At the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, policymakers, civil society, and digital stakeholders gathered to chart the future of global internet governance through the WSIS+20 review. With a high-level UN General Assembly meeting scheduled for December, co-facilitators from Kenya and Albania emphasised the need to update the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) framework while preserving its original, people-centred vision.
They underscored the importance of inclusive consultations, highlighting a new multistakeholder sounding board and upcoming joint sessions to enhance dialogue between governments and broader communities. The conversation revolved around the evolving digital landscape and how WSIS can adapt to emerging technologies like AI, data governance, and digital public infrastructure.
While some participants favoured WSIS as the primary global framework, others advocated for closer synergy with the Global Digital Compact (GDC), stressing the importance of coordination to avoid institutional duplication. Despite varied views, there was widespread consensus that the existing WSIS action lines, being technology-neutral, can remain relevant by accommodating new innovations.
Speakers from the government, private sector, and civil society reiterated the call to permanently secure the IGF’s mandate, praising its unique ability to foster open, inclusive dialogue without the pressure of binding negotiations. They pointed to IGF’s historical success in boosting internet connectivity and called for more tangible outputs to influence policymaking.
National-level participation, especially from developing countries, women, youth, and marginalised communities, was identified as crucial for meaningful engagement.
The session ended on a hopeful note, with participants expressing a shared commitment to a more inclusive and equitable digital future. As the December deadline looms, the global community faces the task of turning shared principles into concrete action, ensuring digital governance mechanisms remain cooperative, adaptable, and genuinely representative of all voices.
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