High-Level Track Facilitators Summary and Certificates
11 Jul 2025 15:30h - 16:00h
High-Level Track Facilitators Summary and Certificates
Session at a glance
Summary
This transcript captures the closing ceremony of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025, a major international conference focused on global digital cooperation and development. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin opened the session by highlighting the week’s remarkable success, noting over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries and the concurrent AI for Good Global Summit that brought together development and AI communities. She emphasized three key achievements: the WSIS community’s role as ecosystem builders ready to implement agile regulatory frameworks, the platform’s readiness to address AI era challenges with nearly 1,000 prize submissions showcasing innovative solutions, and the community’s commitment to shaping the future beyond 2025.
Chair Minister Solly Malatsi, participating virtually from South Africa, acknowledged the widespread support for continuing the WSIS architecture beyond 2025 while emphasizing the need for evolution toward greater inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. He stressed that true inclusion means meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not merely opening doors, and called for refining the WSIS action lines to better measure progress in the evolving digital landscape. The session featured interventions from various stakeholders, including Malaysia highlighting their digital inclusion projects, representatives advocating for children’s rights in the digital age, and calls for addressing power concentration in the digital sphere.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude to organizers and commitment to continuing the WSIS mission of ensuring everyone can thrive in the digital era, setting the stage for the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review in December.
Keypoints
## Major Discussion Points:
– **WSIS Evolution and Future Direction**: The discussion centered on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) completing 20 years and preparing for its next phase beyond 2025, with emphasis on making the process more agile, efficient, and inclusive while avoiding duplication of mandates.
– **Digital Inclusion and Accessibility**: Multiple speakers emphasized the critical need to bridge digital gaps, ensure no one is left behind in technological advancement, and make digital devices more affordable while strengthening cybersecurity and digital resilience globally.
– **AI Integration and Governance**: The conversation highlighted that we are currently in an AI revolution (not approaching one), with discussions on integrating AI responsibly into digital development, establishing trust and transparency frameworks, and addressing the concentration of power in the digital sphere.
– **Multi-stakeholder Collaboration and Capacity Building**: Strong emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the multi-stakeholder approach that defines WSIS, with calls for better teacher training, upskilling of lawmakers, and investment in institutional capacities of underrepresented groups.
– **Children’s Rights and Data Protection**: Specific focus on making children central to digital conversations, protecting children’s data rights, and ensuring their voices are heard as both current actors and future stakeholders in the digital landscape.
## Overall Purpose:
The discussion served as a closing ceremony and reflection session for the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, aimed at celebrating achievements over the past 20 years while charting the course for future global digital cooperation. The primary goal was to gather stakeholder input and commitments for the upcoming UN General Assembly review in December and to ensure the WSIS process remains relevant and effective in addressing contemporary digital challenges.
## Overall Tone:
The discussion maintained a consistently positive and celebratory tone throughout, characterized by gratitude, accomplishment, and forward-looking optimism. Speakers expressed appreciation for the week’s achievements, congratulated organizers and participants, and demonstrated enthusiasm for continued collaboration. While some concerns were raised about power concentration and resource constraints, these were presented constructively rather than critically. The tone remained energetic and hopeful from beginning to end, with the final speaker describing feeling “energized, charged, and hopeful,” which encapsulated the overall atmosphere of the discussion.
Speakers
**Speakers from the provided list:**
– **Doreen Bogdan Martin** – Secretary General of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
– **Solly Malatsi** – Chair, Minister, His Excellency (joined virtually from South Africa)
– **Gitanjali Sah** – ITU team member, led the WSIS process
– **Malaysia representative** – Representative from Malaysia
– **Panelist (Ethic minds and Multilateral Group)** – Christine Hausel, representing Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group, focused on children’s rights and data protection
– **World Summit Award representative** – Professor Bruck, representing World Summit Award and social impact entrepreneurs globally
– **AFIP President** – Anthony Wong, President of AFIP (founded by UNESCO in 1960)
– **Panelist 1** – Jennifer, from Taking It Global, focused on education and teacher training
– **Saudi Arabia** – Representative from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (gold partner)
– **Ambassador of Bolivia** – Ambassador representing Bolivia, focused on human rights perspective in technology
– **Abdulkarim Oloyede** – High-level track facilitator
– **Jimson Olufuye** – Representative from Abuja, Nigeria
– **Panelist 2** – Damit, representing IFIF from Sri Lanka
**Additional speakers:**
– None identified beyond the provided speakers names list
Full session report
# WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025: Closing Ceremony – Summary
## Executive Overview
The closing ceremony of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025 brought together over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries alongside the concurrent AI for Good Global Summit. The session celebrated two decades of WSIS achievements while addressing future directions for international digital governance beyond 2025. Participants expressed widespread support for continuing the WSIS process while identifying key areas for improvement and evolution.
## Opening Remarks and Summit Achievements
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin highlighted three key achievements of WSIS 2025. First, the WSIS community has evolved into ecosystem builders ready to implement agile regulatory frameworks. Second, the platform demonstrates readiness to tackle AI era challenges, supported by nearly 1,000 prize submissions showcasing innovative solutions for government services, cybercrime prevention, and healthcare delivery to underserved communities. Third, the community shows commitment to shaping the digital future beyond 2025, with the Partner to Connect Digital Coalition achieving over $76 billion in pledges, reaching two-thirds of the $100 billion goal by 2026.
Bogdan-Martin emphasized that the global community is not approaching an AI revolution but is already immersed in it, highlighting the urgent need for trust and transparency frameworks in digital governance.
## Leadership Perspectives on Future Direction
Chair Minister Solly Malatsi, participating virtually from South Africa, acknowledged widespread support for continuing the WSIS architecture beyond 2025 while emphasizing the need for more meaningful inclusivity. He cautioned: “We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met.”
Malatsi outlined priorities for WSIS evolution including making the process more agile and efficient, integrating the Global Digital Compact to reduce redundancy, and refining WSIS action lines to enable clear measurement of progress. He emphasized the need for investment in institutional and human capacities of underrepresented groups rather than superficial engagement.
## Stakeholder Interventions
Malaysia’s representative demonstrated concrete commitment through flagship projects Nadi and Stingray 2, which have reached nearly two million lives, positioning digital inclusion as a fundamental right. Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment as an ITU Council member and announced its intention to seek re-election for 2027-2030.
Christine Hausel from Ethic minds and Multilateral Group emphasized positioning children as current stakeholders rather than future beneficiaries in digital conversations. She highlighted that children possess valuable data and rights to that data, with technical solutions available for protection, ownership, and potential revenue generation.
Jennifer from Taking IT Global shared a concerning observation: “I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own.” She emphasized the need for significant investment in teacher training and upskilling, and highlighted the importance of citizen awareness of international commitments, noting that “citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process.”
## Addressing Structural Challenges
Professor Bruck from the World Summit Award highlighted resource and governance challenges: “We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building.”
The Ambassador of Bolivia emphasized the need to address technology governance challenges particularly affecting vulnerable populations, including indigenous peoples and peasants. A representative noted the importance of ensuring that “in the race for innovation, don’t forget us.”
## Regional and National Implementation
Jimson Olufuye from Nigeria expressed enthusiasm for replicating WSIS success at national levels, describing the event as “mind-blowing and fantastic” and calling for similar events through UN Regional Commissions.
The discussion revealed significant interest in extending WSIS impact beyond the global level, with emphasis on national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues as mechanisms for ensuring accountability and combating public cynicism about international commitments.
## Partnership Commitments
Saudi Arabia, as a gold partner, committed to continuing the WSIS journey and extended invitations to participate in the Global Symposium for Regulators in Riyadh. Anthony Wong, President of AFIP, emphasized his organization’s continued readiness to assist, noting their involvement with WSIS since 2012.
The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition’s achievement of over $76 billion in pledges represented a significant milestone in global connectivity efforts, demonstrating substantial financial mobilization for digital development.
## Technology Integration and Emerging Challenges
The discussion addressed integration of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, into existing digital governance frameworks. WSIS Prize submissions demonstrated practical applications of AI in improving government services, fighting cybercrime, and delivering healthcare to underserved communities.
Participants acknowledged the complexity of emerging technological challenges, including quantum computing alongside AI, and the need for governance frameworks that can adapt to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. The gap between technological advancement and institutional preparedness was identified as a critical concern requiring immediate attention.
## Future Directions and Next Steps
The Chair committed to submitting the chair’s summary to the UN General Assembly to anchor the collective vision in broader digital community understanding. Participants agreed to continue leveraging the WSIS process for Global Digital Compact follow-up while exploring ways to refine action lines for better progress measurement.
Key unresolved challenges include addressing concentration of power in the digital sphere while the UN system faces funding constraints, developing specific mechanisms for meaningful participation of vulnerable populations, and implementing technical solutions for protecting children’s data rights while enabling their ownership and potential revenue generation.
## Conclusion
The WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 closing ceremony successfully celebrated achievements while identifying areas for improvement. Participants demonstrated strong consensus on continuing the WSIS process beyond 2025, with emphasis on making it more inclusive, efficient, and responsive to emerging technological challenges.
The ceremony established clear momentum for the UN General Assembly’s 20-year review in December, with widespread support for evolution rather than revolution in the WSIS approach. The focus on action over rhetoric, accountability over promises, and meaningful inclusion over participation metrics provides a foundation for future development of global digital cooperation frameworks.
Session transcript
Doreen Bogdan Martin: Good afternoon, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. To our Chair, Minister Solly Malatsi, what an incredible WSIS week this has been. I am so moved by the energy and the determination that I still feel in this room, despite the fact that it’s been five days and some of you are still smiling, so it’s great to feel that energy and feel that determination. I’m also moved by the active participation that we saw throughout this week, which was taking place alongside the AI for Good Global Summit, which was a great way to bring the two communities together, bringing the development community with the global AI community. We actually saw, walking through these halls this week, more than 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries. And of course, we had many more online. From the vision set out in Tunis and Geneva to the action lines that guide the Global Digital Compact, the WSIS has grown into a cornerstone of global digital cooperation, having engaged stakeholders around the globe since its very inception. Today, the WSIS tent is bigger than ever before, and we’re proud to have welcomed representatives, as I said, from nearly 170 countries, including over 100 ministers and regulators. And there’s always room to have more in the future as we look to continue to deepen our multi-stakeholder collaboration, which is at the very heart of our mission. With the 20-year review just around the corner, and I want to again recognize and thank our co-facilitators for being with us this week. With that review just around the corner, I think the time has come to look ahead. Look ahead and ask, what’s next for WSIS? I’d like to share a few highlights from this week that show where WSIS is headed and where we’re going in terms of future digital development. And I think it’s fair to say that the future of digital development is actually very bright. So first, I think this week has shown that we are ecosystem builders. Regulators are ready to put in place agile regulatory frameworks that are enabling and also ready to translate national digital transformation priorities into development opportunities for all. Ministers from around the world have recognized the need to make access to digital devices more affordable, to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience, and to expand digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind, no matter how fast technology races ahead. Parliamentarians recognize that they no longer can be passive observers of technology, and upskilling is non-negotiable, as they have called it for lawmakers, to maximize benefits and also to ensure that we minimize possible risks coming about in terms of our digital future. We also had our UN leaders with us this week, and many of them are still here, our UN partners that will join me up on stage as well. And they also reminded us that we are not on the cusp of an AI revolution, we’re actually in it right now, today. The WSIS community uplifts other ecosystems, joining the Partner to Connect Digital Coalition in celebrating more than 76 billion U.S. dollars in pledges this week, now two-thirds of the way to our $100 billion goal and commitments by the end of 2026. Second, I think this week has shown that the WSIS platform is ready to take on the challenges of the AI era, with trust and transparency at its very core. We had nearly 1,000 WSIS Prize submissions, and those submissions showcased impactful solutions, and some of the winners are, of course, using artificial intelligence to help improve government services, to fight cybercrime and fraud, and to deliver preventative healthcare to underserved communities. I’d like to again extend my congratulations to the 2025 WSIS Prize winners, and of course, the WSIS champions. And third, this week I would say that you have shown us, our WSIS community, that the WSIS story is far from over, and the next chapter is really ours to shape together. As I told ministers that came together at our roundtable on Wednesday, the road to the UN General Assembly plus 20 review in December, it really runs through us. And I do want to thank you all for those contributions that are going to help to shape this pivotal moment. And that will also help us to continue to leverage this time-tested WSIS process as a critical vehicle in the follow-up of the global digital compact. I want to thank you again for your commitment to the WSIS Action Alliance, and for dedicating your energy, your resources, in helping to ensure that we improve digital development outcomes for all. Ladies and gentlemen, as we wrap up what I would call an unforgettable week, I think we can be proud of what we have done together as governments, as the private sector, as academia, as the technical community, as civil society, and of course, as the United Nations. And I think together we can continue to keep this WSIS spirit alive beyond 2025. So let us together continue transforming this WSIS vision into impact, so that we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, can thrive in the digital era. I now have the great honour of inviting our Chair, His Excellency Soli Malatsi, to join us virtually. His Excellency had to, unfortunately, head back home, but he is here with us and has been monitoring our engagements. And I see you on the screen, welcome Chair, welcome Minister, and I hand the floor over to you, please.
Solly Malatsi: Thank you very much to the Secretary General of the ITU, Excellencies, colleagues and friends. First of all, let me express my sincere apologies that I’m having to join you virtually, when I would have preferred to still be with you in person for this important occasion. Secondly, let me express my gratitude for allowing me to close this remotely. Without fulfilling our urgent duties at home, our conversations in platforms like WSIS will not achieve the collective goals we are working towards. Despite not being there in person, my team and I have followed the events closely, and I want to express my deepest appreciation for the insights, the energy, and the dedication that every delegate has brought to this milestone gathering. Over the course of the week, this gathering has reaffirmed not only the enduring value of the WSIS process. but also the collective commitment to building a digital future that is more inclusive, more responsive, and most importantly, more human. What this week’s conversations have made clear is that there remains widespread support for the continuation of the YSYS architecture beyond 2025, but we must also be realistic with our responsibility. The process must evolve, and the commitments made this week will inform the next chapter of YSYS’ journey, which must be underpinned by an increased emphasis on inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. YSYS can build on the existing solid foundation, but it must equally be more agile and more efficient. In the resource-constrained environment we find ourselves in, we must be careful to avoid duplication of mandates while maintaining our commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach. This is what makes YSYS what it is. More importantly, our approach to inclusivity must also evolve. We have heard clearly what we need to do to be more precise, more intentional in how we define and practice inclusivity. We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met. Only by doing this can we ensure that YSYS is truly inclusive. It must be fair, it must be equitable, and it must also be accessible. For YSYS to maintain its relevance, we must examine our modalities, reduce barriers to participation, and invest in the institutional and human capacities of those that are not yet on the table. Finally, our engagements this week have also reaffirmed the continued relevance of the YSYS action lines. They have helped us make progress over the last two decades, and remain a guiding light for our work going forward. But the world we operate in has changed, and so must our tools. We must explore ways to refine and qualify the action lines, so that progress can be clearly measured against the complex and evolving digital landscape. As we move forward, we must also integrate the global digital compact into the YSYS process to reduce duplication. In our pursuit of efficiency, we must not discard what works, but we must also not hesitate to be ambitious in our attempts to implement improvements where we can. As we look towards the UN General Assembly’s review of YSYS this December, we carry forward a powerful message. The YSYS process remains an indispensable part of our pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering information society. It is clear that this process must be future ready. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to shape the next 20 years and beyond of global digital cooperation. Let us meet that responsibility with courage, with clarity, empathy, and collective resolve. Let us ensure that YSYS accelerates vision and empowerment. To ensure the views expressed during the past five days are reflected in the YSYS review process, I will be submitting the chair’s summary on the YSYS plus 20 high level of 2025 to the UN General Assembly. Through the summary, we hope to anchor the collective vision articulated this week firmly in the broader digital community’s global understanding of our efforts in the information society. Thanks to all of you for making time for this important gathering this week, and I wish you all safe travels home. Thank you.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Chair. We’ve missed you being with us here today, but thank you so much. The chair’s summary is now available online for all of you to read. Do download it and read it from the YSYS forum website. We would now like to invite South African representative chair to collect your silver medal as a token of ITU’s appreciation, and for all the good work that you did here as the chair of the YSYS plus 20 high level event. Thank you, Chair. Cynthia has your silver medal, which she will give to you when she meets you in South Africa. Thank you so much. We would now like to invite Ambassador Schneider, our co-host and our co-organizers on the stage, and we would like to open the floor for any comments, interventions to keep them really short, one minute each, so that we can get as many people to join us in this session. Please do raise your flag, and I’m aware that our sponsor, Malaysia, would like to start, so could someone please give Malaysia a mic? Ruth?
Malaysia representative: Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Malaysia, I wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the ITU’s silver medalists, and I would like to invite Ambassador Schneider to give a speech. For the 160th anniversary, this milestone is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of the ITU’s enduring relevance in shaping the global digital agenda. Malaysia is proud to stand with the ITU, not just as a member of the Council, but as a committed partners in action. Through this, we have had the opportunity to share our journey, to learn from others, and to scale what works. This year’s recognition of two of our flagship projects, Nadi and Stingray 2, speak to our core belief that digital inclusion is a fundamental right, not a luxury. Our Nadi National Network of Digital Community Centres has touched nearly two million lives, bringing digital literacy, services, and support to those who need it the most. These are not isolated projects that reflect Malaysia’s broader commitment to a digital society that leaves no one behind. We remain active in the IT ecosystem, contributing to study groups, hosting capacity-building programmes, and delivering our Partner to Connect pledge. As we seek the re-election to the ITU Council for 2027-2030, we do so humbly and with a sense of shared purpose. Let me end by reaffirming our commitment to the Malaysia mission. We will continue to collaborate across borders, build meaningful partnerships, and invest in solutions that are inclusive by design. Congratulations again to the ITU. We look forward to building the next chapter together. Thank you very much.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you very much, Malaysia, and thank you for also being our first time ever Platinum Partner. We do hope we’ll welcome you back next year. Thank you so much, sir. Do we have any other names? Yes, ma’am. Yes, with the glasses. Could you please also introduce yourself? There’s a hand up there.
Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group ): Thank you. My name is Christine Hausel. On behalf of Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group, we would like to truly thank the organizers of WSIS and ITU for the truly inclusive approach to this forum. So much to talk about. Our focus here has been on children. We would like to encourage us all to make children front and center in our thinking and conversations. Yes, the future is theirs, and they are also actors now. We might even say stakeholders. And we have a duty of care to them and to the new environment in which they are living in, formed by, and contributing to. And as we process the fact that AI and AI-powered robots are happening and will have new prominence in our children’s lives, and really just beginning to absorb and look at the implications, we note all the other technologies we’re talking about. We have focused on quantum computing. We would like to assert that children’s data is valuable. They have a right to their data. There are technical solutions in our work at Vaulted Ventures to at once, for them and their parents and caregivers, protect, connect to, own, and make decisions as to the use of the data, and even to make revenue from it. The moment is now to reestablish hope in our ability to control our own data. The technology allows it, and we affirm the focus on partnership to bring needed technologies into practice, along with the accompanying awareness-raising education and standards setting. And just a quote to end from 7-year-old Ravir, who spoke on the Frontier stage at AI for Good, accompanied by his parents, Gurjot and Manmeet. He said, in the race for innovation, don’t forget us. Looking forward to the ongoing conversations and mutual commitments. Thank you for this moment.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you. Professor Bruck from the World Summit Award
World Summit Award representative: Thank you very much, Ms. Sah, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies. In 2003, when business started, the global technology landscape was completely different than today. We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building. From the point of view of the World Summit Award and its constituency of social impact entrepreneurs globally, I think we need to address this, and I want to make sure that this is also taken to the Review Summit in New York in December, because otherwise we are just ignoring the big elephants in the room, and we are not becoming effective in terms of what we have as goals and aims. So I’m very much concerned about those aspects of the concentration of power and also of the UN system lacking the resources to continue the process as inclusive and as multi-stakeholder as it has been. Thank you very much.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Professor Bruck. We have AFIP. Mr. Anthony. Thank you.
AFIP President: Thank you. I’m Anthony Wong. I’m the AFIP President, founded by UNESCO in 1960. I’m very privileged to be here. My first involvement with WSIS was 2012 with my AFIP colleagues, and I’ve seen so much change since 2012 with the AI momentum and what we’re discussing today. So I’m very pleased to be here and congratulate ITU, UNESCO, and all eight UN partners for a very successful conference and summit this year in Geneva, and we’re always ready to assist. So thank you. Bye-bye. Thank you for your partnership, AFIP, taking IT Google. Jennifer.
Panelist 1: Thank you and congratulations to the entire organizing team. Two brief points. I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own. So I think we need to invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling. That’s one key point, and it relates to the e-learning commitment in the Declaration of Principles. And the other thing I mentioned earlier, but just with the audience that we have, I would like to have Taking It Global be part of WSIS plus 20 national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogue in Canada and to inspire more national multi-stakeholder action dialogues because there’s a lot of cynicism when commitments are made without action. And what I love about the summit is the emphasis on action. So citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process. So I would like to see what more I can do to help in Canada and inspire the same around the world. Thank you.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Jennifer. I see our gold partner, Saudi Arabia, would like to take the floor. Saudi Arabia, the floor is yours.
Saudi Arabia: Thank you, Gitanjali. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Secretary General of the ITU and all the co-organizing UN agencies in this high-level event. It has been an honor to engage with distinguished colleagues who share a commitment to the WSIS vision and advancing sustainable development through digital cooperation. As we mark 20 years since the World Summit on Information Society, we reaffirm the continued relevance of its outcomes. Looking ahead, it is essential that this process remains dynamic and responsive to today’s opportunities and challenges, especially those brought by emerging technologies such as AI. We look forward to continuing this important journey and warmly invite you to the Global Symposium for Regulators in Riyadh next month, where many of these themes will continue to be explored. Thank you all for your dedication and contribution to building an inclusive and innovative digital future. Thank you all very much.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Saudi, for your commitment towards the WSIS process. Do we have any more hands up? If you could stand up, because, yes, please, ma’am.
Ambassador of Bolivia: Thank you so much and very brief. I’m the Ambassador of Bolivia. Also, I would like to thank our DRSG for the organization of this conference and the team that is very important for us, this topic, and I think for my country, for everyone. I think it’s important to continue working for promotion, closing the gaps of technology, better accessibility, and working also to put a human rights perspective when it comes to technology and to AI. This is an important conversation that must be going on to promote better participation and access also of the vulnerable populations, indigenous peoples, peasants, and I think also this is important also to remind the gender perspective when it comes to these advances in technology. Bolivia, I’m interested in continuing to work with ITU in support of all the partnerships to promote a better access and closing the gaps in technology. Thank you, DRSG.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, Ambassador. Colleagues, the light is really bright here, so if anyone is raising their hand, please stand up so we can give you the mic. Okay, so yes, is it up to …? Yes, please.
Abdulkarim Oloyede: Okay, thank you very much. I want to first of all congratulate you, Team Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, your team, on this excellent WESIS 2025. And I would like to say on behalf of the high-level track facilitators, we had a lovely high-level track. And one thing that was so important to us is that this process has to continue, because seeing from what the ministers and the high-level track events told us, that we have to continue this process. And it is also important for us to understand that there is still a lot of work that has to be done, and we have to ensure that we find a way in bridging the gap and ensuring that we connect those that are yet to be connected, and also to make sure that we continue to strive in order to make the world a better one. Thank you very much.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you. Are there any more hands up? Yes, sir.
Jimson Olufuye: Thank you very much. My name is Jimson Olufuye from Abuja, Nigeria. I would like to congratulate ITU, the Swiss government, and all the participating organizers. It has been a mind-blowing event. Congratulations. My question is this, is a question. This has been a fantastic event. Can we replicate it in all our capitals? I look forward to us celebrating it in our capitals. Is that possible? Thank you very much.
Doreen Bogdan Martin: She wants me to answer. I’ll say we’d be happy to help do that within our limited resources, but I do think it is great to take this on the road to advance it in your capitals regionally and continue to do this also globally. We welcome you back next year. Thank you.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you, S.G. That was the perfect answer. We are also working with the UN Regional Commissions. We are organizing these regional WSIS events on a regular basis, so please join us there. I see one hand on the back. Are you packing your bag? Since we’ve finished on time, we have the opportunity to have a group photograph with the S.G. as well. Sir, you’ll be the last speaker. Please go ahead.
Panelist 2: Thank you for the opportunity. I am Damit. I represent IFIF here, and I’m from Sri Lanka. This is my first experience at WSIS, so I thought I’d share my experience because it’s a fantastic week in Geneva. I would like to say I had the chance to share ideas, the contact with global peers, and explore real solutions for digital solutions and AI for good. WSIS isn’t just a summit. It’s a launchpad for collaboration and impact. I’m very happy to say I’m leaving Geneva energized, inspired, and charged and hopeful for the future of ICT, particularly around the AI revolution. Thank you, WSIS. It’s a fantastic experience, first experience for me. Thank you so much. Well done.
Gitanjali Sah: Thank you so much. I think that’s a great last intervention, energized, charged, and hopeful. Thank you for that. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to wrap up in a moment. I want to, of course, thank our UN partners from UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNESCO. Thank you for your continued support to my fellow elected officials, Thomas, Cezo, Cosmos. Thank you so much. I want to thank in particular the ITU team. As you all know, this process has been led by Gitanjali. If you could stand up. Can we please give Gitanjali a round of applause? And if the whole WSIS team, and that includes you too, Selena, and Bilal, if you can all stand up. And maybe come to the front. ITU WSIS team, come to the front real quick. We had amazing staff, volunteers, interns. They’ve done a tremendous job in preparing for this amazing week, and we thank them all. Sorry, we’re standing in the way. You guys should stand with us. We don’t want to… Come, join us. So, this is what it takes to put on a WSIS. I want to thank everybody up here on the stage, and those that are not on the stage with us, but also helped to make this possible. So, another round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you.
Doreen Bogdan Martin
Speech speed
127 words per minute
Speech length
972 words
Speech time
459 seconds
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Explanation
WSIS 2025 achieved unprecedented participation and successfully brought together development and AI communities, demonstrating its role as a cornerstone of global digital cooperation.
Evidence
Over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries, over 100 ministers and regulators, event took place alongside AI for Good Global Summit
Major discussion point
Global digital cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
Explanation
The community is already in an AI revolution, not approaching it, and WSIS platform is ready to address AI era challenges with trust and transparency at its core.
Evidence
Nearly 1,000 WSIS Prize submissions showcased AI solutions improving government services, fighting cybercrime and fraud, and delivering preventative healthcare to underserved communities
Major discussion point
AI integration in digital development
Topics
Cybersecurity | Development | Legal and regulatory
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Explanation
The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition demonstrates significant progress toward global connectivity goals through substantial financial commitments.
Evidence
Over 76 billion USD in pledges, reaching two-thirds of the 100 billion goal by 2026
Major discussion point
Financial commitments for digital connectivity
Topics
Development | Economic | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Malaysia representative
– AFIP President
– Saudi Arabia
– Gitanjali Sah
Agreed on
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Solly Malatsi
Speech speed
139 words per minute
Speech length
708 words
Speech time
303 seconds
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
Explanation
WSIS process must continue beyond 2025 but needs to evolve to be more agile and efficient while avoiding duplication and maintaining its multi-stakeholder approach. There is widespread support for continuation with emphasis on building on the solid foundation while being more responsive.
Evidence
Chair’s summary will be submitted to UN General Assembly to anchor collective vision, road to UN General Assembly plus 20 review runs through WSIS community
Major discussion point
Future governance and evolution of WSIS
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Development
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Explanation
True inclusivity requires meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not just opening doors, and demands investment in institutional and human capacities of those not yet at the table.
Evidence
Need to examine modalities, reduce barriers to participation, and invest in capacities of underrepresented groups
Major discussion point
Inclusive participation in digital governance
Topics
Development | Human rights
Agreed with
– Malaysia representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority
Malaysia representative
Speech speed
111 words per minute
Speech length
275 words
Speech time
147 seconds
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Explanation
Malaysia demonstrates commitment to digital inclusion as a fundamental right through flagship projects that have reached millions of people with digital literacy and services.
Evidence
Nadi National Network of Digital Community Centres has touched nearly two million lives, Stingray 2 project recognition, both projects focus on bringing digital literacy and services to those who need it most
Major discussion point
National digital inclusion initiatives
Topics
Development | Sociocultural
Agreed with
– Solly Malatsi
– Ambassador of Bolivia
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Explanation
Malaysia reaffirms its commitment as an ITU Council member and seeks re-election for 2027-2030, continuing contributions to study groups and capacity-building programs.
Evidence
Active participation in ITU ecosystem, hosting capacity-building programmes, delivering Partner to Connect pledge, seeking re-election to ITU Council for 2027-2030
Major discussion point
Long-term institutional commitment
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– AFIP President
– Saudi Arabia
– Gitanjali Sah
Agreed on
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
Speech speed
139 words per minute
Speech length
304 words
Speech time
131 seconds
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Explanation
Children should be central to digital conversations as current stakeholders and actors, not just future beneficiaries, with rights to their valuable data and technical solutions available for protection and ownership.
Evidence
Quote from 7-year-old Ravir: ‘in the race for innovation, don’t forget us’, technical solutions at Vaulted Ventures for data protection, ownership and revenue generation, focus on quantum computing implications
Major discussion point
Children’s digital rights and data protection
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Panelist 1
Agreed on
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
Explanation
There is need to address AI and AI-powered robots’ growing prominence in children’s lives and consider implications of emerging technologies like quantum computing.
Evidence
Focus on quantum computing implications, AI-powered robots having new prominence in children’s lives
Major discussion point
Emerging technology impact on children
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
World Summit Award representative
Speech speed
133 words per minute
Speech length
185 words
Speech time
83 seconds
Governance and Resource Challenges
Explanation
There is unprecedented concentration of power in the digital sphere combined with underfunding of the UN system, creating challenges for effective regulation, standards, and governance building.
Evidence
Comparison between 2003 technology landscape and today’s concentrated power structure, UN system lacking resources for inclusive multi-stakeholder processes
Major discussion point
Power concentration and resource constraints
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Economic
AFIP President
Speech speed
123 words per minute
Speech length
95 words
Speech time
46 seconds
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Explanation
AFIP, founded by UNESCO in 1960, maintains long-term commitment to supporting WSIS processes and remains ready to assist in digital cooperation efforts.
Evidence
Founded by UNESCO in 1960, involvement with WSIS since 2012, witnessing significant changes including AI momentum
Major discussion point
Long-term organizational commitment
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Malaysia representative
– Saudi Arabia
– Gitanjali Sah
Agreed on
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Panelist 1
Speech speed
156 words per minute
Speech length
191 words
Speech time
73 seconds
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Explanation
Students learning AI tools independently due to teacher resistance represents a tragedy that requires significant investment in teacher training and upskilling to prevent children from learning everything on their own.
Evidence
Student testimony: ‘my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own’, relates to e-learning commitment in Declaration of Principles
Major discussion point
Educational system adaptation to AI
Topics
Sociocultural | Development
Agreed with
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
Agreed on
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
National Implementation and Reporting
Explanation
There is need for national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues to combat cynicism about commitments without action, with citizens needing to know about and participate in reporting processes.
Evidence
Desire to have Taking It Global be part of WSIS plus 20 national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogue in Canada, emphasis on action over just commitments
Major discussion point
Accountability and national implementation
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Development
Saudi Arabia
Speech speed
138 words per minute
Speech length
164 words
Speech time
71 seconds
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Explanation
Saudi Arabia commits to continuing the WSIS journey and maintaining engagement in digital cooperation efforts, particularly around emerging technologies like AI.
Evidence
Invitation to Global Symposium for Regulators in Riyadh next month, commitment to WSIS vision and advancing sustainable development through digital cooperation
Major discussion point
Regional engagement and future events
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Malaysia representative
– AFIP President
– Gitanjali Sah
Agreed on
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Ambassador of Bolivia
Speech speed
149 words per minute
Speech length
152 words
Speech time
61 seconds
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Explanation
There is need to continue working on closing technology gaps and improving accessibility, with particular focus on vulnerable populations including indigenous peoples and peasants, incorporating human rights and gender perspectives.
Evidence
Emphasis on vulnerable populations, indigenous peoples, peasants, and gender perspective in technology advances
Major discussion point
Inclusive access for marginalized communities
Topics
Development | Human rights
Agreed with
– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority
Governance and Resource Challenges
Explanation
Technology and AI development must incorporate human rights perspective, particularly when addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
Evidence
Emphasis on human rights perspective in technology and AI, focus on vulnerable populations
Major discussion point
Human rights in technology governance
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
Abdulkarim Oloyede
Speech speed
161 words per minute
Speech length
150 words
Speech time
55 seconds
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
Explanation
High-level track facilitators confirmed that ministers emphasized the need for the WSIS process to continue, with significant work remaining to be done.
Evidence
Feedback from ministers and high-level track events confirming need for process continuation
Major discussion point
Ministerial support for WSIS continuation
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Development
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Explanation
There remains crucial work in bridging the digital gap and connecting those yet to be connected, requiring continued efforts to make the world better through digital inclusion.
Evidence
Recognition of ongoing work needed to bridge gaps and connect the unconnected
Major discussion point
Ongoing connectivity challenges
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
Agreed on
Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority
Jimson Olufuye
Speech speed
114 words per minute
Speech length
71 words
Speech time
37 seconds
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Explanation
WSIS 2025 was a mind-blowing and fantastic event that demonstrated such success it should be replicated in national capitals to extend its impact.
Evidence
Description of event as ‘mind-blowing’ and ‘fantastic’, suggestion to replicate in all capitals
Major discussion point
Replication of WSIS success nationally
Topics
Development
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
National Implementation and Reporting
Explanation
The success of WSIS should be replicated in national capitals to extend the impact and engagement at the country level.
Evidence
Question about possibility of replicating the event in capitals, looking forward to celebrating in capitals
Major discussion point
National-level WSIS implementation
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Panelist 2
Speech speed
114 words per minute
Speech length
119 words
Speech time
62 seconds
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Explanation
First-time participation in WSIS was energizing and inspiring, demonstrating that WSIS serves as a launchpad for collaboration and impact rather than just a summit.
Evidence
First-time experience described as ‘fantastic week’, opportunity to share ideas and contact global peers, leaving ‘energized, inspired, and charged and hopeful’
Major discussion point
WSIS as catalyst for collaboration
Topics
Development
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Gitanjali Sah
Speech speed
148 words per minute
Speech length
644 words
Speech time
259 seconds
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Explanation
Gitanjali Sah acknowledges the successful organization of WSIS 2025 and emphasizes the collaborative effort required to make such events possible. She highlights the tremendous work done by staff, volunteers, and interns in preparing for the week-long event.
Evidence
Recognition of ITU WSIS team, staff, volunteers, and interns who made the event possible; chair’s summary made available online on WSIS forum website
Major discussion point
Organizational success and team collaboration
Topics
Development
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Explanation
She emphasizes the importance of partnerships and acknowledges various stakeholders including UN partners, co-organizers, and sponsors who contributed to the event’s success. She also mentions working with UN Regional Commissions to organize regional WSIS events on a regular basis.
Evidence
Thanks to UN partners from UNCTAD, UNDP, and UNESCO; acknowledgment of co-host Ambassador Schneider; recognition of sponsors like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia; collaboration with UN Regional Commissions for regional events
Major discussion point
Multi-stakeholder collaboration and regional engagement
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Malaysia representative
– AFIP President
– Saudi Arabia
Agreed on
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
Explanation
Gitanjali Sah supports the replication of WSIS success at national and regional levels within available resources. She confirms ITU’s willingness to help extend WSIS impact to capitals and regions while acknowledging resource constraints.
Evidence
Response to question about replicating WSIS in capitals: ‘we’d be happy to help do that within our limited resources’; organizing regional WSIS events with UN Regional Commissions
Major discussion point
Scaling WSIS impact nationally and regionally
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Agreed on
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Agreements
Agreement points
WSIS Success and Need for Continuation
Speakers
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Solly Malatsi
– Jimson Olufuye
– Panelist 2
– Gitanjali Sah
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Arguments
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
WSIS Success and Global Participation
WSIS Success and Global Participation
WSIS Success and Global Participation
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
Summary
All speakers unanimously praised WSIS 2025 as highly successful and emphasized the need for the process to continue beyond 2025, with ministers and high-level participants confirming support for continuation
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Digital Inclusion as Fundamental Priority
Speakers
– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
– Abdulkarim Oloyede
Arguments
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
Summary
Strong consensus that digital inclusion must be a fundamental right and priority, with emphasis on reaching vulnerable populations, indigenous peoples, and those not yet connected
Topics
Development | Human rights
Partnership and Collaboration Commitment
Speakers
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Malaysia representative
– AFIP President
– Saudi Arabia
– Gitanjali Sah
Arguments
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Partnership and Collaboration Commitments
Summary
Universal commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration, with concrete pledges and long-term institutional commitments demonstrated
Topics
Development | Infrastructure
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Speakers
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
– Panelist 1
Arguments
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Summary
Both speakers emphasized that children must be central to digital conversations as current stakeholders, not just future beneficiaries, with particular concern about AI education and data protection
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers acknowledge that AI revolution is happening now and requires addressing emerging technology implications, though from different perspectives – one focusing on WSIS platform readiness, the other on children’s protection
Speakers
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
Arguments
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
Both speakers emphasized the need to extend WSIS impact to national level – one through reporting dialogues, the other through replicating events in capitals
Speakers
– Panelist 1
– Jimson Olufuye
Arguments
National Implementation and Reporting
National Implementation and Reporting
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Both speakers highlighted governance challenges – one focusing on power concentration and UN underfunding, the other on need for human rights perspective in technology governance
Speakers
– World Summit Award representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
Arguments
Governance and Resource Challenges
Governance and Resource Challenges
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Human rights
Unexpected consensus
Resource Constraints Acknowledgment
Speakers
– World Summit Award representative
– Gitanjali Sah
Arguments
Governance and Resource Challenges
Future Evolution and Continuity of WSIS Beyond 2025
Explanation
Unexpected consensus between civil society representative and ITU leadership on acknowledging resource limitations – both recognizing UN system underfunding and limited resources for expanding WSIS impact
Topics
Economic | Legal and regulatory
Children as Current Stakeholders
Speakers
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
– Panelist 1
Arguments
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Children’s Rights and Protection in Digital Era
Explanation
Unexpected strong consensus on treating children as current stakeholders rather than just future beneficiaries, with both speakers providing concrete examples of children’s agency in digital spaces
Topics
Human rights | Sociocultural
Overall assessment
Summary
Strong consensus on WSIS success and continuation, digital inclusion as fundamental priority, partnership commitments, and children’s digital rights. Agreement spans across different stakeholder groups including UN leadership, government representatives, civil society, and regional organizations.
Consensus level
High level of consensus with remarkable alignment across diverse stakeholders. The implications are positive for WSIS continuation beyond 2025, with clear mandate for evolution while maintaining core multi-stakeholder approach. The consensus provides strong foundation for the UN General Assembly plus 20 review process.
Differences
Different viewpoints
Approach to Digital Inclusion Implementation
Speakers
– Solly Malatsi
– Malaysia representative
Arguments
True inclusivity requires meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not just opening doors, and demands investment in institutional and human capacities of those not yet at the table.
Malaysia demonstrates commitment to digital inclusion as a fundamental right through flagship projects that have reached millions of people with digital literacy and services.
Summary
Malatsi emphasizes the need for deeper structural changes and investment in capacities of underrepresented groups, warning against premature congratulations for being inclusive. Malaysia focuses on demonstrating success through concrete projects and measurable outcomes reaching millions.
Topics
Development | Human rights
Resource Allocation and Governance Priorities
Speakers
– World Summit Award representative
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
Arguments
There is unprecedented concentration of power in the digital sphere combined with underfunding of the UN system, creating challenges for effective regulation, standards, and governance building.
The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition demonstrates significant progress toward global connectivity goals through substantial financial commitments.
Summary
The World Summit Award representative highlights systemic underfunding and power concentration as major obstacles, while Bogdan Martin emphasizes successful fundraising and partnership achievements, presenting contrasting views on resource availability and effectiveness.
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Economic
Unexpected differences
Teacher Resistance to AI in Education
Speakers
– Panelist 1
Arguments
Students learning AI tools independently due to teacher resistance represents a tragedy that requires significant investment in teacher training and upskilling to prevent children from learning everything on their own.
Explanation
This represents an unexpected internal disagreement within the education system itself, where teachers are actively opposing AI tools that students want to learn. This creates a unique situation where the barrier to digital inclusion comes from within educational institutions rather than from external factors like funding or infrastructure.
Topics
Sociocultural | Development
Overall assessment
Summary
The transcript reveals relatively low levels of direct disagreement among speakers, with most conflicts being subtle differences in emphasis and approach rather than fundamental opposition. The main areas of disagreement center on implementation strategies for digital inclusion, resource allocation priorities, and the pace of institutional change.
Disagreement level
Low to moderate disagreement level with significant implications for implementation effectiveness. The disagreements suggest different philosophies about whether to build on current successes or address systemic structural issues first, which could impact the coherence and effectiveness of future WSIS initiatives and digital cooperation efforts.
Partial agreements
Partial agreements
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers acknowledge that AI revolution is happening now and requires addressing emerging technology implications, though from different perspectives – one focusing on WSIS platform readiness, the other on children’s protection
Speakers
– Doreen Bogdan Martin
– Panelist ( Ethic minds and Multilateral Group )
Arguments
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
AI Integration and Emerging Technologies
Topics
Human rights | Legal and regulatory
Both speakers emphasized the need to extend WSIS impact to national level – one through reporting dialogues, the other through replicating events in capitals
Speakers
– Panelist 1
– Jimson Olufuye
Arguments
National Implementation and Reporting
National Implementation and Reporting
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Both speakers highlighted governance challenges – one focusing on power concentration and UN underfunding, the other on need for human rights perspective in technology governance
Speakers
– World Summit Award representative
– Ambassador of Bolivia
Arguments
Governance and Resource Challenges
Governance and Resource Challenges
Topics
Legal and regulatory | Human rights
Takeaways
Key takeaways
WSIS 2025 achieved unprecedented success with over 11,000 physical participants from 169 countries and over 100 ministers, demonstrating its role as a cornerstone of global digital cooperation
There is widespread support for continuing the WSIS process beyond 2025, but it must evolve to be more agile, efficient, and avoid duplication while maintaining its multi-stakeholder approach
The AI revolution is already happening now, not in the future, and WSIS is positioned to address AI era challenges with trust and transparency at its core
True digital inclusion requires meeting stakeholders where they need to be met, not just opening doors, and demands investment in institutional and human capacities of underrepresented groups
Children must be considered as current stakeholders and actors in digital development, not just future beneficiaries, with particular attention to their data rights and protection
The Partner to Connect Digital Coalition has achieved significant progress with over $76 billion in pledges, reaching two-thirds of the $100 billion goal by 2026
National implementation and multi-stakeholder reporting dialogues are crucial to combat cynicism about commitments without action
Resolutions and action items
Chair will submit the chair’s summary on WSIS plus 20 high level 2025 to the UN General Assembly to anchor the collective vision in the broader digital community’s understanding
Continue leveraging the WSIS process as a critical vehicle for follow-up of the Global Digital Compact
Integrate the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS process to reduce duplication
Explore ways to refine and qualify the WSIS action lines so progress can be clearly measured against the evolving digital landscape
Invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling to address the gap where students are learning AI tools independently
Establish national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues, starting with Canada as an example to inspire similar processes worldwide
Continue organizing regional WSIS events through UN Regional Commissions to replicate success in national capitals
Unresolved issues
How to address the unprecedented concentration of power in the digital sphere while the UN system faces underfunding challenges
Specific mechanisms for ensuring vulnerable populations including indigenous peoples and peasants have meaningful participation in digital development
Concrete strategies for bridging the digital divide and connecting those yet to be connected
How to balance the need for WSIS evolution with maintaining its inclusive multi-stakeholder character in resource-constrained environments
Technical implementation details for protecting children’s data rights and enabling their ownership and revenue generation from personal data
Specific modalities and barriers that need to be addressed to make WSIS truly inclusive, fair, equitable, and accessible
Suggested compromises
WSIS must build on existing solid foundation while being more agile and efficient, balancing continuity with innovation
Avoid duplication of mandates while maintaining commitment to multi-stakeholder approach
In pursuit of efficiency, do not discard what works but be ambitious in implementing improvements where possible
Meet stakeholders where they need to be met rather than where organizers think they should be met, requiring more intentional and precise approaches to inclusivity
Thought provoking comments
We must be careful about prematurely congratulating ourselves for being inclusive. Inclusion means more than merely opening doors. It means that we must meet our stakeholders where they need to be met, and where we think they need to be met. Only by doing this can we ensure that YSYS is truly inclusive. It must be fair, it must be equitable, and it must also be accessible.
Speaker
Solly Malatsi (Chair/Minister)
Reason
This comment challenges the conventional understanding of inclusivity in international forums. Rather than accepting surface-level participation as sufficient, Malatsi redefines inclusion as an active, intentional process that requires meeting stakeholders on their terms. This represents a sophisticated critique of performative inclusivity.
Impact
This comment elevated the entire discussion from celebratory to critically reflective. It shifted the tone from congratulatory to introspective, forcing participants to examine whether their efforts truly serve underrepresented communities or merely create an appearance of inclusion.
I really saw yesterday, there was a student that said, my teachers are against AI, so I’m learning these tools on my own. And that is a great tragedy if kids are just learning everything on their own. So I think we need to invest significantly in teacher training and upskilling.
Speaker
Jennifer (Taking IT Global)
Reason
This anecdote powerfully illustrates a critical gap between technological advancement and educational preparedness. It transforms abstract policy discussions into a concrete human story, highlighting how institutional resistance to AI creates educational inequities and forces students to navigate complex technologies without guidance.
Impact
This comment introduced a generational perspective that hadn’t been prominently featured earlier. It shifted focus from high-level policy frameworks to ground-level implementation challenges, particularly in education, and emphasized the urgency of addressing the human capacity gap.
We are facing today an unprecedented situation in terms of, on the one hand, concentration of power in the digital sphere, and on the other hand, an underfunding of the UN and the UN system in terms of regulation, and also in terms of standards and also governance building… we are just ignoring the big elephants in the room, and we are not becoming effective in terms of what we have as goals and aims.
Speaker
Professor Bruck (World Summit Award)
Reason
This comment directly confronts the structural power imbalances that undermine digital governance efforts. It challenges the optimistic tone of the summit by highlighting the fundamental contradiction between ambitious goals and inadequate resources, while also addressing the concentration of digital power in private entities.
Impact
This intervention introduced a note of realism that contrasted sharply with the generally celebratory atmosphere. It forced acknowledgment of systemic challenges that could undermine the entire WSIS process, shifting the conversation toward structural constraints rather than just aspirational goals.
As we process the fact that AI and AI-powered robots are happening and will have new prominence in our children’s lives… we note all the other technologies we’re talking about. We have focused on quantum computing. We would like to assert that children’s data is valuable. They have a right to their data… The moment is now to reestablish hope in our ability to control our own data.
Speaker
Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)
Reason
This comment introduces children as active stakeholders rather than passive beneficiaries, while connecting emerging technologies like quantum computing to immediate data rights concerns. It reframes children’s relationship with technology from protection-focused to rights-based, emphasizing agency and ownership.
Impact
This intervention broadened the technological scope beyond AI to include quantum computing and introduced a rights-based framework for children’s digital participation. It shifted the discussion from adult-centric policy-making to recognizing children as stakeholders with legitimate claims to digital rights and data ownership.
There’s a lot of cynicism when commitments are made without action. And what I love about the summit is the emphasis on action. So citizens need to know that there is action and that they need to be part of that reporting process.
Speaker
Jennifer (Taking IT Global)
Reason
This comment addresses a fundamental challenge in international cooperation – the gap between commitments and implementation. It highlights how public cynicism undermines digital governance efforts and emphasizes the need for transparent, participatory accountability mechanisms.
Impact
This comment reinforced the action-oriented theme while introducing the critical issue of public trust and accountability. It connected high-level policy commitments to citizen engagement, emphasizing that legitimacy requires both transparency and meaningful participation in monitoring progress.
Overall assessment
These key comments transformed what could have been a routine closing ceremony into a substantive reflection on the fundamental challenges facing digital governance. Malatsi’s critique of performative inclusivity set a tone of critical self-examination that permeated subsequent interventions. The comments collectively shifted the discussion from celebrating achievements to acknowledging structural limitations, power imbalances, and implementation gaps. They introduced multiple overlooked perspectives – children as rights-holders, teachers as critical intermediaries, and citizens as accountability partners – while challenging participants to move beyond aspirational rhetoric toward concrete, inclusive action. The interventions created a more honest and comprehensive dialogue about the complexities of global digital cooperation, ultimately strengthening the discussion by acknowledging both achievements and persistent challenges.
Follow-up questions
How can we replicate WSIS events in national capitals?
Speaker
Jimson Olufuye
Explanation
This question addresses the scalability and localization of WSIS impact, seeking ways to extend the global summit’s benefits to national and regional levels
How can we better integrate teacher training and upskilling to prevent students from learning AI tools independently without guidance?
Speaker
Jennifer (Taking IT Global)
Explanation
This addresses a critical gap in education where students are self-learning AI tools while teachers oppose them, highlighting the need for systematic educator preparation
How can we establish more national multi-stakeholder action reporting dialogues to ensure accountability and citizen participation in WSIS commitments?
Speaker
Jennifer (Taking IT Global)
Explanation
This focuses on addressing cynicism about commitments without action by creating structured national reporting mechanisms that involve citizens
How can we address the concentration of power in the digital sphere and underfunding of the UN system for digital governance?
Speaker
Professor Bruck (World Summit Award)
Explanation
This identifies a fundamental structural challenge affecting the effectiveness of global digital governance and the UN’s capacity to regulate and set standards
How can we refine and qualify the WSIS action lines to clearly measure progress against the complex and evolving digital landscape?
Speaker
Solly Malatsi
Explanation
This addresses the need to update measurement frameworks to match current digital realities and ensure accountability in achieving WSIS goals
How can we integrate the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS process to reduce duplication while maintaining effectiveness?
Speaker
Solly Malatsi
Explanation
This seeks to streamline global digital governance processes to avoid redundancy while preserving the strengths of existing frameworks
How can we make WSIS more truly inclusive by meeting stakeholders where they need to be met rather than just opening doors?
Speaker
Solly Malatsi
Explanation
This challenges current inclusivity practices and calls for more intentional and effective approaches to stakeholder engagement
How can we protect children’s data rights and enable them to own, control, and potentially monetize their data in the AI era?
Speaker
Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)
Explanation
This addresses emerging concerns about children’s digital rights and data sovereignty as AI and quantum computing technologies advance
How can we ensure children are front and center in digital policy conversations as both future beneficiaries and current stakeholders?
Speaker
Christine Hausel (Ethic Minds Institute and Multilateral Group)
Explanation
This emphasizes the need to recognize children’s agency in digital spaces and their right to participate in decisions affecting their digital future
Disclaimer: This is not an official session record. DiploAI generates these resources from audiovisual recordings, and they are presented as-is, including potential errors. Due to logistical challenges, such as discrepancies in audio/video or transcripts, names may be misspelled. We strive for accuracy to the best of our ability.