Geneva

UNESCO pushes for digital trust at WSIS+20

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UNESCO convened a timely session exploring how to strengthen global information ecosystems through responsible platform governance and smart technology use. The discussion, titled ‘Towards a Resilient Information Ecosystem’, brought together international regulators, academics, civil society leaders, and tech industry representatives to assess digital media’s role in shaping public discourse, especially in times of crisis.

UNESCO’s Assistant Director General Tawfik Jelassi emphasised the organisation’s longstanding mission to build peace through knowledge sharing, warning that digital platforms now risk becoming breeding grounds for misinformation, hate speech, and division. To counter this, he highlighted UNESCO’s ‘Internet for Trust’ initiative, which produced governance guidelines informed by over 10,000 global contributions.

Speakers called for a shift from viewing misinformation as an isolated problem to understanding the broader digital communication ecosystem, especially during crises such as wars or natural disasters. Professor Ingrid Volkmer stressed that global monopolies like Starlink, Amazon Web Services, and OpenAI dominate critical communication infrastructure, often without sufficient oversight.

She urged a paradigm shift that treats crisis communication as an interconnected system requiring tailored regulation and risk assessments. France’s digital regulator Frédéric Bokobza outlined the European Digital Services Act’s role in enhancing transparency and accountability, noting the importance of establishing direct cooperation with platforms, particularly during elections.

The panel also spotlighted ways to empower users. Google’s Nadja Blagojevic showcased initiatives like SynthID watermarking for AI-generated content and media literacy programs such as ‘Be Internet Awesome,’ which aim to build digital critical thinking skills across age groups.

Meanwhile, Maria Paz Canales from Global Partners Digital offered a civil society perspective, sharing how AI tools protect protestors’ identities, preserve historical memory, and amplify marginalised voices, even amid funding challenges. She also called for regulatory models distinguishing between traditional commercial media and true public interest journalism, particularly in underrepresented regions like Latin America.

The session concluded with a strong call for international collaboration among regulators and platforms, affirming that information should be treated as a public good. Participants underscored the need for inclusive, multistakeholder governance and sustainable support for independent media to protect democratic values in an increasingly digital world.

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Rights before risks: Rethinking quantum innovation at WSIS+20

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, a powerful call was made to ensure the development of quantum technologies remains rooted in human rights and inclusive governance. A UNESCO-led session titled ‘Human Rights-Centred Global Governance of Quantum Technologies’ presented key findings from a new issue brief co-authored with Sciences Po and the European University Institute.

It outlined major risks—such as quantum’s dual-use nature threatening encryption, a widening technological divide, and severe gender imbalances in the field—and urged immediate global action to build safeguards before quantum capabilities mature.

UNESCO’s Guilherme Canela emphasised that innovation and human rights are not mutually exclusive but fundamentally interlinked, warning against a ‘false dichotomy’ between the two. Lead author Shamira Ahmed highlighted the need for proactive frameworks to ensure quantum benefits are equitably distributed and not used to deepen global inequalities or erode rights.

With 79% of quantum firms lacking female leadership and a mere 1 in 54 job applicants being women, the gender gap was called ‘staggering.’ Ahmed proposed infrastructure investment, policy reforms, capacity development, and leveraging the UN’s International Year of Quantum to accelerate global discussions.

Panellists echoed the urgency. Constance Bommelaer de Leusse from Sciences Po advocated for embedding multistakeholder participation into governance processes and warned of a looming ‘quantum arms race.’ Professor Pieter Vermaas of Delft University urged moving from talk to international collaboration, suggesting the creation of global quantum research centres.

Journalist Elodie Vialle raised alarms about quantum’s potential to supercharge surveillance, endangering press freedom and digital privacy, and underscored the need to close the cultural gap between technologists and civil society.

Overall, the session championed a future where quantum technology is developed transparently, governed globally, and serves as a digital public good, bridging divides rather than deepening them. Speakers agreed that the time to act is now, before today’s opportunities become tomorrow’s crises.

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Preserving languages in a digital world: A call for inclusive action

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UNESCO convened a powerful session on the critical need to protect multilingualism in the digital age. With over 8,000 languages spoken globally but fewer than 120 represented online, the panel warned of a growing digital divide that excludes billions and marginalises thousands of cultures.

Dr Tawfik Jelassi of UNESCO painted a vivid metaphor of the internet as a vast library where most languages have no books on the shelves, calling for urgent action to safeguard humanity’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Speakers underscored that bridging this divide goes beyond creating language tools—it requires systemic change rooted in policy, education, and community empowerment. Guilherme Canela of UNESCO highlighted ongoing initiatives like the 2003 Recommendation on Multilingualism and the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages, which has already inspired 15 national action plans.

Panellists like Valts Ernstreits and Sofiya Zahova emphasised community-led efforts, citing examples from Latvia, Iceland, and Sámi institutions that show how native speakers and local institutions must lead digital inclusion efforts.

Africa’s case brought the urgency into sharp focus. David Waweru noted that despite hosting a third of the world’s languages, less than 0.1% of websites feature African language content. Yet, promising efforts like the African Storybook project and AI language models show how local storytelling and education can thrive in digital spaces.

Elena Plexida of ICANN revealed that only 26% of email servers accept non-Latin addresses, a stark reminder of the structural barriers to full digital participation.

The session concluded with a strong call for multistakeholder collaboration. Governments, tech companies, indigenous communities, and civil society must work together to make multilingualism the default, not the exception, in digital spaces. As Jelassi put it, ensuring every language has a place online is not just a technical challenge but a matter of cultural survival and digital justice.

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Towards a unified digital future: WSIS+20 and GDC seek synergy, not redundancy

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, global digital leaders gathered to align two major initiatives shaping the future of digital governance: the WSIS+20 Review and the Global Digital Compact (GDC). With resource efficiency and institutional coherence high on the UN’s agenda, the session emphasised avoiding duplication and building on two decades of WSIS infrastructure, rather than creating new frameworks.

Discussions pointed to a shared vision: a streamlined and inclusive approach to digital governance rooted in collaboration and practical results. Co-facilitators from Kenya and Albania, UN agency leaders, and the EU representatives voiced strong consensus that the WSIS legacy—built on multistakeholder participation—should remain central to the digital governance agenda.

Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN’s tech envoy, noted that the GDC already incorporates WSIS principles and advocates reliance on existing mechanisms like the WSIS Forum and the Internet Governance Forum. Proposals such as the EU’s idea of developing action line ‘roadmaps’ were well received as practical tools to embed GDC principles within the WSIS ecosystem.

UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Tawfik Jelassi and ITU’s Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas stressed that digital governance isn’t just about structure but outcomes that directly impact communities, from remote healthcare access to digital ID solutions. Calls to uphold the ‘progressive language’ of the GDC highlighted concern over backsliding amid geopolitical tensions, while the need for hybrid governance—blending state authority with stakeholder inclusivity—was cited as a promising way forward.

Ultimately, the session closed on a constructive note: WSIS+20 and the GDC must not compete but complement each other, delivering real-world digital transformation without adding bureaucratic layers. The challenge now lies in operationalising this consensus—coordinating reporting mechanisms, leveraging forums, and ensuring that every digital policy yields tangible benefits for people worldwide.

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Women researchers showcase accessibility breakthroughs at WSIS

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, the session titled ‘Media and Education for All: Bridging Female Academic Leaders and Society towards Impactful Results’ spotlighted how female academic experts are applying AI to make media and education more inclusive and accessible. Organised by the AXS-CAT network at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and moderated by Dr Anita Lamprecht from Diplo, the session showcased a range of innovative projects that translate university research into real-world impact.

One highlight was the ENACT project, presented by Professor Ana Matamala, which develops simplified news content to serve audiences such as migrants, people with intellectual disabilities, and language learners. While 13 European organisations already offer some easy-to-understand content, challenges remain in maintaining journalistic integrity while ensuring accessibility.

Meanwhile, Professor Pilar Orero unveiled three AI-driven projects: Mosaic, a searchable public broadcaster archive hub; Alfie, which tackles AI bias in media; and a climate change initiative focused on making scientific data more comprehensible to the public. Several education-centred projects also took the stage.

Dr Estella Oncins introduced the Inclusivity project, which uses virtual reality to engage neurodiverse students and promote inclusive teaching methods. Dr Mireia Farrus presented Scribal, a real-time AI-powered transcription and translation tool for university lectures, tailored to support Catalan language users and students with hearing impairments.

Additionally, Dr Mar Gutierrez Colon shared two accessibility tools: a gamified reading app for children in Kenya and an English language test adapted for students with special educational needs. During the Q&A, discussions turned to the challenges of teaching fast-evolving technologies like AI, especially given the scarcity of qualified educators.

The speakers emphasised that digital accessibility is not just a technical concern but a matter of educational justice, advocating for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to ensure inclusive learning opportunities for all.

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Two decades on, WSIS+20 sets course for inclusive digital future

The WSIS+20 High-Level Event opened in Geneva with a celebratory yet forward-looking tone, marking the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society. With over 160 countries represented and over 50,000 stakeholders having engaged with WSIS over the years, speakers reflected on the summit’s legacy in expanding global internet access, from just 16% in 2003 to 68% today.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin called multistakeholder collaboration ‘the beating heart of WSIS,’ reaffirming its importance in guiding digital development. Despite the gains, participants underscored stark digital divides that persist, particularly in the Global South.

UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno emphasised the contrast between societies benefiting from AI and others, where 3.4 billion people remain offline. UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, warned of rising misinformation and urged a ‘WSIS 2.0’ vision that places ethics, human rights, and peace at the core of the digital agenda. Agi Veres, Director of the UNDP Representation Office in Geneva, echoed the call for technology to empower people rather than outpace them, championing a rights-based, inclusive approach to emerging tech like AI.

In a symbolic leadership transition, Switzerland handed the WSIS chairmanship to South Africa. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa, Solly Malatsi, accepted the role by stressing that participants represent not merely institutions but the digital hopes of people everywhere, from remote villages to bustling capitals. The handover represents continuity and a renewed global commitment to building a trustworthy and equitable information society.

As preparations begin for the UN General Assembly’s overall review of WSIS later this year, the event has set a clear tone: the digital future must be shaped by cooperation, inclusivity, and a shared responsibility to ensure no one is left behind.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

East Meets West: Reimagining education in the age of AI

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, the session ‘AI (and) education: Convergences between Chinese and European pedagogical practices’ brought together educators, students, and industry experts to examine how AI reshapes global education.

Led by Jovan Kurbalija of Diplo and Professor Hao Liu of Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), with industry insights from Deloitte’s Norman Sze, the discussion focused on the future of universities and the evolving role of professors amid rapid AI developments.

Drawing on philosophical traditions from Confucius to Plato, the session emphasised the need for a hybrid approach that preserves the human essence of learning while embracing technological transformation.

Professor Liu showcased BIT’s ‘intelligent education’ model, a human-centred system integrating time, space, knowledge, teachers, and students. Moving beyond rigid, exam-focused instruction, BIT promotes creativity and interdisciplinary learning, empowering students with flexible academic paths and digital tools.

Jovan Kurbalija at WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025
Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo

Meanwhile, Norman Sze highlighted how AI has accelerated industry workflows and called for educational alignment with real-world demands. He argued for reorienting learning around critical thinking, ethical literacy, and collaboration—skills that AI cannot replicate and remain central to personal and professional growth.

A key theme was whether teachers and universities remain relevant in an AI-driven future. Students from around the world contributed compelling reflections: AI may offer efficiency, but it cannot replace the emotional intelligence, mentorship, and meaning-making that only human educators provide.

As one student said, ‘I don’t care about ChatGPT—it’s not human.’ The group reached a consensus: professors must shift from ‘sages on the stage’ to ‘guides on the side,’ coaching students through complexity rather than merely transmitting knowledge.

The session closed on an optimistic note, asserting that while AI is a powerful catalyst for change, the heart of education lies in human connection, dialogue, and the ability to ask the right questions. Participants agreed that a truly forward-looking educational model will emerge not from choosing between East and West or human and machine, but from integrating the best of all to build a more inclusive and insightful future of learning.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

WSIS+20 panel urges smarter digital governance

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, global leaders and experts gathered to reflect on the two-decade legacy of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and chart a course for the future of digital cooperation. Moderated by Anriette Esterhuysen of the Association for Progressive Communications, the panel underscored how the WSIS process helped connect over 5.6 billion people to the internet and solidified the importance of multistakeholder governance.

Speakers lauded successes in infrastructure and inclusion but were clear-eyed about persistent gaps, especially the 2.5 billion people who still lack connectivity.

Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy, Prasert Jantararuangtong, showcased national broadband access and cybersecurity achievements through initiatives like the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre. Meanwhile, Ambassador Janis Karklins of Latvia, a central figure in WSIS’s 2005 Tunis phase, warned of growing digital fragmentation.

He expressed concern over the drift from WSIS’s original vision of a global information society toward digital sovereignty, urging participants to stay true to a collaborative global model.

Experts emphasised the need for future frameworks to evolve without duplicating efforts. Professor Kathleen Kramer of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers highlighted the urgency of strong STEM education and technical standards to scale emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing responsibly.

Pierre Bonis of AFNIC and Maria Fernanda Garza of the International Chamber of Commerce both called for pragmatic integration of the WSIS legacy with the upcoming Global Digital Compact, stressing stability, innovation, and the inclusion of pressing challenges such as climate change.

The session closed with a renewed commitment to WSIS’s people-centred, inclusive values, even as the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex. With reflections on past achievements and a unified call for non-duplicative, collaborative governance, panellists offered a hopeful yet pragmatic vision for the next chapter of global digital development.

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IGF leadership panel explores future of digital governance

As the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) prepares to mark its 20th anniversary, members of the IGF Leadership Panel gathered in Norway to present a strategic vision for strengthening the forum’s institutional role and ensuring greater policy impact.

The session explored proposals to make the IGF a permanent UN institution, improve its output relevance for policymakers, and enhance its role in implementing outcomes from WSIS+20 and the Global Digital Compact.

While the tone remained largely optimistic, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa voiced a more urgent appeal, calling for concrete action in a rapidly deteriorating information ecosystem.

Speakers emphasized the need for a permanent and better-resourced IGF. Vint Cerf, Chair of the Leadership Panel, reflected on the evolution of internet governance, arguing that ‘we must maintain enthusiasm for computing’s positive potential whilst addressing problems’.

He acknowledged growing threats like AI-driven disruption and information pollution, which risk undermining democratic governance and economic fairness online. Maria Fernanda Garza and Lise Fuhr echoed the call, urging for the IGF to be integrated into the UN structure with sustainable funding and measurable performance metrics. Fuhr commended Norway’s effort to bring 16 ministers from the Global South to the meeting, framing it as a model for future inclusive engagement.

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A significant focus was placed on integrating IGF outcomes with the WSIS+20 and Global Digital Compact processes. Amandeep Singh Gill noted that these two tracks are ‘complementary’ and that existing WSIS architecture should be leveraged to avoid duplication. He emphasized that budget constraints limit the creation of new bodies, making it imperative for the IGF to serve as the core platform for implementation and monitoring.

Garza compared the IGF’s role to a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for digital policy, urging better coordination with National and Regional Initiatives (NRIs) to translate global goals into local impact.

Participants discussed the persistent challenge of translating IGF discussions into actionable outputs. Carol Roach emphasized the need to identify target audiences and tailor outputs using formats such as executive briefs, toolkits, and videos. Lan Xue added,’ to be policy-relevant, the IGF must evolve from a space of dialogue to a platform of strategic translation’.

He proposed launching policy trackers, aligning outputs with global policy calendars, and appointing liaison officers to bridge the gap between IGF and forums such as the G20, UNGA, and ITU.

Inclusivity emerged as another critical theme. Panellists underscored the importance of engaging underrepresented regions through financial support, capacity-building, and education. Fuhr highlighted the value of internet summer schools and grassroots NRIs, while Gill stressed that digital sovereignty is now a key concern in the Global South. ‘The demand has shifted’, he said, ‘from content consumption to content creation’.

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Maria Ressa closed the session with an impassioned call for immediate action. She warned that the current information environment contributes to global conflict and democratic erosion, stating that ‘without facts, no truth, no trust. Without trust, you cannot govern’. Citing recent wars and digital manipulation, she urged the IGF community to move from reflection to implementation. ‘Online violence is real-world violence’, she said. ‘We’ve talked enough. Now is the time to act.’

Despite some differences in vision, the session revealed a strong consensus on key issues: the need for institutional evolution, enhanced funding, better policy translation, and broader inclusion. Bertrand de la Chapelle, however, cautioned against making the IGF a conventional UN body, instead proposing a ‘constitutional moment’ in 2026 to consider more flexible institutional reforms.

The discussion demonstrated that while the IGF remains a trusted forum for inclusive dialogue, its long-term relevance depends on its ability to produce concrete outcomes and adapt to a volatile digital environment. As Vint Cerf reminded participants in closing, ‘this is an opportunity to make this a better environment than it already is and to contribute more to our global digital society’.

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WSIS prepares for Geneva as momentum builds for impactful digital governance

As preparations intensify for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) high-level event, scheduled for 7–11 July in Geneva, stakeholders from across sectors gathered at the Internet Governance Forum in Norway to reflect on WSIS’s evolution and map a shared path forward.

The session, moderated by Gitanjali Sah of ITU, brought together over a dozen speakers from governments, UN agencies, civil society, and the technical and business communities.

The event is crucial, marking two decades since the WSIS process began. It has grown into a multistakeholder framework involving more than 50 UN entities. While the action lines offer a structured and inclusive approach to digital cooperation, participants acknowledged that measurement and implementation remain the weakest links.

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WSIS prepares for Geneva as momentum builds for impactful digital governance 15

Ambassador Thomas Schneider of Switzerland—co-host of the upcoming high-level event—called for a shift from discussion to decision-making. “Dialogue is necessary but not sufficient,” he stated. “We must ensure these voices translate into outcomes.” Echoing this, South Africa’s representative, Cynthia, reaffirmed her country’s leadership as chair-designate of the event and its commitment to inclusive governance via its G20 presidency focus on AI, digital public infrastructure, and small business support.

UNDP’s Yu Ping Chan shared insights from the field: “Capacity building remains the number one request from governments. It’s not a new principle—it has been central since WSIS began.” She cited UNDP’s work on the Hamburg Declaration on responsible AI and AI ecosystem development in Africa as examples of translating global dialogue into national action.

Tatevik Grigoryan from UNESCO emphasised the enduring value of WSIS’s human rights-based foundations. “We continue to facilitate action lines on access to information, e-learning, and media ethics,” she said, encouraging engagement with UNESCO’s ROMEX framework as a tool for ethical, inclusive digital societies.

Veni from ICANN reinforced the technical community’s role, expressing hope that the WSIS Forum would be formally recognised in the UN’s review documents. “We must not overlook the forum’s contributions. Multistakeholder governance remains essential,” he insisted.

Representing the FAO, Dejan Jakovljević reminded participants that 700 million people remain undernourished. “Digital transformation in agriculture is vital. But farmers without connectivity are left behind,” he said, highlighting the WSIS framework’s role in fostering collaboration across sectors.

Anriette Esterhuysen of APC called civil society to embrace WSIS as a complementary forum to the IGF. “WSIS gives us a policy and implementation framework. It’s not just about talk—it’s about tools we can use at the national level.”

The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Andy Richardson underscored parliaments’ dual role: advancing innovation while protecting citizens. Meli from the International Chamber of Commerce pointed to business engagement through AI-related workshops and discussions on strengthening multi-stakeholders.

Gitanjali Sah acknowledged past successes but urged continued ambition. “We were very ambitious in 1998—and we must be again,” she said. Still, she noted a persistent challenge: “We lack clear indicators to measure WSIS action line progress. That’s a gap we must close.”

The upcoming Geneva event will feature 67 ministers, 72 WSIS champions, and a youth programme alongside the AI for Good summit. Delegates were encouraged to submit input to the UN review process by 15 July and to participate in shaping a WSIS future that is more measurable, inclusive, and action-oriented.

Track all key moments from the Internet Governance Forum 2025 on our dedicated IGF page.