Human rights principles

Civil society pushes for digital rights and justice in WSIS+20 review at IGF 2025

At a packed session during Day 0 of the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, civil society leaders gathered to strategise how the upcoming WSIS+20 review can deliver on the promise of digital rights and justice. Organised by the Global Digital Justice Forum and the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS, the brainstorming session brought together voices from across the globe to assess the ‘elements paper’ recently issued by review co-facilitators from Albania and Kenya.

Anna Oosterlinck of ARTICLE 19 opened the session by noting significant gaps in the current draft, especially in its treatment of human rights and multistakeholder governance.

Ellie McDonald of Global Partners Digital, speaking on behalf of the Global Digital Rights Coalition, presented the group’s three strategic pillars: anchoring digital policy in international human rights law, reinforcing multistakeholder governance based on São Paulo guidance, and strengthening WSIS institutions like the Internet Governance Forum. She warned that current policy language risks drifting away from established human rights commitments and fails to propose concrete steps for institutional resilience.

Nandini Chami of the Global Digital Justice Forum outlined their campaign’s broader structural agenda, including a call for an integrated human rights framework fit for the digital age, safeguarding the internet as a global commons, ensuring sustainable digital transitions, and creating a fair international digital economy that combats digital colonialism. She stressed the importance of expanding rights protections to include people affected by AI and data practices, even those not directly online.

Zach Lampell from the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law closed the session with a stark reminder: those who control internet infrastructure hold immense power over how digital rights are exercised. He and others urged participants to provide feedback by 15 July through an open consultation process, emphasising the need for strong, unified civil society input. The organising coalitions committed to publishing a summary paper to advance advocacy ahead of the final WSIS+20 outcome document.

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

Grassroots internet governance faces crossroads at IGF 2025

At the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, the IGF Support Association convened a critical session addressing the long-term sustainability of National and Regional Internet Initiatives (NRIs). With over 170 NRIs worldwide playing a key role in connecting local voices to global internet policy, participants discussed how a potential renewal of the IGF’s UN mandate might influence their operations.

While many, including internet pioneer Vint Cerf, welcomed the idea of institutional stability through UN backing, most agreed it wouldn’t automatically resolve the chronic funding and legitimacy challenges NRIs face on the ground. A recurring concern was the disconnect between expectations and resources.

After nearly two decades, most NRIs still operate on volunteer labour despite being expected to deliver professional-level outcomes. Sandra Hoferichter of EuroDIG warned that this grassroots model is reaching a breaking point, echoing others who called for more stable secretariats and professional staffing.

Joyce Chen and Fiona Asonga emphasised the importance of formalising multistakeholder teams to prevent initiatives from collapsing when key individuals depart. Funding strategies were a central theme, with diverse models discussed—from partnerships with ccTLD managers and technical communities to modest support from national governments.

Yet securing sustainable private sector investment remains difficult, partly because the IGF’s non-decisional format makes it a harder sell to business. Several speakers stressed the need to articulate clear value propositions, especially for big tech companies that benefit from an open and stable internet but often contribute little to maintaining its governance structures.

The session closed with a consensus that real sustainability demands more than money: NRIs need legitimacy, inclusivity, and a deeper integration with national policymaking. Proposals ranged from establishing parliamentary tracks to expanding sub-national IGFs, all with the aim of grounding internet governance in local realities while keeping it globally connected.

Why does it matter?

Despite unresolved questions, the mood remained constructive, with calls to continue the conversation and co-develop innovative models for the next chapter of grassroots digital governance.

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

Parliamentarians at IGF 2025 call for action on information integrity

At the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, global lawmakers and experts gathered to confront one of the most pressing challenges of our digital era: the societal impact of misinformation and disinformation, especially amid the rapid advance of AI. Framed by the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, the session spotlighted the urgent need for resilient, democratic responses to online erosion of public trust.

AI’s disruptive power took centre stage, with speakers citing alarming trends—deepfakes manipulated global election narratives in over a third of national polls in 2024 alone. Experts like Lindsay Gorman from the German Marshall Fund warned of a polluted digital ecosystem where fabricated video and audio now threaten core democratic processes.

UNESCO’s Marjorie Buchser expanded the concern, noting that generative AI enables manipulation and redefines how people access information, often diverting users from traditional journalism toward context-stripped AI outputs. However, regulation alone was not touted as a panacea.

Instead, panellists promoted ‘democracy-affirming technologies’ that embed transparency, accountability, and human rights at their foundation. The conversation urged greater investment in open, diverse digital ecosystems, particularly those supporting low-resource languages and underrepresented cultures. At the same time, multiple voices called for more equitable research, warning that Western-centric data and governance models skew current efforts.

In the end, a recurring theme echoed across the room: tackling information manipulation is a collective endeavour that demands multistakeholder cooperation. From enforcing technical standards to amplifying independent journalism and bolstering AI literacy, participants called for governments, civil society, and the tech industry to build unified, future-proof solutions that protect democratic integrity while preserving the fundamental right to free expression.

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

WGIG reunion sparks calls for reform at IGF 2025 in Norway

At the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, a reunion of the original Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) marked a significant reflection and reckoning moment for global digital governance. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of WGIG’s formation, the session brought together pioneers of the multistakeholder model that reshaped internet policy discussions during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Moderated by Markus Kummer and organised by William J. Drake, the panel featured original WGIG members, including Ayesha Hassan, Raul Echeberria, Wolfgang Kleinwächter, Avri Doria, Juan Fernandez, and Jovan Kurbalija, with remote contributions from Alejandro Pisanty, Carlos Afonso, Vittorio Bertola, Baher Esmat, and others. While celebrating their achievements, speakers did not shy away from blunt assessments of the IGF’s present state and future direction.

Speakers universally praised WGIG’s groundbreaking work in legitimising multi-stakeholderism within the UN system. The group’s broad, inclusive definition of internet governance—encompassing technical infrastructure and social and economic policies—was credited for transforming how global internet issues are addressed.

Participants emphasised the group’s unique working methodology, prioritising transparency, pluralism, and consensus-building without erasing legitimate disagreements. Many argue that these practices remain instructive amid today’s fragmented digital governance landscape.

However, as the conversation shifted from legacy to present-day performance, participants voiced deep concerns about the IGF’s limitations. Despite successes in capacity-building and agenda-setting, the forum was criticised for its failure to tackle controversial issues like surveillance, monopolies, and platform accountability.

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Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo

Speakers such as Vittorio Bertola and Avri Doria lamented its increasingly top-down character. At the same time, Nandini Chami and Ariette Esterhuizen raised questions about the IGF’s relevance and inclusiveness in the face of growing power imbalances. Some, including Bertrand de la Chapelle and Jovan Kurbalija, proposed bold reforms, including establishing a new working group to address the interlinked challenges of AI, data governance, and digital justice.

The session closed on a forward-looking note, urging the IGF community to recapture WGIG’s original spirit of collaborative innovation. As emerging technologies raise the stakes for global cooperation, participants agreed that internet governance must evolve—not only to reflect new realities but to stay true to the inclusive, democratic ideals that defined its founding two decades ago.

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

Publishers lose traffic as readers trust AI more

Online publishers are facing an existential threat as AI increasingly becomes the primary source of information for users, warned Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince during an Axios event in Cannes.

As AI-generated summaries dominate user queries, search engine referrals have plunged, urgently pushing media outlets to reconsider how they sustain revenue from their content.

Traffic patterns have dramatically shifted. A decade ago, Google sent a visitor to publishers for every two pages it crawled.

Today, that ratio has ballooned to 18:1. The picture is more extreme for AI firms: OpenAI’s ratio has jumped from 250:1 to 1,500:1 in just six months, while Anthropic’s has exploded from 6,000:1 to a staggering 60,000:1.

Although AI systems typically include links to sources, Prince noted that ‘people aren’t following the footnotes,’ meaning fewer clicks and less ad revenue.

Prince argued that audiences are beginning to trust AI summaries more than the original articles, reducing publishers’ visibility and direct engagement.

As the web becomes increasingly AI-mediated, fewer people read full articles, raising urgent questions about how creators and publishers can be fairly compensated.

To tackle the issue, Cloudflare is preparing to launch a new anti-scraping tool to block unauthorised data harvesting. Prince hinted that the tool has broad industry support and will be rolled out soon.

He remains confident in Cloudflare’s capacity to fight against such threats, noting the company’s daily battles against sophisticated global cyber actors.

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AI pioneer warns of mass job losses

Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, has warned that the technology could soon trigger mass unemployment, particularly in white-collar roles. In a recent podcast interview, he said AI will eventually replace most forms of intellectual labour.

According to Hinton, jobs requiring basic reasoning or clerical tasks will be the first to go, with AI performing the work of multiple people. He expressed concern that call centre workers may already be vulnerable, while roles requiring physical skills, like plumbing, remain safer for now.

Hinton challenged the common belief that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates. He argued that unless someone has highly specialised expertise, they may find themselves outpaced by machines capable of learning and performing cognitive tasks.

He also criticised OpenAI’s recent corporate restructuring, saying the shift towards a profit-driven model risks sidelining the public interest. Hinton, alongside other critics including Elon Musk, warned that the changes could divert AI development from its original mission of serving humanity.

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Judge halts OPM data sharing with DOGE amid privacy concerns

A federal judge in New York ordered the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop sharing sensitive personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agents.

The preliminary injunction, issued on 6 June by Judge Denise Cote, cited a strong likelihood that OPM and DOGE violated both the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Administrative Procedures Act.

The lawsuit, led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and several advocacy groups, alleges that OPM unlawfully disclosed information from one of the largest federal employee databases to DOGE, a controversial initiative reportedly linked to billionaire Elon Musk.

The database includes names, social security numbers, health and financial data, union affiliations, and background check records for millions of federal employees, applicants, and retirees.

Union representatives and privacy advocates called the ruling a significant win for data protection and government accountability. AFGE President Everett Kelley criticised the involvement of ‘Musk’s DOGE cronies’, arguing that unelected individuals should not have access to such sensitive material.

The legal action also seeks to delete any data handed over to DOGE. The case comes amid ongoing concerns about federal data security following OPM’s 2015 breach, which compromised information on more than 22 million people.

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Europe’s new digital diplomacy: From principles to power

In a decisive geopolitical shift, the European Union has unveiled its 2025 International Digital Strategy, signalling a turn from a values-first diplomacy to a focus on security and competitiveness. As Jovan Kurbalija explains in his blog post titled ‘EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security‘, the EU is no longer simply exporting its regulatory ideals — often referred to as the ‘Brussels effect’ — but is now positioning digital technology as central to its economic and geopolitical resilience.

The strategy places special emphasis on building secure digital infrastructure, such as submarine cables and AI factories, and deepening digital partnerships across continents. Unlike the 2023 Council Conclusions, which promoted a human-centric, rights-based approach to digital transformation, the 2025 Strategy prioritises tech sovereignty, resilient supply chains, and strategic defence-linked innovations.

Human rights, privacy, and inclusivity still appear, but mainly in supporting roles to broader goals of power and resilience. The EU’s new path reflects a realpolitik understanding that its survival in the global tech race depends on alliances, capability-building, and a nimble response to the rapid evolution of AI and cyber threats.

In practice, this means more digital engagement with key partners like India, Japan, and South Korea and coordinated global investments through the ‘Tech Team Europe’ initiative. The strategy introduces new structures like a Digital Partnership Network while downplaying once-central instruments like the AI Act.

With China largely sidelined and relations with the US in ‘wait and see’ mode, the EU seems intent on building an independent but interconnected digital path, reaching out to the Global South with a pragmatic offer of secure digital infrastructure and public-private investments.

Why does it matter?

Yet, major questions linger: how will these ambitious plans be implemented, who will lead them, and can the EU maintain coherence between its internal democratic values and this outward-facing strategic assertiveness? As Kurbalija notes, the success of this new digital doctrine will hinge on whether the EU can fuse its soft power legacy with the hard power realities of a turbulent tech-driven world.

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AI in higher education: A mixed blessing for students and institutions

AI rapidly reshapes university life, offering students new tools to boost creativity, structure assignments, and develop ideas more efficiently. At institutions like Oxford Brookes University, students like 22-year-old Sunjaya Phillips have found that AI enhances confidence and productivity when used responsibly, with faculty guidance.

She describes AI as a ‘study buddy’ that transformed her academic experience, especially during creative blocks, where AI-generated prompts saved valuable time. However, the rise of AI in academia also raises important concerns.

A global student survey revealed that while many embrace AI in their studies, a majority fear its long-term implications on employment. Some admit to misusing the technology for dishonest purposes, highlighting the ethical challenges it presents.

Experts like Dr Charlie Simpson from Oxford Brookes caution that relying too heavily on AI to ‘do the thinking’ undermines educational goals and may devalue the learning process.

Despite these concerns, many educators and institutions remain optimistic about AI’s potential—if used wisely. Professor Keiichi Nakata from Henley Business School stresses that AI is not a replacement but a powerful aid, likening its expected workplace relevance to today’s basic IT skills.

He and others argue that responsible AI use could elevate the capabilities of future graduates and reshape degree expectations accordingly. While some students worry about job displacement, others, like Phillips, view AI as a support system rather than a threat.

The consensus among academics is clear: success in the age of AI will depend not on avoiding the technology, but on mastering it with discernment, ethics, and adaptability.

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EU launches global digital strategy

The European Union has launched a sweeping international digital strategy to bolster its global tech leadership and secure a human-centric digital transformation. With the digital and AI revolution reshaping economies and societies worldwide, the EU is positioning itself as a reliable partner in building resilient, open, and secure digital ecosystems.

The strategy prioritises collaboration with international partners to scale digital infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and support emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors while promoting democratic values and human rights in digital governance. The EU will deepen and expand its global network of Digital Partnerships and Dialogues to remain competitive and secure in a fast-changing geopolitical landscape.

These collaborations focus on research, industrial innovation, regulatory cooperation, and secure supply chains, while engaging countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the EU’s own neighbourhood. The strategy also leverages trade instruments and investment frameworks such as the Global Gateway to support secure 5G and 6G networks, submarine cables, and digital public infrastructure, helping partner countries improve connectivity, resilience, and sustainability.

To enhance global digital governance, the EU is pushing for international standards that uphold privacy, security, and openness, and opposing efforts to fragment the internet. It supports inclusive multilateralism, working through institutions like the UN, G7, and OECD to shape rules for the digital age.

With initiatives ranging from AI safety cooperation and e-signature mutual recognition to safeguarding children online and combating disinformation, the EU aims to set the benchmark for ethical and secure digital transformation. At the heart of this vision is the EU Tech Business Offer—a modular, cross-border platform combining technology, capacity-building, and financing.

Through Team Europe and partnerships with industry, the EU seeks to bridge the digital divide, export trusted digital solutions, and foster an interconnected world aligned with European democratic principles. The strategy underscores that in today’s interconnected world, the EU’s prosperity and security hinge on shaping a digital future that is competitive, inclusive, and values-driven.

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