At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025 in Norway, a high-level networking session was held to share key outcomes from the 18th edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), which took place earlier this year from 12–14 May in Strasbourg, France. Hosted by the Council of Europe and supported by the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers, the Strasbourg conference centred on balancing innovation and regulation, strongly focusing on safeguarding human rights in digital policy.
Sandra Hoferichter, who moderated the session in Norway, opened by noting the symbolic significance of EuroDIG’s return to Strasbourg—the city where the forum began in 2008. She emphasised EuroDIG’s unique tradition of issuing “messages” as policy input, which IGF and other regional dialogues later adopted.
Swiss Ambassador Thomas Schneider, President of the EuroDIG Support Association, presented the community’s consolidated contributions to the WSIS+20 review process. “The multistakeholder model isn’t optional—it’s essential,” he said, adding that Europe strongly supports making the Internet Governance Forum a permanent institution rather than one renewed every decade. He called for a transparent and inclusive WSIS+20 process, warning against decisions being shaped behind closed diplomatic doors.
YouthDIG representative Frances Douglas Thomson shared insights from the youth-led sessions at EuroDIG. She described strong debates on digital literacy, particularly around the role of generative AI in schools. ‘Some see AI as a helpful assistant; others fear it diminishes critical thinking,’ she said. Content moderation also sparked division, with some young participants calling for vigorous enforcement against harmful content and others raising concerns about censorship. Common ground emerged around the need for greater algorithmic transparency so users understand how content is curated.
Hans Seeuws, business operations manager at EURid, emphasised the need for infrastructure providers to be heard in policy spaces. He supported calls for concrete action on AI governance and digital rights, stressing the importance of translating dialogue into implementation.
Chetan Sharma from the Data Mission Foundation Trust India questioned the practical impact of governance forums in humanitarian crises. Frances highlighted several EuroDIG sessions that tackled using autonomous weapons, internet shutdowns, and misinformation during conflicts. ‘Dialogue across stakeholders can shift how we understand digital conflict. That’s meaningful change,’ she noted.
A representative from Geneva Macro Labs challenged the panel to explain how internet policy can be effective when many governments lack technical literacy. Schneider replied that civil society, business, and academia must step in when public institutions fall short. ‘Democracy is not self-sustaining—it requires daily effort. The price of neglect is high,’ he cautioned.
Janice Richardson, an expert at the Council of Europe, asked how to widen youth participation. Frances praised YouthDIG’s accessible, bottom-up format and called for increased funding to help young people from underrepresented regions join discussions. ‘The more youth feel heard, the more they stay engaged,’ she said.
As the session closed, Hoferichter reminded attendees of the over 400 applications received for YouthDIG this year. She urged donors to help cover the high travel costs, mainly from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. ‘Supporting youth in internet governance isn’t charity—it’s a long-term investment in inclusive, global policy,’ she concluded.
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