Wrap up

Summary

This transcript captures the closing session of EuroDIG 2025, featuring speeches from key stakeholders in European digital governance. Matjaz Gruden, Director of Democracy at the Council of Europe, opened by challenging the assumption that technology inherently improves society, citing historian Timothy Snyder’s observation that the internet has made the world population “20% more stupid.” Gruden emphasized that technology is ethically neutral and that human agency remains crucial in shaping digital interactions, arguing that effective digital governance requires moving beyond platitudes about minimizing risks and maximizing benefits to concrete, practical solutions.

Marianne Wilhelmsen, Norway’s State Secretary for Digitalization, spoke about the upcoming IGF 2025 in Norway, emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and human-centric approaches to technology. She highlighted Norway’s commitment to strengthening the Internet Governance Forum beyond 2025 and connecting various international frameworks like WSIS, the Global Digital Compact, and Sustainable Development Goals. Wilhelmsen noted that Norway, despite being small, has been a digital pioneer since connecting to the internet in the 1970s and expects over 4,000 participants at the June meeting.

Chengetai Masango from the IGF Secretariat praised EuroDIG’s high standards and announced that both co-facilitators of the WSIS 20 review process would participate in the Norway meeting. The session concluded with extensive acknowledgments from EuroDIG organizers Thomas Schneider and Sandra Hoferichter, who thanked the Council of Europe for hosting and outlined plans for future EuroDIG events. The discussion underscored the critical importance of continued international cooperation in digital governance during a pivotal year for global digital policy frameworks.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Human-centered approach to digital governance**: Multiple speakers emphasized that technology should serve humanity rather than the reverse, with human rights, dignity, and ethical principles guiding all digital governance decisions. The discussion highlighted the need to focus on human interactions facilitated by technology rather than just human-technology interactions.

– **Critical assessment of AI and digital technology impact**: Speakers discussed both positive and negative effects of digital technology, including concerns about cognitive atrophy from AI dependence (referencing students unable to complete “AI-proofed” assignments) and the need to move beyond simply “minimizing risks and maximizing benefits” to find concrete solutions.

– **Strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and global digital governance**: Significant focus on the upcoming IGF 2025 in Norway, the 20th anniversary of WSIS, and the need for enhanced international cooperation. Discussion emphasized making digital governance more inclusive, particularly for Global South participation and underrepresented groups.

– **Practical implementation challenges**: Speakers addressed the gap between noble intentions and effective execution in digital governance, calling for concrete solutions rather than “ritualized platitudes” and emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation as technology evolves.

– **EuroDIG community achievements and future planning**: Recognition of the successful three-day conference, appreciation for organizers and participants, and planning for future events including improved processes and continued innovation in multi-stakeholder dialogue formats.

## Overall Purpose:

This was the closing session of EuroDIG (European Dialogue on Internet Governance), serving to synthesize key insights from the three-day conference, thank participants and organizers, promote upcoming events (particularly IGF 2025 in Norway), and reinforce the importance of continued multi-stakeholder collaboration in digital governance.

## Overall Tone:

The discussion maintained a consistently professional and optimistic tone throughout, despite acknowledging serious challenges. Speakers balanced critical analysis of current digital governance shortcomings with appreciation for progress made and enthusiasm for future collaboration. The tone was celebratory toward the end, with expressions of gratitude and encouragement for continued participation, while maintaining the serious undertone about the urgent need for effective digital governance solutions.

Speakers

– **Moritz Taylor**: Role/Title not specified, appears to be moderating the closing session of EuroDIG

– **Matjaz Gruden**: Director of Democracy at DG2, Council of Europe. Responsible for Council of Europe work in education, youth, culture and heritage, civil society, and media freedom

– **Marianne Wilhelmsen**: State Secretary at the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Governance in Norway

– **Chengetai Masango**: Head of the Office of the Secretariat of IGF (Internet Governance Forum)

– **Thomas Schneider**: President of the European Support Association

– **Sandra Hoferichter**: Secretary General of EuroDIG

**Additional speakers:**

– **Timothy Snyder**: US historian and Professor (mentioned/quoted by Matjaz Gruden, did not speak directly in this transcript)

– **Joanna Maciewska**: Young Polish artist living in Ireland (mentioned/quoted by Matjaz Gruden, did not speak directly in this transcript)

# EuroDIG 2025 Closing Session: Discussion Summary

## Introduction and Context

The closing session of EuroDIG 2025 took place at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, bringing together key stakeholders to reflect on the conference discussions and look ahead to upcoming digital governance milestones. Moderated by Moritz Taylor, the session featured Matjaz Gruden, Director of Democracy at the Council of Europe; Marianne Wilhelmsen, Norway’s State Secretary for Digitalisation; Chengetai Masango from the IGF Secretariat; and EuroDIG organisers Thomas Schneider and Sandra Hoferichter.

The discussion occurred during a significant year for global digital policy, with the upcoming IGF 2025 in Norway, the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), and ongoing implementation of the Global Digital Compact.

## Key Speaker Presentations

### Matjaz Gruden: Critical Perspective on Technology and Human Agency

Gruden opened with a provocative quote from US historian Timothy Snyder: “because of the internet, the entire world population has become 20% more stupid than it was before. And the reason why nobody is noticing it is that we are all collectively 20% more stupid.” He used this deliberately challenging statement to frame a critical examination of digital technology’s impact on society.

Gruden emphasised that technology is ethically neutral, stating that “it is really what makes it good or bad is what humans do with it, and especially what humans do to other humans with it and through it.” He argued that digital governance should focus on governing human behaviour in digital spaces rather than controlling technology itself.

He shared concerns about AI dependency, citing a student who “demanded an extension because ChatGPT was down” and couldn’t complete an assignment requiring basic analytical thinking. Gruden coined the term “degenerative AI” to describe technology that diminishes rather than enhances human capabilities.

To illustrate the proper relationship between humans and AI, Gruden quoted young Polish artist Joanna Maciewska, who lives in Ireland: “I want the technology to do my dishes and laundry so I can do my job. I am a young artist, and I am doing my art and my writing, not the technology doing my art and my writing so I can do the dishes and the laundry.”

Gruden concluded by emphasising that “future will not adjust to our learning styles. We need to adjust our learning styles to the future. Or the future will interfere with our living styles in ways we surely wish to avoid.”

### Marianne Wilhelmsen: Norway’s Digital Leadership and IGF 2025

Wilhelmsen highlighted Norway’s digital heritage, noting that Norway was the second country in the world to connect to the internet in the 1970s. She shared historical examples of Norway’s digital innovation, including the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics when OsloNet and NTV demonstrated automatic news publishing, and a 1995 moment when Torben Jognand (former Norwegian PM, now Council of Europe Secretary General) sent a digital greeting to President Clinton.

She emphasised that “technology must serve humanity, not the other way around, with human rights as the foundation.” Wilhelmsen acknowledged that “multi-stakeholder dialogue is not always the most efficient path, but it is the only approach that ensures that all relevant perspectives are heard.”

Regarding IGF 2025, Wilhelmsen noted Norway’s commitment to creating an inclusive and engaging event, representing the country’s largest UN meeting. She stressed the importance of better coordination between WSIS, the Global Digital Compact, and Sustainable Development Goals to avoid fragmented efforts in digital governance.

### Chengetai Masango: IGF Updates and Global Coordination

Masango praised EuroDIG’s organisation and high standards, noting the event’s success in retaining participants and generating valuable discussions. He emphasised his role in taking ideas from EuroDIG back to the global IGF process.

He provided important updates about IGF 2025, including that both co-facilitators of the WSIS 20 review process (Kenya and Albania) would participate in the Norway meeting. Masango reported approximately 4,000 current registrations for IGF 2025 and stressed the importance of early registration.

Masango highlighted the significance of the 20th anniversary of WSIS and mentioned that heads of government participation was being arranged. He also confirmed that the popular music night would return to the IGF format.

## Organisational Achievements and Acknowledgments

### Team Recognition and Community Building

Sandra Hoferichter and Thomas Schneider provided extensive acknowledgments of the teams that made EuroDIG possible. They recognised technical teams, interpreters, and organising staff, specifically mentioning team members including Rainer, Nadja, Elisabeth, João, Francesco, Miriam, and Daniel.

Hoferichter emphasised that the community builds the agenda through multi-stakeholder input rather than top-down organisation, highlighting the democratic nature of the process. She noted that EuroDIG received a record number of 427 youth applications.

### Practical Outcomes and Next Steps

The organisers outlined several concrete next steps:

– EuroDIG messages will be published by 25th May deadline

– Plans for a shared booth at Norway IGF

– Continued communication through newsletter and LinkedIn channels

– Town hall meetings and bilateral meeting arrangements for IGF 2025

Schneider acknowledged strong partnerships with organisations like the Council of Europe and noted EuroDIG’s role as a testing ground for innovations that benefit the broader global internet governance ecosystem.

## Implementation Challenges and Ongoing Issues

The speakers identified several persistent challenges in digital governance:

Gruden noted that “we have improved at identifying risks and threats from technology use, but we are not sufficiently successful in identifying effective responses to these risks.” He emphasised the need to address underlying causes of social, economic, and political marginalisation that make people vulnerable to technological misuse.

Wilhelmsen highlighted the complexity of the current digital governance ecosystem, noting that it can be difficult to navigate from the outside and requires better clarity on how different processes relate to each other.

The discussion addressed ongoing challenges in ensuring meaningful participation from the Global South and underrepresented groups in digital governance processes.

## Education and Capacity Building

Both Gruden and Wilhelmsen emphasised the critical importance of digital education and capacity building. Gruden argued that investment in digital skills and competencies is essential for empowering people in digital society, though not everyone needs to become a technical expert.

Wilhelmsen noted that the IGF provides continuous involvement, open dialogue, and capacity building across stakeholder groups. The speakers agreed that higher levels of digital knowledge are needed across society to enable meaningful participation in digital governance.

## Looking Forward

The session concluded with clear momentum toward IGF 2025 in Norway and continued international cooperation in digital governance. The speakers emphasised the importance of early registration for IGF 2025 and encouraged participants to return to their communities and actively engage marginalised groups in digital governance discussions.

Masango confirmed that EuroDIG sets high standards for discussion quality that benefit the global IGF, while the organisers committed to continued innovation in multi-stakeholder dialogue formats.

The discussion demonstrated the ongoing evolution of digital governance approaches, moving beyond simple risk-benefit analyses toward more nuanced, human-centred frameworks that prioritise human agency while harnessing technology’s potential benefits.

Moritz Taylor: It’s time for the closing of Eurodict to begin and we’ll be starting by welcoming Matjaz Gruden, Director of Democracy at DG2, the Council of Europe. Thank you very much.

Matjaz Gruden: Thank you. Thank you very much. Just a moment. I’m very technology conscious, so I’ll be using a mobile telephone in a peripheral function. I’m sure you must be exhausted. It’s been three days, but you’re almost there, or not, we’ll see. Obviously I don’t know how to do it, forget it. My name is Matjaz Gruden, I’m the Director for Democracy, one of the most pretentious titles in European, international, multilateral architecture, but it actually means that I’m responsible for the Council of Europe work in the area of education, youth, culture and heritage, civil society, and media freedom. And we’re trying to approach the issues that you’ve been discussing over the last three days related to digital technology, artificial intelligence, from all those different perspectives, but especially from the perspectives of what it means for democracy, for the functioning of our democratic systems. Let me just make a last try. Nope. Okay. A few years back, we organized a meeting or a lecture by a US historian, Professor Timothy Snyder, who came to Strasbourg, and there was one thing that he said on that occasion that really stayed with me. He said, because of the internet, the entire world population has become 20% more stupid than it was before. And the reason why nobody is noticing it is that we are all collectively 20% more stupid. Now it’s hesitating to start with, open with this quote from Professor Snyder, because I felt it would come across as too cynical, exaggerated, and very anti-technology, negative about technology. And then just this morning, I came across an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education specialized publication in the United States, a testimony from a professor from New York University who said that he has given to his students an AI-proofed assignment. And the reaction was hilarious. First they complained it was too hard, and then he explained that these were standard assignments only prepared in a way that Chad GPT would not be able to read and answer them. Then they complained that he was interfering with their learning style. And one of them even demanded an extension, because Chad GPT was down on that day. So when you look at that, I thought perhaps Professor Snyder wasn’t exaggerating. Perhaps he was too conservative. Mind you, this was years ago, he was talking about internet, that was before Chad GPT and artificial intelligence made its entrance into our lives, before the artificial intelligence made at least some people, in a very un-artificial way, clearly less bright, like these students, where we can observe a risk of atrophy of some cognitive functions due to excessive use of artificial intelligence. Degenerative AI, I claimed it first, sorry I couldn’t resist, but this is not a rant against technology, I’d be stupid to do that with this audience. But I just wanted to start with that because I wanted to illustrate that we did travel a long way from those early days, at least I remember because I’m old enough, the early days of the internet, of unbridled enthusiasm and belief that technology, digital technology is going to transform our societies for the better, on its own, by default. And I think that we have now realised that we were wrong. Not wrong because we believe that technology was inherently good, because it’s neither good or bad, it’s because we have been attributing ethical qualities and intentions to a machine. Because as I said, technology is neither good nor bad, it’s ethically neutral, it is really what makes it good or bad is what humans do with it, and especially what humans do to other humans with it and through it. And I think one of the biggest mistakes that we can make is to frame and understand the digital society in terms of interaction between technology and humans alone, because it remains defined by interactions between humans, but with and through technology, of course. I think that’s something that’s quite self-evident, but still I feel it’s something that’s important to say it and say it loud and say it often, because it reminds us that we, humans, retain agency to shape our interactions and shape our societies, even and especially in the conditions and circumstances of that increased and over-present influence of technology. So I’m very pleased and I welcome the fact that the sessions at this EuroDIG have underscored that digital governance is fundamentally about people, that it is about ensuring that innovation serves the public good, that ethical principles guide or must guide our decisions, and that the most vulnerable, especially children, are protected in the digital environment. The human-centred approach must remain at the heart of all governance efforts as we shape a future where rights, safety and dignity are preserved online. The question is how. This is a very noble intention, but the question is how. I like to start with how not. I don’t think we’re going to be successful by repeating ritualised platitudes about minimising the risks and maximising the benefits, regardless of the resolve and passion and enthusiasm we invest in our claims. When you look at it on minimising, I think we can say that we have improved in identifying the risks and threats of the use of technology, even though I think that there are large areas where we are still in the dark. But we’re not very successful in identifying effective, or we’re not sufficiently successful in identifying effective responses to these risks. When it comes to maximising benefits, it’s a little bit of a mixed picture, because I think it’s absolutely clear that digital technology, artificial intelligence are built in and it’s driving a multitude of processes and systems that are making our lives better and safer, and I think that’s important. But on the other hand, it is also things that are, to a large extent, invisible to the general public, and that public perception of technology is being dominated by the negative, especially when it comes to human relations, disinformation, manipulation of elections, fraud and so on. That is not good. That is actually dangerous, because mistrust, fear or resentment of technology is not making our societies any safer. If anything, it is making manipulation easier, misuse easier. So I think it’s important also to give technology a better reputation. I welcome also the fact that EuroDIG went beyond the obvious and the platitudes and dug into the concrete and practical solutions on how to mitigate the risks of AI systems for human rights, on ways to resolve tensions and disagreements between tech giants and European regulators on the scope of freedom of expression, on how to tackle the challenges to privacy created by neurotechnology development. To succeed, we need to work together, as you have over those three days and on many other occasions. We need to compare notes. We need to push each other. We need to drive innovation. And this is what EuroDIG does, and this is why it is so important for the Council of Europe to be involved and to contribute. I welcome very much the focus on human-centered approach. I remember, which of course you have also heard many times, that statement by the young Polish artist Joanna Maciewska, I think she lives in Ireland, who said about AI that, I want the technology to do my dishes and laundry so I can do my job. I am a young artist, and I am doing my art and my writing, not the technology doing my art and my writing so I can do the dishes and the laundry. Of course the technology is replacing and will be replacing many of the tasks that we are doing, generally with positive effects. There may be some hiccups in that, but that’s a good and positive development. But the fundamental message of this young artist’s stance is that technology should make our lives better. And similarly goes for innovation. While we all overwhelmingly support increased investment in innovation, we should also bear in mind that the ultimate goal of the innovation also is not just to make our technology better, it’s to make our lives better. So we need to continue our conversations and cooperation to acquire, to get right and constantly update the right mix of policies and interventions. Regulations, where and when regulations are necessary and needed. Improved governance, but also investments in people. Through education especially, not exclusively. In digital skills and competencies, because it is essential that people understand technology. That they have sufficient knowledge about the infrastructure of the digital ecosystem in order to be able to be empowered in a digital society. Not that everybody is going to become an AI specialist and programmer, but there has to be a higher level of digital knowledge in society as a whole. But it’s not only about digital skills and competencies. Because we must not forget, again, this is about human interactions. And not every threat can be attributed to technology, which is very often an amplifier in most of the threats that we are facing. But it’s not always the cause of every pathology we are confronted with in today’s world. From polarization, disinformation, growing sense of social, economic, political, technological marginalization and neglect. In all these, technology plays a role, but very often as an amplifier. But we also look at the causes and find answers to those causes. I mean, it wasn’t the technology that made so many people around the world claim and believe that a used handkerchief was a bag of cocaine. The technology just disseminated to many more people in a shorter period of time. But it’s something in people that made them make that claim and share that claim, share that nonsense. So we need to look at what is pushing people towards that. What is making them vulnerable to misuse of technology and sometimes actively embracing some of those nefarious side impacts, effects of technology. So I think we need to find effective responses to all these developments. To all this sense of alienation, loss of confidence, loss of trust, fear of the future. Sense of social, economical, political, marginalization and neglect that I mentioned. If we want also to get the digital AI transition right. One requires the other. I think we can be really satisfied. I’d like to congratulate you all for three, two and a half days of hard work. And I think we can all be satisfied with the result. It clearly was a good and productive session. But I also think that, and I know that you will all agree, it’s not enough. We cannot just now go and clap each other on the shoulder and become complacent. Because this was an important step, but only a step in something that, you know, it’s a marathon. It’s a marathon with never quickening pace and no set distance. So we just have to keep on running and running ever faster. Because future will not adjust to our learning styles. We need to adjust our learning styles to the future. Or the future will interfere with our living styles in ways we surely wish to avoid. Thank you very much.

Moritz Taylor: Thank you very much, Matjaz. We’ll move on swiftly to the next speaker, which is online actually. It’s Marianne Wilhelmsen, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Governance in Norway. Thank you very much.

Marianne Wilhelmsen: Thank you. Esteemed colleagues, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. As we come to the close of Euro Day 2025, I’m filled with a sense of optimism and determination. Over the past few days, we have engaged in rich discussions, shared diverse perspectives and explored new possibilities. This forum has once again demonstrated the power of multi-stakeholder dialogue in shaping our digital future. We stand at a pivotal moment for global digital cooperation. As we mark the 20th anniversaries of both WSIS and IGF, we recognize that these milestones are closely linked. Norway believes that a strengthened and updated WSIS framework is fundamental to achieving continued global digital cooperation. The digital landscape has changed dramatically since WSIS first was established, and so the framework must adapt to reflect today’s realities and challenges. Our approach must be clearly human-centric. Technology must serve humanity, not the other way around. Human rights, including freedom of expression and privacy, must underpin all our efforts. We must strengthen the multi-stakeholder model, ensuring meaningful participation from governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, international organizations and the technical community. This means lowering barriers to participation, supporting underrepresented groups and ensuring the voices of the global south are heard. In this context, it is crucial to better connect WSIS, the global digital compact and sustainable development goals. Without coordination, we risk duplication and fragmented global efforts. From the outside, the ecosystem can seem complex and hard to navigate. It must become easier to understand how these processes relate to each other, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how digitalization can become a tool for sustainable and just progress. The IGF 2025 theme, Building Digital Governance Together, reflects Norway’s strong belief in international collaboration. We want the Forum in Norway to serve as a true meeting point and platform for addressing key digital challenges we face today. We aim to build momentum ahead of the WSIS plus 20 negotiations, demonstrating what a modern, relevant IGF can deliver. As a host, Norway is committing to creating an inclusive, engaging and forward-thinking IGF. Our goal is that this year’s event leaves lasting impact, strengthening the IGF itself and contributing to more effective global digital governance. We envision IGF25 to be a space where diverse stakeholders can come together to discuss and address the pressing issues of our time. This includes the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, the challenges of ensuring cybersecurity, and the protection of kids and youth online. By fostering an environment of open dialogue and collaboration, we hope to inspire innovative solutions and build a more inclusive digital future. As you know, the IGF is the world’s biggest platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue on internet governance and digital policy. Multi-stakeholder dialogue is not always the most efficient path, but it is the only approach that ensures that all relevant perspectives are heard. It helps to build trust between actors who would otherwise have no common space for discussion. It strengthens the legitimacy and relevance of digital governance outcomes by allowing those affected by decisions to help share them. Some have criticized the IGF for not having a decision-making power, but it is also part of its strength. It provides continuous involvement, open dialogue, and capacity building across stakeholder groups. By working together, we can create a digital future that’s equitable, just, and sustainable. Norway strongly supports renewing the IGF’s mandate beyond 2025, and the renewal must come with a strengthening of the forum. We must enhance inclusivity, especially from the Global South and underrepresented groups. We should make IGF outcomes more accessible and useful for policymaking. Finally, we need to leverage the IGF community more effectively, including national and regional initiatives, to channel expertise and lessons learned into the broader UN digital agenda. The current global security situation, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, underscores the importance of robust international cooperation and governance. The conflict has had profound implications for European security and highlighted the need for collective action. In this context, the role of the multi-stakeholder community and effective internet governance become even more crucial. Smaller stakeholders, often with limited resources, rely on these frameworks to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. Good governance practices help level the playing field, providing these stakeholders with the tools they need. with the support and platforms necessary to participate meaningfully in global discussions. As we look to the future, it’s clear that internet governance would play an increasingly important role in shaping our societies and economies. The rapid pace of technological change presents both opportunities and challenges, and it’s essential that we navigate this landscape with care and foresight. We are now just 40 days away from the IGF 2025, and preparations are well underway. This will be the largest UN meeting Norway has ever hosted, and we’re proud to contribute meaningfully to the global dialogue on digital governance. A key part of our contribution is sessions which Norway are responsible for organizing. We have put significant thought into curating sessions that are timely, relevant, and aligned with the overarching theme, building digital governance together. There will be parallel sessions covering a wide range of themes throughout the week, and we of course hope people will make use of the breaks to continue discussions over coffee or some chocolate. Now, I know that Norway might be a small country, famous for fjords, fish, and freezing temperatures, but when it comes to digitalization, we like to think big, really big. In fact, did you know that Norway was the second country in the world to connect to the internet? That’s right, back in the 1970s, while most people were still figuring out how to program their VCRs, we were already online. Fast forward to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. While the world was watching figure skating and ski jumping, a little company called OsloNet teamed up with the Norwegian news agency NTV to automatically publish Olympic news online. That might not sound revolutionary today, but in 1994, it was like inventing fire on the internet. And in 1995, we had a truly historic moment in national television, where they filmed Torben Jognand, the former Norwegian prime minister and now secretary general of the Council of Europe, sending a digital greeting to none other than President Bill Clinton. It was peak 90s diplomacy, no emojis, just per modem-powered statemanship. Since then, Norway has engaged with enthusiasm and commitment in internet governance. So yes, we might be small, but when it comes to digital innovation, we’ve always punched above our weight, and we’re not done yet. We look forward to welcoming many ministers and possibly prime ministers, along with leaders from across stakeholder groups to Norway in June. A strengthened IGF is key to the success of the WSIS process, and Norway is committed to working constructively with all partners. We hope IGF 2025 in Norway will be a space for open dialogue, fresh ideas, and stronger connections across regions and sectors. Delegates, IGF is what we collectively create and shape it to be. I urge you to return to your communities and encourage everyone to use their voice and actively participate in this process of shaping our digital future. Be proactive in inviting marginalized groups and stakeholders to the conversation. Although it might be challenging, I also encourage you to engage with those who hold different opinions. Diverse perspectives foster innovation and create solutions that benefit many. Now, as we conclude EuroDIG 2025, let’s carry forward the insights and commitments we have made here. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the organizers of EuroDIG, your dedication and hard work have made this forum a resounding success. I look forward to continuing these important discussions and building on the momentum we’ve gained here. Let’s build a digital future that’s inclusive, human-centric, and resilient. Thank you for your attention, and I look forward to welcoming you to Norway in June.

Moritz Taylor: Thank you very much. I’m not going to, because we’re a bit late on time, I’m just going to say Mr. Chengetai Masango, please come. Head of the Office of the Secretariat of IGF.

Chengetai Masango: Thank you very much, and I’d also like to thank the State Minister for her speech. I totally agree with everything she said, and this year, as you know, we had six months instead of the full year to organize the meeting, and the Norwegian team has been very efficient, very coordinated, and I think it’s the best type of synergy that we’ve had for a very long time with a host country organizing team, so we really appreciate them, and you really must come, and I’ll say it again. My speech is going to be short, because I know I’m the one who’s standing between you and the outside, and it’s also very good to see that a lot of you are still here. There’s a lot of retention in some meetings. The first day, there’s a lot of people, and then the last day, there’s also, there’s always very few people, but here I can see there’s quite a lot of people, so that is also a testament to how this meeting has been organized and the interest that you show. So, and I would also like to extend my congratulations to Sandra, Thomas, and the organizing committee, and of course, the generous hosts of the Council of Europe for organizing such an exceptional EuroDIG meeting, and EuroDIG continues to set such a high standard. I’ve stated before that when I come to EuroDIG meetings, there are things that I see here that I take back with me and implement and try and introduce them into the global IGF. The quality of discussion, of course, here is top-notch. The topics, of course, as well. I was hearing the previous meeting, previous session with a reflection, with Anna, etc., and of course, everything can be improved, but it’s really up there, and I particularly like in this meeting as well, at the end of each session, you had the review of the messages in the meeting itself, which is also very good, which is another thing that I’ll take back with me, and as has been emphasized this year, it is a particularly significant year for digital governance due to the ongoing WSIS 20 review. We have the various reform processes, and of course, we have the rapid advancements in generative, or should I say degenerative, sometime technologies, and the IGF meeting in Lillestrom will be a crucial opportunity for your voice to be heard in these crucial discussions. I’d just like to highlight that both of the co-facilitators of the WSIS 20 process will be there, that is Kenya and Albania, and they’ll be hosting a town hall meeting and also hosting bilateral meetings. We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the IGF website, so delegations and groups can also sign up to meet with the co-facilitators one-on-one, but also there’s going to be a general town hall meeting where people can have their views as well. So additionally, the IGF 2025 meeting is also a very special event, as all of you know. It is the 20th anniversary meeting, and it was coordinated by a specially formed MAG, and we have, and I think Adam is the one who coined the phrase, the go-to MAG, which it is, and please do come and see the results of that. We also anticipate participation for a number of heads of government, many ministers of course, organizational leaders of agencies, but also of NGOs, etc., and more importantly, a vibrant youth contingent, and I’m also pleased to announce that the music night will be back on this year, and Oslo and Lillestrøm also offer wonderful experiences to visitors. I’ve been there twice now, and it is a truly beautiful city, and come for the meeting, and stay for a weekend as well, and just see the sights and the views, it is really an amazing place, and the Norwegian hospitality is second to none. And then finally, currently we have approximately 4,000 registrations, so if you have not registered, please do register, because we do want to get the logistics just right, we don’t want to waste stuff, and we also don’t want to have too little of stuff, so the earlier you register, the more that we can get the numbers in, and know what to order, and know what we need to do, and in what quantities. So with that, I would like to conclude, and I’m pleased to present the IGF Norway video, if we can play that. The internet is a story about community and connection. A global space where we share our knowledge, our joys, and our lives. A space to receive news, services, and perspectives. The internet is where we connect. This is where ideas are shared. Businesses conducted. Memories preserved and identities are shaped. A community open to all of us to build, to form, and to protect. We are all connected. We are the internet. Let’s shape our future together. We welcome you to the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Norway.

Moritz Taylor: Thank you for that. I think we all got a slight shiver. Brilliant. I’d like to introduce now, or bring to the floor rather, Thomas Schneider, President of the European Support Association. Sandra is running away. At least, Thomas, please come down. Sandra Hoferichter, of course, Secretary General of Eurodig.

Thomas Schneider: So, we have two mics. That’s perfect. We will be very short. It’s basically just to say thanks to everyone that was part of this great event that helped behind the scenes, in front of the scenes before, and will also support us after. It was very good to be back in Strasbourg. Everyone has developed in a number of ways. It was very professional, very efficient, which is not always the case in an international organization, but this was really a very good experience. We are looking forward also to a continued strengthened relationship with the Council of Europe as one of the key partners.

Sandra Hoferichter: I also want to thank everyone who stayed in the room. We know some of you will be leaving the city tonight. If you have the chance to stay in the city, you will explore how beautiful it is. I really wish you a nice time here. I would also like to thank Schengen Tire for the warm words, for recognizing what we are actually doing, that we always try to do something new, something which is then of benefit for the multi-stakeholder model, of course, but which can also be adopted by others. I think for regional IGF, it is a little bit more easier to try out things than for the global IGF, which has to follow much more protocol procedures. So I really appreciate that you take note of this and that this is taken into account on the global level, but also in the international. I would really like to continue connecting with the national IGFs in Europe and I hope we have the opportunity to do so at the global IGF. We will have a lightning talk where we would all like to welcome you. We will present the messages. The messages will be ready by the 25th of May if every message drafter keeps the deadline. And then they will be first published on the website and in Norway we will again hand out those brochures which you might have seen from the messages of last year. So if you want to have a hard copy, get one there. We will be at a booth where all or many NRIs are assembled this year. So we will share a booth. We won’t have a separate booth. We will share a booth with other IGFs and you will be able to meet us there and we can continue the discussion. For next year, we have some good ideas. We cannot yet announce something publicly, but I think we will be able to do so soon. And we hope to see you at EuroDIG around this time of the year, May, June, wherever that will be, somewhere in Europe. But we will announce it possibly by the end of August, beginning of September. And then of course start a community participation process with the call for issues as usual. And we really hope for your input. It’s your input that makes the program rich. It’s not us. And this is the beauty of the multi-stakeholder model. We are not a conference where a small organizing committee decides on the agenda. It’s the community that builds the agenda and it’s the community that shapes the agenda. Whatever is fantastic and whatever might not be as fantastic, it’s about the community. It’s all about us. Thank you very much.

Thomas Schneider: Thank you. See you in Norway, hopefully.

Sandra Hoferichter: But now, one last word. We would really like to thank everyone who was involved from the host team. Only Moritz, unfortunately, is here apart from the technical team, but they are still busy helping us. So, Moritz, for the office, some flowers and please convey that to your colleagues. Thank you very much. And if you wonder what’s in here, Swedish. Massive amount of Swedish. And please share that with everyone who was contributing. There are also interpreters, which we don’t see, but which really had a hard time following the speeches where they did not get the transcript or the script in advance. So, this is really a massive job they have done. Of course, the technical team, we were doing a rehearsal almost all Friday. When going through the program, through the slides, when is the microphone open, that is really something very difficult. And by the end of these three days, the technical team together with the Eurodig Secretariat, they are, I think, they could continue as professionals, I would say. Then let me also thank the people that are working very closely with me, which is my left and my right hand, Rainer. Rainer, maybe at least stand up. I guess everyone who was involved in building that program communicated with Rainer. Nadja fantastically organizes youth participation since quite a while, but not only this, she is basically also managing Hemicycle here on her phone and giving stage directory orders to everyone who is involved. Thank you very much, Nadja, you did a fantastic job. And Elisabeth is also with us for quite a while, started as Nadja, as youth digger, is now involved, and Elisabeth is the one who is informing you on social media channels newsletter. And I would really like to encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter. We send it out once a week, very regularly, but always very short. We actually only inform about the next step that are important for community participation. So we are not sending out huge texts and whatsoever, but if you would like to stay informed, please subscribe to the newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn, which is at the moment the best option to follow us. And then also we had helping hands with Jau, I think Jau is a fantastic remote moderator. He insists that all those who are online get as equal the opportunity to speak up as everyone who is in the room. Thank you very much, Joao. And Francesco was responsible of supervising the youth diggers that not only participated in youth dig, but also helped us with the remote moderation. So they basically learned three days before how to do it properly, I believe they did it properly, and Jau was basically organizing, not Jau, sorry, Francesco was coordinating all this. Thank you very much, Francesco. And then we have Miriam and Daniel, I don’t see Daniel, ah, there he is. Also helping to organize the youth dig team, the concept at youth dig is that youth diggers from previous years are actually organizing the youth dig for the current cohort, so that we really have a kind of knowledge transfer and get them involved. So if you have grandchildren, children at home which are at the age below 30 and are interested in digital and really want to find out about this community, encourage them to apply for youth dig, we had a record number of 427 applications this year. This was a record number and we would be happy to invite even more if the funds to invite so are available. And then my last thanks goes to everyone who was involved in the session planning, the program committee, the focal points, the moderators. It was also for us with one month less, not as much as a stretch it is for you, but it was also quite challenging and we reviewed our processes, how to be more effective. We will learn from this year, we will implement something for the next year and we will do something new next year again. Thank you very much and enjoy the rest in Strasbourg and have a good travel home. Thank you.

Agreement points

Human-Centered Approach to Digital Technology

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden
– Marianne Wilhelmsen

Arguments

Technology is ethically neutral; what matters is how humans use it with and through technology

Digital governance is fundamentally about people and ensuring innovation serves the public good

Technology must serve humanity, not the other way around, with human rights as the foundation

Summary

Both speakers strongly emphasize that technology should serve humanity rather than the reverse, with human rights and ethical principles guiding digital governance. They agree that technology itself is neutral and what matters is human agency in shaping how it’s used.

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory | Sociocultural

Multi-Stakeholder Governance Excellence

Speakers

– Marianne Wilhelmsen
– Chengetai Masango
– Sandra Hoferichter

Arguments

Multi-stakeholder dialogue is essential despite being less efficient, as it ensures all perspectives are heard

EuroDIG sets high standards for discussion quality and innovative approaches that benefit the global IGF

The community builds the agenda through multi-stakeholder input, not a small organizing committee

Summary

All three speakers champion the multi-stakeholder model as essential for legitimate and effective digital governance, despite acknowledging its complexity and inefficiency. They emphasize community-driven approaches and inclusive participation.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development | Human rights

Importance of Education and Capacity Building

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden
– Marianne Wilhelmsen

Arguments

Investment in digital skills and competencies is essential for people to be empowered in digital society

Higher levels of digital knowledge are needed across society, though not everyone needs to become an AI specialist

The IGF provides continuous involvement, open dialogue, and capacity building across stakeholder groups

Summary

Both speakers agree on the critical need for enhanced digital literacy and capacity building across society to ensure meaningful participation in digital governance and empowerment in digital society.

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasize the need for adaptive governance frameworks that can evolve with technological change, rather than expecting technology to conform to existing structures.

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden
– Marianne Wilhelmsen

Arguments

We must adapt our learning styles to the future rather than expecting the future to adjust to us

A strengthened WSIS framework is fundamental for continued global digital cooperation

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers recognize the value of regional IGFs as testing grounds for innovations that can benefit the broader global internet governance ecosystem.

Speakers

– Sandra Hoferichter
– Chengetai Masango

Arguments

Regional IGFs can more easily try innovative approaches that can then be adopted globally

EuroDIG sets high standards for discussion quality and innovative approaches that benefit the global IGF

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers emphasize the importance of inclusive participation, particularly focusing on youth engagement and supporting underrepresented groups in digital governance processes.

Speakers

– Marianne Wilhelmsen
– Sandra Hoferichter

Arguments

Strengthening the multi-stakeholder model requires lowering participation barriers and supporting underrepresented groups

Youth participation and knowledge transfer between cohorts strengthens the community

Topics

Development | Human rights | Sociocultural

Unexpected consensus

Technology as Amplifier Rather Than Root Cause

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden
– Marianne Wilhelmsen

Arguments

Technology often amplifies existing social problems rather than creating them

Current global security situations underscore the importance of robust international cooperation

Explanation

There’s unexpected consensus that technology primarily amplifies existing societal issues rather than creating new ones, suggesting that solutions must address underlying social, economic, and political causes rather than focusing solely on technological fixes.

Topics

Sociocultural | Human rights | Cybersecurity

Cognitive Impact of Digital Technology

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden

Arguments

Internet and AI may be making people collectively less intelligent and cognitively dependent

Explanation

Gruden’s frank acknowledgment of potential negative cognitive impacts from digital technology represents an unexpectedly critical perspective from a high-level digital governance official, suggesting growing awareness of unintended consequences.

Topics

Sociocultural | Human rights

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrate strong consensus on fundamental principles of human-centered digital governance, the value of multi-stakeholder approaches, and the need for adaptive, inclusive frameworks. Key areas of agreement include the primacy of human agency over technology, the importance of capacity building and digital literacy, and the value of collaborative governance models.

Consensus level

High level of consensus on core principles with nuanced understanding of implementation challenges. The agreement spans both philosophical foundations (human-centered approach, ethical neutrality of technology) and practical approaches (multi-stakeholder governance, capacity building). This strong consensus among diverse stakeholders suggests a maturing field with shared understanding of both opportunities and risks, providing a solid foundation for collaborative action in digital governance.

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers showed remarkable consensus on core principles including human-centered approaches to technology, the importance of multi-stakeholder governance, the need for digital literacy, and the value of international cooperation. No direct disagreements were identified in their statements.

Disagreement level

Very low disagreement level. The speakers were largely aligned in their perspectives, which suggests strong consensus within the digital governance community on fundamental principles. This high level of agreement may indicate either genuine convergence of views or the self-selecting nature of participants in such forums. The implications are positive for policy coordination but may also suggest limited diversity of perspectives in the discussion.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers emphasize the need for adaptive governance frameworks that can evolve with technological change, rather than expecting technology to conform to existing structures.

Speakers

– Matjaz Gruden
– Marianne Wilhelmsen

Arguments

We must adapt our learning styles to the future rather than expecting the future to adjust to us

A strengthened WSIS framework is fundamental for continued global digital cooperation

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers recognize the value of regional IGFs as testing grounds for innovations that can benefit the broader global internet governance ecosystem.

Speakers

– Sandra Hoferichter
– Chengetai Masango

Arguments

Regional IGFs can more easily try innovative approaches that can then be adopted globally

EuroDIG sets high standards for discussion quality and innovative approaches that benefit the global IGF

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Both speakers emphasize the importance of inclusive participation, particularly focusing on youth engagement and supporting underrepresented groups in digital governance processes.

Speakers

– Marianne Wilhelmsen
– Sandra Hoferichter

Arguments

Strengthening the multi-stakeholder model requires lowering participation barriers and supporting underrepresented groups

Youth participation and knowledge transfer between cohorts strengthens the community

Topics

Development | Human rights | Sociocultural

Key takeaways

Technology is ethically neutral – its impact depends entirely on how humans use it, emphasizing that digital governance is fundamentally about human interactions mediated by technology

A human-centered approach must remain at the heart of all digital governance efforts, with technology serving humanity rather than the reverse

Multi-stakeholder dialogue, while less efficient, is essential for ensuring all perspectives are heard and building trust between different actors

Digital literacy and education are crucial for empowering people in digital society, though not everyone needs to become a technical specialist

Technology often amplifies existing social problems rather than creating them, requiring attention to underlying causes of vulnerability to technological misuse

The current global digital governance framework needs strengthening and better coordination between WSIS, Global Digital Compact, and Sustainable Development Goals

EuroDIG successfully demonstrates high-quality multi-stakeholder dialogue and innovative approaches that can be adopted by the global IGF

Community-driven agenda building through multi-stakeholder input is more effective than top-down conference organization

Resolutions and action items

IGF 2025 in Norway will serve as a crucial platform for WSIS 20 discussions with both co-facilitators hosting town halls and bilateral meetings

EuroDIG messages will be published by May 25th and presented at the global IGF in Norway

Participants are encouraged to register early for IGF 2025 to support proper logistics planning (approximately 4,000 registrations expected)

Community members should return to their communities and encourage active participation in shaping the digital future, particularly engaging marginalized groups

EuroDIG will continue partnerships with organizations like the Council of Europe and maintain booth presence at global IGF

Next year’s EuroDIG location and details to be announced by end of August/beginning of September with community participation process to follow

Unresolved issues

How to effectively identify and implement responses to digital technology risks beyond just identifying the risks themselves

How to improve public perception of technology when negative aspects dominate public discourse

How to address the underlying causes of social, economic, and political marginalization that make people vulnerable to technological misuse

How to balance the rapid pace of technological change with the need for thoughtful governance and human adaptation

How to ensure meaningful participation from Global South and underrepresented groups in digital governance processes

How to make the complex ecosystem of digital governance processes (WSIS, IGF, Global Digital Compact) easier to understand and navigate

Suggested compromises

Balancing innovation support with necessary regulations – finding the right mix of policies and interventions rather than choosing one approach over another

Engaging with diverse perspectives including those with different opinions, despite the challenges this presents

Sharing booth space with other regional IGFs at the global IGF rather than having separate booths, demonstrating collaborative resource use

Adapting learning styles to future needs rather than expecting the future to accommodate current preferences

Because of the internet, the entire world population has become 20% more stupid than it was before. And the reason why nobody is noticing it is that we are all collectively 20% more stupid.

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden (quoting Professor Timothy Snyder)

Reason

This provocative statement challenges the prevailing narrative of technology as inherently beneficial and forces a reconsideration of digital technology’s cognitive impacts. It’s particularly insightful because it suggests a collective blind spot – we can’t recognize our own diminished capacity because we’re all affected equally.

Impact

This quote set a contrarian tone for the entire discussion, moving away from typical tech-optimism toward critical examination. It provided the foundation for Gruden’s subsequent arguments about technology being ethically neutral and requiring human agency to direct it positively.

Technology is neither good nor bad, it’s ethically neutral, it is really what makes it good or bad is what humans do with it, and especially what humans do to other humans with it and through it.

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Reason

This reframes the entire digital governance debate by removing moral agency from technology itself and placing responsibility squarely on human choices and interactions. It challenges both technophobic and technophilic perspectives by asserting that the focus should be on human behavior rather than technological capabilities.

Impact

This philosophical repositioning shifted the discussion from ‘how do we control technology’ to ‘how do we govern human behavior in digital spaces.’ It provided a conceptual framework that influenced how subsequent speakers approached digital governance challenges.

I want the technology to do my dishes and laundry so I can do my job. I am a young artist, and I am doing my art and my writing, not the technology doing my art and my writing so I can do the dishes and the laundry.

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden (quoting Joanna Maciewska)

Reason

This quote brilliantly articulates the proper relationship between humans and AI by inverting the current trend. It’s insightful because it highlights how we may be automating the wrong things – replacing creative, meaningful work instead of mundane tasks.

Impact

This comment provided a concrete, relatable framework for evaluating AI implementation priorities. It shifted the conversation from abstract discussions about AI capabilities to practical questions about what human activities we should preserve and protect.

Multi-stakeholder dialogue is not always the most efficient path, but it is the only approach that ensures that all relevant perspectives are heard.

Speaker

Marianne Wilhelmsen

Reason

This acknowledges a fundamental tension in democratic governance – the trade-off between efficiency and inclusivity. It’s thought-provoking because it explicitly defends a ‘slower’ approach in an era that often prioritizes speed and efficiency above all else.

Impact

This comment validated the multi-stakeholder approach while honestly acknowledging its limitations. It provided intellectual grounding for the IGF model and helped frame the discussion around values-based rather than purely pragmatic approaches to digital governance.

Future will not adjust to our learning styles. We need to adjust our learning styles to the future. Or the future will interfere with our living styles in ways we surely wish to avoid.

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Reason

This stark warning about adaptation versus stagnation challenges the audience to take active responsibility for their own evolution. It’s particularly powerful because it frames the choice as binary – adapt or be overwhelmed – while referencing the earlier student example about AI dependency.

Impact

This served as a compelling call to action that elevated the urgency of the entire discussion. It moved the conversation from theoretical policy discussions to personal responsibility and immediate action, creating a sense of urgency that carried through to the closing remarks.

Overall assessment

These key comments fundamentally reframed the discussion from typical technology policy debates to deeper philosophical questions about human agency, responsibility, and adaptation in the digital age. Gruden’s opening provocations established a critical, human-centered lens that influenced how subsequent speakers approached digital governance challenges. Rather than focusing on technical solutions or regulatory frameworks, the discussion evolved to emphasize human choice, values, and the need for active adaptation. The comments created a progression from problem identification (collective cognitive decline) through philosophical framework (human responsibility for technology’s impact) to practical application (prioritizing human creativity) and finally to urgent action (adapt or be overwhelmed). This intellectual journey elevated the discussion beyond routine policy conversations to examine fundamental questions about human flourishing in the digital age.

How to identify effective responses to the risks posed by digital technology and AI

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Explanation

While we have improved at identifying risks and threats from technology use, we are not sufficiently successful in identifying effective responses to these risks

How to give technology a better reputation and address public mistrust

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Explanation

Public perception of technology is dominated by negative aspects, and mistrust/fear of technology makes societies less safe and manipulation easier

What is pushing people towards embracing misinformation and making them vulnerable to technology misuse

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Explanation

Technology often acts as an amplifier rather than the root cause of problems like disinformation – we need to understand the underlying human factors that make people susceptible

How to effectively address the sense of alienation, loss of confidence, fear of the future, and social/economic/political marginalization

Speaker

Matjaz Gruden

Explanation

These underlying issues need to be addressed to get the digital AI transition right, as one requires the other

How to better connect WSIS, the global digital compact and sustainable development goals

Speaker

Marianne Wilhelmsen

Explanation

Without coordination, there is risk of duplication and fragmented global efforts in digital governance

How to make the digital governance ecosystem easier to understand and navigate

Speaker

Marianne Wilhelmsen

Explanation

The current ecosystem appears complex and hard to navigate from the outside – need clarity on how processes relate to each other and their purposes

How to enhance inclusivity in IGF, especially from the Global South and underrepresented groups

Speaker

Marianne Wilhelmsen

Explanation

This is identified as a key area for strengthening the IGF’s mandate beyond 2025

How to make IGF outcomes more accessible and useful for policymaking

Speaker

Marianne Wilhelmsen

Explanation

This is part of the needed strengthening of the IGF forum to improve its practical impact