR), Naovina Development of Intellectual Property and Research Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), USA. Powered by the Community for Academic Research and Development Foundation. Building upon the extraordinary success of the South Asian Symposium on Cybersecurity & Digital Rights, 2025, the 2026 edition emerged as one of South Asia’s most influential international platforms dedicated to cybersecurity governance, digital rights, internet freedom, and emerging technology law. The 2025 edition witnessed an overwhelming global response with participants, scholars, policymakers, technologists, researchers, civil society representatives, and students from over 68 Nations, alongside successful collaborations and partnerships with more than 45 Global Organisations, Academic Institutions, Research Centres, and Think Tanks across the world.
The Symposium continues its mission of creating a transformative and interdisciplinary platform to critically engage with the evolving relationship between law, technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, surveillance governance, digital sovereignty, and civil liberties in the Global South. As nations increasingly rely on algorithmic infrastructures, biometric ecosystems, AI-driven governance systems, predictive surveillance technologies, and data-centric economic models, the Symposium seeks to examine the legal, ethical, and constitutional implications of this rapidly transforming digital order.
The 2026 edition particularly focuses on the urgent need to establish democratic, transparent, accountable, and human rights-oriented digital ecosystems capable of balancing innovation with civil liberties. The Symposium seeks to address pressing concerns surrounding AI regulation, cyber warfare, platform accountability, misinformation governance, cross-border data flows, state surveillance, digital authoritarianism, and algorithmic discrimination through comparative and interdisciplinary scholarship. The Symposium serves as a strategic intellectual bridge connecting scholars, legal practitioners, cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, technology developers, journalists, activists, students, and civil society organisations from South Asia and beyond. It aims to foster meaningful regional and global conversations capable of shaping future-ready frameworks for cybersecurity governance and digital constitutionalism.
Legacy of the 2025 Edition
The South Asian Symposium on Cybersecurity & Digital Rights, 2025 achieved remarkable international recognition and academic impact through:
- Participation from delegates representing 68+ Nations
- Collaboration with 45+ Global Organisations, Think Tanks, Universities, and Policy Institutions
- International engagement from scholars, digital rights advocates, cybersecurity experts, researchers, legal practitioners, and technology professionals
- Publication initiatives involving global editorial collaborations
- Interdisciplinary discussions on surveillance, AI ethics, platform governance, internet freedom, and cybersecurity law
- Creation of a vibrant South Asian academic and policy dialogue on digital constitutionalism and human rights in cyberspace
The massive success of the 2025 edition established the Symposium as a rapidly emerging global platform for technology law and digital rights discourse.
Symposium Objectives
- To critically examine emerging issues in cybersecurity governance, artificial intelligence regulation, digital rights, and internet freedom.
- To encourage interdisciplinary scholarship integrating law, public policy, technology, ethics, international relations, and human rights.
- To create a collaborative international platform for researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners working on digital governance issues.
- To strengthen South Asian contributions to global conversations on cybersecurity law and technology governance.
- To promote democratic, inclusive, and rights-based digital infrastructures.
- To facilitate comparative discussions on surveillance governance, data protection, platform accountability, and algorithmic regulation.
Symposium Date & Format
- Dates: 27th May, 2026
- Format: Virtual Mode
Key Themes and Sub-Themes
Participants are invited to submit papers engaging with the following thematic tracks:
1. Cybersecurity Law & Digital Governance
- Cybersecurity regulation in South Asia
- Cyber warfare and international humanitarian law
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Cyber resilience and digital sovereignty
- Cross-border cyber investigations
2. Artificial Intelligence, Ethics & Regulation
- AI governance frameworks
- Generative AI and legal accountability
- Algorithmic transparency and explainability
- AI bias and discriminatory systems
- Autonomous systems and liability
3. Data Protection & Privacy Law
- Comparative analysis of global privacy laws
- Data localization and sovereignty
- Consent architecture and surveillance capitalism
- Biometric governance and constitutional rights
- Cross-border data transfers
4. Surveillance, Democracy & Human Rights
- Mass surveillance and constitutionalism
- Facial recognition technologies
- Predictive policing systems
- Digital authoritarianism
- Civil liberties in cyberspace
5. Internet Freedom & Platform Accountability
- Online censorship and content moderation
- Platform governance and intermediary liability
- Misinformation and democratic processes
- Freedom of speech in digital environments
- Regulation of social media ecosystems
6. Intellectual Property & Cyber Law
- Digital piracy and enforcement mechanisms
- NFTs, blockchain and emerging IP systems
- Copyright in AI-generated content
- Software licensing and open-source governance
- Cyber infringement and digital innovation
7. Digital Inclusion & Intersectional Rights
- Gender and digital violence
- Child rights in cyberspace
- Accessibility and digital equity
- Caste, class, and technological exclusion
- Indigenous communities and digital governance
8. Emerging Technologies & Future Governance
- Quantum computing and cybersecurity
- Metaverse governance frameworks
- Digital currencies and financial technologies
- Smart cities and surveillance infrastructures
- Future of digital constitutionalism
Format and Presentation
The symposium will be conducted virtually to allow accessible participation across geographies. Selected authors will present their papers in live sessions before an international audience comprising scholars, professionals, and civil society leaders.
Recognition & Awards
Selected contributors will receive:
- Publication in the International edited Volume titled, “Data, Democracy & Digital Power: Law, Technology & Civil Liberties in South Asia” with ISBN 978-81-998939-4-8. To be published and distributed across 17 nations, with international editorial and institutional collaboration.
- International Certificate of Presentation
- Best Papers to be Featured in the South Asian Technology Law, Digital Governance & Innovation Policy Review, 2026 by the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
- Digital Innovation & Policy Excellence Award for impactful and forward-looking research in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, internet governance, and emerging technologies
- Emerging Scholar Award for students and early-career researchers demonstrating analytical depth and academic excellence in the field of technology law and digital rights.
- Opportunities for publication in policy briefs, international blogs, and partner platforms
- Invitations for future international collaborations, conferences, and research initiatives
- Selected works will be highlighted through international academic blogs, policy briefs, and partner platforms
Call for Papers Timeline
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 20th May 2026
(Abstracts should be between 250–300 words, clearly indicating the research question, methodology and relevance to the Symposium themes.) - Notification of Abstract Selection: 22nd May 2026
(Selected authors will be notified via email and invited to submit full papers.) - Full Paper Submission Deadline: 25th May 2026
(Full-length papers should be 3,000–4,000 words and follow the Symposium’s Submission Guidelines.) - Presentation Confirmation by Authors: 26 May 2026
(Selected participants must confirm attendance and complete registration.) - Date of Symposium: 27th May 2026
Mode: Online
Submission Guidelines
Categories:
- Research Article: 4,000 to 6,000 words
- Policy Paper / Legislative Analysis: 3,000 to 5,000 words
- Case Studies / Legal Commentaries: 2,000 to 4,000 words
Format and Structure:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Body Text: 12pt, Justified Alignment
- Headings: 14pt, Centre Alignment
- Subheadings: 13pt
- Footnotes: 10pt, Left Alignment
- Citation Style: Bluebook 21st Edition
- Spacing: 1.5
- Language: English only
Abstract: Each submission must include a concise abstract not exceeding 300 words summarising the core ideas of the paper with 5 keywords.
Originality:
- Submissions must be entirely original and unpublished.
- Plagiarism should not exceed 10%, and AI-generated content is not allowed. Submissions violating these guidelines will be rejected.
Co-Authorship: Papers may have up to two authors.
Review Process:
- A two-stage internal review will assess submissions.
- Authors may be required to revise their papers based on feedback regarding content, structure, or formatting.
Why Participate?
- Share your ideas at one of South Asia’s most timely symposiums on digital rights.
- Present to an international audience of scholars, policymakers and civil society leaders.
- Be published in a globally distributed book co-curated with the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
- Connect with IGF partners, research institutions and innovation networks.
Abstract Submission Form: https://forms.gle/9f9QCXnDAQc4CYub9
Contact Details
For direct communication, email Symposium Secretariat at events@cdipr.ac.in
