WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event: Open Consultation Process Meeting | IGF 2023 Open Forum #4

Pratik Chapagain

UNESCO is actively driving discussions on the regulation of various aspects while also supporting artists. They have recognised the importance of information as a public good and have endorsed this concept. In order to ensure media pluralism and transparency in the digital realm, UNESCO has developed guidelines. Additionally, they are actively engaged in strengthening Internet governance and promoting the proliferation of media.

To enhance digital capacity within public administrations, UNESCO is working on various initiatives, including the exploration of digital capacity building programs and training opportunities. Moreover, UNESCO is planning a significant conference in February 2025 with a focus on addressing challenges related to digital transformation and governance. This conference aims to bring together stakeholders and partners from diverse backgrounds to discuss and find solutions.

Furthermore, UNESCO is considering establishing an Internet Governance Forum (IGF) dynamic coalition for digital capacity building. This demonstrates UNESCO’s commitment to enhancing digital skills and knowledge across different sectors.

In November, the UNESCO General Conference will take place, where discussions related to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will be conducted. This highlights the importance UNESCO places on global cooperation and addressing digital challenges.

Overall, UNESCO’s active involvement in regulation discussions and support for artists signifies their commitment to fostering a fair and inclusive digital landscape. By endorsing information as a public good, developing guidelines, and focusing on capacity building and engagement with multiple stakeholders, UNESCO strives to promote transparency, accessibility, and knowledge sharing in the digital domain.

Gitanjali Sah

The first open consultation process meeting for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum has begun. This meeting marks the start of the consultative process and aims to develop the agenda and program for the event. The purpose of this open consultation process is to involve all stakeholders and encourage their active participation and feedback. This inclusivity ensures that all voices are heard and taken into consideration.

Furthermore, the WSIS Forum will be held in collaboration with the AI for Good Summit. The AI for Good Summit will take place in the CICG, while the WSIS Forum will be held in both the CICG and the ITU premises. This collaboration emphasizes the importance of combining efforts in leveraging technology for the benefit of humanity.

The review process of WSIS Plus 20 is a multi-stakeholder approach that involves the collection of perspectives from various sectors such as civil society, academia, and other stakeholders. This process consists of different stages, including the SDG Summit, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in 2020, regional reviews by different commissions, and a high-level meeting in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2025. The aim of this review process is to ensure the continuous engagement of different stakeholders in shaping the future of WSIS beyond 2025.

The WSIS process strongly encourages cross-sectoral participation. Ministers from various sectors including environment, education, and climate are expected to engage in the process. Additionally, participation from heads of state, UN agencies, CEOs, ambassadors, mayors, and leaders from civil society is also invited. The meeting also provides a provision for remote participation, allowing for wider inclusion.

During the UNESCO General Conference, discussions will focus on the challenges surrounding digital transformation and capacity building in public administrations. This thematic focus highlights the need to address the obstacles faced during the process of embracing digital technologies in public administrations and the importance of enhancing capacity in this area.

Ensuring the smooth execution of both the WSIS and AI for Good conferences is a priority. Logistics for these conferences are currently under discussion, and efforts are being made to ensure that the venues for both events are adjacent. This will facilitate better coordination and alignment between the conferences, promoting a seamless experience for participants.

The role of the technical community in internet governance is crucial. However, it was noted that there was an oversight in one of the presentations, where the role of the technical community was not sufficiently highlighted. This was acknowledged as a human error, and Gitanjali Sah agreed with Byron Holland’s suggestion of including the technical community as a prominent stakeholder. This emphasizes the importance of recognizing and involving the technical community in shaping internet governance policies and practices.

In conclusion, the first open consultation process meeting of the WSIS Forum has begun, focusing on developing the agenda and program for the event. The WSIS process encourages the involvement of all stakeholders and aims to gather diverse perspectives for the review of WSIS Plus 20. The collaboration with the AI for Good Summit and the emphasis on cross-sectoral participation further highlight the collaborative approach of WSIS. Additionally, discussions during the UNESCO General Conference will center around digital transformation challenges and capacity building in public administrations. The smooth execution of both the WSIS and AI for Good conferences is a priority, and the importance of involving the technical community in internet governance has been recognized.

Tomas Lamanauskas

The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) is a significant global platform for digital cooperation and development. It has been praised for its inclusive and multi-stakeholder nature, allowing various voices and perspectives to shape policies and initiatives that will define our digital future. The WSIS process plays a vital role in harnessing the collective energy of stakeholders for the benefit of humanity and the planet.

One noteworthy argument is that digital technologies have the potential to boost 70% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets. This highlights the transformative power of technology in achieving the SDGs, particularly in areas such as industry, innovation, and infrastructure. By leveraging digital technologies, countries can accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs and addressing global challenges.

The upcoming WSIS plus 20 high-level event, scheduled from 27th to 31st May 2024, is a special edition of the annual WSIS Forum. This event will be co-hosted by the Confederation of Switzerland. It provides an opportunity for stakeholders to come together and discuss the future of digital cooperation and development. Such events allow for collaboration, innovation, and work towards creating more inclusive information and knowledge societies.

The Consultative Meetings within the WSIS process are highlighted as crucial platforms where diverse voices can shape policies, strategies, and initiatives. These meetings offer an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute their insights and expertise in defining our digital future. By taking an inclusive approach, the WSIS process ensures that the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders are considered.

Another notable aspect is the Open Consultation Process (OCP), which invites all stakeholders to participate. This process encourages individuals and organizations to share their views and ideas, fostering collaboration and engagement in digital cooperation efforts. It acts as a mechanism to gather input and promote a bottom-up approach to decision-making.

Furthermore, the importance of collaboration and partnership among stakeholders and UN agencies is emphasized. The WSIS plus 20 review calls for enhanced collaboration and partnership to strengthen digital cooperation and development efforts. The close collaboration among UN agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, CSTD, and UNDESA is cited as an example of the valuable partnerships that can be formed.

In conclusion, the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) is a vital global platform that promotes digital cooperation and development. Its inclusive and multi-stakeholder nature allows for collaboration, innovation, and the shaping of policies and initiatives that will define our digital future. Digital technologies have the potential to boost the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The WSIS plus 20 high-level event, Consultative Meetings, Open Consultation Process (OCP), and collaboration among stakeholders and UN agencies all contribute to the ongoing efforts in achieving digital cooperation and development goals.

Valeria Betancourt

The analysis of the provided information reveals several important points made by the speakers. Firstly, it is highlighted that digital inequality is increasing as more people become connected. This amplifies and complicates existing disparities. The speakers argue that as technology becomes more accessible and prevalent, it is essential to address the growing digital divide to ensure equal opportunities and access for all individuals.

The second point raised is regarding the upcoming WSIS plus 20 review. The speakers pose the question of what we want to achieve and in which direction to go for building a digital society. This review serves as an opportunity to assess the progress made so far and to determine the future direction. The speakers emphasize the importance of strategic planning and the need to identify the desired outcomes for building a digital society.

Furthermore, the analysis highlights the significance of compromises and inputs in shaping policy processes for the digital future. The speakers argue that to address the complex issues surrounding digital advancements, it is crucial to arrive at agreements that consider multiple perspectives. They stress the need for inclusive decision-making processes and the involvement of all stakeholders to ensure policies are effective and beneficial to society.

Lastly, there is a call to strengthen the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to operationalize global digital cooperation. The IGF serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among different actors involved in internet governance. The speakers argue that by enhancing the IGF’s mandate, there can be greater operationalization of global digital cooperation, leading to more effective and inclusive decision-making processes.

In conclusion, the analysis highlights the increasing digital inequality resulting from the expanding number of people becoming connected. It emphasises the importance of strategic planning and goal-setting for building a digital society, as well as the need for compromises and inputs in policy processes addressing the digital future. Moreover, there is a call to strengthen the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum to enhance global digital cooperation. These insights shed light on the challenges and opportunities in the digital realm and underscore the need for collaborative efforts to ensure a more equitable and inclusive digital future.

Audience

During the review of WSIS plus 20, it has been highlighted that addressing the implications of changes in the digital society is crucial. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of people are getting connected, leading to a rise in digital inequality. The argument is that it is important to deal with these implications in order to ensure a fair and inclusive digital society.

A key aspect emphasized during the review is the necessity for compromise and agreement in order to achieve the goals set by WSIS. This is particularly important in relation to industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as well as peace, justice, and strong institutions. The focus is on identifying factors that will contribute to reaching compromise during the review process.

Addressing the issue of digital inequality is another important aspect discussed during the review. As more people become connected, digital inequality is amplified and continues to grow. The argument is that this paradoxical situation needs to be addressed in order to achieve SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities. The review acknowledges the need to find solutions to bridge the digital divide and prioritize digital inclusion.

Critical attention has also been given to other areas such as digital rights, environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity. These are seen as significant factors that require careful consideration and swift action. The review highlights the importance of protecting digital rights, ensuring environmental sustainability in digital development, promoting digital inclusion for all groups, and prioritizing cybersecurity to safeguard digital systems.

The importance of financial resources in building the digital future is also highlighted. This neutral argument emphasizes the need for financial investments to support the development of digital infrastructure, innovation, and initiatives. The review recognizes that financial resources play a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of the digital future.

One positive outcome mentioned in the review is the extension of the mandate of the IGF (Internet Governance Forum) and WSIS Forum. This is seen as a positive development, as these platforms facilitate discussions and collaboration on key digital issues. The extension of their mandate reflects the recognition of their importance in shaping the digital agenda.

However, the review also criticizes the lack of ambition in previous actions. It highlights that previous initiatives and resolutions, including those discussed in the UN General Assembly, did not adequately address crucial aspects such as artificial intelligence, social networks, and the Internet of Things. This critical stance underscores the need for more ambitious and comprehensive actions to address emerging digital challenges.

The review also emphasizes the importance of outlining the future with ambition. This calls for forward-thinking and proactive planning to adapt to evolving digital landscapes. It is mentioned that the future needs to be thoughtfully and ambitiously defined to ensure progress and avoid falling behind.

One observation made during the review is the uncertainty regarding the influence of the UN General Assembly due to political influences. This neutral stance acknowledges that political factors can impact the decision-making process and the implementation of digital initiatives. It highlights the need for careful consideration of political influences and the importance of ensuring unbiased decision-making.

In conclusion, the WSIS plus 20 review underscores the need to address the implications of changes in the digital society. It emphasizes the importance of compromise and agreement to achieve goals, as well as the need to tackle digital inequality. Critical attention is given to digital rights, environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity. Financial resources are deemed necessary for building the digital future, while the extension of the mandate of the IGF and WSIS Forum is considered a positive outcome. Criticism is expressed regarding the lack of ambition in previous actions, and there is a call for outlining the future with ambition. However, uncertainty exists regarding the influence of the UN General Assembly due to political influences.

Shamika Sirimanne

The WSIS Plus 20 review process has commenced with the initiation of the first consultation at the IGF (Internet Governance Forum). Adopting a multistakeholder approach, the process aims to evaluate progress in implementing the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes. Furthermore, plans are in place to organise events in various regions in collaboration with the regional commissions or the IGF regional forums. This inclusive approach promotes diverse perspectives and contributions to shaping the information society.

UNCTAD, together with other agencies such as ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and DESA, has released a questionnaire to assess the advancement towards achieving a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented information society as envisaged in Tunis. The objective is to gather comprehensive data for a meaningful review, which will be submitted to the General Assembly. This collaborative effort among agencies reflects the commitment to evaluating and fostering progress in the information society domain.

UNCTAD’s primary mandate revolves around leveraging international trade for development, with a particular focus on enabling developing countries to engage effectively in e-commerce and the digital economy. To facilitate this objective, UNCTAD has conducted diagnostic assessments for approximately 39-40 countries to determine their readiness for e-commerce. Additionally, the E-trade for All Platform, a collaborative initiative involving 35 agencies, is working towards addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with e-commerce in developing countries. UNCTAD’s upcoming E-Week in Geneva will dedicate its focus to capturing the potential benefits of the digital economy for developing nations.

However, despite the efforts being made, numerous developing countries, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), face substantial obstacles that impede their ability to actively participate in e-commerce and the digital economy. These challenges include insufficient connectivity, inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, and inadequate logistics facilities. It is evident that addressing these issues requires a collective effort, as no single agency can single-handedly achieve the goal of inclusive participation in e-commerce for all developing countries.

In conclusion, the WSIS Plus 20 review process has commenced with the inclusion of multiple stakeholders, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of progress in implementing the WSIS outcomes. UNCTAD, in conjunction with other agencies, is working towards assessing the achievement of a people-centred information society through a questionnaire. UNCTAD’s primary focus on leveraging international trade for development aligns with its efforts to enable developing countries to embrace e-commerce and the digital economy. However, challenges persist, particularly in the case of developing countries and LDCs, in terms of connectivity, legal frameworks, and logistical capabilities. Addressing these issues necessitates a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders to ensure meaningful and inclusive participation of all developing countries in the digital economy.

Nigel Hicson

The WSIS plus 20 review process was emphasised as being of great importance. The focus of this review process is on the process itself, ensuring that all stakeholders and diverse regions are included. This highlights the significance placed on inclusivity and collaboration in shaping the future of the WSIS. The review process aims to examine not only past achievements, but also looks ahead to the future, considering the importance of the roadmap towards the UNGA discussions and the need to bridge the connectivity gap.

The discussions also highlighted the need to bridge the connectivity gap, emphasizing its hindrance to progress in various areas, including achieving the sustainable development goals. To achieve this, there is a call to evolve the WSIS action lines to complement the sustainable development goals. The linkage between the sustainable development goals and the matrix developed in 2015 was seen as important, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that aligns various objectives to promote a more interconnected and sustainable world.

In addition, a recommendation was made to have ministers come to Geneva to discuss issues at a proposed high-level track during the WSIS Forum. This aims to facilitate more meaningful and impactful discussions, indicating the importance of preparation in advance to ensure that important topics are effectively addressed.

The analysis also revealed a positive sentiment towards the work done by UNESCO and ICANN on multilingualism, recognizing their efforts in reducing inequalities and fostering inclusivity in communication and internet accessibility. UNESCO’s “Connecting the Dots” event was greatly appreciated, along with the recognition of ICANN and other areas’ work in developing international domain names and furthering multilingualism.

Overall, the observations from the analysis indicate the recognition of the importance of the WSIS plus 20 review process, bridging the connectivity gap, and evolving the WSIS action lines to align with the sustainable development goals. The recommendation for a high-level track at the WSIS Forum, along with the appreciation for UNESCO and ICANN’s work on multilingualism, further demonstrates the commitment towards promoting inclusivity, collaboration, and international cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Brooke Biasella

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has made significant progress, operating in 182 countries and offering concrete solutions to address the challenges of today. The need to prioritize WSIS goals and align them with other important issues has been emphasized. One argument put forward is that the focus on knowledge society and transformation should be reinstated, recognizing the importance of skills, competencies, democratic participation, and individuals’ ability to tackle current and future challenges.

It has been observed that the impact of digital transformation on traditional media and the public sphere is profound. Legacy media has been significantly affected, and the public sphere has become fragmented due to the rise of various digital platforms and sources of information. This raises questions about the future of traditional media and the importance of ensuring a diverse and inclusive public discourse in the digital age.

Furthermore, there is a call for European Union (EU) countries to unite around a digital solidarity agenda. Digital solidarity is seen as a political agenda crucial for bridging the digital divide. Cooperation among EU countries is essential in addressing disparities in access to digital technologies and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens.

In conclusion, the WSIS demands focused prioritization and collaboration with other areas of concern. Reinstating the focus on knowledge society and transformation is crucial, encompassing important aspects such as skills, competencies, democratic participation, and the capability to address current and future challenges. The impact of digital transformation on legacy media and the public sphere is undeniable, highlighting the need for adaptation and inclusivity. Additionally, unity among EU countries on a digital solidarity agenda is necessary to address the digital divide, ensuring that no individual or community is left behind in the digital era.

Bertrand De La Chapelle

The analysis focuses on the frustrations expressed by Bertrand regarding the lack of global cooperation in digital matters. Bertrand expresses a desire to understand the collective global ambition for digital cooperation. The success of the technical architecture during the pandemic is mentioned as evidence of the potential for collaboration. However, the absence of a collective decision is seen as a hindrance to achieving this ambition.

The discussion also highlights Bertrand’s negative sentiment towards WSIS Plus 20 being limited to a mere review. He believes that the event should be more than just a backward-looking examination of past achievements. Rather, there should be a critical evaluation of the failings and missed opportunities to drive progress in digital cooperation. This stance suggests the need for substantial and meaningful action during WSIS Plus 20, rather than merely revisiting past discussions.

The analysis further emphasizes the significance of transnational institutions in addressing the lack of cooperation. It is argued that the absence of collaboration is a major obstacle to achieving digital cooperation goals. While the technical community is acknowledged for its successful contributions, it is believed that they do not have the authority to speak on policy matters. Thus, the need for transnational institutions is highlighted to facilitate effective policy-making and decision-making processes.

In conclusion, the analysis illuminates the frustration over the lack of global cooperation in digital matters. It emphasizes the importance of a collective decision on the ambition for digital cooperation and calls for WSIS Plus 20 to go beyond a mere review. The significance of transnational institutions in fostering collaboration and addressing policy issues is underscored. Overall, the analysis highlights the need for concerted efforts and effective governance structures to achieve meaningful progress in digital cooperation.

Balzur Rahman

The analysis highlights several significant points regarding the integration of WSIS action lines in Bangladesh. Firstly, the government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs), has successfully integrated the WSIS action lines with their 5-year plan. This integration demonstrates their commitment to digital transformation, as they have aligned their national development goals with the objectives set by the WSIS action lines. This achievement is a positive indicator of Bangladesh’s progress in promoting industry, innovation, and infrastructure, as outlined in SDG 9.

Furthermore, the analysis emphasizes the need for an annual WSIS forum. This forum would serve as a platform for stakeholders to come together and discuss the latest developments in industry, innovation, and infrastructure. By convening this forum, opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and partnership-building can be created. This neutral argument recommends the regular organization of this forum, given the fast-paced nature of advancements in technology and the need for continuous dialogue among stakeholders.

Moreover, the analysis highlights the importance of the WSIS Secretariat developing a toolkit for parliamentarians and mayors. This toolkit would assist these key decision-makers in effectively implementing the WSIS action lines and promoting sustainable cities and communities, as outlined in SDG 11. By providing parliamentarians and mayors with practical resources and guidance, the WSIS Secretariat can contribute to the successful implementation of the action lines at the local level.

Additionally, there is a discussion around the need for the localization of WSIS action lines and the conduct of separate sub-regional open consultations. These measures would ensure that the WSIS action lines are adapted and implemented to suit the specific contexts and needs of different regions. Localizing the action lines and facilitating sub-regional consultations can help address the diverse challenges and opportunities faced by different countries and communities.

Moreover, the analysis raises concerns about the impact of social media and new technologies on the community media sector. It argues that community media, which plays a crucial role in giving voice to marginalized groups, is under threat due to the dominance of social media platforms and advancements in technology. This negative sentiment calls for the protection of the community media sector as a voice for the voiceless. The summary further highlights the supporting fact that community media is the only media ensuring voices for the voiceless from the ground.

In conclusion, the analysis provides valuable insights into the integration of WSIS action lines in Bangladesh, emphasizing the successful alignment of the action lines with the country’s 5-year plan. It also highlights the importance of an annual WSIS forum, the development of a toolkit for parliamentarians and mayors, and the localization of action lines through separate sub-regional open consultations. Additionally, it highlights the challenges faced by the community media sector and advocates for its protection as a valuable platform for amplifying the voices of marginalized groups. These findings underscore the significance of international cooperation and collaboration in achieving the sustainable development goals and promoting digital transformation.

Vladimir Minkin

During the event, the speakers emphasised the importance of long-term planning and consideration beyond the year 2025. They suggested taking a preliminary 20-year view to better understand future needs and goals. This long-term vision is seen as necessary for effective preparation and decision-making.

A key aspect highlighted by the speakers is the need to define what is desired for the future. By clearly outlining the objectives, it becomes easier to work towards achieving them. This includes considering the future of visas, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and digital companies. Involving a broad range of stakeholders allows for multi-stakeholder estimation, providing diverse perspectives and insights.

The involvement of multiple stakeholders is regarded as essential in shaping the future of visas, SDGs, and digital companies. This approach enables diverse voices to be heard, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and inclusive. The speakers believe that by soliciting input from various stakeholders, a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the future can be achieved.

The speakers stated the importance of considering at least a preliminary 20-year view as evidence. This suggests that future planning should take into account long-term consequences and impacts. Proactive measures can then be taken to address potential challenges and opportunities.

Overall, the speakers expressed a positive sentiment towards long-term planning, multi-stakeholder involvement, and defining future goals. They emphasised the value of considering a broader perspective and seeking input from various stakeholders for a more inclusive and comprehensive decision-making process.

To conclude, long-term vision and planning beyond 2025 are crucial for effective preparation and decision-making. By involving multiple stakeholders and defining future objectives, a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the future can be achieved. This approach ensures that decisions regarding visas, SDGs, and digital companies are well-informed and aligned with desired outcomes.

Justin Fair

Justin Fair, a prominent figure in the field, applauds the coordination and maturity displayed in the WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) process. He notes a significant improvement in these areas, resulting in better outcomes. This positive sentiment signifies general satisfaction with the progress achieved in the WSIS process.

Fair also emphasizes the importance of conducting a thorough review of past progress and challenges in the WSIS. He highlights the WSIS Plus Forum as a valuable platform for retrospectively evaluating accomplishments and obstacles. Fair argues that understanding these experiences is vital for preparing for the future. By drawing insights from past successes and challenges, stakeholders can develop more effective strategies to achieve greater outcomes.

Furthermore, Fair seeks more information about an upcoming UNESCO conference scheduled for early 2025. He specifically wants to know if the conference is part of the WSIS Plus 20 review. Fair also raises concerns about the logistics of merging two meetings in Geneva and managing a large number of attendees. These inquiries underscore the significance of detailed planning and efficient execution in organizing successful conferences and events.

Overall, Fair’s observations and insights highlight the positive developments within the WSIS process. The coordination and maturity he commends serve as catalysts for achieving better outcomes. Additionally, his focus on reviewing past progress and challenges acknowledges the importance of learning from past experiences to shape future actions. Fair’s inquiries about logistics and concerns about attendee management underscore the practical challenges organizers must overcome to deliver successful events.

Byron Holland

The analysis presented focuses on the contention surrounding the inclusion of the technical community in the process of internet governance. One of the speakers, Byron Holland, who represents CIRA, which operates the .ca domain, advocates for the involvement of the technical community. Holland stresses that the technical community, distinct from academia and civil society, plays a crucial role in running the internet and should therefore have a voice in the governance process.

Another speaker takes a neutral stance on the issue, arguing that the technical community should be recognized as key actors and stakeholders in internet governance. It is important to note that the technical community comprises both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

The overall sentiment towards the inclusion of the technical community leans towards negativity, indicating opposing views on their participation in internet governance. However, the neutral stance on their role as key actors suggests an acknowledgment of their significance and influence in the process.

The analysis lacks specific supporting evidence for the negative sentiment, making it necessary to further explore the reasons underlying this viewpoint. Delving deeper into this topic could provide insights into the concerns or reservations held by those who oppose including the technical community in the governance process.

In conclusion, the debate over the inclusion of the technical community in internet governance reveals differing opinions. The analysis raises important points about their role and underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of this issue.

Thomas Schneider

The WSIS plus 20 process has significantly evolved over the past 20 years, as there has been an increase in the number of events, structures, and overlapping structures. This complexity is seen as both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, the multitude of tracks and parallel structures can make the process more challenging to navigate. However, on the other hand, it is seen as a positive reflection of the diversity of perspectives and interests involved in the process.

The WSIS process and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) have played vital roles in creating a more inclusive space within the United Nations (UN) and other institutions. By giving voice to stakeholders from all over the world, these initiatives have helped ensure that diverse perspectives are represented and considered in discussions related to industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10), as well as peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).

Switzerland is set to co-host the next year’s WSIS event, which demonstrates its commitment to the process. Thomas Schneider, in particular, has shown his support for the actors driving the WSIS process and is excited about Switzerland’s role as the co-host. This involvement further underscores the importance of the WSIS process and Switzerland’s dedication to fostering partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

The AI for Good Summit, a significant initiative in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), will be held during the WSIS Plus 20 High-Level Forum week. This demonstrates the recognition of the interconnections between the advancements in AI, industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

However, it is important to acknowledge that there has been a shift in the global landscape. 20 years ago, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was hope that technology would foster peace, freedoms, and sharing. However, in the current environment, the focus has shifted towards competition, with a win-lose mentality prevailing over collaboration and sharing. This observation highlights the need for a renewed commitment to peace, cooperation, and collaboration in the face of these complex times. It is essential to reinterpret the Vicious Vision, a concept associated with striving for peace and cooperation, in light of these challenges.

Overall, the WSIS plus 20 process has become more intricate over the years, with an increase in events, structures, and overlapping structures. However, the existence of several tracks and parallel structures is also seen as a positive reflection of the diversity of perspectives involved. The WSIS process, along with the IGF, has played a crucial role in creating a more inclusive space within the UN and other institutions. Switzerland’s upcoming role as co-host of the next year’s event further demonstrates its commitment to the process. The AI for Good Summit, held during the WSIS Plus 20 High-Level Forum week, highlights the intersectionality between AI and the WSIS process. As the world becomes more competitive, it becomes increasingly important to strive for peace, cooperation, and reinterpret the Vicious Vision to address the challenges of the present times.

Rob Golding

ICTs and digital technologies are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of humanity. This recognition marks a pivotal moment in our understanding of their potential impact and significance. The speaker highlights the importance of these technologies in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

There is widespread recognition of the transformative power of digital technologies in accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs. The argument stresses the positive impact these technologies can have on various aspects of society. The SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda report, co-released with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), supports this argument by showcasing the numerous ways in which technology can contribute to SDG attainment. It is seen as cause for celebration, as the potential of digital technologies to address the underlying challenges outlined in the SDGs is acknowledged.

The speaker proudly mentions their role as a co-chair of the UN Group on Information Society. Together with co-organizers UNCTAD and UNESCO, they actively contribute to the work of this group. The UN Group on Information Society is focused on SDG 17, which emphasizes partnerships for the goals. This highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving the SDGs. The speaker expresses gratitude towards the government of Switzerland for hosting the WSIS Forum this year. This serves as a platform for sharing ideas, insights, and experiences to further advance the information society agenda.

In conclusion, ICTs and digital technologies have become vital tools for the future of humanity. Their potential to accelerate progress towards the SDGs is widely recognized. The speaker’s involvement in the UN Group on Information Society reflects a commitment to partnership and collaboration, as no one entity can achieve the SDGs alone. Finally, the speaker extends their gratitude to the government of Switzerland for hosting the WSIS Forum, a significant event for advancing the global information society.

Gitanjali Sah:
Good morning, ladies and gentleman. We’re about to start. I believe there’s a parallel session going on Where some of our participants are still stuck, So I encourage you to join us around the table because This is going to be a consultative process. When this session gets over, the others can join us as well. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is the first open consultation process meeting, hybrid meeting. Every WSIS Forum has a consultative process where we develop the agenda and the program of the event and basically highlight the priorities for the event. So thank you very much for joining us today. We have only one hour, and we will start by short introductory remarks by the co-organizers and then the co-hosts, Switzerland. I have a short presentation to update you on the plans till now, and then we’ll open up the floor, and as usual, we expect to receive some comments from you all. It’s a consultative process, so this is more to listen from all stakeholders. So our Secretary General of ITU had to leave yesterday, so I do have a video from our Deputy Secretary General, and I’d like to request our colleagues from the logistics team to please play it.

Tomas Lamanauskas:
Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, for 20 years now, the World Summit on Information Society, or WSIS process, has been an important global platform for digital cooperation and development, standing the test of time. As the SDG acceleration agenda recently released by YES together with UNDP and other partners demonstrate, 70% of SDG targets could be boosted by digital technologies, and such a boost is desperately needed. At the midpoint of the implementation of the sustainable development agenda, we find it woefully off track, and the climate crisis is becoming a reality through scorching heat, wildfires, and floods that we have to reckon with. The WSIS process plays a key role in harnessing the collective energy of the vast variety of stakeholders to enable harnessing the power of digital for the benefit of the humanity and the planet. As we embark on the WSIS plus 20 process, this first meeting of the high-level event open consultation process is an invaluable opportunity to collectively gather inputs and perspectives that will help shape preparation and program of our WSIS plus 20 high-level event, which is a special edition of the annual WSIS Forum and will take place next year. The event will be held from 27th to 31st of May 2024 and will be co-hosted by the Confederation of Switzerland in Geneva. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Switzerland for co-hosting the event and to Ambassador Thomas Schneider for his leadership and commitment to the WSIS process. Outcomes of this open consultation process will also contribute to the overall review of the implementation of WSIS plus 20 outcomes by the UN General Assembly in 2025. We also hope that such outcomes will be found useful in the context of broader discussions on our digital future, including in terms of the next year’s Summit to the Future and development of the Global Digital Compact. Your voices matter. The strength of the WSIS Forum lies in its truly inclusive and multi-stakeholder nature. The consultative meeting is a testament to the enduring spirit of WSIS, where diverse voices converge to shape policies, strategies and initiatives that will define our digital future. It is an invitation to collaborate, innovate and work together towards a more inclusive and equitable information and knowledge societies. Your active participation and valuable insights are integral in ensuring that WSIS remains at the forefront of addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities in the era of digital transformation. As the WSIS plus 20 review draws near, it is crucial for all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the private sector, technical community, academia, regional and international organizations, to come together. We also appreciate the close collaboration among UN agencies – UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, CSTD and UNDESA – which highlights our unified joint approach and shared commitment towards the WSIS plus 20 review. I am confident in the spirit of collaboration and partnership that has defined WSIS will continue to steer us towards progress. Thank you for your commitment as we continue to build on the foundation established over the previous two decades. I encourage you to actively engage in the OCP, or Open Consultation Process, by participating in consultative meetings and submitting input through the official submission form. I look forward to the productive discussions and outcomes that will emerge from our collective efforts. Together we can build a world where technology serves as a force for good and where information and knowledge societies truly empower every individual. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you very much to our Deputy Secretary General. You heard him right, this venue is basically to collect voices of the civil society, private sector, technical community, of course governments, UN agencies. We see all our partners here. And I’d like to pass on the mic to our co-organizers, starting with UNESCO. Pratik is representing UNESCO today for very short remarks on what their expectations are of the event next year.

Pratik Chapagain:
Thanks, Geethanjali, and I’ll be very short, we have only one hour. So, just to outline that UNESCO is also looking towards WSIS 2.0, and we’ve been working to strengthen the mandate that we had from WSIS around Internet governance with the Rome Principles, but also with the UNESCO General Conference adopting, endorsing information as a public good, the Windhoek Plus 30 Declaration, to strengthen media pluralism and independence and transparency of digital platforms, which was again guidelines which have been developed and were consulted upon actively with the multi-stakeholder community this year. We’re also working to strengthen media and information literacy in view of the challenges of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech online. The programs on open solutions and what we are now calling digital public goods are an active part of UNESCO’s mandate with the recommendation on open science, which was adopted in 2019, and the recommendation on open educational resources, which have now vibrant dynamic coalitions functioning. We’ll briefly mention two more things, the recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence, which is now a global standard and the only one which has been adopted by 193 countries and is informing global discussions on this important topic. In the field of culture, UNESCO is advancing substantial discussions on regulation, but also supporting artists, and there was the UNESCO Mondial World Conference, which was organized in 2022. Finally, we have been working on digital capacity building of public administrations, as was also highlighted in the Secretary General’s roadmap on digital cooperation, but also the recent policy papers on GDC. And in this regard, as part of the WSIS process from UNESCO, in addition to the WSIS Forum, we will be organizing organizing a major conference on this in 2025 in February, and the theme would be on digital governance and digital transformation, empowering civil servants. I will stop here now and pass the mic back to Geetanjali.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Pratik. I’ll invite Shamika from UNCTAD. Shamika.

Shamika Sirimanne:
Thank you, thank you, Geetanjali. Good morning to all of you. So good to see all of you. I think many faces I see at the CSTD. So on behalf of UNCTAD and our co-facilitators of the WSIS Action Line on E-Business, that means the ITC, the International Trade Center, the Universal Postal Union, and so a big welcome to all of you for being here. Let me highlight two things. First, as Geetanjali, you started saying, we have begun the WSIS Plus 20 process. The CSTD has been asked to begin the process. So we had our very first consultation here in this IGF, and I think it’s very fitting to do that, to begin the process here, and we had a very good and energetic and a very insightful session yesterday. And we will continue this, and we will continue this in the vein of multi-stakeholderism, which was, as Peter, you mentioned, which was born, given birth to in the UN system in WSIS process, and we would make sure that it is the case as we review the WSIS Plus 20 process. So be aware of the events that we will be holding in regions, especially with the regional commissions or with the IGF regional forums. And here, I also want to say that we have issued a questionnaire, meaning all of us, ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNDP, DESA, we have issued a questionnaire to gauge the views of key stakeholders on how far we have come from the Tunis aspiration of people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society, and how far we have to go to fulfill that aspiration. So please take note of this questionnaire, and please give it to all your networks, and get us data so that we can have a very meaningful review done, that to send to the General Assembly. Now on the action lines, let me just very quickly say from UNCTAD perspective, our mandate is basically to leverage international trade for development, and we have done a lot of work. We are working on developing countries’ readiness for e-commerce and the digital economy. We have done about 39, 40 countries’ diagnostics. Are they ready to engage in the e-commerce? And we assess this readiness on various policy measures. We look at the connectivity, we look at the regulatory frameworks, the e-payment systems, logistic skills, finance, and so forth, and we find many developing countries, I think the vast majority of developing countries, almost all LDCs, are not ready to engage in e-commerce and the digital economy, and this, so we are quite concerned this massive technological revolution would yet again bypass them. So there are, it’s not just the issues, are not just connectivity issues, the issues are multifaceted, issues of the inadequate legal regulatory frameworks, inadequate e-payment system, especially if you want to do exports, and inadequate logistics facilities, especially if you want to do exports, because everybody wants to get your goods fast, because that’s the digital commerce. So there will be, and what we also found, is that we cannot, one agency cannot do it all together. We at UNCTAD, we cannot do the regulatory systems, the e-payment systems, the skills, the finance, and the gender aspects and all that. So we have created a very, very effective platform called E-Trade for All Platform, and 35 agencies are working with us, meaning who is who in e-commerce and the digital economy are part of it. So if, for example, if a country ask us, they want to do more on e-payment systems, we, for example, would invite the World Bank to undertake that work. And many countries ask us, their post offices are not ready to do small parcels, we work with the UPU to do that work. So that’s how we work, and the platform is a real, a true, this is something that we aspire here in the WSIS Forum. So everyone, so note, we are going to have E-Week in Geneva, and it’s the week of December 4th, and it is called Shaping the Future, and it is about entering the digital economy, capturing the gains for digital economy for developing countries. So having said that, and thank you so much, Geetanjali, and thank you that you all see that we are all together in this journey, the UN family, and you will see as we go for the WSIS Plus 20 review, we will go as one UN. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Shamika. Rob?

Rob Golding:
Yes, very quickly. I actually would just maybe, I know Thomas has set a little bit of the context, but just a little bit more on that. We are definitely at a pivotal moment for the role of ICTs and digital technologies for the future of humanity. I think that’s not an overstatement. This year we had the SDG Summit, so we’re halfway through the SDG period, and I think there’s broad recognition of the role that digital technologies can play in accelerating our progress. To that end, we, together with ITU, released a report called the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, and celebrated that day the various ways in which technology can really help us get to the SDGs. This also comes in the run-up to the global digital compact process and the summit of the future next year. So the role of WSIS in this is really important, and we have a very strong opportunity to leverage the platform that is there to feed into the global digital compact, to follow the process after the global digital compact, and be really a platform where the world comes together to look at how does this actually work? How does this actually get done? So that’s what we’re looking forward to, and UNDP is pleased to co-chair the UN Group on Information Society this year, and work together with our co-organizers, UNCTAD, UNESCO. On this, we are, as Shamika said, we are acting as one on this. We see nobody can do this alone, so we work together, and we also look at how do we extend this platform and go through the WSIS plus 20 process, and really come out the other end with, I can’t remember who said WSIS 2.0, maybe it was you, Pratik. And just also just to say a wonderful thanks to the government of Switzerland for hosting the WSIS Forum this year, and we’re really looking forward to this opportunity.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Rob, representing UNDP. So we are about to start with our updates and preparatory process for the high-level event next year, but we also have Ambassador Schneider with us from Switzerland. So Ambassador Schneider, what can people expect next year? How should we prepare?

Thomas Schneider:
Yes, thank you, and sometimes I think that the more difficult question than how will AI change all our lives is how will the WSIS plus 20 process look like, and people keep asking themselves and each other questions, and I must say it’s complicated, and it was much easier 20 years ago. 20 years ago at this time, we were negotiating the Geneva Declaration and the Geneva Plan of Action, and that was the only thing there was. There was no structure, there was nothing. There was just the WSIS process, and based on a number of UN institutions and other players, but that was it, and now the world has become much more complicated. We already have hundreds of events and structures and parallel structures and overlapping structures, but on the other hand, this is life. That’s diversity, so we may not get all the answers today. I don’t think anyone has them because there’s so many players, but I think it is also just reality that there are several tracks, and it helps, I think, and this is one of the key points why we are still very much supportive of the WSIS process because in order to make all possible voices heard, one-size-fits-all solution, one track may not be enough, so we don’t have a problem per se with the fact that there are several tracks, there are several things going on at the same time. Of course, it would be nice to see how this all fits together, and for us, it is important that we have a discussion in New York, in the UN, in the General Assembly, but this is definitely a very government-led space, which is necessary, which is important, but which needs to be complemented by other processes that are more, let’s say, balanced towards stakeholder participation, and for us, really, the WSIS process has been a milestone in broadening up the space in the UN and building bridges to other stakeholders like it didn’t really exist before, at least not in the areas that I know, and I think also the ITU, UNESCO, and all the other institutions have been able to develop with the WSIS process to become more inclusive, to try and give more voices to stakeholders from all over the world that have not been heard before, and basically, the key for us is that we continue to use the WSIS process and the IGF, which for us is also part of the WSIS process, has been created to bring voices in to make sure that decisions that are taken, no matter where they are taken, are as respectful as possible of all the issues, all the needs of all the people in the world, and so this is why we are still very committed to the WSIS process to support the actors that are driving the process, and we’re happy to be the co-host of the next year. It’s gonna, again, probably be a complicated week because it’s a shared week with the AI for Good Summit, and not everything there is clear either, so don’t expect too clear answers, neither from the IG nor from anybody else. We’re all, I think, working on it, each of us with our capabilities. You will hear more details about what is planned for the WSIS Plus 20 High-Level Forum, and I would stop here because actually, this is to also listen to expectations so that the actors can actually build on what they are expected to do and try to live up to the expectations, which is a very challenging thing, probably. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Ambassador Schneider. So I’ll start with my short presentation. Of course, WSIS is a UN process. We work with more than 32 UN agencies. I can see many of our friends here, FAO, UN-DESA, and quite a few of them, so thank you very much for being here. In 2015, we aligned the WSIS action lines with the Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the clear linkages of digital, accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. You’re very familiar with the matrix, so a slide with the timeline for those of you who are new here, but I doubt if anyone is new. You’re all familiar faces. So basically, we’ve put it together until the UNGA high-level meeting in 2025. These slides will be available, so please feel free to look at the website later. So also, the WSIS Plus 20 review process, what are the expectations from the UN agencies, from multi-stakeholders, that of course it should be a multi-stakeholder process. We have to ensure, as Ambassador Schneider said, that though a process will take place in the overall review in the UNGA, but there have to be avenues for collecting the voices of the civil society, academia, and all stakeholders. Strengthen digital collaboration, so you heard from our co-organizers. We are working very closely, ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, CSTD, UNDESA in particular, who have a clear mandate to implement the WSIS process. 20 years of implementation. We did hear a lot of people talking about achievements in these 20 years, so it’s really important that we capture these achievements. And of course, outcome expectation would be that it’s a multi-stakeholder outcome on a vision of WSIS beyond 2025, and we do hope that this is submitted to the Summit of the Future and endorsed during the high-level meeting in 2025. So brainstorming that has been happening. You also saw Shameka present this during the CSTD session. So there are, of course, the SDG Summit already happened where we contributed as the SDG digital. Rob mentioned it, highlighting the importance of digital preceding the UNGA. 2020 Japan phase is the IGF. We have heard several discussions on the WSIS Plus 20 review process and the future. Regional reviews, our colleagues are sitting and we’d encourage you to take the floor later. SCAP is doing one in Armenia. ECA is scheduled to do one soon. ESCWA in February 2024. Geneva phase, Ambassador Schneider mentioned it briefly. And then we do expect that the Summit of the Future captures some of the outcomes of all these phases that we’ve been working towards. Paris phase, Pratik did mention it, UNESCO 18 to 28 February 2025. Tunisia would like to host, though it’s not confirmed, they would like to host a session on WSIS Plus 20 in Tunisia. CSTD review takes place in April 2025, the official one that Shameka mentioned. 2025 WSIS Forum may happen in UAE. It’s still not confirmed. And then eventually it all finishes at the high-level meeting which takes place in the UNGA. So moving now to the high-level event, the WSIS Forum high-level event will take place from the 27th to 31st of May. So please mark this on your calendar. And as Ambassador Schneider mentioned, we are doing it in collaboration with the AI for Good Summit. So Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we will be in the CICG. And Thursday, Friday, we come to the ITU premises. AI for Good will take place in the CICG. So there are very clear two processes for AI for Good and WSIS. So we will make sure that the linkages and wherever we are trying to save resources, we are highlighting all of that. However, it’s very clear that there are two independent meetings and processes. So the open consultative process, today is the first meeting. 13th of December, we’ll have one in Geneva, Switzerland. So we do hope to see all of you there as well. And the final briefing will take place on the 15th of February. And 26th of March, we plan to do a special session with Ambassador Schneider’s leadership and the chair of the WSIS Plus 20 Forum High Level Event. The open consultation process, you’re familiar with it. It’s an online form. So those of you already have an account, you don’t need to create an old one. We’ve developed the website in a way that your details are recorded there. Those of you who don’t have a form, you’ll have to create an account for yourself. The preparatory process, it’s the same. You fill up through the form. We have an open consultation process and also multi-stakeholder discussions to elaborate the outcome of the meeting. So we have the written inputs, the 20-year reports, also the CSTV form, the 20-year WSIS Action Line reports, which we are working with the UN Action Line facilitators for linkages with the Partner to Connect, UN High Impact Initiatives, and so on and so forth. High level track participation, we are working with Ambassador Schneider and his team to explore the participation of heads of states. So those of you who are interested, please do get in touch with us and we will make sure that we enable this participation. Ministers, of course, we nearly have more than 80 ministers at the WSIS Forum. However, we’d like to make it cross-sectoral. So if you have ministers of environment, of climate, of education, it’ll be really great if we can have a cross-sectoral discussion amongst the ministers and the ministerial. Ambassadors, mayors, we initiated a discussion on smart cities with. mayors and local chiefs. This was really a very interesting discussion. And they were able to share a lot of ideas because not all cities are as advanced as the others. Heads of UN agencies and international organizations, we were approached by some parliamentarians who would like to do some activities there, CEOs, civil society leaders, and of course, it’ll all have remote participation as well. Agenda and program, we develop it through a consultative format. So we are, of course, still developing it, but just to share the structure and the skeleton, the high-level track, workshops, of course, all interactive, civil society, private sector consultations. We were approached by many young people to ensure that the youth track is maintained. So the last day will be mostly focusing on youth track activities with the convergence with the AI for Good Summit. So AI Governance Day, most probably on Wednesday. The WSIS plus 20 track, UN consultations, and the academia track. So there are several other calls for action. You know that we have beautiful photographs from the ground that are submitted by you every year. And these are free for use by all of you. So if you want to use them for your presentations, your websites, you can just write to us and take them from there. The WSIS Digital Service Design Special Prize, which we launched last year. The WSIS Healthy Aging Innovation Prize, which focuses on healthy aging and is aligned with WHO’s Decade of Healthy Aging. We will have an exhibition space. And as you’ve seen, we are extra budgetary. So it’s a very humble exhibition space. It’s not very fancy, but of course it does the job. You have your area to talk about your projects and to interact with all participants. The call for WSIS Stock Taking Database will be launched soon and WSIS Prizes. I can see many winners here. So please make sure that you also start applying for the WSIS Prizes very soon. Like I mentioned, WSIS Forum is completely extra budgetary. So we really appreciate the contributions we receive from you every year. So please do write to us if you’re interested in partnering with us. Currently, all the packages are open. So thank you very much. I’d now like to open the floor. This was just to provide some updates. Please do raise your hand and we’ll just share the mic with you. So there are some roving mics and there is one mic there at the audience space as well. So, sure. Professor Brook, over to you.

Brooke Biasella:
Thank you very much, Chittangli. I’m the chairman of the World Summit Awards and we have, since 2003, every year presented the best practices globally from how digital technologies are used for a positive social impact. We are very happy to contribute also to the WSIS Review and to the events there. I want to recall for those of you who have been in 2003 and 2005 in Geneva and in Tunis that we had very spectacular events showing the creative side of using digital technology with a positive social impact. And I think it’s very important to see that this is actually a bottom-up view from the creative side regarding what they can contribute, what is contributed from all around the world. WSIS is now present in 182 countries in terms of how to transform and meet the challenges of today and offer very concrete solutions. That is very important in so far as in the WSIS action lines, there’s a specific paragraph and also emphasis on local content and on local impact. And I think it’s very important that we look at this through a procedure as the WSA, which is a multi-stakeholder initiative. There are two things which I think is important in addition to this kind of offer of collaboration and input. It is that I think that we have, and this speaks very much to Ambassador Schneider’s point regarding that there are hundreds of events and many different kind of issues. I think that from our point of view and from civil society point of view, it would be very good to set and focus and prioritize what WSIS wants to do in comparison and in conjunction with other issues. So you have said yourself that there is AI for Good Summit. I think that it’s very important that we deal with AI issues there and we deal with other issues at WSIS. What are these other issues? In the Tunis action plan, there are three issues which have been lost in terms of the site of the WSIS process. And I talked yesterday already at another session about the focus that we have lost very much is the focus on knowledge society and the transformation. And I think it’s absolutely essential that we focus on this in terms of all the related issues regarding skills, competencies, democratic participations, the people’s ability to deal personally and also communally with the challenges of today and in the near future. The other things which I think is very important is the entire media agenda. And I think it’s very important here that we also deal with the economics of the digital transformation. And I think the devastation of the traditional media, the legacy media and the fragmentation in terms of the public sphere is something which needs to be as a topic. And the third one is, I think we have as an action line under the number D, the entire agenda on digital solidarity and also the digital solidarity fund and the issues there in terms of funding certain kind of aspects and having an equitable, I mean, also way of looking at that we close digital divides this way. I think that is a political agenda and I will push very much that the European Union will also put this on the agenda because I think it’s very important that European Union countries speak with one voice on the United Nations level on that issue. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you very much, Professor Brook and thank you for the great collaboration WSA has with us. In fact, quite a few of your community were applicants to the SDG Digital Game Changers Award. So yes, thank you for this great collaboration. APC has raised their hand, chat APC.

Audience:
Thank you very much, Itanjali. It is really encouraging to see the room full in order to shape the future together. This is Valeria Betancur from the Association for Progressive Communications. It has been pointed out so much has changed since the WSIS and since the 10-year review. In the preparations for this review of the 20 years of the WSIS, obviously we will have to deal with the implications of those changes that are not a few, are many and also with the reinterpretation of the WSIS vision in order to respond to this constantly changing environment of the digital society that we have today. And obviously there are also unquestionably remaining challenges from the WSIS plus 10 review that persists until the current time such as inclusion and equality and something that we are calling the digital inequality paradox. As more people are connected, digital inequality is amplified and increasing and getting more sophisticated. So what are the long-term opportunities and also the risks in areas that are critical today such as digital rights, such as the environmental crisis and environmental sustainability but also sustainable development, digital inclusion itself, cybersecurity, surveillance, concentration of corporate power among others. The underlying question in our view that should guide the preparations for the WSIS plus 20 at the end of the day is what do we want to achieve? What do we want to go in which direction? What type of digital society we want and also what we need to build it including financial resources, the financial resources that we need to really build the type of digital future that we want to address that systemic and structural challenges that we are still facing. So at the practical level, it is also very important in our view that we identified what will contribute to reach compromise during the WSIS plus 20 review, what type of process has to be in place and what type of inputs are needed to contribute to arrive to those agreements, to build on processes that help us to address this widened scope of policy issues

Valeria Betancourt:
that we have today. So what are the conditions that have to be in place for coming up with outcomes that balance the differences of power, not only between stakeholders but also within stakeholders and the contesting parties as well as the multiplicity of interest. We also seen that in particular the WSIS plus 20 review process should be used to contribute to the strengthening of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum and it’s the role that it has to operationalize global digital cooperation and reach the gap between the decision making spaces and the multi-stakeholder ones and then to take it as the very unique opportunity to place global digital cooperation towards global and contextual responses that are needed and to put those issues at the top of the political agendas in order to address the challenges that we face today. APC is looking forward to continue contributing to not only the implementation of the WSIS action lines but to commit to the review in all its phases and to bring our contingency to shape the digital future that we want together. So thank you so much.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you. Thank you Valeria and thanks to APC for galvanizing action around civil society for so many years. You also the nodal civil society group which got the voices together in 2003. So we do hope that this will continue. Thank you so much. I think Justin from USA has raised his hand. Yes.

Justin Fair:
Yeah, Justin Fair, U.S. Department of State. First off, just thank you all for this, for Gitanjali for organizing this and Ambassador Snyder and the Swiss government for coming along to host this year but all the other UN agencies that are here. I think that over the past year, to the point Ambassador made about all the various processes, there has been a lot of concern just about the system is kind of overwhelmed and that we really need to avoid duplication of effort, find synergies, do better at digital cooperation. I really like that term, digital cooperation. And I think you see it here this morning within the WSIS process and for the WSIS review of a great deal of coordination. And I want to commend that because I think it shows a maturity and a strengthening of the WSIS process that wasn’t always there but I think is there now and hopefully that will lead to a good outcome this year. I will say I think that the WSIS Plus Forum is a really good opportunity to do what we often talk about, taking stock. I mean, born out of the meeting of the Action Line facilitators, as we kind of look to the future, it’s really important that first we have that kind of understanding of what has worked, what progress has been made, where there were challenges, what was done and tried, what worked, what didn’t. And that’s part of the review process, that first step to really kind of understand how we got to where we are. And then we kind of look to like, okay, then what comes next, how we can put the whole system together. So really look forward to this meeting, this engagement. I do have two questions just from the briefings this morning. One for our colleagues from UNESCO, the conference on in early, I think, February 2025, just if there’s any more information about what that is, is that envisioned as part of the WSIS Plus 20 review, kind of like the connecting the dots or something, any information about that? And then also just logistics on pushing two meetings together in the same week in Geneva, how that’s gonna work. For those that have been there, there’s a lot that come to both. I’m sure there’s overlap, but it’s a lot of folks descending on one little area in Geneva. Same venue, different venues, kind of how that’s gonna be managed. Any information there for planning purposes, I think would be very helpful. Thanks.

Pratik Chapagain:
So thanks for that question. Actually, it’s part of the discussions at the UNESCO General Conference, which will take place in November. And it’s part of the draft resolution so far. So it is for WSIS discussions, part of the roadmap as Gitanjali had highlighted, but we are also bringing a more thematic focus to that conference, to focus on capacity building in public administrations, focusing on the challenges that we are seeing around digital transformation, digital governance, and so to bring all the stakeholders, partners around the table. Yesterday, we had the discussion around launching an IGF dynamic coalition on digital capacity building. So it’s really also going to be a multi-stakeholder endeavor which will feed into some of the WSIS action lines. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you. Thank you, Justin. So as Ambassador Schneider said, we are still figuring out the logistics, but of course, the venues will be next to each other. So CICG and ITU. And like I mentioned, the way we are planning it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, WSIS will be in CICG, the high-level component. And then we come back to ITU for Thursday, Friday, which would be more of workshops and exhibitions and things like that. And the AI for Good takes place only for two days. So Thursday, Friday, they’re gonna be there. So we will try to make sure that we are aligned and we keep taking suggestions from you to make sure that it’s smooth and you’re able to participate. Sir, yes, please, Justin, do you have the mic yet? Yeah, if you could please introduce yourself, sir.

Byron Holland:
Thank you. Byron Holland from CIRA. We’re the operators of the .ca country code top-level domain. And we also do a lot of work in the cybersecurity and DNS fields on behalf of others. Thank you very much for this presentation. I think many of us have been trying to understand what the process looks like. And definitely, certainly to my mind, charts and graphs and linear timelines make sense. So thank you very much for helping bring this into focus. The one thing that I couldn’t help but noticing a couple of slides back was the agenda and the different groups that were gonna be part of the process. No surprise, I was quite struck by the absence of the technical community. So when I looked at the agenda and all the communities involved, the technical community, the folks who in general actually run the internet are missing from that. And I would suggest strongly that you would want to include that community as one of the key actors and one of the key stakeholders in the process. Because we are very different from academia. We are not per se civil society. Some of us are for profit. Many of us are not for profit type entities. It’s a distinct community. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Brian, for highlighting that. Basically, it’s human error. That’s it in one slide. Because in the rest of the slides, you will see that technical community is very prominently featured. This was a couple of years back where we were basically decided all of us together that civil society and technical community should be a different category. And it has been so ever since. So thank you very much for highlighting that. Nigel from UK, Nigel, does it work? I think you have to switch it on, Nigel, from the top.

Nigel Hicson:
Okay, thank you very much, yes, after yesterday. Nigel Hickson from the UK government. I mean, just first of all, to echo what was said yesterday during the UN CSTD session, and what’s been said this morning, you know, the focus on the WSIS plus 20 review process is clearly very important. The roadmap towards the UNGA discussions is complicated, and like Byron, it’s good to see a timeline for these discussions. We’re very much focused on the process, and that the process includes all stakeholders, and a diverse range of regions, and that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to this process ahead of the UNGA discussions. And for us, it’s very important that the UN CSTD produces this report, which was discussed yesterday, which will not only look at where we’ve come from, perhaps, in the last 20 years, but will look to the future. Because I think, for many of us, the future is what’s important, how the WSIS 2.0, I, you know, this is a new term, but, I mean, you know, whatever, you know, can come out, if you like, from those UNGA discussions, and can emerge. And for us, it’s very important that we focus on what is important to bridge the connectivity gap, to do what many people have been talking about at this, to do a lot more, in terms of evolving the WSIS action lines, so they help complement the sustainable development goals, so there’s a clear linkage between that, between those goals, and the matrix, of course, that was developed in 2015, was important in that regard. So I think that, you know, there are some real important steps that have to be taken. In terms of the WSIS Forum next year, clearly important to have this WSIS Plus 20 high-level track, but I think it has to be prepared well. If we’re going to have our ministers to come to Geneva to discuss these issues, then there has to be some sort of preparation in advance, so they know what they’re going to discuss, but, you know, clearly important. It’s really good to hear that UNESCO are doing something. Many of us remember joining the dots. I think it was joining the dots, wasn’t it? No, it was connecting the dots. Oh, connecting the dots, I’m so sorry, yeah. But I mean, that was a very significant event, and the work that UNESCO has done on multilingualism is, I think, another important factor that perhaps will feature at the WSIS Forum next May, and that brings to an extent in the technical community and the work that’s been done at ICANN and in other areas to develop international domain names, to further multilingualism, to look at universal acceptance, and that, in terms of, you know, the evolving of the action lines to meet the Sustainable Development Goals is an important factor, so thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you very much, Nigel. Balzoor, is the mic somewhere there? Thank you very much.

Balzur Rahman:
Very good morning. Basically, my name is A.S. Balzoor Rahman. I am working with Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication. Basically, Bangladesh is one of the impact country of the WSIS action line implementation, C1 to C11. So, Bangladesh government and CSO, civil society organization, successfully integrated WSIS action line, C1 to C11, with the five-year plan, and as well as digital Bangladesh process, and smart Bangladesh process, and as well as civil society organization intervention. As a result, Bangladesh government and civil society organization received lots of WSIS prizes, as a winner and as a champion. Especially, my organization, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, received seven award, as a winner and as a champion. We need WSIS forum annually. It is really multi-stakeholder manner. Now, it is model of multi-stakeholder. We would appreciate if the WSIS Secretariat would publish a toolkit for parliamentarian, and as well as mayor, because I saw they have a parliamentarian track, and also mayor track. We need WSIS action line localization, like a sub-regional basis, often consultation, like South Asia, because UNSCAP is so far from us. It is a mixed of the South Asia and Southeast Asia. So, we need a separate sub-regional open consultation about WSIS action line, like South Asia, and as well as country level open consultation. Open consultation is very important for reviewing the action line progress, called C1 to C11. C9 is very important, UNESCO representative is here. It is real that community media sector is now under threat by the social media, and also new tech. This is the reality. But community media needed for voices for the voiceless. It is only media ensuring voices for the voiceless from the ground. Finally, based on the WSIS multi-stakeholder experience, we have harmonized with the Global Digital Compact, and as well as Summit of the Future.

Gitanjali Sah:
And we developed one initiative, two years initiative, basically called Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering, and Amplifying Unified Voice on Global Digital Compact and UN Summit of the Future. Make Bangladesh voices heard at the GDC, and as well as UN Summit of the Future. Thank you. Thank you, Baljour. Mr. Bertrand de La Chapelle, it’s good to see you after a long time.

Bertrand De La Chapelle:
Thank you very much. I’m Bertrand de La Chapelle, I’m the Executive Director of the Internet Interdiction Policy Network, and the Chief Vision Officer of the Data Sphere Initiative. It’s great to be here, but I have to say that I may be a little bit less diplomatic than I’m usually. I have an intense frustration with the question of the WSIS plus 20. A deep frustration. As many of us have participated in the initial WSIS in 2003, 2005, there was a drive there. There was an ambition, there was a vision. People were thinking that there was a challenge at the time, 20 years ago almost, that there was an information society in the coming, and that it created a certain number of technical, social, but also political challenges, and that we needed to find a way to work together to address those challenges, and make the best of the information society, which at the time was just ICT. We are 20 years later, and in spite of all the amazing developments, the political landscape has become worse and worse. We are not able to address the challenges because there is a lack of cooperation internationally. We do not have the transnational institutions that are needed. The technical architecture and the technical governance architecture is functioning very well, thank you. During the pandemic, without the internet, the world wouldn’t have been able to live, and the technical community, which doesn’t have basically the right to speak on the policy issues, is the one that managed the world to keep tight. Meanwhile, and I don’t even talk about the environment or the political geopolitical battles, we’re seeing an absolute lack of capacity to address the key challenges, and the Secretary General of the UN has rightly said that there are two existential crisis. One is the climate crisis, and the other one is what is the digital society we want to build together? And here, when we’re talking about the WSIS, 20 years is a nice anniversary. It’s usually a coming of age party, and we’re going backwards, just looking at the review, and don’t get me wrong, the review is extremely important. What we’ve accomplished, what we’ve not accomplished is important. I’m afraid that we’re gonna look too much at what we’ve accomplished and missing what we have not accomplished, which is a lot. We should have a little bit of self-criticism collectively, but what I would like is a term that I haven’t heard in many years, is what is our ambition? What do we collectively want to achieve together? And I want just to finish by saying, for a year and a half, I’ve participated in a few sessions regarding the WSIS Plus 20, I still don’t know what it is. And Thomas was saying it. I think if it ends up being the equivalent of the WSIS Plus 10 review, a mere resolution in the UN General Assembly, we have missed a massive opportunity. So I would like to encourage everybody to think about this not as a WSIS Plus 20 review, but as 2025, as the moment where we, through all the different processes, think about what is the damn ambition that we want to have for cooperation. Thank you.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you very much for that call for action. Call for action that was very much needed in this meeting. What is our ambition? So who’s next? Peter, the right person. Is there a mic there? No, okay. Okay, yeah.

Audience:
Thank you, Bertrand. Thank you. Well, you rightly said the 10-year review, which ended with the resolution, produced nothing. Well, that’s not true. We have extended the mandate of the IGF. We have extended the mandate of the WSIS Forum. That’s true. However, there was no ambition. However, if I record the CSCD report, which was a very short report of 300 pages, we have already mentioned a lot of things. Does it ring a bell? AI, social networks, IoT, everything was there. Everything in the report. Have you seen anything in the resolution? Nothing. We are going to do something very ambitious this time as well. As you said, we would like to outline the future, and I’m sure we are going to do that. Now, if we do our best, probably it won’t be enough, because the UN General Assembly will be very political. Say, what influence do we have? It’s a question I don’t have the answer. I don’t really have the answer, but we have to do our best, and I think what you said, we should be doing it, and we are going to do it.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Peter. We look forward to your guidance in this whole process, and Bertrand, if you noticed, we are trying to be slightly ambitious, because in the time that we have, we are trying to be slightly ambitious, because in the timeline, we have made sure that the UNGA is involved in the whole preparatory process, and our colleagues from UNDESA are also present here. So we have one minute. We have a few remote participants. Professor Minkin can hand you the floor. Very quick comments. Remote participation, please. Logistics team, we have a remote participant. Professor Minkin, we are informed that you need to unmute yourself. We do not hear you. You can just unmute yourself and go ahead. Please go ahead.

Vladimir Minkin:
Yes, thank you. Thank you very much, Gitanjali. Good time of the day, dear colleagues. Let me shortly, first of all, I agreed the last speakers, especially Nigel, Bertrand, and Peter, and I think we have a lot to learn from them. And Peter, and I would only draw attention, now our first meeting for preparation. And main point, we should think what will be the outcome of this is plus 10 high-level event. What we want from this outcome, it was formed with this outcome, how we will prepare to this outcome. In all cases, what we should do, we should consider at least preliminary 20 years view, what was happening in each action line, and define what we want from future. How we see the vision, this is beyond 2025, that we should prepare to that. It should be chance for multi-stakeholder estimation, this, and to receive multi-stakeholder view on the future. Future of visas, future of SDGs, digital companies, and so on. That we expected from this high-level forum, and I hope we should carefully prepare for that together. Thank you very much.

Gitanjali Sah:
Thank you, Professor Menken. The logistics team is giving me an indication that we need to finish. There are a lot of hands up still. Yeah, there are a lot of hand ups still, but we continue on the 13th of December in Geneva and virtually, so please join us. But Ambassador Schneider, you have a few last words.

Thomas Schneider:
I’ll just, and please, those that did not have the chance to comment, there are ways to contact us, to contact also the DI2 and UNESCO and us. Just one reaction, a brief on Bertrand, and it would be also nice to hear from younger people, because we were maybe younger 20 years ago, but we are definitely not that young anymore now. But that’s a side remark. I think the world has changed. And because 20 years ago, it was 10 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we were all hoping that the end of history would be a nice thing and that the technology would help us to spread peace and freedoms and everything, and sharing was the word. Now we’re in a different, not just geopolitical, but we’re in a different environment. It’s not about sharing, it’s about fighting. It’s about winning or losing. We are back into some kind of middle-age thing. It’s like we cannot all win together. If I win, you need to lose. We’re gonna have a discussion on this, and we can continue. Just to cut it short. And that has an impact also on us. It does. I think it is up to us to try to make the best out of it and reinterpret, as Valeria had said, reinterpret the Vicious Vision in the times that we are now. They are more difficult, but it’s not the end of history, so it’s also up on us to try and go back into the right direction. But it’s difficult times, I guess, for all of us.

Bertrand De La Chapelle:
But it’s precisely because of this environment that we needed spaces to cooperate and bring the moderates together instead of being hostages by the extremes in all cases.

Gitanjali Sah:
On that note, thank you.