Closing Ceremony

Summary

This transcript captures the closing ceremony of the 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Lillestrøm, Norway, marking the forum’s 20th anniversary and first meeting in Scandinavia. The event brought together over 6,000 participants online and 3,344 on-site delegates across 262 sessions under the theme “Building Digital Governance Together.” Multiple stakeholders delivered closing remarks emphasizing the critical importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing digital governance challenges.

Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa delivered a powerful keynote warning that the world is not moving fast enough to address digital threats, highlighting how authoritarian governments weaponize technology and social media platforms spread disinformation faster than facts. She emphasized three critical battles: the fight for truth against misinformation, the battle for human agency against manipulative algorithms, and the struggle to ensure artificial intelligence serves humanity rather than replacing human judgment. Representatives from various sectors reinforced the need for inclusive digital governance, with particular emphasis on connecting the unconnected and ensuring no one is left behind in the digital transformation.

Youth representative Jacline Jijide from Malawi shared her challenging journey to attend the forum, traveling over 1,800 miles by bus due to visa processing limitations, highlighting ongoing barriers to participation from the Global South. Technical community representatives, government officials, and judiciary members all stressed the importance of maintaining an open, secure, and inclusive internet while addressing emerging challenges like AI governance and cybersecurity. The forum concluded with strong support for a permanent IGF mandate and calls for continued engagement in the upcoming World Summit on Information Society Plus 20 review, positioning this gathering as a crucial step toward shaping global digital governance beyond 2025.

Keypoints

## Major Discussion Points:

– **Multi-stakeholder governance and collaboration**: Emphasis on the importance of bringing together diverse voices including governments, civil society, technical community, private sector, and youth to shape digital governance policies together

– **Digital inclusion and bridging the global divide**: Focus on ensuring internet access reaches everyone globally, with particular attention to challenges faced by participants from the Global South and the need to address barriers to participation

– **AI governance and platform accountability**: Discussion of artificial intelligence as a transformative platform requiring human rights-centered governance, along with calls for platform accountability to combat misinformation and protect democratic processes

– **WSIS+20 review and IGF’s future mandate**: Strategic focus on the upcoming World Summit on Information Society Plus 20 review as a pivotal opportunity to strengthen internet governance frameworks and secure a permanent mandate for the IGF

– **Youth engagement and intergenerational cooperation**: Strong emphasis on including young voices in digital governance discussions, recognizing youth not just as future leaders but as important current stakeholders

## Overall Purpose:

The discussion serves as the closing ceremony for the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025) hosted by Norway. The primary goal is to reflect on the week’s achievements, consolidate key messages and commitments from participants, and mobilize continued engagement toward upcoming digital governance milestones, particularly the WSIS+20 review.

## Overall Tone:

The discussion maintains a consistently positive and collaborative tone throughout, characterized by gratitude, celebration of achievements, and forward-looking optimism. However, there are moments of urgency and concern, particularly in Maria Ressa’s speech about threats to democracy and press freedom. The tone becomes increasingly celebratory toward the end with cultural performances, but maintains its underlying seriousness about the critical work ahead in digital governance.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Session video**: Not a speaker – appears to be introductory content/video segment

– **Li Junhua**: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

– **Asmund Grover Aukrust**: Minister of International Development of Norway

– **Maria Ressa**: IGF Leadership Panel Vice Chair, Nobel Prize Laureate, Journalist

– **Dhruv Dhody**: Internet Architecture Board member at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Technical community representative

– **Anil Kumar Lahoti**: Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

– **Jacline Jijide**: Youth representative, Digital inclusion practitioner with the Africa Digital Inclusion Alliance, from Malawi, Pan-African Youth Ambassador on Internet Governance

– **Natalie Becker Aakervik**: MC/Moderator for the session

– **Adel Maged**: Justice Vice President of the Court of Cassation of Egypt

– **Maggie Jones**: Baroness Maggie Jones, Minister for the Future of the Digital Economy and Online Safety of the United Kingdom

**Additional speakers:**

– **Chengetai Masango**: Referenced as having an esteemed panel (specific title/role not detailed in transcript)

# IGF 2025 Closing Ceremony Report – Building Digital Governance Together

## Executive Summary

The closing ceremony of the 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, brought together diverse stakeholders to reflect on the forum’s achievements and chart the path forward for digital governance. The ceremony featured interventions from government ministers, civil society leaders, technical experts, and youth representatives, each highlighting different aspects of the challenges and opportunities in building inclusive digital governance frameworks.

## Opening Context and Setting

The ceremony opened with a session video emphasizing foundational principles of internet governance, establishing that “everyone in the world should have access to the Internet as it is everybody’s right.” The video highlighted artificial intelligence as “more than just a tool – it’s a platform for transformation impacting every sector,” while raising critical questions about building competence, motivating people, and handling de-skilling when leaving more to machines.

## Key Speaker Interventions

### Maria Ressa – IGF Leadership Panel Vice Chair

Nobel Prize Laureate Maria Ressa delivered a keynote address framing digital governance challenges in civilizational terms. She warned that “we’re not moving fast enough” to address digital threats and positioned forum participants as “guardians of humanity’s greatest information revolution since the printing press.”

Ressa highlighted the existential nature of current challenges, noting that “authoritarian leaders worldwide are using platforms to rewrite reality whilst lies travel six times faster than facts.” She posed fundamental questions about whether “artificial intelligence will augment human potential or replace human judgment” and whether “digital rights will be universal or a privilege of the wealthy.”

Her emphasis on platform accountability focused on “safety and restoring democracy’s immune system” rather than censorship, calling for an end to “impunity online and offline.”

### Baroness Maggie Jones – UK Minister for the Future of the Digital Economy and Online Safety

Baroness Jones focused on institutional development, advocating for a permanent IGF mandate to enable “deeper engagement, longer-term planning, and more inclusive participation.” She positioned the upcoming WSIS Plus 20 review as an opportunity to “integrate not duplicate, align not fragment, with IGF central to that vision.”

### Dhruv Dhody – Internet Architecture Board Member, IETF

Dhody, clarifying that he is “not the chair, I’m just a board member” of the Internet Architecture Board, emphasized the IGF’s unique value in bringing together “diplomats, regulators, advocates, and technical experts” outside their traditional silos. He highlighted how the forum grounds governance discussions in real-world engineering realities.

### Jacline Jijide – Youth Representative from Malawi

Jijide provided powerful testimony about barriers to meaningful participation, describing her journey of traveling “over 1,800 miles by bus through four grueling days” to attend the forum due to visa processing limitations. Her experience highlighted how “access and inclusion remain far from equal despite IGF being meant to welcome diverse voices.”

### Anil Kumar Lahoti – Chairman, India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority

Lahoti presented India’s digital achievements, highlighting the country’s success in achieving significant digital penetration with data costs of $0.11 per gigabyte. He noted that India’s digital payment system processes over 640 million transactions daily, representing nearly half of the world’s digital financial transactions. He described India’s work on an “AI mission enabling homegrown AI trained on local data.”

Lahoti emphasized how the IGF provides “a 360-degree view on subjects from almost all stakeholders involved or affected by policy developments.”

### Adel Maged – Justice Vice President, Egypt’s Court of Cassation

Maged brought judicial perspective to the discussions, warning that “bad actors seeking to undermine communities only need to target and manipulate people’s awareness.” He called for expanding “the judiciary track as a core pillar of IGF deliberations promoting dialogue and international cooperation,” emphasizing the need for “well-crafted legislation and technologically equipped judges.”

### Asmund Grover Aukrust – Norway’s Minister of International Development

As the host country representative, Aukrust highlighted Norway’s commitment to digital inclusion through “investing in digital public goods” to narrow divides between wealthy and poorer countries. He acknowledged the “crucial importance of high-level participation from the Global South and youth voices” while celebrating the forum’s achievements in bringing together diverse perspectives.

### Li Junhua – UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Li Junhua concluded the formal interventions by emphasizing that effective digital governance requires “collaborative spirit and inclusive dialogue.” He stressed that “data governance rooted in human rights is essential for AI that advances innovation and fundamental freedoms.”

Li Junhua provided context about the forum’s scale, noting the participation of over 6,000 participants online and 3,344 on-site delegates across 262 sessions. He emphasized that “IGF’s future depends on leadership, energy, and commitment of participants beyond the forum.”

## Major Themes

### Multi-stakeholder Collaboration

Speakers consistently emphasized the importance of bringing together diverse voices including governments, civil society, technical community, private sector, and youth in addressing digital governance challenges.

### Digital Inclusion and Global Participation

The ceremony highlighted both achievements and persistent barriers to meaningful digital inclusion, with particular attention to challenges facing Global South participation and youth engagement.

### AI Governance and Platform Accountability

Multiple speakers addressed the transformative challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the need for new approaches to platform governance that balance innovation with human rights protection.

### Institutional Strengthening

Strong support emerged for strengthening the IGF’s institutional foundation, particularly through a permanent mandate and enhanced engagement mechanisms.

## Critical Challenges Identified

The ceremony identified several ongoing challenges requiring sustained attention:

– Visa processing barriers preventing Global South participation in international forums

– Balancing platform accountability with free expression principles

– Managing the impact of AI on human skills and agency

– Addressing the speed at which misinformation spreads compared to factual information

– Ensuring meaningful rather than merely technical digital inclusion

## Forward-Looking Commitments

Speakers emphasized several key action areas:

– Active engagement in the WSIS Plus 20 review process

– Support for the IGF’s permanent mandate

– Strengthening national and regional IGFs

– Expanding judicial engagement in internet governance

– Continued investment in digital public goods

– Addressing structural barriers to Global South participation

## Conclusion

The IGF 2025 closing ceremony demonstrated both the progress made in digital governance discussions and the urgent challenges that remain. The convergence of perspectives around multi-stakeholder approaches and digital inclusion provided a strong foundation, while speakers’ emphasis on concrete action and institutional strengthening reflected recognition that current governance mechanisms require enhancement to address emerging challenges.

The ceremony concluded with clear recognition that effective digital governance requires sustained commitment beyond individual forums, with participants called upon to serve as guardians of humanity’s information revolution while ensuring that digital rights and opportunities are accessible to all.

Session video: Norway are proud hosts of the IGF. I hope that you all enjoyed your stay here at Lillestrøm and at this year’s Internet Governance Forum. The multi-stakeholder model is crucial for keeping the Internet safe, open and free to everyone, and these are key values to bring forward until the next IGF. I hope to see you again in Norway. I hope to meet you all again. Thank you for being here during these days. Your digital self should belong to you, meaning the data that we humans produce, whether it’s our writings or our voices or our connections, our experiences, our ideas, that these things should belong to us. Values is the thing that drives everyone, and if we have good values, we can really push the multi-stakeholder model in every part of the world, creating a better society, creating a better opportunity for everyone. Data is contributing a lot, but there are certain risks, and this conference is very, very important, because we should not repeat the mistakes of the past. We should learn from countries which have got a lot of experience, and I think UN and IGF, they have taken this initiative with the support of the Norwegian government. And this is the opportunity for us to now share our ideas, tell people about our countries, the challenges that we come across regarding Internet governance. So it’s been beautiful. And welcome to Music Night, where we can relax and strengthen the bounds of friendship that we have created at the IGF. And this is a great way to just get the community involved and for people to have a slightly different view on life. The most important thing with IGF is that you meet people who are like-minded to discuss with you what is really the future, the future of an inclusive Internet. Everybody in the world, everywhere in the globe, should have access to the Internet. This is why I believe the Internet is everybody’s right. It’s important that leaders come together with clarity in understanding, but also clarity in how we build solutions and share these solutions so that they can be reused and we can use them to bridge the gap between governments and citizens all over the world. It is important to see AI as more than just another tool. It is a platform for transformation, one that will impact virtually every sector of our economy and every part of our society. How do you build competence? Do you mean expertise if you have AI? How do you motivate people? How do you encourage people to continue learning? Do we know how to handle so-called de-skilling, that is, when you leave more and more to the machines and stop thinking for yourself? It’s always good to hear perspectives from different countries, from different policy makers, from different parts of civil society. I think we all ultimately share a vision for innovation, power growth and prosperity. I think it’s important that we have that kind of multi-stakeholder approach, that different experts and NGOs and industry that they can participate also when we are speaking about such important things like digitalisation and technology, which is very much shaping our everyday life. So I think it’s important that we are also cooperating on a global scale in that kind of important topics.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Good afternoon, everyone. It is wonderful to be back here. Hello to our guests in the audience and to those of you joining us globally online. A warm welcome to you. Thank you to Mr. Chengetai Masango and his esteemed panel. And to you, our members of the audience, for your valuable contributions and really helping us take stock and reflect on the week that was and is coming to a close today, IGF 2025 Proudly Hosted. and is coming to a close today, IGF 2025 Proudly Hosted by Norway. I’m Natalie Becker-Arkovic and I’ll be your MC for this session. So we trust you’ve enjoyed the week of engaging talks and meaningful connections. And if you remember, we opened the Grand Artistic, we opened IGF for the Grand Artistic performance on Tuesday. So we throw forward at the end, at the closing of the session, we will send you off with a youthful hip-hop show, a dance show that’s going to boost your mood and energy even more. So that’s something to look forward to. So do stay with us. First of all, we will hear closing statements from different stakeholders. So I’d like you to kindly take your seats if you haven’t yet, ladies and gentlemen, if you have, without further ado. Please welcome IGF Leadership Panel Vice Chair and Nobel Prize Laureate, Ms. Maria Ressa.

Maria Ressa: I like that the panel… isn’t really high, and we could stand. Thank you, thank you for being here today. As we close this remarkable gathering, it was fascinating to listen to the comments in the last panel. Please let us pause and remember why we’re here. We’re not just technologists, policy makers, journalists, or advocates meeting in one of our world’s most beautiful cities. We’re guardians of humanity’s greatest information revolution since the printing press. But here’s what Gutenberg didn’t have to worry about. His printing press couldn’t be weaponized by authoritarian governments to silence dissent in milliseconds. His books couldn’t be algorithmically manipulated to spread hatred faster than wildfire. His readers weren’t trapped in echo chambers designed to maximize engagement over truth. This is what we’re dealing with. Yesterday, on this stage, I said that the greatest challenge to the world today is to prove that the international rules-based order still exists, and that impunity will end in the real and virtual worlds, because online violence is real-world violence. In the past few days, we’ve heard urgent calls to action. We’ve discussed the promise and peril of artificial intelligence, which is neither artificial nor intelligent. We’ve debated how to protect children online while preserving free expressions. We’ve wrestled with questions that would have seemed like science fiction just two decades ago. But please let me be blunt. We’re not moving fast enough. We’re still moving too slow. While we’ve been having important conversations, authoritarian leaders worldwide are using our platforms to rewrite reality. In my own country, in the Philippines, I’ve watched social media transform from a tool of liberation into a weapon of oppression. What happened to us is happening everywhere, from Myanmar to Ukraine, from Brazil to Hungary, from the UK to the United States. This. This moment is existential, and that is why the work you do, why what we do here, matters. Not just for press freedom, you can throw that, though as someone who’s been arrested and threatened for doing journalism, I can tell you that that does matter deeply. But it’s for our societies, for democracy. We face three critical battles. One, the battle for truth. When lies travel six times faster than facts, and that’s a 2018 MIT study, it’s gotten significantly worse. When deep fakes make you unable to tell fact from fiction, truth from reality, right? This, when micro-targeting can manipulate elections, we need to act. Platform accountability isn’t censorship. Far from it. It is safety. It is restoring democracy’s immune system. Two, the battle for human agency. Algorithms that amplify our worst impulses, that reward outrage over empathy, that trap us in bubbles of our own biases, these are not inevitable. They’re choices. We can choose different values. We can design for human dignity. Third, the battle for the future we want to live in. Will artificial intelligence augment human potential or replace human judgment? Will digital rights be universal or a privilege of the wealthy? Will the internet serve humanity or will humanity serve the internet? Norway, you have shown us what’s possible. Your commitment to transparency, your investment in digital literacy, your protection of press freedom, these aren’t just Norwegian values. They’re human values that the world desperately needs. But we cannot solve these challenges nation by nation, platform by platform, crisis by crisis. The internet we know knows no borders. This information knows no borders. Our response must know no borders as well. I’ve seen what happens when we fail. I’ve watched democracy die in real time, one viral lie at a time, but I’ve also seen what’s possible when we act with courage and conviction. Young people are leading climate action despite their government’s failures. Journalists are finding new ways to tell the truth despite unprecedented attacks. Citizens are demanding accountability despite powerful interests trying to silence them. The future isn’t written in code. It’s written by the choices you in this room, by the choices we make, all of us together. So as we leave Oslo, please let’s not just exchange our business cards and make our LinkedIn connections. Let’s make commitments. Let’s hold ourselves accountable. Let’s remember that every algorithm reflects human values. Every platform policy shapes human behavior. Every governance decision impacts human lives. The Internet belongs to all of us. You’ve seen that in the paper that the IGF has pushed out. It’s on our website. Our governments, our societies, the goodness of humanity, that also belongs to all of us. The future is being created now and it will be a future we want if you fight for it. Tusen takk, Oslo. Thank you for reminding us that another world is possible and that together we can build it. Thank you.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you so much Maria Ressa for sharing your contribution and your powerful message with us and now we would like to welcome Miss Baroness Maggie Jones, Minister for the Future of the Digital Economy and Online Safety of the United Kingdom. Baroness, the floor is yours.

Maggie Jones: Well what an inspirational speech Maria and a very very hard act to to follow. But ministers, excellencies and colleagues, let me begin by expressing my sincere thanks to our hosts the Government of Norway and to the IGF Secretariat for their outstanding organization and warm hospitality. This has been a forum of real substance and it’s been a privilege to be part of the United Kingdom taking part here. Over the past few days I’ve been fortunate to meet so many thoughtful and committed stakeholders and I’m deeply grateful for the rich conversations I’ve had. Conversations that have reinforced just how essential the Internet Governance Forum is to the future of digital cooperation. The WUSS’s framework has delivered real results. It’s helped connect billions, supported sustainable development and provided a flexible enduring structure through the action lines. But we must now ensure it’s ready for the future and we must recognize that there’s still a long way to go to get the unconnected connected. The global digital compact gives us a strong foundation. The WUSS’s plus 20 review is our opportunity to build on that, to integrate not duplicate, to align not fragment. And the IGF must be central to that vision. A permanent mandate would allow for deeper engagement, longer-term planning and more inclusive participation. We also hope to see stronger recognition of national and regional IGFs, which are vital in surfacing local priorities and community voices in the important years to come. So let’s leave Leo Strom today with renewed purpose. We encourage all of you here to engage in the WSIS Elements paper and to participate through the WSIS ongoing consultations. Let’s continue to commit to a digital future that is open, secure and inclusive. And let’s ensure that the IGF continues to be the place where the future is shaped. Together. Thank you.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you so much, Baroness, for your contribution and for your message. And ladies and gentlemen, without further ado and just to our speakers, thank you so much for keeping within your four minute time slot. We truly appreciate it. We’ve got a great program here and we want to so much hear these powerful closing messages and of course, get to that hip hop show at the end. So without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the Internet Architecture Board Chairmember. His name is Mr. Dhruv Dhody. Please join us on stage.

Dhruv Dhody: Hello, just a clarification, I’m not the chair, I’m just a board member, but I’m Dhruv Dhody. I’m from the Internet Architecture Board at the ITF, which is the Internet Engineering Task Force. It’s a pleasure to be here with you. And thanks for giving me an opportunity to be a part of the closing remarks at this very successful IGF 2025 in Norway. Congratulations to everyone working to make this event such a success. As part of the technical community, which plays such a vital role in this multi-stakeholder model, we bring the expertise that keeps the Internet running. We provide the core Internet standards. We maintain the infrastructure. We provide grounding to the governance discussions to stay anchored in the real-world engineering and operational realities. The ITF itself is a voluntary standard organization that defines protocols for the Internet from the very, very beginning. And we have developed thousands of standards for nearly 40 years now. These standards allow how computers and networks to interact with each other. This is how any device and any service can simply connect to the Internet and we get all the benefits for it. We are doing it right now by sharing audio and video over the Internet using those core standards right now. ITF is a bottom-up, open, diverse, and a transparent organization. We bring together people from across the Internet ecosystems. We have vendors, operators, civil society, governments, and many more who all come together with a single vision that we need to develop the best technical standards and enable innovations for all. The technical community, which includes ITF, Internet Society, ICANN, W3C, the various regional Internet registries, the RIRs, the TLDs, the top-level domains, and many, many more. We all have a common championing for open, transparent, inclusive, diverse participation. And it’s so good to see that the IGF has the same set of values. And we have to work together to make sure that we continue to uphold them and defend them as we face challenges. Having joined past IGF remotely, and I have attended the regional and the national forums in person, the APR IGF and India IGF in my case. This is my first in-person global IGF and I’m so glad to make it on the site. The most fun thing was, of course, the music night. And it kind of gave me the impression that IGF is about its community. and I’m so glad to be a part of it. Being here in person also clearly gave an idea that this is such an important forum for not just communication, but real collaboration, for us to find clear pathways, for us in technical community to be part of discussions in policy, and similarly, policy discussions coming in in technical spaces. IGF is a very unique space. Here, I get to brush shoulders with diplomats, regulators, digital right advocates, technical experts, private sector leaders, civil society, academia, everybody engaging outside of their silos and trying to understand each other’s perspective, but we all share a common commitment to the internet and its future. We all believe in its potential. We recognize that its governance will continue to evolve, and we need to be all engaged in the process until the internet reaches everyone everywhere. This is why it would be of tremendous value if this forum gets a permanent mandate. Thank you.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you so much, Dhruv. Now, I’d like to welcome a youth representative, a youth representative, a digital inclusion practitioner with the Africa Digital Inclusion Alliance. Please join me in giving a very warm welcome to Jacline Jijide .

Jacline Jijide: Good afternoon, distinct guests, fellow youth, and champions of the digital world. My name is Jacline Jijide from Malawi, and I’m truly honored to speak before you today at the closing sermon of my first ever Global Internet Governance Forum. I’m here because I believe in the power and the promise of this forum, a space meant to welcome diverse voices, especially youth. But my journey to this moment reminds us that access and inclusion remain far from equal. Let me share my story. Because Malawi does not process Schengen visas, I had to travel over 1,800 miles by bus to Pretoria, South Africa. My journey took four grueling days, including a breakdown on the way. I arrived in Pretoria with soaring legs, exhausted and determined, determined to be here, determined to be heard. And I’m not alone. A young man from Cote d’Ivoire, Isaac, had to travel to Ghana to apply for his visa. It was only granted after the IGF had already begun. He boarded a flight hoping to join us midway, but he arrived today. Why do I share this? because the IGF is one of the few spaces where stakeholders regardless of geography are meant to have a seat at the table. Yet, if participants from the global South must overcome such barriers just to attend this, then it’s a challenge. Within these bureaucratic barriers, I wish to recognize the support from the host country Norway and their Minister of Foreign Affairs for the great support provided during the visa process. I came here with a fire in my heart to fight for digital equity. I stand for millions of young people in Malawi and across Africa who are still left behind, still disconnected, still waiting to be seen and heard in the digital world. I made the internet for the first time at university and that later introduction changed my life. It gave me a purpose to become a voice and a bridge for others. Today, I proudly serve as a digital inclusion practitioner and trainer having mentored over 10,000 young learners across Malawi and Africa and I am an active member of Malawi Youth IGF and a Pan-African Youth Ambassador on Internet Governance, the 2025 Wisest Plies Champions, shaping youth-led internet governance advocates across Africa. My work focuses on ensuring that youth, especially in rural communities, gain the skills, access and confidence to use the internet safely and meaningfully. I support 16 government primary schools, helping young learners develop digital literacy, explore online learning, imagine futures where the internet becomes a tool for empowerment, not exclusion. Being here at IGF 2025, under the theme Building Digital Governance Together, is the powerful reminder that grassroots work matters. This platform has opened doors, strengthened our networks and amplified voices like me and the voices of many more youth who deserve to be supported and seen. I’m deeply grateful to the UN IGF Secretariat for the finance support that made it possible for me and other youth delegates to be here. And my heartfelt thanks also goes to Bram Fuzulani-Malawi, my mentor, and to Solene Assefa-Payagy, Kenneth Nsisia, and Victor Ojen of African Digital Inclusion Alliance, all of whom have helped me into the advocate I am today. As I conclude, let me also quote from Myles Muno, who once said, the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose. I believe every young person deserves to discover their purpose, and a safe, open, and inclusive internet can help them to do just that. So today, I speak not just for myself, but for every young person who dreams of being connected, included, and empowered. Let us keep building digital governance together, and let us make sure no one is left behind. Thank you all for listening.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Jacqueline, thank you for so powerfully reminding us of the internet as a tool for empowerment, and, importantly, as a reminder and link to our global goals of leaving no one behind. Thank you. Next, we have the Chairman of the Telecom Authority in India, or TRAI, who is going to be delivering a presentation, a closing remark. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Mr. Anil Kumar Lahoti.

Anil Kumar Lahoti: Good afternoon, Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m not giving a presentation. I’m just sharing my thoughts. It is the first time that Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has been invited to participate in the IGF. Thanks to this invitation, and having come here in this beautiful city of Lillestrom, we find that IGF is a very good forum where the technical community, the civil society, the industry, governments, regulators, and the international bodies all come together to discuss and debate the issues in the growth of the sector and the challenges being faced in its operation. The forum provides a 360-degree view on the subjects discussed from the point of view of almost all the stakeholders involved or affected by the course that the policy or the developments in the sector may take. How important is it for a regulator from India to participate in this forum? India is home to 980 million internet subscribers, second largest in the world. The total traffic on internet is of the order of 35,000 petabytes per month, or over 30 GB, 30 gigabytes per user per month, which is rapidly growing. It shows the aspirational and progressive citizens of the country who are increasingly using the internet for their day-to-day lives. Today, over 98% of India’s population is covered by 4G mobile coverage, and the remaining population is also also likely to get the coverage within the next few months. India has also rolled out 5G network fastest anywhere in the world and today has the second largest 5G network. India is also executing probably world’s largest program of fiber connectivity to the villages called Bharatnet. Under this program, $5 billion have already been invested connecting over 214,000 gram panchayats, that is cluster of villages. In the phase three of this program, almost $16 billion has been planned to be invested with the objective of connecting remaining 50,000 gram panchayat and providing ring connectivity to build redundancy in the fiber connectivity and also to eventually connect each of the more than 600,000 villages in the country with fiber. The high usage of Internet in India is significantly enabled by one of the lowest cost of data in the world, which is $0.11 US dollars per gigabyte. In this expansion and penetration of Internet in the country, TRAI or TRAI has played a key role over last 28 years or so. TRAI follows a transparent multi-stakeholder consultative process in formulation of its policy recommendations and regulations. This robust multi-stakeholder consultative process has enabled TRAI to lay down policies and regulations that equitably take care of concerns of different stakeholders in the value chain while protecting the interest of the consumers as well as the industry. We find IGF provides right and very good platform to share best practices, exchange ideas, discuss solutions to emerging challenges and debate, evaluate pros and cons of multiple viewpoints with multiple stakeholders from multiple countries across the world. A wide range of issues have been discussed in multiple parallel sessions during this week, which include issues related to access, artificial intelligence, privacy, emerging technology, digital public infrastructure, human rights, equality, safety, and security to name a few. In such forums, we can certainly learn from each other. To cite a few examples, India’s story of digital public infrastructure, unified payment interface, direct benefit transfer, and the trinity of unique ID linked with mobile number and bank accounts are some of the things which many countries are already studying to address similar challenges being faced by them. India executes over 640 million digital payment transactions per day which accounts to nearly half of the world’s total number of digital financial transactions. In the health sector, India has successfully implemented monitoring of complete vaccination program for each individual right from the birth. Utilizing the benefits of Internet technology. Open network digital commerce is enabling democratization of e-commerce with over 770,000 merchants already on board. These are just a few examples which can be shared by India with others while in this process learning from others. For the future, again to name a few, India is already working on its AI mission which will enable homegrown AI trained on local data. It has enacted a comprehensive modern data protection act to address privacy concerns. As we prepare for the future, this forum provides opportunity to learn from other countries and stakeholders on challenges which remain unresolved or are arising afresh. And the multiple dimensions that need to be addressed. I take this opportunity to thank you and the government of Norway to enable try to participate in this very useful and productive event and for making the excellent arrangements for the forum dialogue. I also thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my views in this closing ceremony. Thank you very much.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you, Mr. Lahoti, for your contribution and for your kind message as part of the closing remarks. I would like to welcome now justice vice president of the court of cassation of Egypt, Mr. Adel Maged.

Adel Maged: I would like to invite you to join me in welcoming the next speaker. I would like to invite you to join me in welcoming the next speaker. Before I begin, allow me to express some feelings, as a matter of fact. I really appreciate my colleague who preceded me in this podium, because each one of them has spoken about the importance of freedom of expression. And I have, I know how did you suffer in your road to achieve justice for the press. Have you suffered in your road to achieve freedom of expression? And I think you need another applause. Thank you very much, and I would like to invite you to join me in welcoming the next speaker. I would like to invite you to join me in welcoming the next speaker. Let me also pass my gratitude to my sincere colleague and remarkable colleagues as IGF Secretariat who facilitated my participation in this distinguished international forum, which has been a truly enriching experience to hear from a wide range of stakeholders, especially those working at the forefront of the digital field, and to exchange perspectives on the legal frameworks needed to guide and regulate their work. In the digital age, the responsibility and the obligations revealed a shared understanding. In the digital age, responsibilities and obligations do not rest solely on good governance. They also require justice, and justice can only flourish where the rule of law prevails. Masters of the art are also judges and judges’ innovators. So the IGF Secretariat has participated in several sessions that addressed with colleagues from diverse backgrounds the most effective model of legal advice, public policy, behaviour and lecture. After all, the reallyted to combat misinformation, disinformation, cyber crimes, especially exploitation of children and hate speech. There was a broad consensus that holding perpetrators accountable required well-crafted legislation implemented by judges equipped with sufficient technological expertise. I firmly believe that the legal dimension and in particular, the active engagement of the judiciary can meaningfully advance the overreaching goals of the IGF. Goals of the IGF. I therefore respectfully propose that the judiciary track, which has already emerged as a promising and necessary component of the forum, be expanded in both scope and depth in future editions. Judicial engagement should not remain peripheral, rather it must become a core pillar of the IGF deliberations promoting dialogue, capacity building and international cooperation. A judiciary that is informed and empowered and actively engaged is essential to safeguarding fundamental freedoms in the age of algorithms. Allow me to conclude by referring to a national initiative launched by His Excellency, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in September, 2024, titled, and I am stressing it, putting some emphasis on this, titled, A New Beginning for Building the Egyptian Human. We really need in this age, new beginning, to build every person, to build the capacities, the awareness of all people around the world. The initiatives seeks to promote human development across all the sectors in the Egyptian society. I believe that raising public awareness about the benefits and risk associated with digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, is an integral part of this vision. In my view, awareness is a cornerstone of human development in the AI era. Those bad actors who seek to undermine and divide communities often do not need physical weapons. They only need to target and manipulate people’s awareness. We still have a long road ahead, but the spirit of cooperation and shared commitment I witnessed throughout the forum gives me hope that digital technologies can be harnessed to serve the coming good, anchored in the principles of good governance and, above all, the rule of law. Thank you all.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you so much for your contributions and thank you to all our speakers who have contributed their closing remarks for your powerful messages, your insights, and your calls to action. Now as we move to the closing ceremony of the IGF 2025, I would like to hand over the floor and the word to our host country, Norway. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to the Minister of International Development of Norway, Mr. Asmund Grover Aukrust.

Asmund Grover Aukrust: Excellencies, colleagues, dear delegates, an incredible week here at the IGF at Lillestrøm has come to an end, and it’s my big pleasure on behalf of the Norwegian government and myself to thank all of you who have made this week possible. Over the past few days, there has been high-level panels, deep dive workshops, and lively discussions. We have covered everything from internet governance and cyber security to AI and the right of children and youth online. There’s been a level of engagement and quality of this contribution has been so impressive. We have had the privilege of hearing voices from all sectors, from all regions. and from all generations, united by one common goal, breaking down silos and building digital governance together. Because we are here, because we know that only working together, we can ensure a digital future that remains open, safe and sustainable. What we want for the physical world is also what we want for the digital world. A world with the terms of respect, inclusion and human rights for everyone. In fighting inequalities, we must ensure digital inclusion. Investing in digital public goods is an important means to that end. And I, as Minister for International Development, will do my part in contributing to narrowing the digital divide between wealthy and poorer countries and between different groups in developing countries. And I am therefore very pleased that there has been so high-level participants from the Global South in this year’s forum. And I completely agree with the voices we heard from Jacqueline from Malawi earlier on in this session, that there is so important with voices from the Global South on the table in these extremely important discussions. And especially for the youth. So I would like to thank all the youth and children voices at IGF. They have been so important in raising so many important questions. Because we have as a goal to give all the children safe and inclusive digital services. Therefore it’s so important to also listen to the youth, not because they are the future, but because they are so important here and now. I would like, in the end, to thank the UN for entrusting Norway the opportunity to host this important gathering. Let me extend my gratitude to the IGF secretariats and the UN visa for their work and very close collaboration that we have had with the Norwegian government. Let me also from the government thank the whole Norwegian team across ministries, agencies and private sector who has made this forum come together on record time. Looking ahead I wish all of you the best as discussion continues towards the world summit on information society plus 20. This is a defining year for global internet governance and the reflection from this week will no doubt shape the road to New York in December. Lastly to all of you who has joined us this past week in person and online I want to give my sincere thanks. Thanks to all that have contributed to workshops, panels in the village, in the hallway discussions and also what I heard on the dancing music night. And thank also to everyone that helped to organize this important event and carry out this unforgettable week. Including our very important partner event bureau. My last words is to just again thank you all for coming here to Norway and to Lillestrøm. I wish you all a safe travel back home and we look forward to continuing the important conversation that we have had here in Lillestrøm and in Norway. Because let’s continue to working together for a better digital future for all. Thank you.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you, Minister Alcrast. We now welcome Li Junhua, United Nations Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs to the stage. The floor is yours.

Li Junhua: Good afternoon, everyone. Excellencies, distinguished participants. As we conclude the 20th meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you. On behalf of the United Nations, I offer my profound gratitude to our host, the Government of Norway, and the excellent team for your warm hospitality and leadership. By welcoming all of us to Lidlstorm, you marked a historical milestone, the 20th anniversary of the IGF, and first ever in Scandinavia. What makes this truly remarkable is that you delivered this entire process in under six months, a feat that no IGF host has ever faced before. Your exceptional dedication has set a powerful example of the commitment to inclusive dialogue and multistakeholder cooperation. Over the past several days, under the theme of building digital governance together, over 6,000 participants connected online, in addition to the 3,344 on-site delegates engaged in over 262 sessions, tackling today’s most present digital challenges and opportunities. The collaborative spirit of the IGF was clearly amplified and augmented here in Lidlstorm over the past several days. The messages emerging from this forum are clear and bold, reflecting our shared aspirations and commitments. First, the WSIS Plus 20 review is our pivotal opportunity to shape a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital future. We must seize it. Second, data governance rooted in human rights is essential for AI that advances both innovation and fundamental rights. fundamental freedoms. We must uphold it. Third, ensuring safe and secure deployment of digital technologies is a shared responsibility for the global multi-stakeholder community. We must deliver it. I invite all of you to consult the IGF messages from Norway for further calls to actions. Indeed, WSIS Plus 20 is the momentum to reflect on how far we have come since Geneva and Tunis, and more importantly, to envision digital governance beyond 2025. As we look toward the UN General Assembly review of the IGF mandate in December, we have a critical opportunity to reaffirm and re-energize the IGF’s role as a global home for inclusive dialogue and digital policies. I appeal to you, urge all of you, to remain proactively engaged here and beyond Letterston. The future of the IGF depends on your leadership, your energy, and your commitment. Let us carry the momentum from Letterston forward to ensure a successful outcome for the WSIS Plus 20 review, one that secures an open, safe, and inclusive digital future for all. To everyone who participated online or on-site, thank you for your visions and contributions. You made this year’s IGF a resounding success. I look forward to our continued cooperation in the months and years ahead. For those who returned to your home, safe journey to all of you, to our host country, to our host team, thank you so much.

Natalie Becker Aakervik: Thank you, Mr.Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, for those good wishes for those of you who have travelled from far and wide. Of course, a wonderful and pleasant safe travel back. But before we get there, we have some wonderful entertainment for you. And also to thank you, Minister Autkrust, a big thank you also to the wonderful organizing teams who make everything happen behind the scenes. Mr. Outkrast referred to Medvend and also the IGF Team 2025, hosted by Norway, proudly, beautiful Norway. It’s been an honour serving as your MC and moderator as well for this week on behalf of Norway. So thank you so much. And thank you to you, the audience, giving yourselves a warm round of applause. Thank you to you, the audience, for being engaged and engaging, for the questions that you’ve asked. Also for our online audience joining from globally as well. So wonderful to have you in the house and to have you watching and engaging. Also through your questions and contributions online. We truly appreciate it. To make this a meaningful conversation and dialogue with actionable takeaways to continue the work. We hope you’ve had enriching experiences here, made great connections that will take the work forward and been moved to action by what you’ve seen and heard. And also received the tools that you need for the journey. We are reminded also of the importance of the current generation of experts and leaders working with and for the next generation of experts and leaders all working towards and for a digital sustainable future. So in that spirit, let us close the meeting with a cultural performance. The Nordic African live band from the opening is back. And this time with 20 young hip hop dancers from Substance Crew in Oslo, prepared by the IGF 2025 host country, Norway. So we invite you to enjoy the music and the energy. But before we get there, here are some highlights from the week. Thank you so much.

Agreement points

Multi-stakeholder approach is essential for effective internet governance

Speakers

– Session video
– Anil Kumar Lahoti
– Dhruv Dhody
– Li Junhua

Arguments

Multi-stakeholder model is crucial for keeping the Internet safe, open and free to everyone

IGF provides a 360-degree view on subjects from almost all stakeholders involved or affected by policy developments

IGF is a unique space where diplomats, regulators, advocates, and technical experts engage outside their silos

Building digital governance together requires collaborative spirit and inclusive dialogue

Summary

All speakers strongly advocate for inclusive participation of diverse stakeholders (technical community, civil society, industry, governments, regulators) in internet governance discussions, viewing this approach as fundamental to effective policy-making and maintaining internet freedom.

Topics

Legal and regulatory

Digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide is a critical priority

Speakers

– Session video
– Jacline Jijide
– Asmund Grover Aukrust

Arguments

Everyone in the world should have access to the Internet as it is everybody’s right

Youth in rural communities need skills, access and confidence to use the internet safely and meaningfully

Investing in digital public goods is important for narrowing the digital divide between wealthy and poorer countries

Summary

Speakers agree that internet access should be universal and that significant efforts are needed to ensure meaningful digital inclusion, particularly for underserved communities and developing countries.

Topics

Development | Human rights

Youth voices and Global South participation are essential for inclusive governance

Speakers

– Jacline Jijide
– Asmund Grover Aukrust
– Natalie Becker Aakervik

Arguments

Access and inclusion remain far from equal despite IGF being meant to welcome diverse voices

High-level participation from Global South and youth voices are crucial for important discussions

Youth representation and voices from the Global South are essential for inclusive internet governance discussions

Summary

There is strong consensus that meaningful participation from youth and Global South representatives is not just beneficial but essential for legitimate and effective internet governance discussions.

Topics

Development | Human rights

IGF needs institutional strengthening and permanent mandate

Speakers

– Dhruv Dhody
– Maggie Jones
– Li Junhua

Arguments

IGF is a unique space where diplomats, regulators, advocates, and technical experts engage outside their silos

Permanent mandate would allow for deeper engagement, longer-term planning and more inclusive participation

IGF’s future depends on leadership, energy, and commitment of participants beyond the forum

Summary

Speakers agree that IGF’s unique value as a multi-stakeholder platform should be strengthened through institutional development, including a permanent mandate to ensure continuity and deeper engagement.

Topics

Legal and regulatory

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers recognize the vulnerability of information systems to manipulation by malicious actors and the threat this poses to democratic societies and social cohesion.

Speakers

– Maria Ressa
– Adel Maged

Arguments

Authoritarian leaders worldwide are using platforms to rewrite reality while lies travel six times faster than facts

Bad actors seeking to undermine communities only need to target and manipulate people’s awareness

Topics

Human rights | Cybersecurity

Both emphasize the importance of individual control over digital rights and data, viewing proper governance as protective rather than restrictive of human agency.

Speakers

– Session video
– Maria Ressa

Arguments

Digital self should belong to individuals, meaning the data humans produce should belong to them

Platform accountability isn’t censorship but safety and restoring democracy’s immune system

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Both recognize AI as a transformative technology requiring strategic national approaches that consider local contexts and comprehensive societal impacts.

Speakers

– Session video
– Anil Kumar Lahoti

Arguments

AI should be seen as more than just a tool – it’s a platform for transformation impacting every sector

India is working on AI mission enabling homegrown AI trained on local data

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Unexpected consensus

Judicial engagement in internet governance

Speakers

– Adel Maged
– Maria Ressa

Arguments

Judiciary track should be expanded as core pillar of IGF deliberations promoting dialogue and international cooperation

Greatest challenge is proving the international rules-based order still exists and ending impunity online and offline

Explanation

The convergence between a judicial perspective calling for expanded court involvement and a journalist’s emphasis on rule of law represents unexpected alignment between legal and media freedom advocates on the need for stronger institutional accountability mechanisms.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Technical community’s role in policy discussions

Speakers

– Dhruv Dhody
– Li Junhua

Arguments

Technical community provides grounding to governance discussions anchored in real-world engineering realities

Data governance rooted in human rights is essential for AI that advances innovation and fundamental freedoms

Explanation

The alignment between technical community emphasis on engineering realities and UN leadership’s focus on human rights-based governance shows unexpected consensus that technical and rights-based approaches are complementary rather than competing.

Topics

Infrastructure | Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus emerged around multi-stakeholder governance, digital inclusion priorities, need for diverse participation (especially youth and Global South), and institutional strengthening of IGF. Speakers also aligned on viewing digital challenges as requiring collaborative rather than siloed approaches.

Consensus level

High level of consensus with significant implications for legitimizing IGF’s continued role and expansion. The agreement across diverse stakeholder groups (government, technical, civil society, judiciary, media) strengthens the case for permanent IGF mandate and suggests broad support for inclusive, rights-based digital governance approaches. This consensus provides strong foundation for WSIS+20 discussions and future internet governance frameworks.

Different viewpoints

Approach to platform regulation and content moderation

Speakers

– Maria Ressa
– Adel Maged

Arguments

Platform accountability isn’t censorship but safety and restoring democracy’s immune system

Combating misinformation, disinformation, and cyber crimes requires well-crafted legislation and technologically equipped judges

Summary

Maria Ressa advocates for platform accountability as a safety measure, while Adel Maged emphasizes the need for judicial solutions and well-crafted legislation. Ressa focuses on platform responsibility, while Maged emphasizes legal frameworks and judicial capacity.

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Priority focus for addressing digital challenges

Speakers

– Maria Ressa
– Session video

Arguments

Greatest challenge is proving the international rules-based order still exists and ending impunity online and offline

Questions arise about building competence, motivating people, and handling de-skilling when leaving more to machines

Summary

Maria Ressa emphasizes the existential threat to democratic institutions and rule of law, while the session video focuses on human capacity building and preventing de-skilling from AI automation. Different priorities for addressing digital transformation challenges.

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory | Economic | Sociocultural

Unexpected differences

Assessment of current digital inclusion progress

Speakers

– Anil Kumar Lahoti
– Jacline Jijide

Arguments

India has achieved significant digital penetration with lowest data costs globally at $0.11 per gigabyte

Visa processing challenges require participants from Global South to overcome significant barriers to attend

Explanation

Unexpected contrast between celebration of digital success stories and highlighting of persistent barriers. Lahoti presents India’s achievements as a model, while Jijide’s experience reveals ongoing structural inequalities that affect meaningful participation in global forums.

Topics

Development | Infrastructure

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers show remarkable consensus on core principles (multi-stakeholder governance, digital inclusion, human rights) but differ on priorities, approaches, and assessment of progress. Main disagreements center on regulatory approaches, solution priorities, and evaluation of current achievements.

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level with high convergence on fundamental values but tactical differences on implementation. This suggests a mature policy community with shared vision but healthy debate on methods, which is constructive for developing comprehensive solutions to complex digital governance challenges.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers recognize the vulnerability of information systems to manipulation by malicious actors and the threat this poses to democratic societies and social cohesion.

Speakers

– Maria Ressa
– Adel Maged

Arguments

Authoritarian leaders worldwide are using platforms to rewrite reality while lies travel six times faster than facts

Bad actors seeking to undermine communities only need to target and manipulate people’s awareness

Topics

Human rights | Cybersecurity

Both emphasize the importance of individual control over digital rights and data, viewing proper governance as protective rather than restrictive of human agency.

Speakers

– Session video
– Maria Ressa

Arguments

Digital self should belong to individuals, meaning the data humans produce should belong to them

Platform accountability isn’t censorship but safety and restoring democracy’s immune system

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory

Both recognize AI as a transformative technology requiring strategic national approaches that consider local contexts and comprehensive societal impacts.

Speakers

– Session video
– Anil Kumar Lahoti

Arguments

AI should be seen as more than just a tool – it’s a platform for transformation impacting every sector

India is working on AI mission enabling homegrown AI trained on local data

Topics

Economic | Legal and regulatory

Key takeaways

The multi-stakeholder model is essential for maintaining an open, safe, and free internet, requiring collaboration across governments, civil society, technical community, and private sector

Digital rights and human agency must be protected, with individuals owning their digital data and platforms being held accountable for content moderation as a safety measure rather than censorship

Digital inclusion remains a critical challenge, with significant barriers to participation from the Global South and need for universal internet access as a fundamental right

AI represents a transformational platform requiring governance rooted in human rights, with concerns about de-skilling and the need for homegrown AI solutions

Information integrity faces severe threats as lies spread faster than facts, with authoritarian actors weaponizing platforms to undermine democracy

The IGF has proven valuable as a unique forum for cross-sector dialogue but needs institutional strengthening through a permanent mandate

WSIS Plus 20 review presents a pivotal opportunity to reshape digital governance frameworks for the future

Legal frameworks and judicial engagement are crucial for combating misinformation, cybercrime, and protecting fundamental rights in the digital age

Resolutions and action items

Engage actively in the WSIS Plus 20 review process and consultations to shape digital governance beyond 2025

Support IGF’s permanent mandate to enable deeper engagement, longer-term planning and more inclusive participation

Strengthen recognition and support for national and regional IGFs to surface local priorities and community voices

Expand the judiciary track as a core pillar of IGF deliberations to promote dialogue, capacity building and international cooperation

Continue investing in digital public goods to narrow the digital divide between wealthy and poorer countries

Address visa processing barriers to ensure meaningful participation from Global South representatives

Develop well-crafted legislation implemented by judges with sufficient technological expertise to combat digital crimes

Carry forward the momentum from IGF 2025 to ensure successful WSIS Plus 20 outcomes

Unresolved issues

How to effectively address visa and travel barriers that prevent Global South participation in international forums

Balancing platform accountability with free expression concerns in content moderation

Managing the challenge of de-skilling as AI systems take over more human functions

Determining optimal governance frameworks for AI that protect human rights while enabling innovation

Addressing the speed at which misinformation spreads compared to factual information

Ensuring meaningful youth participation beyond tokenism in digital governance discussions

Bridging the gap between technical realities and policy discussions in internet governance

Achieving universal internet access while maintaining affordability and quality

Suggested compromises

Integration rather than duplication of efforts in WSIS Plus 20 review to align rather than fragment digital governance initiatives

Balancing innovation promotion with fundamental rights protection in AI governance frameworks

Combining technical expertise with policy discussions to ground governance in operational realities

Strengthening both global IGF mandate while supporting national and regional IGFs for local voice representation

Expanding judicial engagement as core component while maintaining multi-stakeholder nature of IGF

We’re not just technologists, policy makers, journalists, or advocates meeting in one of our world’s most beautiful cities. We’re guardians of humanity’s greatest information revolution since the printing press. But here’s what Gutenberg didn’t have to worry about. His printing press couldn’t be weaponized by authoritarian governments to silence dissent in milliseconds. His books couldn’t be algorithmically manipulated to spread hatred faster than wildfire.

Speaker

Maria Ressa

Reason

This historical analogy powerfully reframes the current digital challenges by comparing them to the printing press revolution, while highlighting the unprecedented speed and scale of modern threats. It elevates the participants’ roles from technical experts to ‘guardians’ of civilization.

Impact

This comment set the tone for urgency throughout the closing ceremony, establishing that the stakes are civilizational rather than merely technical. It influenced subsequent speakers to frame their contributions in terms of fundamental human rights and democratic values.

We’re still moving too slow. While we’ve been having important conversations, authoritarian leaders worldwide are using our platforms to rewrite reality… This moment is existential.

Speaker

Maria Ressa

Reason

This direct critique challenges the effectiveness of forums like IGF itself, suggesting that dialogue without rapid action is insufficient given the pace of authoritarian manipulation of digital platforms.

Impact

This created a tension that subsequent speakers had to address – several emphasized the need for concrete action and permanent mandates rather than just continued discussion, showing how this critique influenced the conversation toward more actionable outcomes.

Because Malawi does not process Schengen visas, I had to travel over 1,800 miles by bus to Pretoria, South Africa. My journey took four grueling days… Why do I share this? because the IGF is one of the few spaces where stakeholders regardless of geography are meant to have a seat at the table. Yet, if participants from the global South must overcome such barriers just to attend this, then it’s a challenge.

Speaker

Jacline Jijide

Reason

This personal narrative exposes a fundamental contradiction between IGF’s inclusive ideals and the practical barriers that prevent meaningful participation from the Global South, highlighting systemic inequalities in global governance structures.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion from abstract policy to concrete accessibility issues, prompting the Norwegian Minister to specifically acknowledge Global South participation and commit to addressing digital divides. It grounded the entire forum’s aspirations in lived reality.

Those bad actors who seek to undermine and divide communities often do not need physical weapons. They only need to target and manipulate people’s awareness.

Speaker

Adel Maged

Reason

This insight redefines warfare and social conflict in the digital age, suggesting that consciousness itself has become the primary battlefield, which has profound implications for how we think about security and governance.

Impact

This comment introduced a psychological dimension to digital governance discussions, influencing the conversation to consider not just technical and legal frameworks, but also the cognitive and awareness-building aspects of digital citizenship.

India executes over 640 million digital payment transactions per day which accounts to nearly half of the world’s total number of digital financial transactions… These are just a few examples which can be shared by India with others while in this process learning from others.

Speaker

Anil Kumar Lahoti

Reason

This demonstrates how developing nations can leapfrog traditional infrastructure and become global leaders in digital innovation, challenging assumptions about technology transfer flowing only from developed to developing countries.

Impact

This shifted the conversation from a deficit model (helping the Global South catch up) to a collaborative model where developing countries are recognized as innovation leaders, influencing how other speakers framed South-South cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Overall assessment

These key comments fundamentally shaped the discussion by creating productive tensions between idealism and pragmatism, global aspirations and local realities, and dialogue versus action. Maria Ressa’s urgency framing created a sense of existential stakes that elevated all subsequent contributions. Jacline Jijide’s personal story grounded abstract policy discussions in lived experience and exposed systemic barriers to inclusion. The technical and legal perspectives from other speakers provided concrete examples of both challenges and solutions. Together, these comments transformed what could have been a routine closing ceremony into a call for fundamental transformation of how digital governance operates – emphasizing the need for permanent mandates, addressing structural inequalities, recognizing diverse forms of expertise, and moving from consultation to implementation. The discussion evolved from celebrating achievements to acknowledging urgent gaps and committing to systemic change.

How do you build competence? Do you mean expertise if you have AI? How do you motivate people? How do you encourage people to continue learning? Do we know how to handle so-called de-skilling, that is, when you leave more and more to the machines and stop thinking for yourself?

Speaker

Unidentified speaker from opening remarks

Explanation

These are critical questions about human capacity building and maintaining human agency in an AI-driven world, addressing concerns about over-reliance on automated systems

Will artificial intelligence augment human potential or replace human judgment? Will digital rights be universal or a privilege of the wealthy? Will the internet serve humanity or will humanity serve the internet?

Speaker

Maria Ressa

Explanation

These fundamental questions about the future direction of AI and digital governance need ongoing exploration to ensure technology serves human dignity and universal access

How to protect children online while preserving free expressions?

Speaker

Maria Ressa (referencing forum discussions)

Explanation

This represents an ongoing challenge in digital governance that requires balancing child safety with fundamental rights to free expression

How to ensure platform accountability without censorship?

Speaker

Maria Ressa (implied from her remarks)

Explanation

This addresses the critical need to develop governance mechanisms that ensure platform responsibility while maintaining free speech principles

How to address visa and travel barriers that prevent Global South participation in international forums?

Speaker

Jacline Jijide

Explanation

Her experience traveling 1,800 miles by bus due to visa processing limitations highlights systemic barriers to inclusive participation in global governance discussions

How to ensure meaningful connectivity reaches rural communities and the unconnected?

Speaker

Multiple speakers including Jacline Jijide and Maggie Jones

Explanation

Despite progress in connectivity, significant gaps remain in reaching underserved populations with meaningful internet access

How to expand and deepen the judiciary track in future IGF editions?

Speaker

Adel Maged

Explanation

He proposed that judicial engagement should become a core pillar of IGF deliberations rather than remaining peripheral, requiring further development of this track

How to raise public awareness about benefits and risks of digital technologies including AI?

Speaker

Adel Maged

Explanation

He emphasized awareness as a cornerstone of human development in the AI era, noting that bad actors often target and manipulate people’s awareness