The WSIS outcome documents and the UN General Assembly Resolution 60/252 resolved to conduct an overall review of the implementation of the Summit outcomes in 2015. The WSIS+10 review process culminated with an intergovernmental high-level meeting at the United Nations in New York on 15–16 December 2015, which, among other issues, decided to renew the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum with a further 10 years. Other elements tackled in the outcome document of the meeting include: (a) bridging digital divides; (b) human rights in the information society; (c) building confidence and security in the use of ICTs; (d) internet governance; and (e) enhanced cooperation. The document further calls on the General Assembly to hold a high-level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the WSIS outcomes in 2025.
Digital cooperation
NETmundial Process
Brazil hosts NETmundial – Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the Future of Internet Governance. The meeting concludes with the adoption of a , containing a set of internet governance principles, as well as a roadmap for the future evolution of the internet governance ecosystem.
World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12)
The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) is convened in Dubai by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to review the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) for the first time since 1988. Concerns are raised on the impact of new reglulations on the future of the internet and internet governance. At the end of the two-week conference, negotiations end in a stalemate: Participants fail to reach consensus and states are bound by two sets of ITRs – the 2012 ones, signed by 89 countries vs the 1988 ones, valid for the rest of ITU member states.
CSTD Working Group on Improvements to the IGF presents its report
The Working Group on Improvements to the IGF – created at the request of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly – issues a report outlining a serie of recommendations for strengthening the IGF. The recommendations are related to shaping The group was established by the Chair of the Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and had a multistakeholder composition.
First renewal of the IGF mandate
In its December 2010 Resolution A/RES/65/141, the UN General Assembly decided to extend the mandate of the IGF for a further five years. The resolution also noted ‘the need to improve the Forum, with a view to linking it to the broader dialogue on global internet governance’.
WSIS, Tunis Phase
The second phase of WSIS, held in Tunis, concludes with the adoption of two documents: the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society . The two documents underline three main areas of action: the identification of financial mechanisms to be used in overcoming the digital divide, the promotion of debates on Internet governance, and the implementation of the WSIS documents. The Tunis Agenda also contains a definition for the term Internet governance (as proposed by the Working group on Internet Governance), and it mandates the UN Secretary General to convene the Internet Governance Forum.
First annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) holds its first annual meeting in Athens, Greece. The forum, convened by the UN Secretary-General, is intended to serve as a platform to ‘discuss public policy issues related to key elements of internet governance in order to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability, and development of the Internet’. The IGF mandate is detailed in paragraph 72 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society.
The forum will continue to hold meetings on an annual basis.
Report of the Working Group on Internet Governance
After several meetings in 2004 and 2005, the Working Group on Internet Governance issues its report which: (a) proposes a working definition for internet governance; (b) identifies public policy issues that are relevant to internet governance; and (c) explores the roles and responsibilities of various actors (governments, the private sector, civil society, as well as academia and the technical community) in internet governance. The group also suggests the creation of a multistakeholder forum for dialogue on internet-related public policy issues.
WSIS, Geneva Phase
The first phase of WSIS, held in Geneva, finalises with the adoption of two documents: the Geneva Declaration of Principles, which underlines a set of principles to form the basis of an inclusive and global information society, and the Geneva Plan of Action, which contains several objectives and action lines related to bridging the digital divide. The Declaration also makes reference to Internet governance, by saying that this concept should constitute a key element of the information society agenda, and that the international management of the Internet should be a multilateral, transparent, and democratic process which includes all categories of actors. Signatories of the Geneva Declaration mandated the UN Secretary General to create a Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), as a multistakeholder entity tasked with: elaborating a definition for the term ‘Internet governance’, identifying public policy aspects pertaining to Internet governance, and developing a common vision of the role and responsibilities of governments, international organisations, private sector and the civil society, as Internet governance actors.
UN General Assembly endorses the holding of WSIS
In June 2001, the ITU Council endorses the ITU Secretary-General’s proposal to hold WSIS in two phases, in 2003 and 2005. Later in the year, the UN General Assembly, through Resolution 56/183, also endorses the holding of WSIS in two phases. It invites the ITU to ‘assume the leading managerial role’ in preparing WSIS. It also invites and encourages governments, UN bodies, other intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society, and the private sector to contribute to the summit and its preparatory process.