Leaders TalkX: Building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies

Summary

This panel discussion at the WSIS Forum focused on building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies, featuring perspectives from telecommunications regulators, NGO leaders, and technology experts from various countries. The session was moderated by Cerys Stansfield from Access Partnership and included participants from Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Bangladesh, and other organizations, with Dr. Vint Cerf joining remotely.

Mustafa Sheikh from Somalia emphasized the importance of addressing infrastructure deficits, policy fragmentation, and digital literacy gaps in post-conflict nations. He highlighted Somalia’s success with public-private partnerships in developing ICT infrastructure and achieving greater internet penetration. George William Nyambitembo from Uganda discussed the country’s comprehensive approach to digital inclusion, including expanding broadband infrastructure through the Universal Access Fund and training over 500,000 citizens in digital literacy programs.

Dr. Gift Kallisto Machengete from Zimbabwe outlined regulatory initiatives to promote inclusivity, including tower relocation programs for underserved areas, ICT training for persons with disabilities, and gender-focused programs like Girls in ICT. Christopher Reckord from Jamaica shared insights about implementing AI in public services, particularly in education, including AI-assisted paper marking for teachers and the development of AI labs.

Dr. Philip Lee from the World Association for Christian Communication emphasized that communication rights must be foundational to digital governance, calling for democratic data governance and community-led media ecosystems. Dr. Rahman from Bangladesh highlighted the persistent digital divide and the need for stronger coordination between UN agencies and country-level implementation.

Dr. Vint Cerf concluded by discussing AI’s potential to improve accessibility for people with disabilities through voice interaction, automatic captioning, and language translation. The discussion underscored that while significant progress has been made in digital inclusion, substantial challenges remain in bridging the global digital divide and ensuring equitable access to digital resources for all populations.

Keypoints

**Major Discussion Points:**

– **Infrastructure and Digital Divide Challenges**: Multiple speakers emphasized the persistent infrastructure deficits in developing and post-conflict nations, including lack of reliable internet connectivity, stable electricity, and affordable access. Somalia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe shared specific examples of how they’re addressing these foundational barriers through public-private partnerships, tower relocation programs, and universal access funds.

– **Inclusive Access for Marginalized Communities**: A central theme focused on ensuring digital inclusion for underserved populations including rural communities, women, youth, elderly, and persons with disabilities. Speakers discussed targeted programs like digital literacy training, community information centers, assistive technologies, and gender-focused initiatives (Girls in ICT, She Tech programs).

– **AI Implementation and Opportunities**: The discussion explored practical applications of AI in public services, with Jamaica’s AI task force highlighting education sector implementations like automated paper marking and AI chatbots for government services. Dr. Cerf emphasized AI’s potential for accessibility improvements through voice interaction, automatic translation, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities.

– **Governance and Regulatory Frameworks**: Speakers addressed the need for stronger governance structures, consistent regulations, data protection laws, and cybersecurity measures. There was emphasis on the role of telecommunications regulators in building inclusive digital societies and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration.

– **Communication Rights and Media Pluralism**: Discussion included the fundamental role of communication as a human right, the need for independent and pluralistic media, and concerns about the commercialization of information access. Speakers called for democratic data governance and community-led voices in media ecosystems.

**Overall Purpose:**

This high-level panel discussion at the WSIS Forum aimed to explore strategies and initiatives for building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies, with particular focus on developing nations and marginalized communities. The session served as part of the WSIS Plus 20 review, evaluating progress and identifying future priorities for achieving equitable digital transformation.

**Overall Tone:**

The discussion maintained a professional and collaborative tone throughout, with speakers sharing both achievements and ongoing challenges in a constructive manner. While acknowledging significant progress made over the past 20 years, there was an underlying sense of urgency about persistent digital divides and the need for accelerated action. The tone was realistic about challenges but remained optimistic about solutions, emphasizing the importance of continued multi-stakeholder cooperation and innovative approaches to achieve digital inclusion goals.

Speakers

**Speakers from the provided list:**

– **Vinton Cerf** – Chairman of the Leadership Panel for the Internet Governance Forum, one of the inventors of the internet

– **Christopher Reckord** – Chairman of the National AI Task Force in Jamaica

– **Mustafa Sheik** – Director-General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia

– **Cerys Stansfield** – Tech policy analyst at Access Partnership (international tech public policy consultancy firm), session moderator

– **Gift Kallisto Machengete** – Director-General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe

– **AHM Bazlur Rahman** – Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, Ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI

– **George William Nyombi Thembo** – Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission

– **Philip Lee** – General Secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication

**Additional speakers:**

None – all speakers mentioned in the transcript were included in the provided speakers names list.

# Building Inclusive and Knowledge-Driven Digital Societies: A Comprehensive Panel Discussion Report

## Executive Summary

This panel discussion at the WSIS Forum brought together telecommunications regulators, NGO leaders, and technology experts to examine strategies for building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies. Moderated by Cerys Stansfield from Access Partnership, the session featured Mustafa Sheikh from Somalia’s National Communications Authority, George William Nyambitembo from Uganda’s Communications Commission, Gift Kallisto Machengete from Zimbabwe’s telecommunications authority, Christopher Reckord from Jamaica’s National AI Task Force, Philip Lee from the World Association for Christian Communication, AHM Bazlur Rahman from Bangladesh, and Dr Vint Cerf participating remotely. The discussion formed part of the WSIS Plus 20 review, evaluating two decades of progress whilst identifying future priorities for digital transformation.

## Infrastructure Development as the Foundation

Mustafa Sheikh from Somalia’s National Communications Authority established the framework for understanding digital inclusion challenges, emphasising that “building an inclusive and knowledge-driven digital society is not only a technical challenge, it is a governance challenge, an investment challenge, and above all, a human challenge.” Sheikh highlighted Somalia’s unique context as a post-conflict nation facing infrastructure deficits, policy fragmentation, and digital literacy gaps. Despite these challenges, Somalia has achieved increased internet penetration through public-private partnerships and has begun rolling out 5G networks. However, Sheikh stressed that infrastructure deficit requires long-term coordinated investment strategies and innovative financing models.

George William Nyambitembo from Uganda’s Communications Commission reported that 76% of government offices are now connected through national backbone infrastructure. Uganda’s approach includes targeting north and northeastern regions with solar-powered digital labs, demonstrating how renewable energy solutions can overcome electricity constraints in remote areas. The Universal Access Fund has been instrumental in targeting specific regions with broadband initiatives and satellite licensing for remote communities.

Gift Kallisto Machengete from Zimbabwe’s telecommunications authority outlined innovative approaches to infrastructure sharing, including tower relocation programmes to underserved areas where shared infrastructure makes connectivity viable despite low commercial returns. Zimbabwe has established 202 community information centres in rural areas providing ICT services, government services, and telemedicine.

Dr Vint Cerf, participating remotely after initial technical difficulties, reinforced the foundational importance of connectivity, noting that basic internet access is a fundamental prerequisite for AI and digital technologies to be useful.

## Digital Literacy and Human Capital Development

Sheikh identified low digital skills among both citizens and civil servants as consistent obstacles requiring central focus in digital transformation strategies. This challenge extends beyond basic computer skills to encompass understanding of digital rights, privacy protection, and safe usage practices.

Nyambitembo shared Uganda’s substantial achievements, with over 500,000 citizens trained in digital literacy programmes targeting women, small and medium enterprises, youth, and persons with disabilities. These programmes utilise community-based models implemented under Uganda’s Access to Information Act and Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023-2028.

Machengete highlighted Zimbabwe’s specialised ICT training programmes and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities, including specific initiatives like “Girls in ICT” and “She Tech” programmes that create knowledge transfer within communities.

Cerf emphasised that digital literacy education must include safe usage practices to preserve safety and privacy, particularly as AI technologies become more prevalent.

## Addressing Marginalised Communities and Inclusion Challenges

Sheikh noted that marginalised groups including rural populations, women, and youth are often systematically excluded from digital services, requiring deliberate policy interventions to address structural barriers.

Nyambitembo revealed that 7.5 million Ugandans remain offline with only 40% owning smartphones. Uganda’s response includes targeted interventions through community information centres and mobile digital literacy programmes that bring services directly to underserved communities.

Machengete described Zimbabwe’s community information centres serving as crucial access points for populations who cannot afford individual connectivity. He also noted an often-overlooked aspect of inclusion: “when we leave boys alone, the boys, especially in our areas, they end up doing a lot of drugs, and we need to assist them as well.”

Philip Lee from the World Association for Christian Communication argued that independent and pluralistic media ecosystems need community-led voices to be prioritised over market interests, emphasising that true inclusion requires confronting structural power imbalances.

## Artificial Intelligence Implementation and Opportunities

Christopher Reckord from Jamaica’s National AI Task Force shared concrete examples of AI implementation in the education sector. Jamaica is testing AI tools to help teachers mark papers and establishing AI labs through partnership with India. Reckord highlighted the potential for government-wide AI chatbots to provide comprehensive citizen services access.

Cerf provided compelling perspectives on AI’s potential for accessibility improvements, noting that AI technologies like voice interaction, automatic translation, and automatic captions can significantly improve access for people with disabilities. He personally noted: “I have a language disability. I don’t speak many of the languages that your former speakers speak, and I would need the assistance for that.”

Cerf’s vision of AI agents serving as tutors that ask questions to verify learning rather than just answering them suggests transformative potential for education systems.

## Communication Rights and Democratic Governance

Philip Lee introduced a critical perspective arguing that “communication rights must be foundational to governance discussions, not footnotes,” requiring democratic data governance and public digital infrastructure. Lee asserted that transformation is impossible “without confronting the colonial, racist and sexist legacies embedded in the control of information and knowledge and in the development of digital technologies themselves, including artificial intelligence.”

AHM Bazlur Rahman from Bangladesh provided a critique of current progress, observing that “the access of the information and knowledge sector is fully commercialised and entirely dominated by the corporate sector… Those who have money, they have access to knowledge domain, communication domain. Those who have not money, those who are underserved people, they are not part of this.”

Rahman called for localized action plans that align global WSIS commitments with national priorities whilst fostering multi-stakeholder engagement.

## Policy and Regulatory Framework Challenges

Sheikh identified policy fragmentation and weak governance as fundamental barriers that undermine digital transformation efforts, requiring stronger cybersecurity and data protection measures. In post-conflict contexts, inconsistent regulations and unclear data protection laws limit public trust and project continuity.

Nyambitembo highlighted how comprehensive legal frameworks, including Uganda’s National Development Plan and Digital Transformation Roadmap, can create robust ecosystems for digital inclusion.

Rahman advocated for structural reforms in three key areas: establishing a permanent, reinforced WSIS and IGF Secretariat with sustainable funding; developing a centralised UN reporting system to address fragmented reporting to UNESCO, WSIS, and ITU; and strengthening links between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS Action Line issues at the country level.

## Key Areas of Focus

Speakers consistently emphasised several priority areas. All participants identified robust digital infrastructure as the foundational requirement for digital transformation efforts, with specific examples of public-private partnerships, infrastructure sharing, and targeted investment in underserved areas.

Digital literacy and skills development emerged as central to digital transformation, with speakers identifying systematic training programmes targeting diverse populations as critical components.

The need for deliberately targeting marginalised and underserved communities was emphasised throughout, with speakers highlighting focused efforts to include rural populations, women, youth, and persons with disabilities through targeted programmes and community-based approaches.

Comprehensive policy frameworks and governance structures involving multiple stakeholders were identified as necessary for providing clear regulatory guidance for digital transformation efforts.

## Unresolved Challenges and Future Priorities

The discussion highlighted persistent challenges requiring continued attention. The scale of exclusion remains significant, with millions still offline and access continuing to be dominated by those with financial means whilst underserved communities face systemic exclusion.

Rahman noted that funding streams for civil society organisations, especially in the Global South, are shrinking without identified sustainable alternatives, threatening community-based approaches crucial for reaching marginalised populations.

The discussion revealed that structural inequalities in information control and AI development remain largely unaddressed, suggesting that technical solutions alone are insufficient for achieving genuine inclusion.

## Recommendations and Action Items

Several concrete action items emerged from the discussion. Rahman specifically called for establishing permanent, reinforced WSIS and IGF Secretariats with sustainable funding, developing localised action plans that align global WSIS commitments with national priorities, and creating a centralised UN reporting system to streamline country-level reporting.

Practical recommendations included implementing government-wide AI chatbots for comprehensive citizen services access, scaling digital literacy programmes using community-based models, and strengthening coordination between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS Action Line issues at country level.

## Conclusion

As moderator Cerys Stansfield noted in her closing remarks, despite running over time, the discussion demonstrated the critical importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in building inclusive digital societies. The panel revealed both significant progress in infrastructure development, digital literacy programmes, and targeted inclusion efforts, alongside substantial challenges around economic inequality, governance structures, and power imbalances.

The discussion demonstrated that building inclusive digital societies requires moving beyond technical solutions to address governance, investment, and human challenges. Success depends on coordinated efforts combining infrastructure development, skills building, inclusive design, and governance frameworks that address both immediate practical needs and underlying structural inequalities. As Stansfield concluded, Dr Cerf’s remote participation served as “the silver lining to running over” time, embodying the collaborative spirit necessary for achieving truly inclusive digital transformation.

Cerys Stansfield: Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us and welcome to the first high-level session of this afternoon. My name is Cerys Stansfield and I’m a tech policy analyst at Access Partnership, an international tech public policy consultancy firm, and I have the privilege of leading this next panel discussion. This session will focus on building digital societies that are both inclusive and knowledge-driven in nature, and I’m honoured to be joined by esteemed panellists to explore ongoing strategies and initiatives and future priorities in this aim. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Mustafa Sheikh, the Director-General of the National Communications Authority of Somalia, Mr. George William Nyambitembo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, Dr. Gift Kallisto Machengete, the Director-General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, Mr. Christopher Rekord, the Chairman of the National AI Task Force in Jamaica, Dr. Philip Lee, the General Secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication, Mr. Aam Bazloor Rahman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, and Ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI, and joining us remotely, Dr. Vint Cerf. We welcome you here not only as one of the inventors of the internet, but also in your capacity as Chairman of the Leadership Panel for the Internet Governance Forum. Thank you to you all for being here today. Thank you. Mr. Mustafa Sheikh, in light of the international and multi-stakeholder heart of the WSIS Forum, allow me to pose the first question related to international cooperation. Could you share your view as to how international cooperation frameworks can better support developing and post-conflict nations to create inclusive digital access ecosystems that are resilient, that are locally driven, and that are future-ready?

Mustafa Sheik: Excellencies, Distinguished Colleges and Partners, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to address this critical theme, building an inclusive and knowledge-driven digital society for post-conflict and developing nations. Achieving this goal demands that our international cooperation framework address deep-rooted barriers. Challenges in this context highlight a number of issues that we cannot ignore to make sure that we are leaving no one behind. First of all, I would like to demonstrate the Somali context as an experience and showcase for the international arena. Then I will share with you lessons learned from the Somali context. In Somalia, we embraced the promise of ICT as a path to national recovery. For the last two decades, we incentivized public-private partnerships and investments to develop stronger relations and improve infrastructure, leading to a more stable and affordable prices for internet connection, which resulted in increased internet penetration and internet investment in the sector. ICT has brought national financial inclusion, and operators are now rolling out 5G networks. Somalia is not just boosting infrastructure, but developing the ICT ecosystem. The national ICT policy for Somalia laid a roadmap for digital inclusion, fiber-optic expansion, innovation habits, and human capital development as well. To focus on the lessons learned from our experience, which is the main theme of the discussion, first, we need to address the reality of the infrastructure deficit. Many communities lack reliable internet connectivity and stable electricity, which is the foundation element of any developing digital society. There is a need for long-term coordinated investment strategies which incentivize public-private partnerships and innovative financial models to close this critical gap. Second, policy fragmentation and weak governance continue to undermine the digital transformation efforts. Inconsistent regulations, unclear data protection laws, and fragile political institutions limit the trustee and continuity of the projectees. So, strengthening cybersecurity and protecting data privacy are essential to build public confidence and enable cross-border digital trade. Third, building a truly inclusive and knowledge-driven digital society means tackling the digital divide head-on. Marginalized groups, especially the rural population, women, and youth, are too often excluded from e-government and digital services. Local governments need to design and implement context-specific participatory policies that ensure access and usability for all, overcoming social barriers, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Fourth, which is the most important, one, digital literacy and human capital development must be central. Low levels of digital skills among both citizens and civil servants are consistent barriers to the underdeveloped countries, which overcoming them can incentivize and expedite the process of the digitalization of the country. Fifth, well-emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and cloud computing offer transformative potential. They are not a magical solution, but require successful adoption, require a solid governance framework, ethical safeguards, and investment in local capacity to use and manage these technologies responsibly and sustainably as well. Building an inclusive and knowledge-driven digital society is not only a technical challenge, it is a governance challenge, an investment challenge, and above all, a human challenge. Thank you.

Cerys Stansfield: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sheikh, for sharing the Somali context and, of course, the lessons learned. We’re going to stay on a national focus. Mr. Naomi Tembo, Uganda has made significant progress in expanding digital infrastructure and policy reform. How is the country combining its inclusive policies, community access initiatives, digital skilling, and efforts to improve affordability to ensure that ICTs and media truly expand equitable access to information, and in particular to those who are from unserved and underserved communities?

George William Nyombi Thembo: Thank you, Madam Moderator. Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Uganda recognizes the true transformative power of ICT and the media, that that lies in their ability to empower all citizens with equal access to information, especially those left behind. Over the past 20 years, we have steadily advanced this agenda through deliberate policy interventions, through our legal and policy framework, National Development Plan, Access to Information Act, and most recently, the Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023-2028. These have fostered a robust ecosystem that connects over 76% of government offices through the national backbone infrastructure, digitizes public service, and integrates underserved population via community ICT access centers and digital literacy programs. That said, we are not blind that we have challenges. 7.5 million Ugandans are offline and off-air. Only 40% of the population owns smartphones. To bridge this divide, we are focusing on three key strategies. One, equitable infrastructure expansion through the Universal Access Fund. We are targeting the north and northeastern Uganda with new broadband initiatives through solar power digital labs. Satellite Licensing Frameworks to Reach Remote Communities Police and Legal Frameworks Enablement Uganda is actively promoting open and probabilistic media and advancing legislation on access of public data. These efforts complement our push to establish digital libraries and scientific knowledge repositories that are inclusive and accessible to all. And three, inclusive digital literacy and affordability. We are scaling programs that have already trained over 500,000 citizens in the past five, six years, including women, small and medium enterprises, youth, and persons with disabilities. Furthermore, we are working to reduce the cost of devices and expand mobile digital literacy using community-based models. We believe that expanding equitable access to information is not just about connectivity. It’s about dignity, inclusion, and opportunity. That’s why we are also fostering an ecosystem that supports independent media, local content creation, and diverse voices, particularly at the community level. We call upon our global partners to support our efforts through technology transfer, funding for rural infrastructure, and digital scaling collaborations. Uganda is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind as we build an informed, empowered, and digitally inclusive society. Thank you.

Cerys Stansfield: Thank you very much for sharing the comprehensive approach that Uganda is taking to bridge the digital divide. Dr. Mettingete, I now turn to my right. May I invite you to share the perspective from Zimbabwe? What is the role of telecommunications and ICT regulatory authorities in building inclusive and knowledge-driven digital societies?

Gift Kallisto Machengete: Thank you very much, and good afternoon. Your Excellency is present. To answer this question, allow me to zero in on the specific interventions by the regulatory authority in Zimbabwe to promote inclusivity and the transition towards a knowledge-based society. Through a range of strategic initiatives, the regulator is ensuring that all segments of the population, regardless of geography, regardless of ability, regardless of gender, age, or economic status, can participate meaningfully in the digital economy. One of the major barriers to digital inclusion in Zimbabwe is the lack of telecommunications infrastructure in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. To address this, the regulator implemented a tower relocation program, which involves financing the relocation of co-located towers to underserved and unserved areas or regions, including border areas. These towers, once relocated, are shared by multiple network operators, making them viable for service delivery despite low commercial returns. This initiative has brought essential connectivity to marginalized communities, enabling access to digital services, enabling access to education, enabling access to information. Recognizing also the unique challenges faced by persons living with disabilities, the regulator offers basic, intermediate, and advanced ICT training programs tailored to their needs. These programs not only enhance digital literacy, but also empower people living with disabilities to become trainers themselves through the trainer workshops. This inclusive approach fosters self-sufficiency and creates a ripple effect of knowledge transfer within the community of persons with disabilities. To further support them, the regulator has facilitated the distribution of assistive software and gadgets to various centers housing people with disabilities. These technologies are essential in enabling access to computers and the Internet, thus breaking down barriers to education, barriers to communication, and employment opportunities. The regulator has also taken sufficient strides in promoting gender inclusivity in the tech space through initiatives such as the Girls in ICT program. We also have one which is called the She Tech program. These programs aim to inspire and equip girls and young women with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in ICT by challenging stereotypes and offering hands-on learning experiences for them. To ensure economic hardship does not limit access to ICT education, we also offer scholarships to those who are underprivileged, and in this case, both boys and girls. We have also noted that when we leave boys alone, the boys, especially in our areas, they end up doing a lot of drugs, and we need to assist them as well. So both boys and girls, we are assisting them, those who are coming from underprivileged backgrounds, with scholarships so that they can also be assisted. Inclusivity efforts also extend to the elderly. We have set up over 202 community information centers in the rural areas where the elderly are staying, where the rural folk are, where they can go and access ICT services, government services. Recently, we even introduced telemedicine as well in those areas so that they don’t have to be traveling all the way to the towns. Promoting inclusivity and bridging that digital divide. So overall, the regulator’s multifaceted approach to digital inclusion reflects a strong commitment to building a knowledge-based society where no one is left behind. Through infrastructure development, targeted training, technology support, gender empowerment, financial aid, and policy advocates, the authority is laying the foundation for a more equitable and digitally empowered Zimbabwe. I thank you.

Cerys Stansfield: Thank you very much, Dr. Machengete. There is a huge number of things going on from Portres, so thank you for your efforts. I pivot back. Mr. Christopher Reckord, the attendance at the AI for Good Summit next door shows that AI is still a hot topic. It’s not going anywhere. And it’s one of the emerging technologies that cuts across several of the WSIS action lines. My challenge to you, please could you give us one quick, affordable action that a government could take this year to jumpstart the use of AI in public services?

Christopher Reckord: Thank you very much for that question. Wow, a big one. One. I think it’s difficult to choose one right now, but I’ll give you a set of context of it just to say that about a year and a half ago, the then minister with responsibility for digital transformation and innovation created an AI task force, which she invited me to chair. And in doing that, the task force was complemented with folks from the public sector, private sector, and we also had academia on there, about 17 persons. It took a year to go, you know, do some research with other stakeholders and pull together a report. And with that report, we came up with a document that we presented to the prime minister and cabinet. which outlined a number of areas and I’ll just give you a high level as to what some of these areas areas were with respect to with respect to um education they had strong recommendations in education of course we had to have a section on innovation and economic growth and public awareness and sensitization so out of those three one of the things that we will uh see firstly coming out is education because the the then minister uh was then reappointed as the minister of education so I guess she had a she had a a head start in getting the report uh read through it and then she started to do some things in in the ministry so one of the things that she’s actually done is um currently testing a tool with teachers helping them to to mark papers because it’s one of the as a former teacher myself it’s it’s it’s been a struggle you know exam time you have a lot of papers to mark so with the advent of this technology uh you know in my group I jokingly call it augmented intelligence instead of artificial intelligence it’s helping us to do you know do these type of things and so that is one of the tools that’s there another tool again within education has been tested and you know you mentioned cost the minister along with some other dignitaries visited India and saw some interesting experiments happening there and um they were very lucky that an investor made an offer to come and implement some of these technologies in Jamaica for free so one of the things that they’re actually doing they’ve actually signed a contract to build an AI lab and um also a partner with university ministry of education in getting that AI lab off the ground so number one thing for me is education education and of course um you know if we were to make a suggestion for a project uh I think building something like an AI chatbot that answers questions for all government services regardless of what type of service you would like would be a fantastic initiative if I were to just suggest something brand new um you know different but a chatbot that speaks to the entire nation for any questions that they want to do with the government would be very helpful thank you

Cerys Stansfield: thank you very much Mr. Christopher Reckord and thank you for setting the broader context as this task force in Jamaica and focusing a little on the education sector I think it’s important to remember that when we think about our digital societies yes we spend a lot of time on telecoms and ICT sectors specifically but this is transforming all sectors we’ve heard about health we’ve heard about education thank you very much Dr. Philip Lee we’ve heard a range of insights from the government and regulatory perspective when it comes to inclusive digital societies please could I ask you to reflect on the prominence that we should give to communication and information issues in this dialogue and specifically what position does an international NGO such as the World Association for Christian Communication take in this field.

Philip Lee: thank you moderator WACC and its partners around the world work to advance communication rights and media freedoms as fundamental to just democratic inclusive and peaceful societies and looking back on two decades of actions aimed at creating an equitable information society we must confront the reality that millions of people are still excluded not just from digital access but also from meaningful participation in the systems that shape knowledge governance and power it’s a simple truth that without communication justice there can be no equitable sustainable development civil society especially in the global south is being increasingly silenced not only by political repression but by the collapse of international aid and shrinking funding streams digital technologies are dominated by the global north and digital platforms are used to amplify some voices while marginalizing others at this critical juncture WSIS plus 20 is formulating bold proposals to rethink understandings of development to elevate national actors and to increase accessibility affordability and accountability WACC and its partners welcome these calls but none of this transformation is possible without confronting the colonial racist and sexist legacies embedded in the control of information and knowledge and in the development of digital technologies themselves including artificial intelligence we believe that communication must be recognized not merely as a tool for development but as a right central to human dignity agency and justice and with that in mind we’re calling for media regulation that genuinely serves the common good not just market or state interests media ecosystems where community-led voices are not just supported but prioritized democratic data governance that respects people’s sovereignty over their own information new public and non-profit ownership of digital infrastructure that upholds the public good a fair knowledge global a fair global knowledge regime where truth is not dictated by power and finally a realignment of the global digital economy and its financial architecture based on principles of fairness inclusivity and accountability WACC urges WSIS plus 20 UN agencies member states and digital actors to listen to the voices of ordinary people and to respond radically to their concerns if the next 20 years are to deliver on the promise of just and inclusive digital societies then communication rights must no longer be a footnote to governance discussions they must be foundational can we imagine a world in which communication ecosystems serve people not profit or power if we can then we must act decisively to build it.

Cerys Stansfield: thank you dr lee and thank you for the reminder that there are several levels in our digital ecosystem where inclusivity must be accounted for from the users of digital technologies yes but also also the designers the policy makers the regulators thank you very much dr rahman WSIS action line nine focuses on the role of media and in the information society and i would like to ask you what are the key challenges we face in implementing this action line in bangladesh and southeast asia and more more broadly particularly with regard to the role of independent and pluralistic media in fostering informed societies and if i may what are the key trends and opportunities that you see later in 2025 and beyond as we strive to foster inclusive and knowledge-driven societies again with a focus on bangladesh and southeast asia

AHM Bazlur Rahman: yeah madam moderator excellencies distinguished participants WSIS action line implementation fighters all over the world very good afternoon it’s a great privilege to be with all of you this afternoon at the WSIS 20 years event i would like to sincerely thank the WSIS secretariat for the kind invitation which has given me the opportunity to share my thoughts on behalf of the bangladesh and use network for radio and communication and bangladesh internet governance forum first of all i would like to fully endorse my mentor voices a statement dr philip lee from world association of global communication world association of christian communication i would like to fully endorse the statement and use at the outset after two decades of implementation implementing the WSIS action lines we recognize the tremendous opportunity presented by widespread connectivity enhanced mobility user-friendly interface and emerging transaction channels this advancement encourages us to expand of government services beyond traditional online and mobile platform madam moderator it’s concerning to see the emergence of the significant aspect of digital divide which is unfolding alongside our access to Unfortunately, this divide appears to be widening each day rather than improving. It’s essential for us to acknowledge these challenges and collaborate to find solutions that enable everyone to benefit from the digital world. Madam Moderator, the access of the information and knowledge sector is fully commercialized and entirely dominated by the corporate sector. As observed after 20 years, therefore, where are the voices of underserved communities in access to information and knowledge? Those who have money, they have access to knowledge domain, communication domain. Those who have not money, those who are underserved people, they are not part of this. This is a very sad matter. After 20 years, we see this. Madam Moderator, it is essential for us to solve this problem. But voices need to be heard. The situation is regrettable for us, given our two decades of collaboration with the corporate sector. Madam Moderator, the essential objectives of the WSIS mandate have yet to be fully realized, as outlined in the Geneva Plan of Action and the UNICEF Agenda for Action. There is a pressing opportunity to enhance the WSIS forum to better address both long-standing and emerging challenges, such an improvement would facilitate the exploration of potential solutions and support localization efforts, while also fostering active engagement with the UN Resident Coordinator Office at the country level. Madam Moderator, currently a notable gap appears to exist between the UN Resident Coordinator Office and the issues concerning the World Summit on the Information Society Action Line and the IGF at the country level. Strengthening this link could foster greater collaboration and enhance the effectiveness of our initiative. Madam Moderator, in conclusion, what is urgently needed is a permanent, reinforced, and even stronger WSIS and IGF Secretariat, with sustainable funding at both the Secretariat and as well as country level, with three areas. Number one, develop a localized action plan that aligns global WSIS commitment with national priority. We need a central reporting system from the UN side. Currently, we are reporting to UNESCO, we are reporting to the WSIS, we are reporting to the ITU. No, we need a central reporting system from the UN side, so that every country submits their report accordingly. Number two, capacity building and awareness. Promote ICT education and digital skills, encourage the use of ICT for inclusive development, and run awareness campaigns on the benefit of the information and knowledge society, in line with knowledge creation, knowledge preservation, knowledge dissemination, and knowledge utilization of our life and livelihood. Finally, create a multiple stakeholder engagement platform that facilitates regular consultation, share, progress, update, and foster innovation and collaboration. I thank you, Madam.

Cerys Stansfield: Thank you very much, Dr. Rahman, and for reminding us that in our mission to achieve the WSIS vision, we’re on the path, we’re doing well, we are not there just yet. Ladies and gentlemen, I realize we are running a little over time, but I urge you to grant me a few more minutes, as we have one speaker left. Dr. Vint Cerf, thank you very much for joining us. I hope you can hear me well. Throughout our discussion, we’ve extensively discussed the importance of extending digital access to remote communities, and to all individuals, regardless of their gender, or age, or if they have a disability. In the final minutes, I will return the focus to AI, and ask you, how can AI technologies be leveraged to improve access to digital resources for people with disabilities?

Vinton Cerf: Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman, I guess. I listened to the live stream. I was unable to get connected until literally moments ago, so thank you to the staff for helping me get connected in this fashion. First of all, I want to admire and emphasize everything that’s been said in the beginning of the program. It is vital that we provide access to everyone, to give the world’s knowledge at their fingertips. We have many, many more things to do to achieve that objective, whether it’s affordability or accessibility and the like. But what I would like to do is emphasize some of the things that artificial intelligence holds for us as this amazing new technology unfolds. First of all, the introduction of AI agents may allow voiced, hands-free interaction, so the use of a screen reader to try to understand a two-dimensional web page with a one-dimensional interaction is vastly improved by simply discussing with the agent what it is that you’re trying to accomplish. So I see a tremendous benefit there, especially for people who happen to be blind. Similarly, for people who are deaf, the ability to understand speech and to present speech as text can also be enormously beneficial to enable people to use these online technologies in the ways that the former speakers have outlined. I’d like to also observe that automatic caption has become freely available in many different applications, and that, too, is a consequence of artificial intelligence development. Automatic language translation is also very well along the way. And these are all ways of remedying disabilities. I have a language disability. I don’t speak many of the languages that your former speakers speak, and I would need the assistance for that. Agentic AI will give support to people to accomplish tasks that they might otherwise have great difficulty accomplishing, again, possibly as a consequence of disability, but also simply out of lack of knowledge. And so these kinds of transactions can be tremendously enabled. I noticed, and I want to emphasize the importance of digital literacy. People using these technologies must learn how to use them in a safe way, a safe way that preserves safety and privacy. I also anticipate for the educational side of things that the agents will become tutors. Instead of asking them questions, they’re going to ask us questions to verify that we’ve learned what we should learn. And finally, this kind of online technology allows people to work from home if the physical facilities will accommodate that. And the job, of course, is appropriate. All of these things are benefits that AI will bring to us, but they will not be useful unless you have access to the basic internet technology to begin with, as many of the speakers have emphasized. Thank you very much for allowing me to extend the time beyond our normal termination.

Cerys Stansfield: Thank you, Dr. Cerf, very much for your insights. I think we’d all agree that being able to hear from Dr. Cerf is the silver lining to running over. And thank you again for your patience. Ladies and gentlemen, this brings our session to a close. We have heard today from national regulators, international and national NGOs, and strategic advisory bodies. Building inclusive, knowledge-driven societies is no easy task. Building inclusive, knowledge-driven societies is no easy task. And for as much progress as we have made, and we should rightly celebrate, the global digital divide remains. The WSIS Plus 20 review allows us an opportunity to refocus and redouble our efforts towards building and empowering our digital societies, whether it’s in our infrastructure development, digital skilling and literacy, tech innovation, financial enablement, empowerment, regardless of your age, your gender, or if you have a disability, multi-stakeholder collaboration is key. The public sector, private sector, academia, NGOs, civil society, your families and my family will all co-exist together in the digital societies of the future. It is vital that we build them together. Thank you.

Agreement points

Infrastructure development as foundational requirement for digital inclusion

Speakers

– Mustafa Sheik
– George William Nyombi Thembo
– Gift Kallisto Machengete
– Vinton Cerf

Arguments

Infrastructure deficit requires long-term coordinated investment strategies and public-private partnerships

76% of government offices connected through national backbone infrastructure, targeting northern regions with solar-powered digital labs

Tower relocation program to underserved areas with shared infrastructure makes connectivity viable despite low commercial returns

Basic internet access is fundamental prerequisite for AI and digital technologies to be useful

Summary

All speakers emphasized that robust digital infrastructure is the foundational requirement for any digital transformation efforts, with specific examples of public-private partnerships, infrastructure sharing, and targeted investment in underserved areas

Topics

Infrastructure | Development

Digital literacy and skills development as central to digital transformation

Speakers

– Mustafa Sheik
– George William Nyombi Thembo
– Gift Kallisto Machengete
– Vinton Cerf

Arguments

Low digital skills among citizens and civil servants are consistent barriers requiring central focus

Over 500,000 citizens trained in digital literacy programs including women, SMEs, youth, and persons with disabilities

Specialized ICT training programs and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities create ripple effects of knowledge transfer

Digital literacy education must include safe usage practices to preserve safety and privacy

Summary

Speakers consistently identified digital literacy as a critical component requiring systematic training programs that target diverse populations and include safety considerations

Topics

Development | Sociocultural

Targeting marginalized and underserved communities for digital inclusion

Speakers

– Mustafa Sheik
– George William Nyombi Thembo
– Gift Kallisto Machengete
– Philip Lee

Arguments

Marginalized groups including rural populations, women, and youth are often excluded from digital services

7.5 million Ugandans remain offline with only 40% owning smartphones, requiring targeted interventions

202 community information centers established in rural areas providing ICT services, government services, and telemedicine

Independent and pluralistic media ecosystems need community-led voices to be prioritized over market interests

Summary

All speakers emphasized the need for deliberate efforts to include marginalized communities, with specific focus on rural populations, women, youth, and persons with disabilities through targeted programs and community-based approaches

Topics

Development | Human rights

Need for comprehensive policy frameworks and governance structures

Speakers

– Mustafa Sheik
– George William Nyombi Thembo
– AHM Bazlur Rahman
– Cerys Stansfield

Arguments

Policy fragmentation and weak governance undermine digital transformation, requiring stronger cybersecurity and data protection

Legal frameworks including National Development Plan and Digital Transformation Roadmap create robust ecosystems for digital inclusion

Permanent, reinforced WSIS and IGF Secretariat needed with sustainable funding and centralized UN reporting system

Multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential for building inclusive digital societies

Summary

Speakers agreed on the necessity of strong, coordinated policy frameworks and governance structures that involve multiple stakeholders and provide clear regulatory guidance for digital transformation

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Development

Similar viewpoints

Both regulatory authorities from Zimbabwe and Uganda emphasized comprehensive training programs that specifically include persons with disabilities, demonstrating similar approaches to inclusive digital literacy initiatives

Speakers

– Gift Kallisto Machengete
– George William Nyombi Thembo

Arguments

Specialized ICT training programs and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities create ripple effects of knowledge transfer

Over 500,000 citizens trained in digital literacy programs including women, SMEs, youth, and persons with disabilities

Topics

Development | Human rights

Both speakers from international NGOs expressed concern about corporate dominance in information access and the need to prioritize community voices over commercial interests

Speakers

– Philip Lee
– AHM Bazlur Rahman

Arguments

Independent and pluralistic media ecosystems need community-led voices to be prioritized over market interests

Information and knowledge access is dominated by corporate sector, excluding underserved communities without financial means

Topics

Human rights | Economic

Both speakers focused on AI’s transformative potential in education, with practical applications in teaching and learning enhancement

Speakers

– Christopher Reckord
– Vinton Cerf

Arguments

AI tools being tested to help teachers mark papers and AI labs being established through international partnerships

AI agents will serve as tutors that ask questions to verify learning rather than just answering them

Topics

Sociocultural | Development

Unexpected consensus

Recognition of boys’ needs alongside girls in digital inclusion programs

Speakers

– Gift Kallisto Machengete

Arguments

Scholarships provided to underprivileged youth of both genders, with recognition that boys also need support to avoid negative outcomes

Explanation

While gender inclusion discussions typically focus on supporting girls and women in ICT, Zimbabwe’s regulator specifically acknowledged that boys also need support to prevent negative outcomes like drug use, showing a more holistic approach to youth inclusion

Topics

Development | Human rights

AI as accessibility enabler rather than barrier

Speakers

– Vinton Cerf

Arguments

AI technologies like voice interaction and automatic translation can significantly improve accessibility for people with disabilities

Explanation

Despite common concerns about AI creating new digital divides, there was consensus that AI technologies can actually serve as powerful tools for improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities

Topics

Human rights | Development

Corporate sector criticism from developing nation perspectives

Speakers

– Philip Lee
– AHM Bazlur Rahman

Arguments

Communication rights must be foundational to governance discussions, not footnotes, requiring democratic data governance and public digital infrastructure

Information and knowledge access is dominated by corporate sector, excluding underserved communities without financial means

Explanation

Both speakers from different organizational backgrounds converged on criticism of corporate dominance in digital access, calling for more public-oriented approaches – unexpected given the usual emphasis on public-private partnerships in development contexts

Topics

Human rights | Economic

Overall assessment

Summary

Strong consensus emerged around four key areas: infrastructure as foundation, digital literacy as essential, targeting marginalized communities, and need for comprehensive governance frameworks. Speakers consistently emphasized practical, inclusive approaches with specific examples from their respective contexts.

Consensus level

High level of consensus with complementary rather than conflicting perspectives. The agreement spans different stakeholder types (government regulators, NGOs, technical experts) and geographic regions, suggesting robust foundation for collaborative action. The consensus implies that despite different national contexts, there are universal principles and approaches that can guide inclusive digital society development globally.

Different viewpoints

Role of corporate sector vs. public sector in digital access

Speakers

– AHM Bazlur Rahman
– Mustafa Sheik
– George William Nyombi Thembo

Arguments

Information and knowledge access is dominated by corporate sector, excluding underserved communities without financial means

Infrastructure deficit requires long-term coordinated investment strategies and public-private partnerships

Universal Access Fund targeting specific regions with broadband initiatives and satellite licensing for remote communities

Summary

Rahman criticizes the full commercialization and corporate domination of information access, arguing it excludes underserved communities, while Sheikh and Thembo advocate for public-private partnerships as solutions to infrastructure challenges.

Topics

Development | Economic | Legal and regulatory

Centralized vs. decentralized governance approaches

Speakers

– AHM Bazlur Rahman
– Philip Lee

Arguments

Permanent, reinforced WSIS and IGF Secretariat needed with sustainable funding and centralized UN reporting system

Communication rights must be foundational to governance discussions, not footnotes, requiring democratic data governance and public digital infrastructure

Summary

Rahman advocates for stronger centralized UN structures and reporting systems, while Lee emphasizes democratic data governance and community-led approaches that prioritize local voices over centralized control.

Topics

Legal and regulatory | Human rights

Unexpected differences

Gender-inclusive approach to digital literacy

Speakers

– Gift Kallisto Machengete

Arguments

Scholarships provided to underprivileged youth of both genders, with recognition that boys also need support to avoid negative outcomes

Explanation

Machengete’s explicit mention that boys need support to avoid turning to drugs represents an unexpected perspective in discussions typically focused on empowering girls and women in ICT, suggesting a more holistic view of gender inclusion challenges.

Topics

Development | Human rights

Overall assessment

Summary

The discussion showed relatively low levels of direct disagreement, with most conflicts arising around the balance between market-driven versus community-led approaches to digital inclusion, and centralized versus decentralized governance structures.

Disagreement level

Low to moderate disagreement level. The speakers largely shared common goals of digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide, but differed in their preferred mechanisms and approaches. The disagreements were more about methodology and emphasis rather than fundamental opposition to core objectives, suggesting that collaborative solutions incorporating multiple approaches could be feasible.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both regulatory authorities from Zimbabwe and Uganda emphasized comprehensive training programs that specifically include persons with disabilities, demonstrating similar approaches to inclusive digital literacy initiatives

Speakers

– Gift Kallisto Machengete
– George William Nyombi Thembo

Arguments

Specialized ICT training programs and assistive technologies for persons with disabilities create ripple effects of knowledge transfer

Over 500,000 citizens trained in digital literacy programs including women, SMEs, youth, and persons with disabilities

Topics

Development | Human rights

Both speakers from international NGOs expressed concern about corporate dominance in information access and the need to prioritize community voices over commercial interests

Speakers

– Philip Lee
– AHM Bazlur Rahman

Arguments

Independent and pluralistic media ecosystems need community-led voices to be prioritized over market interests

Information and knowledge access is dominated by corporate sector, excluding underserved communities without financial means

Topics

Human rights | Economic

Both speakers focused on AI’s transformative potential in education, with practical applications in teaching and learning enhancement

Speakers

– Christopher Reckord
– Vinton Cerf

Arguments

AI tools being tested to help teachers mark papers and AI labs being established through international partnerships

AI agents will serve as tutors that ask questions to verify learning rather than just answering them

Topics

Sociocultural | Development

Key takeaways

Building inclusive digital societies requires addressing infrastructure deficits through coordinated public-private partnerships and innovative financing models

Digital inclusion must specifically target marginalized groups including rural populations, women, youth, elderly, and persons with disabilities through tailored programs and services

Digital literacy and human capital development are fundamental barriers that require central focus, with successful programs already training hundreds of thousands of citizens

AI technologies offer significant potential for improving accessibility, particularly through voice interaction, automatic translation, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities

Communication rights must be foundational to governance discussions rather than secondary considerations, requiring democratic data governance and public digital infrastructure

Multi-stakeholder collaboration between public sector, private sector, academia, NGOs, and civil society is essential for building effective digital societies

Policy fragmentation and weak governance frameworks continue to undermine digital transformation efforts, requiring stronger cybersecurity and data protection measures

Resolutions and action items

Establish permanent, reinforced WSIS and IGF Secretariat with sustainable funding at both secretariat and country levels

Develop localized action plans that align global WSIS commitments with national priorities

Create centralized UN reporting system to streamline country-level reporting across UNESCO, WSIS, and ITU

Implement government-wide AI chatbot for comprehensive citizen services access

Scale digital literacy programs using community-based models to reach underserved populations

Strengthen links between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS Action Line issues at country level

Promote capacity building and awareness campaigns on benefits of information and knowledge society

Create multi-stakeholder engagement platforms for regular consultation and progress sharing

Unresolved issues

7.5 million Ugandans remain offline with only 40% smartphone ownership – specific timeline and funding for universal access unclear

Digital divide continues to widen rather than improve, with access dominated by those with financial means while underserved communities remain excluded

Gap exists between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS/IGF issues at country level without clear resolution mechanism

Funding streams for civil society organizations, especially in Global South, are shrinking without identified sustainable alternatives

Colonial, racist, and sexist legacies embedded in information control and AI development remain unaddressed

Inconsistent regulations and unclear data protection laws continue to limit trust and project continuity

Balance between market interests, state control, and genuine public good in media regulation remains undefined

Suggested compromises

Tower sharing arrangements between multiple network operators to make infrastructure viable in low-return areas

Hybrid public-private partnership models for infrastructure development that balance commercial viability with social objectives

Community-based digital literacy models that leverage local capacity while meeting diverse needs of different demographic groups

Graduated approach to AI implementation starting with education sector before expanding to broader government services

Multi-stakeholder governance frameworks that include voices from public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society rather than single-sector dominance

Building an inclusive and knowledge-driven digital society is not only a technical challenge, it is a governance challenge, an investment challenge, and above all, a human challenge.

Speaker

Mustafa Sheikh

Reason

This comment reframes the entire discussion by moving beyond the typical focus on infrastructure and technology to emphasize the multidimensional nature of digital inclusion. It highlights that human factors are paramount, which is often overlooked in tech-focused discussions.

Impact

This comment set the tone for the entire panel by establishing that subsequent speakers would need to address not just technical solutions but governance, investment, and human-centered approaches. It influenced later speakers to discuss community engagement, training programs, and policy frameworks rather than just connectivity metrics.

The access of the information and knowledge sector is fully commercialized and entirely dominated by the corporate sector… Those who have money, they have access to knowledge domain, communication domain. Those who have not money, those who are underserved people, they are not part of this. This is a very sad matter. After 20 years, we see this.

Speaker

AHM Bazlur Rahman

Reason

This comment provides a stark critique of the WSIS progress after 20 years, challenging the celebratory tone and forcing participants to confront uncomfortable truths about digital inequality. It shifts focus from technical achievements to systemic inequities.

Impact

This comment served as a reality check that countered the more optimistic national progress reports. It introduced a critical perspective that highlighted the gap between WSIS aspirations and ground realities, particularly regarding economic barriers to access.

None of this transformation is possible without confronting the colonial, racist and sexist legacies embedded in the control of information and knowledge and in the development of digital technologies themselves, including artificial intelligence.

Speaker

Philip Lee

Reason

This comment introduces a decolonial perspective that challenges fundamental assumptions about how digital technologies are developed and deployed. It goes beyond surface-level inclusion to address structural power imbalances.

Impact

This comment elevated the discussion from operational challenges to systemic critique, introducing concepts of communication rights and justice that reframed digital inclusion as a matter of human dignity rather than just service delivery.

I have a language disability. I don’t speak many of the languages that your former speakers speak, and I would need the assistance for that.

Speaker

Vinton Cerf

Reason

This personal admission from one of the internet’s inventors humanizes the disability discussion and demonstrates that accessibility challenges affect everyone, regardless of technical expertise. It reframes disability as a universal human condition rather than a niche concern.

Impact

Coming from such a prominent figure, this comment validated the importance of accessibility features and showed how AI can address various forms of barriers, not just traditional disabilities. It provided a powerful conclusion that tied together the themes of inclusion and technology.

We have also noted that when we leave boys alone, the boys, especially in our areas, they end up doing a lot of drugs, and we need to assist them as well. So both boys and girls, we are assisting them.

Speaker

Gift Kallisto Machengete

Reason

This comment reveals the complex social realities behind digital inclusion efforts, showing how ICT programs must address broader social challenges like substance abuse. It demonstrates the interconnected nature of development challenges.

Impact

This comment added depth to the gender inclusion discussion by showing that effective programs must consider local social contexts and avoid creating new forms of exclusion while addressing historical inequities.

Overall assessment

These key comments transformed what could have been a routine progress report session into a nuanced examination of digital inclusion challenges. Sheikh’s opening comment established a holistic framework that influenced subsequent speakers to address governance and human factors. Lee’s decolonial critique and Rahman’s economic inequality concerns introduced critical perspectives that challenged celebratory narratives. Cerf’s personal disability admission provided a humanizing conclusion that validated accessibility concerns. Together, these comments created a discussion that moved beyond technical metrics to examine power structures, economic barriers, and social justice dimensions of digital societies. The flow evolved from national success stories to systemic critiques to personal experiences, creating a comprehensive dialogue about the complexities of building truly inclusive digital societies.

How can international cooperation frameworks better address infrastructure deficits in post-conflict nations, particularly regarding reliable internet connectivity and stable electricity?

Speaker

Mustafa Sheikh

Explanation

Sheikh identified infrastructure deficit as a critical barrier, emphasizing the need for long-term coordinated investment strategies and innovative financial models to close this gap in developing digital societies.

What specific mechanisms can strengthen the link between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS Action Line issues at the country level?

Speaker

AHM Bazlur Rahman

Explanation

Rahman highlighted a notable gap between UN Resident Coordinator Offices and WSIS/IGF issues at country level, suggesting this connection needs strengthening for better collaboration and effectiveness.

How can a centralized UN reporting system be developed to streamline multiple reporting requirements for countries implementing WSIS action lines?

Speaker

AHM Bazlur Rahman

Explanation

Rahman pointed out the current fragmented reporting system where countries report to UNESCO, WSIS, and ITU separately, advocating for a unified central reporting system.

What are the most effective models for ensuring underserved communities have voices in the commercialized information and knowledge sector?

Speaker

AHM Bazlur Rahman

Explanation

Rahman expressed concern that after 20 years, access to information and knowledge is dominated by corporate sectors, leaving underserved communities without representation or access.

How can policy fragmentation and weak governance structures be addressed to support digital transformation in post-conflict nations?

Speaker

Mustafa Sheikh

Explanation

Sheikh identified inconsistent regulations, unclear data protection laws, and fragile political institutions as barriers that undermine digital transformation efforts and limit public trust.

What sustainable funding mechanisms can be established for WSIS and IGF Secretariats at both international and country levels?

Speaker

AHM Bazlur Rahman

Explanation

Rahman called for permanent, reinforced secretariats with sustainable funding, indicating current funding structures may be inadequate for long-term implementation.

How can AI technologies be safely implemented while ensuring digital literacy and privacy protection for users?

Speaker

Vinton Cerf

Explanation

Cerf emphasized the importance of digital literacy for safe AI usage and the need for people to learn how to use these technologies while preserving safety and privacy.

What are the most effective approaches to address the colonial, racist, and sexist legacies embedded in digital technology development and information control?

Speaker

Philip Lee

Explanation

Lee argued that transformation toward inclusive digital societies requires confronting these embedded legacies in information control and digital technology development, including AI.

How can the effectiveness of community-based digital literacy models be measured and scaled across different contexts?

Speaker

George William Nyombi Thembo

Explanation

Thembo mentioned Uganda’s community-based models for mobile digital literacy but the discussion didn’t explore how to measure effectiveness or adapt these models to other contexts.