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.
Timeline
Global Digital Compact process
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.
Appointment of IGF Leadership Panel
Building on the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, the UN Secretary-General appoints an inaugural Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Leadership Panel as ‘a strategic, empowered, and multistakeholder body to support and strengthen the IGF’. The Panel’s key functions are to: provide strategic inputs and advice on the IGF; promote the IGF and its outputs; support both high-level and at-large stakeholder engagement in the IGF and IGF fundraising efforts; and exchange IGF outputs from the Forum with other stakeholders and relevant fora and facilitate the feeding of input of these decision-makers and fora to the IGF’s agenda-setting process.
2021 UN GGE Report: Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security (A/RES/76/135)
Summary
As the world’s dependence on information and communications technologies (ICTs) continues to increase, the responsible behaviour of States in the use of ICTs has become of vital importance to the maintenance of international peace and security. Pursuant to its mandate contained in General Assembly resolution 73/266, the 2019–2021 Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace in the Context of International Security has continued to study, with a view to promoting common understandings and effective implementation, possible cooperative measures to address existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security.
The present report contains the Group’s findings on existing and emerging threats; norms, rules and principles for the responsible behaviour of States; international law; confidence-building measures; and international cooperation and assistance in ICT security and capacity-building. On each of these topics, the report adds a layer of understanding to the findings and recommendations of previous Groups
of Governmental Experts.
Call for inputs for the Global Digital Compact
The Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology has launched a public consultation inviting interested stakeholders to share input for consideration for the GDC.
See submitted input.
Publication of Our Common Agenda
The UN Secretary-General issues the Our Common Agenda report, outlining his vision on the future of global cooperation. Among other elements, the Secretary-General envisions the adoption of a Global Digital Compact (GDC) to ‘outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all’. The GDC is to be agreed up during a Summit of the Future, planned for September 2024.
2021 UN GGE Final Report
The UN GGE concluded its work with this Report. Cybersecurity process will shift to the UN OEWG.
Report of the First UN OEWG on Cybersecurity
- Reaffirmation of the results of the previous reports of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), as well as that international law, and in particular the Charter of the UN, is applicable to cyberspace
- Norms do not replace or alter states’ obligations or rights under international law – which are binding – but rather provide additional and specific guidance on what constitutes responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs
- Recommendation that states voluntarily identify and consider CBMs
- Recommends that appropriate to their specific contexts, and cooperate with other states on their implementation
- Comprehensive capacity building measures in the field of ICT security
First Report of the UN OEWG on Cybersecurity
- Reaffirmation of the results of the previous reports of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), as well as that international law, and in particular the Charter of the UN, is applicable to cyberspace
- Norms do not replace or alter states’ obligations or rights under international law – which are binding – but rather provide additional and specific guidance on what constitutes responsible state behaviour in the use of ICTs
- Recommendation that states voluntarily identify and consider CBMs
- Recommends that appropriate to their specific contexts, and cooperate with other states on their implementation
- Comprehensive capacity building measures in the field of ICT security
Establishment of the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology is established following the Secretary-General’s appointment of his inaugural Envoy on Technology. Responsibilities of the Office include: leading the implementation of the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation; facilitating dialogue on the recommendations of the Roadmap and related parts of the Our Common Agenda report; and serving as an advocate and focal point for digital cooperation.
Starting July 2022, the position of Envoy on Technology has been held by Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill.