[Opening] IGF Parliamentary Track: Welcome and Introduction

Summary

This transcript captures the opening session of the sixth edition of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) parliamentary track, held in Lillestrom, Norway. Chengetai Masango from the IGF Secretariat welcomed parliamentarians from multiple continents and countries, including Lithuania, Nepal, the United States, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Spain, and Uruguay, highlighting the growing participation in these annual discussions. The session emphasized the crucial role of parliamentarians in shaping digital governance and bridging the gap between global dialogue and national action.

Masango stressed that freedom of expression, a cornerstone value in Norwegian society, significantly influences approaches to digital governance. He noted that parliamentarians occupy a unique position to balance security and safety concerns with fundamental human rights protection. The IGF serves as a platform for building on previous work across regions, from Latin America to the Asia Pacific, fostering local leadership that brings forum principles to life.

Andy Richardson, representing what appears to be an inter-parliamentary organization, acknowledged the collaborative efforts with the IGF Secretariat and Norwegian Parliament hosts. He highlighted the increasing significance of digital policy issues for parliaments worldwide, particularly regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Richardson mentioned that his organization actively tracks AI policy actions across parliaments globally, currently monitoring 37 pages of reports on AI-related discussions. The opening session concluded with an invitation to begin the first substantive discussion titled “Digital Deceit: the Societal Impact of Online Misinformation and Disinformation,” setting the stage for deeper policy deliberations.

Keypoints

**Major Discussion Points:**

– **Parliamentary Track at IGF 2025**: This marks the sixth edition of the parliamentary track, with growing participation from parliamentarians across continents including new members from Lithuania, Nepal, the United States, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Spain, and Uruguay

– **Digital Governance and Human Rights Balance**: Emphasis on parliamentarians’ unique position to address the balance between ensuring security and safety while upholding fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression in digital spaces

– **Artificial Intelligence Policy and Democracy**: Significant focus on AI’s impact on democracy, human rights, and rule of law, with tracking of AI policy actions across 37 countries and ongoing parliamentary initiatives worldwide

– **Bridging Global Dialogue and National Action**: The IGF serves as a platform to connect international discussions with local parliamentary implementation, bringing global digital governance principles to life at the national level

– **Misinformation and Disinformation**: Introduction of a dedicated session on “Digital Deceit” addressing the societal impact of online misinformation and disinformation

**Overall Purpose:**

The discussion serves as an opening ceremony and orientation for the IGF 2025 parliamentary track, aimed at bringing together parliamentarians from around the world to discuss digital governance issues, share experiences, and build partnerships that can translate global digital policy discussions into concrete national legislative action.

**Overall Tone:**

The tone is consistently formal, welcoming, and optimistic throughout. It maintains a diplomatic and collaborative atmosphere, emphasizing partnership, shared learning, and collective progress. The speakers express genuine appreciation for parliamentary participation and demonstrate enthusiasm for continued growth and meaningful outcomes from the forum.

Speakers

– **Chengetai Masango**: Role/Title: Representative of the IGF Secretariat (speaks “On behalf of the IGF Secretariat”); Area of expertise: Digital governance and Internet Governance Forum coordination

– **Andy Richardson**: Role/Title: Works with IP (Inter-Parliamentary Union) colleagues and partners with the IGF Secretariat; Area of expertise: Parliamentary digital policy, AI policy tracking across parliaments globally

**Additional speakers:**

– **Adi**: Role/Title: IP (Inter-Parliamentary Union) colleague of Andy Richardson; Area of expertise: Parliamentary work (specific expertise not detailed)

# IGF Parliamentary Track Opening Session

## Executive Summary

The sixth edition of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Parliamentary Track opened with welcome remarks from representatives of the IGF Secretariat and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The session introduced new parliamentarians from multiple countries and outlined key focus areas for the track, including artificial intelligence governance and online misinformation.

*Note: This summary is based on a transcript that contains some unclear passages and apparent transcription errors, which may affect the completeness of certain details.*

## Opening Remarks by Chengetai Masango (IGF Secretariat)

Chengetai Masango welcomed participants to the sixth edition of the parliamentary track, acknowledging the presence of new parliamentarians from Lithuania, Nepal, the United States, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Spain, and Uruguay. He noted Norway’s commitment to freedom of expression as a cornerstone value.

Masango emphasized the role of parliamentarians in balancing security and safety concerns with fundamental human rights. He referenced building on previous work spanning from Latin America to the Asia Pacific region and mentioned an “IGF 2025 parliamentary track output document.”

## Remarks by Andy Richardson (Inter-Parliamentary Union)

Andy Richardson thanked the IGF Secretariat and the Parliament of Norway, confirming this as the sixth edition of the parliamentary track, building on work that began in 2021.

Richardson reported that his organization’s partners had adopted a resolution addressing artificial intelligence’s impact on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. He mentioned tracking parliamentary actions on AI policy with monthly updates and referenced “37 pages of report against A.I. talks.”

Richardson indicated plans to conduct individual discussions with parliamentarians about their work and introduced a colleague named Adi. He noted the importance of collaboration with IGF Secretariat colleagues and parliamentary partners.

## Session Transition

The opening session concluded with Richardson introducing the next session titled “Digital Deceit: the Societal Impact of Online Misinformation and Disinformation,” indicating this as a key focus area for the parliamentary track.

## Key Focus Areas Identified

Based on the opening remarks, the parliamentary track appears to prioritize:

– Artificial intelligence governance and its impact on democratic institutions

– Online misinformation and disinformation challenges

– Balancing security concerns with human rights protections

– International collaboration and knowledge sharing among parliamentarians

## Conclusion

The opening session established the framework for the sixth parliamentary track, emphasizing continuity with previous editions while highlighting emerging challenges in AI governance and information integrity. The session served primarily as an orientation and transition to more substantive policy discussions in subsequent sessions.

Chengetai Masango: I would like to welcome all of you to the IGF. I would like to welcome all of you to the IGF, not only to the IGF but also to all members of Parliament present here in Lillestrom and online. We highly value your commitment in being part of the IGF and helping shape a digital future that we all aspire to. This marks the sixth edition of the parliamentary track, and with each year, the conversation continues to grow and grow. This year, the IGF has been able to bring together members of Parliament to discuss issues, and it is particularly exciting to welcome new parliamentarians joining us this year from all continents and countries such as Lithuania, Nepal, the United States, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Spain, and Uruguay. Your voices bring renewed energy and hope to the world, and we look forward to seeing you again in the years to come. I would like to welcome all of you to the IGF. Freedom of expression is a deeply rooted value in Norway. One that forms a cornerstone of its society. Upholding freedom of expression also shapes how we approach digital governance. As members of Parliament, you are in a unique position to highlight the two components of gradient experience and linkage between Half-Truth and true human rights and the balance between ensuring security, safety, and upholding fundamental human rights. Your participation at the IGF also helps bridge the gap between global dialogue and national action. The IGF is an opportunity for all of us to build on the work that we have done in the past, from Latin America to the Asia Pacific and Latin Americas, and this is exactly the kind of local leadership that brings principles discussed at these forums to life. Let us keep building on this progress. Let us work together, learning from each other, to make digital governance more responsive, and let us build on the work that we have done in the past. I am pleased to welcome you all to the IGF 2025 parliamentary track output document. On behalf of the IGF Secretariat, I’m wishing you all meaningful conversations, new partnerships and concrete outcomes. Your voices matter here and beyond. Thank you.

Andy Richardson: Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you. I would like to thank the IGF Secretariat for inviting me to speak to you. It’s President and Secretary General, I wish to extend the welcome to all of the members of Parliament who are here, and also our thanks to our hosts in the Parliament of Norway, and our partners in the IGF Secretariat, with whom we have worked very closely on this event. As Chengetai Masango has noted, this is the sixth edition of the harsh digital framework 2021, and this one is a reflection on and talking a little deeper between what’s happening in Parliaments, and the multi-stakeholder community at IGF. This is a reflection of how significant digital policy issues are for Parliaments themselves, as the place where the direct access to information is very very much a priority. For the base of this committee what it takes to address the various sorts of different challenges that are possible together in this toimation. Let me do a follow-up. So tags one, two, three. Severely outweigh what is currently happening in the visible world beyond life, and it is something that’s shared by everyone. This is something we are taking very seriously. The anim partners adopted a resolution on the T the impact that is A. I. on democracy, the human rights and the rule of law policy, and it is something that we are taking very seriously and it is something that we are taking very seriously and it is something that we are taking very seriously. One of the things we try to do is to track what actions are taking place in parliaments around the world on A. I. policy, and to update this every month. Currently we are reporting on 37 pages of report against A. I. talks. There are more than half of these in the definitive report, and there are many other. We will be listening closely to you this week to learn what you are doing in your parliaments, and in addition to the listening to the discussions, myself dress my IP colleague will be trying to have as many discussions as possible, and we will be listening to you individually and in your parliaments. Could I ask Adi to stand up, she is at the back of the room. So, please, if we come and ask you some questions, we ask for a minute of your time just to share information about your work in parliaments. With that, we will close the opening session here. We will move to the plenary room, where we will have a discussion about the implementation of the new legislation in English, French and Spanish, if anyone wants to listen in those languages and speak in those languages. There are a number of sessions taking place this morning in this room, in the parliamentary track, and then in the afternoon we will move to the plenary room. I would like to invite the moderator and the panellists of the next, of the first session, which is titled Digital Deceit, the Societal Impact of Online Misinformation and Disinformation, to come up to the podium, and we will go straight into the discussions. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

Agreement points

Importance of parliamentary engagement in digital governance

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

Freedom of expression as a cornerstone value that shapes digital governance approaches, with parliamentarians uniquely positioned to balance security and fundamental human rights

Expressing gratitude to hosts and partners while emphasizing the significance of digital policy issues for parliaments

Summary

Both speakers emphasize the critical role of parliamentarians in digital governance, with Masango highlighting their unique position to balance rights and security, while Richardson stresses the significance of digital policy issues for parliamentary institutions

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Value of international collaboration and multi-stakeholder approaches

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

IGF as an opportunity to bridge the gap between global dialogue and national action through local leadership

The need for parliaments to address various digital challenges through multi-stakeholder collaboration

Summary

Both speakers advocate for collaborative approaches, with Masango emphasizing bridging global dialogue with national action, and Richardson highlighting the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to address digital challenges

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers demonstrate appreciation for international parliamentary participation and recognize the growing importance of the IGF parliamentary track as a platform for addressing digital governance issues

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

Welcoming parliamentarians from multiple continents and highlighting the growing participation each year

Expressing gratitude to hosts and partners while emphasizing the significance of digital policy issues for parliaments

Topics

Development | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers acknowledge the fundamental importance of protecting human rights and democratic values in the digital age, with specific attention to balancing security concerns with fundamental freedoms

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

Freedom of expression as a cornerstone value that shapes digital governance approaches, with parliamentarians uniquely positioned to balance security and fundamental human rights

Recognition that AI’s impact on democracy, human rights, and rule of law is a serious policy concern being addressed through resolutions

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Unexpected consensus

Systematic approach to learning from diverse national experiences

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

IGF as an opportunity to bridge the gap between global dialogue and national action through local leadership

The importance of tracking parliamentary actions on AI policy globally and learning from different national approaches

Explanation

Both speakers unexpectedly converge on the importance of systematic learning from diverse national approaches, with Masango emphasizing local leadership bringing global principles to life, and Richardson describing comprehensive tracking of parliamentary AI actions across 37 countries

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus on the importance of parliamentary engagement in digital governance, international collaboration, human rights protection, and systematic learning from diverse national approaches

Consensus level

High level of consensus with complementary perspectives – both speakers align on fundamental principles while bringing different institutional viewpoints that reinforce each other’s arguments about the critical role of parliamentarians in shaping digital governance

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

No significant disagreements identified between speakers

Disagreement level

Minimal to no disagreement. Both speakers (Chengetai Masango and Andy Richardson) are delivering complementary opening remarks that align on key themes: the importance of parliamentary participation in digital governance, the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, the significance of balancing human rights with security concerns, and the critical nature of AI policy development. Their statements are supportive rather than contradictory, with both emphasizing collaboration, learning from diverse approaches, and the growing importance of digital policy issues for parliamentary institutions. The lack of disagreement in this opening session suggests a foundational consensus among participants, though substantive debates may emerge in subsequent sessions as indicated by Richardson’s mention of moving to discussions about ‘Digital Deceit, the Societal Impact of Online Misinformation and Disinformation.’

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers demonstrate appreciation for international parliamentary participation and recognize the growing importance of the IGF parliamentary track as a platform for addressing digital governance issues

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

Welcoming parliamentarians from multiple continents and highlighting the growing participation each year

Expressing gratitude to hosts and partners while emphasizing the significance of digital policy issues for parliaments

Topics

Development | Legal and regulatory

Both speakers acknowledge the fundamental importance of protecting human rights and democratic values in the digital age, with specific attention to balancing security concerns with fundamental freedoms

Speakers

– Chengetai Masango
– Andy Richardson

Arguments

Freedom of expression as a cornerstone value that shapes digital governance approaches, with parliamentarians uniquely positioned to balance security and fundamental human rights

Recognition that AI’s impact on democracy, human rights, and rule of law is a serious policy concern being addressed through resolutions

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Key takeaways

The IGF Parliamentary Track is in its sixth edition and continues to grow with new parliamentarians joining from multiple continents including Lithuania, Nepal, the United States, Zimbabwe, Montenegro, Spain, and Uruguay

Parliamentarians hold a unique position to balance security, safety, and fundamental human rights in digital governance, particularly regarding freedom of expression

The IGF serves as a crucial bridge between global digital policy dialogue and national parliamentary action through local leadership

AI’s impact on democracy, human rights, and rule of law is recognized as a serious policy concern requiring parliamentary attention

There is active monitoring of AI policy developments across parliaments globally, with current reporting covering 37 countries

Resolutions and action items

Partners adopted a resolution on AI’s impact on democracy, human rights, and rule of law policy

Commitment to continue monthly updates on parliamentary actions regarding AI policy across multiple countries

Plan to conduct individual discussions with parliamentarians to gather information about their work in parliaments

Scheduled sessions including ‘Digital Deceit: the Societal Impact of Online Misinformation and Disinformation’ discussion

Unresolved issues

Specific mechanisms for implementing digital governance principles at national levels were not detailed

Concrete strategies for balancing security and fundamental human rights in digital spaces remain to be developed

The transcript cuts off mid-discussion, leaving the substantive policy discussions incomplete

Specific challenges parliamentarians face in addressing digital policy issues were mentioned but not elaborated upon

Suggested compromises

None identified

As members of Parliament, you are in a unique position to highlight the two components of gradient experience and linkage between Half-Truth and true human rights and the balance between ensuring security, safety, and upholding fundamental human rights.

Speaker

Chengetai Masango

Reason

This comment introduces the central tension that parliamentarians must navigate in digital governance – balancing security concerns with fundamental rights protection. It frames parliamentarians as uniquely positioned to address this challenge, suggesting they have both the authority and responsibility to find this balance.

Impact

This comment establishes the conceptual framework for the entire parliamentary track, positioning the fundamental rights vs. security balance as a core theme that would likely resurface throughout subsequent sessions.

Your participation at the IGF also helps bridge the gap between global dialogue and national action… this is exactly the kind of local leadership that brings principles discussed at these forums to life.

Speaker

Chengetai Masango

Reason

This insight highlights a critical challenge in global governance – the implementation gap between international discussions and domestic policy. It positions parliamentarians as essential translators who can convert global digital governance principles into actionable national legislation.

Impact

This comment reframes the role of parliamentarians from passive participants to active bridges between global and local governance, setting expectations for their contributions and emphasizing the practical importance of their engagement.

Currently we are reporting on 37 pages of report against A.I. talks. There are more than half of these in the definitive report… We will be listening closely to you this week to learn what you are doing in your parliaments.

Speaker

Andy Richardson

Reason

This reveals the scale and urgency of AI governance efforts globally, while also establishing a collaborative learning approach. It suggests that parliamentary responses to AI are diverse and rapidly evolving, requiring continuous monitoring and knowledge sharing.

Impact

This comment shifts the tone from ceremonial opening to active intelligence gathering, signaling that the sessions would involve concrete information exchange about legislative approaches rather than just theoretical discussions.

Overall assessment

While this transcript captures opening remarks rather than substantive debate, the key comments establish crucial conceptual frameworks that would shape subsequent discussions. The most impactful themes introduced were: (1) the fundamental tension between security and rights in digital governance, (2) parliamentarians’ unique role as bridges between global principles and national implementation, and (3) the urgent, collaborative nature of AI governance challenges. These comments set expectations for active, practical engagement rather than passive participation, positioning the parliamentary track as a venue for concrete policy learning and development rather than just dialogue.

What specific actions are parliaments around the world taking on A.I. policy beyond the 37 pages currently being tracked?

Speaker

Andy Richardson

Explanation

Richardson mentioned they track actions in parliaments on A.I. policy and update monthly, but indicated there are likely more actions beyond what’s currently documented in their report, suggesting a need for more comprehensive data collection

How can the gap between global dialogue at IGF and national parliamentary action be better bridged?

Speaker

Chengetai Masango

Explanation

Masango highlighted that parliamentarians are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap but didn’t elaborate on specific mechanisms or strategies for doing so effectively

What are parliamentarians specifically doing in their individual parliaments regarding digital policy issues?

Speaker

Andy Richardson

Explanation

Richardson explicitly stated they would be listening to learn what parliamentarians are doing in their parliaments and would be conducting individual discussions to gather this information, indicating this as an active area of inquiry

How can digital governance be made more responsive through parliamentary involvement?

Speaker

Chengetai Masango

Explanation

Masango called for working together to make digital governance more responsive but didn’t specify the mechanisms or approaches needed to achieve this goal