Campaigns | Digital Watch Observatory

DW Weekly #220 – Diplo reporting from WSIS+20 High-Level Event in 2025, UN OEWG 2021-2025 11th substantive session reports, and more digital policy news!

4 – 11 July 2025

People, Person, Book, Publication, Adult, Male, Man, Advertisement, Poster, Baby, Comics, Head, Face, Art

Dear readers,

This week, cybersecurity faced heightened challenges as global instability, including conflicts like Israel-Palestine and US-Iran tensions, fueled a surge in cyberattacks, as per the report by GlobalData, which shows that rising geopolitical tensions are giving state actors, terrorists, hacktivists and cybercriminals more opportunities to strike, targeting critical infrastructure and escalating risks for businesses worldwide.

Brazil, for example, suffered its largest bank breach, with hackers stealing $180 million, while South Korea’s SK Telecom announced a $700 billion upgrade to bolster its cybersecurity defences.

The EU regional authorities called for greater involvement in EU cybersecurity plans, emphasising the need for local expertise to shape effective hospital protection strategies. Another alert: the FBI recently warned of rising airline cyberattacks posing national security threats.

Ukraine is strengthening cybersecurity ties with the EU amid ongoing threats. Discussions in Rome focused on enhancing cybersecurity cooperation and establishing a joint Center of Competence for Cyber Resilience in Ukraine.

Visa’s war room leverages AI to combat $15 trillion in threats, and the US Cyber Command proposed a $5 million AI initiative for 2026, a project aimed at developing data standards and pilot technologies that enhance threat detection, automation, and decision-making in cyber operations.

In the lead-up to the concluding session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs, Thailand, New Zealand, and South Korea have released their respective national positions on the application of international law in cyberspace, contributing to the growing corpus of state practice on the issue.

AI in education

A university lecturer in the US says many students increasingly rely on ChatGPT to write essays, even about the ethics of AI, raising concerns about critical thinking in higher education. On the other hand, ChatGPT has ‘quietly’ rolled out the feature ‘Study Toge ther.’ Users have noticed the new option ‘Study Together’ appearing among available tools, though OpenAI has yet to confirm any official rollout. The feature seems designed to make ChatGPT a more interactive educational companion than just delivering instant answers.

Crypto developments

A new analysis by crypto commentator Stellar Rippler suggests that Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill may be part of a calculated effort to dismantle the current financial order. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is holding firm above $108,000, trading at $108,387 as of 8 July. Despite a slight daily dip, longer-term indicators support a bullish trend. On the other side of the Atlantic, more than 50 crypto firms are now fully licensed under the EU’s MiCA framework, six months after it came into effect. The list names 14 stablecoin issuers and 39 service providers approved to operate across the EU’s 30 member states, except Tether and Binance, which remain absent from the approved list.

Chip export control side effects

The US is preparing stricter export controls on high-end Nvidia AI chips destined for Malaysia and Thailand, in a move to block China’s indirect access to advanced GPU hardware. At the same time, Samsung Electronics expects its second-quarter operating profits to exceed half, citing Washington’s export controls on advanced AI chips to China. The company announced a projected 56% year-on-year drop in operating profit, falling to 4.6 trillion won ($3.3 billion), with revenue down 6.5% from the previous quarter.

Data and content governance

Data and content governance saw significant developments this week as BRICS nations pushed for AI and data regulations amid de-dollarisation challenges, highlighting global governance tensions. Still speaking about data and content, a court ruling raised alarms over saved ChatGPT chats, exposing privacy risks, while Elon Musk ’s Grok AI chatbot removed offensive content to align with ethical standards, though it faced suspension in Türkiye following a court order.

Diplo Blog – Diplomacy is where there are no rules

Aldo Matteucci

He had bought a large map representing the sea,
Without the least vestige of land:
And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be
A map they could all understand.

–Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark

I’d made this comment recently in an off-hand sort of way. I’ve been challenged, so I must stand by my words: diplomacy is where there are no rules.

Let me explain the assertion with an analogy. At the dawn of the electronic age, gadgets were all stand-alone. They were not able to interconnect and communicate. Frustration all around. Slowly, protocols were established, growing into full-fledged interfaces. Now, it’s: ‘plug and play’. Until an agreement was reached on how to connect the two pieces of equipment, there were no rules – just an unexplored set of possibilities. Read the full blog!

Last week in Geneva

Water, Waterfront, City, Urban, Harbor, Pier, Metropolis, Architecture, Building, Cityscape, Outdoors, Boat, Transportation, Vehicle, High Rise, Windmill

WSIS+20 High-Level Event in 2025

The annual WSIS Forum, branded as the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in 2025, kicked off on 7 July in Geneva. The event served as a platform for multistakeholder discussions on implementing WSIS Action Lines and related progress, challenges, and opportunities since adopting the Geneva Plan of Action in 2003. In the lead-up to the WSIS+20 review by the UN General Assembly, the event also featured discussions on progress made in implementing the WSIS outcomes.

Helmet, People, Person, Adult, Male, Man, Face, Head, American Football, Football, Playing American Football, Sport, Crowd, Clothing, Formal Wear, Suit, Furniture, Table, Bill Kenney

Diplo has actively participated again, reporting just-in-time and spreading the diplomatic word as ever, with Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Head of Diplo and Geneva Internet Platform, who focused on how digital tools are reshaping diplomacy by fostering inclusivity and efficiency, urging a shift from reactive to proactive governance. He advocated mapping digital policy complexities—over 1,000 mechanisms tracked by the Geneva Internet Platform—to avoid duplication and enhance collaboration, proposing policy incubators and cooperation accelerators to connect diverse stakeholders. His vision, rooted in human-centric approaches, calls for balancing innovation with ethical oversight, a theme resonating throughout the event.

The event’s focus on inclusion, language, ethics, cybersecurity, sk i lls, and humanitarian efforts reflects a holistic agenda, but also critical gaps such as funding disparities, regulatory weaknesses, and geopolitical divides, challenging the narrative of a unified digital future. The GDC synergy offers potential, yet its success hinges on addressing these structural issues and ensuring digital diplomacy evolves into actionable, equitable progress rather than remaining a well-intentioned dialogue.

AI for Good Global Summit 2025

Crowd, Person, Audience, Electrical Device, Microphone, Boy, Child, Male, Accessories, Glasses, People, Speech, Computer, Electronics, Laptop, Pc, Clothing, Formal Wear, Suit, Head, Podium, Face, Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy

AI for Good Global Summit 2025, the flagship event of the ITU-led AI for Good platform, organised in partnership with 40 UN agencies and co-convened with Switzerland, kicked off on 8 July in Geneva. This year’s programme featured three key events: the AI for Good Global Summit (8–9 July), AI Governance Day (10 July), and International AI Standards Day (11 July).

Both events wrap up later today. From hosting sessions and exhibiting to sharing our expertise on stage, our Diplo and GIP team was active throughout both events. Visit our dedicated WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 and AI for Good Global Summit 2025 web pages on diplomacy.edu for more information about our activities.

Plus, don’t miss our session reports and AI insights—available now on our dedicated WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 and AI for Good Global Summit 2025 web pages on the Digital Watch Observatory.

In Case You Missed It
The OEWG on ICT security is concluding its work this week with its eleventh and final substantive session. We’ve been following developments closely with session reorts and will publish a full analysis next week—stay tuned.

Upcoming events

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots, from daily updates to main weekly developments, to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 4 – 11 July 2025

Parliamentarians step up as key players in shaping the digital future

From regulating AI to bridging the global digital divide, parliamentarians are redefining their roles to ensure that technology serves people, not the other way around.

chinese flag with the city of shanghai in the background and digital letters ai somewhere over the flag

Report shows China outpacing the US and EU in AI research

Governments now face the reality that falling behind in AI capability could have serious geopolitical consequences, warns a new research report.

technology network background connection cyber space ai generative

Space operators face strict cybersecurity obligations under EU plan

EU’s law aims to protect supply chains and ground systems supporting space missions.

Harnessing the power of space: Bridging innovation and the SDGs

From legal loopholes to breakthrough technologies, the global space community is charting a bold new course to make outer space a powerful ally in solving Earth’s most urgent challenges.

Microsoft Salesforce AI call centres layoffs jobs

Microsoft and Salesforce use AI to cut costs and reshape workforce

Microsoft and Salesforce report major cost savings and operational changes as AI replaces a significant portion of human-driven tasks.

EU rejects delay for AI Act rollout

Tech giants asked for a delay, but the EU is sticking to its original AI Act deadlines through 2026.

Kurbalija: Digital tools are reshaping diplomacy

Geneva’s timeless role in global affairs is now expanding into the digital realm, where the future of diplomacy hinges on how we govern the technologies reshaping our world.

Google hit with EU complaint over AI Overviews

EU publishers accuse Google of misusing content in AI Overviews, claiming serious damage to their online visibility and income.

meta brazil hate speech policy 1024x673 1

Meta hires Apple’s top AI executive amid tech talent war

The departure of Apple’s foundation models leader reflects internal instability and Meta’s growing influence in AI development.

Wimbledon faces backlash over AI line judges after tech errors spark outrage

Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu criticised AI calls at Wimbledon, saying they led to key point losses and unfair match results.

xAI unveils Grok 4 with top benchmark scores

Elon Musk revealed Grok 4, claiming it surpasses PhD-level knowledge, despite recent backlash over offensive AI-generated content.

quantum ai data science and cybersecurity

Quantum leap in Finland pushes qubit to millisecond range

Aalto and VTT researchers report over 1 millisecond coherence, a breakthrough for superconducting quantum devices.

Google partners with UK government on AI training

Collaboration with Google DeepMind will support departments in deploying AI solutions across the public sector.

AI that serves communities, not the other way round

Shifting the focus from powerful algorithms to local voices, a global panel explored how AI can thrive in the Global South without leaving its communities behind.

View all updates

READING CORNER

The power of self-organisation

Can Wikipedia teach diplomacy a lesson? Aldo Matteucci contrasts rigid hierarchies with messy, adaptive self-organising systems, and asks which one truly gets more done.

AI Apprenticeship for IOs · From diplomats to AI builders

The AI Apprenticeship for International Organisations, developed by DiploFoundation, empowers professionals from entities like the UN, WHO, and CERN to create AI tools that enhance global cooperation.

Diplomacy is where there are no rules

Diplomacy begins where there are no rules – only open-ended possibilities. Aldo Matteucci explains how real diplomacy begins: with trial-and-error, creative thinking, and turning confusion into agreement.

BLOG featured image 2025 Why military AI needs urgent regulation

Why military AI needs urgent regulation – Diplo

As military AI becomes operational in today’s conflicts, the lack of regulation and accountability risks turning warfare into a domain governed by opaque algorithms and unchecked escalation.

The rise and risks of synthetic media

Balancing synthetic media’s benefits with its risks will shape the future of digital communication and societies.

16 July 2025

CPDP LatAm session on ‘Critical infrastructure and digital sovereignty: regulatory challenges for sustainable data centers’

The growing global demand for the Internet and digital services has consolidated data centers as critical infrastructures for international trade, technological innovation, environmental sustainability and digital sovereignty, highlighting their strategic centrality in the digital economy.

14 Jul 2025 – 23 Jul 2025

2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)

The 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), will occur from 14 July to 23 July 2025.

June 2025 in Retrospect

Dear readers,

In June, the spotlight shone on the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, where DiploAI made waves as the official reporting partner, capturing every session with cutting-edge AI-driven transcription and delivering real-time insights via dig.watch.

Amid global debates on AI governance, digital sovereignty, and cybersecurity, the forum set the stage for transformative dialogue. From bridging the digital divide to tackling AI-driven disinformation, June’s trends reveal a world at a crossroads, where technology shapes geopolitics, trade, and human rights.

Join us as we unpack the key developments of the month, spotlighting the pivotal moments of IGF 2025 and the broader digital diplomacy landscape.

Some digital highlights of June 2025:

IGF 2025 opens in Norway: the forum kicked off on 23 June, bringing together over 8,000 stakeholders to shape internet governance.
EU allocates €145.5 million for cybersecurity – funds target healthcare and critical infrastructure protection.
Bitcoin holds above $100,000 – crypto stability signals growing adoption amid regulatory shifts.
NATO summit addresses cyber threats – pro-Russian hacktivists target infrastructure during 76th summit.
HRC reviews tech and human rights – reports on AI and digital birth registration debated on 26 June.
ITU Council adopts 2026–2027 budget and focuses on digital inclusion and AI diplomacy in Geneva.
WhatsApp is banned on US House of Representatives devices – Meta’s service is restricted due to security concerns.
Quantum computer orbits via SpaceX – a photonic breakthrough hints at future tech shifts.
The EU urges a delay of the AI Act, as the industry cites missing frameworks and legal uncertainty.
Global South pushes for digital inclusion – IGF session highlights governance for the vulnerable.

Diplo’s analysis and reporting in an exceptional time

In a world where history unfolds at breakneck speed, the real challenge isn’t just keeping up—it’s making sense of it all. Every day brings a flood of information, but the bigger picture often gets lost in the noise. How do today’s developments shape long-term trends? How do they impact us as individuals, communities, businesses, and even humanity?

At Diplo, we bridge the gap between real-time updates and deeper insights. Our Digital Watch keeps a pulse on daily developments while connecting them to weekly, monthly, and yearly trends as illustrated bellow.

From cybersecurity to e-commerce to digital governance, we track these shifts from daily fluctuations to long-term industry pivots.

In our 101st issue of the monthly newsletter, you can follow: AI and tech TENDENCIES | Developments in GENEVA | dig.watch ANALYSIS

Best regards,

DW Team

June in Retrospect: IGF 2025 and digital trends

June 2025 was defined by the resounding impact of the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025, held on 23 – 27 June in Lillestrøm, Norway, at Nova Spektrum, the country’s largest UN gathering ever hosted. With over 4,000 participants joining in person and online, the forum, themed ‘Building Digital Governance Together’, was opened by UN IGF Secretariat Head Chengetai Masango and Norway’s Minister of Digitalisation Karianne Oldernes Tung, stressing a collaborative vision for an open, secure internet amid rising global tensions. Key sessions on Day 1 tackled AI’s role in humanity and the digital divide, with 2.6 billion still offline, while Dr Jovan Kurbalija called for a renewed IGF mandate and innovative funding ahead of WSIS+20, setting a foundation for inclusive governance.

The forum’s dialogue deepened on Day 2 with showcases of India’s Aadhaar (80 million daily uses) and Brazil’s PIX ($5.7 billion savings). However, funding challenges were stark, with Dr Kurbalija and Sorina Teleanu advocating for AI cooperation and parliamentary engagement. Days 3 and 4 focused on cultural diversity in AI governance and the knowledge ecology project, unlocking 19 years of IGF data for SDGs, while the final day addressed internet fragmentation under Article 29C of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), with Marilia Maciel urging economic research and Gbenga Sesan highlighting user disparities. Key takeaways included a push for measurable frameworks, sustained multistakeholder collaboration, and DiploAI’s pivotal role in delivering real-time, AI-driven reporting via dig.watch, underscoring June as a crucial month for digital policy.

Rising AI governance frameworks

June witnessed a decisive surge in AI governance frameworks, crystallised through converging institutional, regional, and civil-society efforts showcased at dig.watch. At IGF 2025 in Lillestrøm, sessions like the High-Level Review of AI Governance identified a troubling concentration of compute in a small group of nations, calling for democratised GPU access, algorithmic audits, and robust model evaluation to combat 26 % hallucination rates and biassed outcomes. In parallel, the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI reaffirmed its commitment to the 2021 Recommendation, bringing into focus human rights, gender sensitivity, multistakeholder alignment, and sustainability outcomes. IGF workshops like AI Innovation Responsible Development Ethical Imperatives stressed global ethical unity and emphasised inclusive public systems, from agriculture to education, to ensure AI serves broad social goals.

Meanwhile, IGF’s Open Forum #33, facilitated by China’s Cyberspace Administration, echoed the need for equitable cooperation, spotlighting that over 60 % of AI patents are Chinese and underscoring the importance of shared regulatory norms and public interest safeguards. Sessions such as AI at a Crossroads Between Sovereignty and Sustainability further fused debates on environmental justice and strategic autonomy, examining the unsustainable water use of data centres and the resource-linked vulnerabilities of national AI infrastructures.

Beyond global summits, dig.watch also flagged UNGA’s revision of an AI Governance Dialogue draft on 4 June as a pivotal move toward inclusive science diplomacy—the revised text mandates balanced leadership and annual assembly-level reporting. AI capacity-building platforms like UNESCO’s 4–5 June Paris forum and ITU Council workshops underscore the need for investments in governance training and readiness for public-sector AI deployment.

Sovereignty in the digital age – data governance and justice imperatives

In Europe’s heart, Denmark’s Ministry of Digitalisation initiated a government-wide migration from Microsoft products toward LibreOffice and Linux, echoing parallel efforts in Copenhagen and Aarhus to strengthen national autonomy and data control over US-based platforms. Not far behind, the German state of Schleswig‑Holstein formally abandoned Microsoft Teams and Office, citing geopolitical vulnerabilities and licensing inequities, while redirecting data storage to German-run infrastructures. These synchronised moves come as Lyon, the third-largest city in France, is also transitioning its municipal systems to open-source stacks like Nextcloud and PostgreSQL, exemplifying a broader municipal sovereignty wave that signals Europe’s collective pivot in public sector IT.

Concurrently, the EU launched DNS4EU on 9 June, establishing a privacy-centric, GDPR-compliant Domain Name System resolver managed by a pan-European consortium to wean the region off US-dominated DNS services and fortify continental infrastructure. In the United Kingdom, tech leaders are reevaluating reliance on American cloud providers, with most IT professionals supporting ‘cloud repatriation’ to reclaim data sovereignty and safeguard strategic autonomy under the CLOUD Act shadow.

At IGF 2025 in Lillestrøm, community networks and open-source platforms emerged as central to sovereignty discussions, highlighted at four daily sessions that elevated grassroots-managed infrastructure to balance centralised, corporate-controlled systems. This localist strand was reflected globally in sessions like AI at a Crossroads Between Sovereignty and Sustainability, where speakers exposed the ecological interdependencies—such as water-intensive data centres—and advocated for a ‘digital solidarity’ model prioritising shared Global South priorities over resource-driven fragmentation.

Data governance is intertwined with justice, as IGF 2025’s Day 3 emphasised cultural diversity in AI, with the knowledge ecology project aiding SDGs. ‘Civil society pushes for digital rights and justice in WSIS+20 review’ demanded accountability, and the HRC’s tech report (A/HRC/59/32) addressed AI’s human rights impact.

Geopolitical cyber tensions

June brought major escalations in geopolitical cyber tensions, with events converging to reveal a global landscape where digital infrastructure now sits at the heart of strategic conflict.

Japan’s introduction of the Cyber‑Defense Act early in the month symbolised a paradigm shift: national cyber sovereignty is now defence policy, empowering pre-emptive actions against hostile servers before they can strike critical infrastructure. Across the Atlantic, NATO’s summit took a transformative tone; member states not only agreed to expand defence budgets to 5% of GDP but formally acknowledged cyberespionage and sabotage by Russia-linked groups as frontline threats, prompting joint exercises to reinforce cyber-resilience across allied networks.

At the same time, a surge in hacktivist operations tied to Iran–Israel tensions signalled a volatile expansion of cyber conflict zones. A dig.watch cybercrime summary noted a sharp uptick in attacks on airlines and government systems, particularly amid the Israel-Iran crisis.

Beyond state-led conflict, cyber threats intensified at the societal level, from airports to healthcare facilities and new malware campaigns exploiting ubiquitous platforms like Zoom to compromise crypto assets.

Crypto’s regulatory evolution

June underscored a rapid evolution in crypto regulation and adoption: shifts in concrete regulatory action, market shifts, and mainstream acceptance. In Europe, the long-anticipated MiCA framework edged closer to implementation by 2025, signalling the EU’s intent to regulate stablecoins, enhance transparency, and protect consumers. In Korea, intense political and legislative momentum accompanied a new bill empowering commercial entities to issue stablecoins.

Across the Atlantic, the USA experienced dramatic developments: Bitcoin surged past USD 100,000, buoyed by policy signals and broader institutional interest. Simultaneously, plans by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to permit crypto holdings in mortgage reserve assets—nurtured by presidential momentum—highlighted growing regulatory curiosity from the heart of the financial system.

Regulators also ramped up consumer protections and enforcement: Barclays in the UK blocked crypto transactions on credit cards over consumer risk concerns, while Singapore’s MAS demanded local crypto firms cease overseas digital token services by 30 June, or face fines and jail, strengthening KYC and AML protocols.

Overlaying these trends, quantum computing’s impact on crypto security loomed large: experts warned that advances like Microsoft’s Majorana chip could crack Bitcoin within five years, highlighting a looming existential challenge to current blockchains and urging urgent investment in quantum-resistant systems.

Trade and AI chip control battles – export controls as cybersecurity and privacy fortification

Taiwan imposed urgent export controls on TSMC, stemming from its inadvertent sale of chiplets to Huawei—an incident that compelled Taipei to heighten scrutiny across advanced semiconductor transfers. Simultaneously, the UAE’s Stargate AI megaproject, facing US export concerns due to proximity to sanctioned regimes, illustrated how non-Western AI investments are now contingent on compliance with geopolitically sensitive terms.

Bridging the digital divide and digital rights

The IGF 2025 in Lillestrøm started with sobering statistics: 2.6 billion people remain offline, an alarming figure reframing connectivity as a democratic imperative, not just a technical goal. Sessions like Closing Digital Divides by Universal Access & Acceptance brought together voices from Canada, Kenya, and Pakistan to explore socioeconomic and linguistic barriers blocking inclusion (turn0search0). The UNESCO-endorsed ROAMX framework was spotlighted for its role in evaluating digital policy through a lens of Rights, Openness, Accessibility, Multistakeholder participation, and gender and sustainability considerations.

Digital rights gained focus, with IGF 2025’s civil society push for WSIS+20 accountability and HRC’s emphasis on marginalised groups. ‘Civil society pushes back against cyber law misuse’ highlighted government overreach, while the Freedom Online Coalition’s AI statement upheld rights, although spyware gaps in the Global South persisted.

Language diversity also took centre stage, with an IGF panel emphasising that true connectivity requires a native-language interface, a plea backed by experts from ICANN, Unicode, and regulatory authorities across regions.

On the policy front, the June release of the WSIS+20 Elements Paper emphasised equitable access, data justice, cybersecurity, and inclusive AI as pillars of global digital cooperation.

Geneva’s own Canton is implementing a constitutionally enshrined right to digital integrity, diving into operational standards for data protection and anti-surveillance—an experimental testbed in Europe’s digital rights frontier (turn0search17). Meanwhile, an IGF roundtable on ‘Click with Care’ recombined child safety, algorithmic impact, and hate speech concerns into a unified digital rights narrative, provoking parliamentarians’ calls for platform accountability laws and human-centred design.

June 2025’s trends, from IGF 2025’s insights to global shifts, shape our digital future. Explore more on dig.watch!

Diplo Blog – ‘AI and Magical Realism: When technology blurs the line between wonder and reality’

The challenges of governing AI often feel like something out of a Gabriel García Márquez novel, where the extraordinary blends seamlessly with the everyday, and the line between the possible and the impossible grows faint. In the week from 22 to 27 June 2025 at the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), I proposed using magical realism as a lens to understand AI’s complexities. Here’s why this literary tradition might offer a useful tool for the AI debates ahead.

Read the full blog on diplomacy.edu!

Join us next month as we track these evolving trends. Subscribe to our weekly updates at dig.watch for the latest digital policy insights!

For more information on cybersecurity, digital policies, AI governance and other related topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Geneva in June

Developments, events and takeaways

In June, Geneva reaffirmed its position as a global nerve centre for digital policy, offering a rich tapestry of events, summits, and multilateral initiatives that articulated the future of digital governance.

The month began with the Giga School Connectivity Forum on 5 June at Campus Biotech, which brought together cross-sector stakeholders, including government, academia, and telecommunications leaders, to dissect challenges in achieving universal school internet access by 2030, emphasising the urgency of closing educational and digital gaps. Shortly thereafter, the Final Brief on WSIS+20 High-Level Event on 10 June, convening diplomats, UN officials, and technologists in Geneva to outline priorities for the December 2025 UN General Assembly review, on issues such as digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and inclusive AI frameworks, cementing the city’s role in shaping global digital norms.

Mid-June saw ITU Council session (17–27 June) reconvene at ITU headquarters. The ‘AI in Action’ workshop and discussions on the Giga Connectivity Centre, launched in partnership with UNICEF and Spain at Campus Biotech, highlighted how AI and connectivity are being mainstreamed into Geneva’s institutional agenda. Simultaneously, on 9 June, the DNS4EU initiative captured attention, even though it is a separate project, its launch underlines Geneva’s alignment with European infrastructure sovereignty goals.

Geneva is also hosting the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, running from 16 June to 11 July. Alongside traditional rights issues, delegates tackled digital-era concerns: the impact of AI on freedom of expression, surveillance, and the rights of vulnerable populations. While digital-specific resolutions were not yet tabled, the session reaffirmed that the Council considers digital rights within its broader human rights framework, setting the stage for deeper engagement on online privacy, misinformation, and digital inclusion in upcoming global reviews.

From 19 to 30 June, the Geneva Internet Law Summer School welcomed global scholars to debate issues ranging from data protection to net neutrality, underscoring Geneva’s status as a laboratory for digital legal policy. In parallel, Geneva-based ARTICLE 19 led a powerful session demanding digital rights and equity to be central to the WSIS+20 outcome, framing digital inclusion as an issue inseparable from human rights.

Snapshot: The developments that made waves in June

June 2025 was marked by notable developments in AI governance, cybersecurity, and global digital policy. Here’s a snapshot of what happened over the last month:

TECHNOLOGY

Chinese chipmaker Loongson has unveiled new server CPUs that it claims are comparable to Intel’s 2021 Ice Lake processors, marking a step forward in the nation’s push for tech self-sufficiency.

Africa is falling far behind in the global race to develop AI, according to a new report by Oxford University.

A groundbreaking quantum leap has taken place in space exploration. The world’s first photonic quantum computer has successfully entered orbit aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 14 mission.

The US Department of Defence has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop prototype generative AI tools for military use.

Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing have revived fears about the long-term security of Bitcoin (BTC).

A small-scale quantum device developed by researchers at the University of Vienna has outperformed advanced classical machine learning algorithms—including some used in today’s leading AI systems—using just two photons and a glass chip.

Orange Business and Toshiba Europe have launched France’s first commercial quantum-safe network service in Paris.

Oxford University physicists have achieved a world-first in quantum computing by setting a new record for single-qubit operation accuracy.

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has revealed plans to develop a 50,000-qubit fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2034, using its proprietary ‘Dimon’ superconducting transmon technology.

Chinese scientists have created the world’s first AI-based system capable of identifying real nuclear warheads from decoys, marking a significant step in arms control verification.

GOVERNANCE

The new EU International Digital Strategy 2025 (published on 5 June 2025) pivots from the EU’s values-based digital diplomacy towards a more geopolitical, security – and competition–driven approach.

The US Senate has passed the GENIUS Act, the first bill to establish a federal framework for regulating dollar-backed stablecoins.

Vietnam has officially legalised crypto assets as part of a landmark digital technology law passed by the National Assembly on 14 June.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The UK government’s evolving defence and security policies aim to close legal gaps exposed by modern threats such as cyberattacks and sabotage of undersea cables.

Plans for a vast AI data hub in the UAE have raised security concerns in Washington due to the country’s close ties with China.

LEGAL

Denmark’s Ministry of Culture has introduced a draft law aimed at safeguarding citizens’ images and voices under national copyright legislation.

US President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day extension for TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to secure a US buyer, effectively postponing a nationwide ban of the popular video-sharing app.

OpenAI reportedly tries to reduce Microsoft’s exclusive control over hosting its AI models, signalling growing friction between the two companies.

A federal judge in New York ordered the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop sharing sensitive personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agents.

The European Commission has imposed a €329 million fine on Berlin-based Delivery Hero and its Spanish subsidiary, Glovo, for participating in what it described as a cartel in the online food delivery market.

ECONOMY

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman revealed that he had a conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday to discuss the future of their partnership.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is planning what could become his most audacious venture yet: a $1 trillion AI and robotics industrial park in Arizona.

Bitcoin prices slumped in mid-June as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worsened.

OKX has expanded its European presence by launching fully compliant centralised exchanges in Germany and Poland.

Taiwan has officially banned the export of chips and chiplets to China’s Huawei and SMIC, joining the US in tightening restrictions on advanced semiconductor transfers.

Amazon will invest AU$ 20 billion to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia, using solar and wind power instead of traditional energy sources.

SECURITY

A ransomware attack on the Swiss non-profit Radix has led to the theft and online publication of sensitive government data.

The Iran–Israel conflict has now expanded into cyberspace, with rival hacker groups launching waves of politically driven attacks.

Chinese AI company DeepSeek is gaining traction in global markets despite growing concerns about national security.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to assist organisations in meeting the upcoming EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) requirements.

A coalition of cybersecurity agencies, including the NSA, FBI, and CISA, has issued joint guidance to help organisations protect AI systems from emerging data security threats.

In a bold move highlighting growing concerns over digital sovereignty, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein is cutting ties with Microsoft.

Prior to the Danish government’s formal decision, the cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus had already announced plans to reduce reliance on Microsoft software and cloud services.

The EU Council and European Parliament have reached a political agreement to strengthen cross-border enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

One of the largest-ever leaks of stolen login data has come to light, exposing more than 16 billion records across widely used services, including Facebook, Google, Telegram, and GitHub.

A cyberattack has reportedly hit Iran’s Bank Sepah by the hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow.

Over 20,000 malicious IP addresses and domains linked to data-stealing malware have been taken down during Operation Secure, a coordinated cybercrime crackdown led by INTERPOL between January and April 2025.

The FBI has issued a warning about the resurgence of BADBOX 2.0, a dangerous form of malware infecting millions of consumer electronics globally.

US President Donald J. Trump signed a new Executive Order (EO) aimed at amending existing federal cybersecurity policies.

Japan’s parliament has passed a new law enabling active cyberdefence measures, allowing authorities to legally monitor communications data during peacetime and neutralise foreign servers if cyberattacks occur.

DEVELOPMENT

NATO is discussing proposals to broaden the scope of defence-related expenditures to help member states meet a proposed spending target of 5% of GDP.

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Social media platform X has updated its developer agreement to prohibit the use of its content for training large language models.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has taken action against unauthorised financial influencers in a coordinated international crackdown, resulting in three arrests.

Wikipedia has paused a controversial trial of AI-generated article summaries following intense backlash from its community of volunteer editors.

TikTok has globally banned the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ after pressure from the French government, which accused the platform of promoting harmful eating habits among young users.

For more information on cybersecurity, digital policies, AI governance and other related topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security

The new EU International Digital Strategy 2025 (published on 5 June 2025) pivots from the EU’s values-based digital diplomacy (outlined in the 2023 Council Conclusions on Digital Diplomacy) towards a more geopolitical, security – and competition–driven approach.

The strategy is comprehensive in coverage, from digital infrastructure and security to economic issues and human rights. Yet, in a wide range of policy initiatives, it prioritises issues such as secure digital infrastructure around submarine cables and gives less prominence to, for example, the use of the ‘Brussels effect’ of spreading the EU’s digital regulations worldwide.

The strategy provides a multi-tier approach to the EU’s digital relations with the world, starting from global negotiations (the UN, G7, G20) via engagement with regional organisations (e.g. African Union, ASEAN) and specific countries.

Lastly, the strategy leaves many questions open, especially regarding its practical implementation.

This analysis dives deep into these and other aspects of the new EU international digital strategy, which will have a broader impact on tech developments worldwide. It compares the 2023 Council Conclusions on Digital Diplomacy with the 2025 EU International Digital Strategy. Both documents address the European Union’s international digital policy.

However, they differ significantly in form and drafting process. The 2023 Conclusions on EU Digital Diplomacy (The 2023 Conclusions) were adopted by the Council of the EU following negotiations among Member States. Conversely, the 2025 EU International Digital Strategy (The 2025 Strategy) was drafted by the European Commission and presented as a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament.

1. Key shifts in the 2025 Strategy

This brief unpacks these shifts, contrasting 2025’s priorities with the 2023 outlook, and concludes with policy recommendations.

From values to geopolitics and geoeconomics

The 2023 Conclusions stressed a human-centric, rights-based framework. The 2025 Strategy frames digital issues chiefly as matters of systemic resilience, economic competition, and security. The EU will focus more on building trade and security partnerships for exporting the EU’s AI and digital solutions than on ‘exporting’ norms (‘Brussels effect’).

The Strategy repeatedly stresses that boosting EU technological capacity (AI, semiconductors, cloud, quantum) is essential for economic growth and security. Tech Commissioner Virkkunen has stated that ‘tech competitiveness is an economic and security imperative’ for Europe.

Continued values, but subsumed

Although the Strategy still affirms support for human rights, it treats ‘values’ as subsidiary to strategic goals. In practice, issues like privacy and inclusivity are mentioned mostly in passing. By contrast, the 2023 Council Conclusions had foregrounded a ‘human-centric regulatory framework for an inclusive digital transformation’. The 2025 text incorporates those values under broader objectives of resilience and competitiveness.

Regulatory power de-emphasised

The EU’s traditional approach of using single‑market rules to set global standards (‘Brussels effect’) is notably downplayed. For example, the new strategy does not mention the AI Act – a flagship EU regulation. Instead, emphasis is on investment and cooperation (e.g. AI infrastructure) rather than the export of EU rules. This suggests the EU pragmatically recognises limits to unilateral rule-setting and focuses on building capabilities instead.

Team Europe approach

Both the 2023 Council Conclusions and the 2025 Strategy stress a coordinated EU approach. The Strategy prioritises deepening existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, and establishing new ones. A new Digital Partnership Network is proposed to coordinate these efforts, signalling an organisational shift toward structured cooperation.

Table 1: Key shifts in EU digital diplomacy (2023 vs. 2025)

2. New frontiers: What is the EU prioritising?

The 2025 Strategy introduces several priorities that were either absent or significantly less prominent in the 2023 Conclusions. These new focus areas illustrate the concrete manifestation of the EU’s intensified geopolitical and geoeconomic orientation.

Defence-linked technologies

For the first time, the EU links advanced digital tech to defence. It calls for efforts in cyber-defence, secure supply chains, and countering hybrid threats alongside AI, chips, and quantum R&D. The aim is an industry able to design and produce strategic tech (AI, semiconductors, cloud, quantum) at scale for both civilian and defence use.

This represents a significant securitisation of digital policy, moving beyond traditional cybersecurity to integrate technology directly into defence doctrines and industrial policy.

Secure infrastructure and connectivity

The strategy highlights investments in secure networks – 5G/6G, undersea (submarine) cables, and satellite links. Notably, it builds on the Global Gateway initiative (the EU’s alternative to China’s Belt and Road), co‑funding a network of secure submarine cables (Arctic, BELLA, MEDUSA, Blue-Raman), creating physical links with strategic partners and Digital Public Infrastructure in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This addresses resilience against disruptions and foreign dependence in critical infrastructure.

Economic security – Trusted supply chains

The EU emphasises ‘resilient ICT supply chains’ and the use of trusted suppliers. In practice, this means diversifying away from over‑reliance on any one country or firm. The strategy also pushes digital trade frameworks: expanding digital trade agreements (e.g. with Singapore and South Korea) and promoting innovation in cooperation with ‘trusted partners’ to bolster EU leadership in emerging tech.

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

There is a new focus on promoting EU-style DPIs abroad – for example, supporting partner countries to adopt secure digital IDs, e-services, data governance models, etc. The strategy calls for coordinated EU public-private investment in DPI and cybersecurity tools to aid partners’ digital transitions.

EU Tech Business Offer

This is a major new initiative – a public-private investment package (‘Tech Team Europe’) to help partners build digital capacity. Components include AI Factories (regional supercomputing/data centres), secure connectivity projects, digital skills and cyber capacity-building. The Strategy promises to roll out this dedicated Tech Business Offer globally, blending EU and member state resources to empower foreign markets with European tech (see Strategic Signals below).

Deepening partnerships and standards

The Strategy commits to expanding the Digital Partnerships and Dialogues established in 2023, and creating a new Digital Partnership Network to coordinate them. This means more joint R&D programmes (e.g., in quantum and semiconductors with Japan, Canada, and South Korea) and pushing for interoperable standards. The EU will continue to promote a rules-based digital order in line with its values, but through collaboration rather than just unilateral rules.

3. Shifting priorities: What’s less emphasised

While new priorities emerge, some traditional EU themes recede in prominence within the 2025 Strategy, though most are still present, with less emphasis. This highlights strategic trade-offs and potential implications of these shifts.

Brussels effect

The strategy downplays the ‘Brussels effect’, the EU’s reliance on its regulatory power to shape global norms. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is mentioned only in passing, and the landmark AI Act is entirely absent. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is primarily discussed in an internal EU context, with little ambition to project its influence globally.

This signals a shift in the EU’s approach to ‘regulatory diplomacy,’ reflecting a broader reassessment of its approach to digital regulations. At the 2025 Paris AI Summit, both Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron signalled a move toward slowing down AI and digital regulation.

This change responds to a wide range of criticisms: that the EU may have moved too far and too fast with the AI Act (see next section); that its regulatory approach is creating friction with the Trump administration, which views such measures as a threat to the US tech sector; and internal concerns that an overemphasis on regulation could hinder the EU’s competitiveness in the AI race against China and the United States.

EU AI Act

The marginalisation of the EU AI Act in the strategy reflects a broader shift within the EU. Although the Act was negotiated and adopted during a ‘public tsunami’ of concern over long-term AI risks, other actors have since retreated from this approach.

Examples include the slowing down of the Bletchley AI initiative during the Paris AI Summit and the Trump administration’s recalibrated AI strategy. In contrast, the EU faces a unique challenge: its approach to the regulation of AI models, heavily influenced by long-termist thinking, is already codified into law through the AI Act.

The primary challenge now lies in implementing the AI Act. The Act’s provisions related to the top two layers of the AI regulatory pyramid (see image of AI governance pyramid) have been gaining in relevance: protecting data and knowledge from misuse by AI platforms, and safeguarding human rights, consumer interests, employment, and education from adverse AI impacts.

The image shows a diagram of a four layered pyramid depicting AI governance. The bottom layer is labelled Hardware: AI computation. The second layer is labelled Algorithm, AI capabilities. The third layer is labelled Data & knowledge, AI sources. The tope of the pyramid is lavelled Agents, AI uses.

However, the provisions for regulating algorithms and long-term risks face practical and conceptual challenges. Some of these provisions, such as identifying the power of AI models mainly with the quantitative parameters of the number of FLOPs, are already outdated due to rapid technological advancements. There are criticisms that regulating algorithms may impact the competitiveness of the EU’s emerging AI industry.

Values-first framing

‘Human‑centric’ language still appears, but under resilience. Explicit human rights advocacy, such as protections for dissidents online or campaigns against censorship and surveillance, is barely mentioned in the strategy.In contrast, the 2023 Conclusions devoted numerous paragraphs to ‘vulnerable… groups’ (women, children, the disabled) and digital literacy.

The 2025 Strategy only briefly nods to ‘fundamental values’ in passing (e.g., promoting a rules-based order). Notably, it omits references to ‘internet shutdowns, online censorship and unlawful surveillance’, which were part of the 2023 document.

Standalone cyber diplomacy

The Strategy blurs the line between digital and cyber policy. Whereas in the past, the EU approaches treated cybersecurity and digital cooperation as distinct tracks, the new document integrates them. (As one example, the traditional ‘cyber diplomacy toolbox’ is now subsumed under broad tech partnerships.)

Focus on trade agreements

E-commerce policy has also shifted from a detailed 2023 focus on WTO e-commerce negotiations and the moratorium on customs duties towards highlighting the importance of bilateral/regional trade agreements as a primary tool for digital governance.

Table 2: Summary of prioritised and deprioritised issues in the 2025 Strategy

Prioritised issues

– Dual-use technologies & defence (AI, semiconductors, quantum linked to security)
– Submarine cables (resilience, cybersecurity focus)
– Economic & supply-chain security (resilient ICT, trusted suppliers)
– Tech competitiveness via trade & innovation (digital trade agreements)
– Digital infrastructure (5G/6G, DPI, AI factories, international cooperation)
– ‘EU Tech Business Offer’ (public-private investment abroad)

Deprioritised issues

– ‘Brussels effect’ (downplaying regulatory power, GDPR, AI Act, DSA)
– Explicit human rights advocacy (protections for dissidents, anti-censorship campaigns)
– E-commerce negotiations (shift from focus on WTO solutions towards bilateral/regional agreements)
– Prominence of global digital policies (e.g. Global Digital Compact, WSIS)

4. Geography of the EU’s digital diplomacy

The Strategy proposes multi-layered engagement combining bilateral arrangements (e.g. digital partnerships), regional framework (e.g. EU-LAC alliance) and global governance (GDC and WSIS) approach from the global via regional to national levels as summarised below.

Global level

The Strategy highlights the following initiatives and policy processes:

G7/G20/OECD: Coordination on AI safety, economic security standards, and semiconductors
UN: Implementation of Global Digital Compact (GDC), WSIS+20 Review
ITU: Rules-based radiofrequency allocation
Counter Ransomware Initiative: Joint operations against cybercrime
Clean Energy Ministerial: AI-energy collaboration

Regional level

Africa

– AI Hub for Sustainable Development (co-designed with UNDP)
– Collaboration with Smart Africa (Africa AI Council) under Global Gateway
– ‘AI for Public Good’ initiative (Generative AI solutions, capacity building)

Cybersecurity

– Cyber capacity-building projects (strategic frameworks, incident management)

ASEAN

Security connectivity

– Expansion of Copernicus mirror site to the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand (EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Initiative)

Global digital governance

– Regional events on human rights-based platform governance

Central America (SICA)

Digital identities/DPI

– Mutual recognition of e-signatures (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama)

Latin America and the Caribbean

Security connectivity

– BELLA submarine cable (EU-LAC)
– LAC Connectivity Toolbox development
– MEDUSA cable extension to West Africa

Quantum/HPC

EU-LAC Supercomputing Network (federated HPC resources)

Cybersecurity

– LAC4 cybersecurity education hub
– EU-LAC Cybersecurity Community of Practice

‘AI for Public Good’ initiative

Western Balkans

There is ambiguity in dealing with the Western Balkans. While the regional approach is used in the EU’s policies, including this strategy, the EU engages countries from the region individually.

Security connectivity

– Alignment with the EU 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox

Digital identities/DPI

– Preparation for integration with the EU Digital Identity Wallet
– Mutual recognition of e-signatures
– Onboarding to Single Digital Gateway

Online platforms

– DSA/DMA alignment support

Country level

The Strategy’s linguistic statistics show India and Japan’s growing relevance for the EU’s digital diplomacy.

Table 3: Frequency of country referencing in 2025 Strategy

India: Strategic partnership

The relevance of India for the EU’s digital diplomacy has risen significantly. It reflects the overall EU geopolitical shift towards India as a democracy, a leading tech actor, and a country with the highest strategic capacity to connect various groups and blocs, including BRICS, G20, and G77.

EU-India cooperation initiatives

Security connectivity

– Blue-Raman submarine cable (via India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor)

Semiconductors

– Talent exchange programme for semiconductor skills (under EU-India TTC)

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues
– Exploration of Mutual Recognition Agreements (Cyber Resilience Act)

Digital identities/DPI

– Cooperation on e-signatures and DPI interoperability
– Promotion of EU eID Wallet model

– Cooperation on e-signatures and DPI interoperability
– Promotion of the EU eID Wallet model

Like-minded partners: Deepening alliances

The EU explicitly seeks deeper digital ties with like‑minded countries, including Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. A first Digital Partnership Network meeting (involving EU and partner states) is planned to coordinate tech cooperation. Joint research initiatives are slated (quantum, semiconductor programs with Japan, Canada, South Korea).

Australia

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues: Exploration of Mutual Recognition Agreements (Cyber Resilience Act)

– Administrative arrangement on AI safety (via AI Safety Institutes network)

Canada

Security connectivity

– Arctic submarine cable projects (with EU/US/Japan)

Quantum/HPC

– Joint quantum research projects (computing, sensing, communication)

– AI safety cooperation (via AI Safety Institutes network)

Japan

Security connectivity

– Arctic submarine cable projects (with EU/US/Canada)

Quantum/HPC

– Joint quantum-HPC research (biomedical/environmental sciences)

Semiconductors

Joint R&D projects (PFAS replacement, chiplets, sub-2nm processes)

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues
– Exploration of Mutual Recognition Agreements (Cyber Resilience Act)

Digital identities/DPI

– Mutual recognition of e-signatures
– eID Wallet interoperability cooperation

– AI safety cooperation (via AI Safety Institutes network)
– Joint research on AI innovation

United Kingdom

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues

– AI safety cooperation (via AI Safety Institutes network)

Norway

Defence innovation

– Synergies with Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI)

Republic of Korea

Semiconductors

– Joint R&D projects (heterogeneous chip integration, neuromorphic computing)

Quantum/HPC

– Joint quantum technology projects (computing, sensing, communication)

5G/6G

– 6G R&D cooperation (AI-powered RAN)

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues

– AI safety cooperation (via AI Safety Institutes network)

Singapore

Cybersecurity

-Promotion of the EU eID Wallet model

Digital identities/DPI

– Promotion of the EU eID Wallet model

Taiwan

5G/6G

– Potential 6G research cooperation (physical layers, antennas)

Semiconductors

– Participation in the World Semiconductor Council (GAMS)

United States: Continue, wait and see

The uncertainty of EU-US digital relations is signalled by the lack of references in the strategy of the EU-US Trade Technology Council, which was the main mechanism for transatlantic digital cooperation. However, the EU signalled its readiness to cooperate, emphasising that it ‘remains a reliable and predictable partner’.

Several ‘omissions’ in the strategy also underscore this readiness to engage. Notably, tech companies are not singled out for criticism, as they often are in the EU’s tech sovereignty approaches and numerous anti-monopoly and content policy initiatives. There is no explicit reference to digital services taxes for tech companies, which has historically been a strong card in the EU’s geoeconomic relations with the US.

EU-USA cooperation initiatives

Security connectivity

– Arctic submarine cable projects (with EU/Canada/Japan)

Semiconductors

– Joint early warning mechanism for supply chains
– Transparency mechanism on semiconductor subsidies

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues

China: Between cooperation and competition

China is scarcely mentioned in the text – digital cooperation is deferred to an upcoming summit. However, the Strategy is clearly defensive: it doubles down on ‘secure and trusted 5G networks’ globally, implicitly excluding Chinese vendors like Huawei. It also casts the EU’s Global Gateway as a digital alternative to China’s Belt and Road, investing in secure cables and AI infrastructure in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In sum, the signal to Beijing is one of wary competition. Digital relations will be discussed during the forthcoming China-EU Summit in July 2025.

Neighbourhood: Deep engagement

Regionally, the EU will push its Digital Single Market model to its neighbours. For instance, Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans are targeted to integrate EU digital rules rapidly (secure IDs, connectivity, regulatory alignment).

Moldova

Security connectivity

– Alignment with EU 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox

Digital identities/DPI

– Preparation for integration with EU Digital Identity Wallet
– Extension of EU Cyber-Reserve

Cybersecurity

– Cyber capacity building

Ukraine

Security connectivity

– Development of Black Sea digital links

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues
– Extension of the EU Cyber-Reserve

Digital identities/DPI

– Preparation for integration with the EU Digital Identity Wallet
– AI-based Local Digital Twins for urban reconstruction

Defence innovation

– Enhanced collaboration via the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)
– Synergies with Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI)

Global South: Global inclusion

The EU plans to expand Global Gateway digital projects for Africa, Asia, and Latin America: co-financing secure submarine cables, undersea connectivity to Europe, and building local digital infrastructure. A dedicated Tech Business Offer will extend to the Southern Neighbourhood and sub-Saharan Africa.

Brazil

Cybersecurity

– Cyber Dialogues

Digital identities/DPI

– Cooperation on e-signatures and DPI interoperability

Egypt

Digital identities/DPI

– Mutual recognition of trust services
– eID Wallet interoperability cooperation

Costa Rica

5G/6G

– 5G testbed partnership (with Nokia/Ericsson)

5. Open questions

Several critical questions will impact the implementation of the Strategy.

Synchronising internal and external digital policy

So far, the EU’s internal and foreign policies have been in sync. Europe has been practising locally what was preached abroad. The new Strategy may change these dynamics as Brussels remains committed to a values-based domestic order. Still, externally, the Strategy recasts digital policy in terms of global rivalry and resilience in security and economic domains. This shift from principles to geopolitical interests will trigger tensions in the implementation, as the two approaches necessitate different policy instruments, methods, and language.

Defining digital and internet governance

The Strategy repeatedly speaks of ‘digital’ affairs, but it also includes several references to ‘internet governance’, leaving it unclear how the EU sees the two concepts and the distinctions between them (if any). In practice, nearly all tech issues (from infrastructure to AI) fall under the internet’s umbrella, so perhaps a clear separation between the two is not very straightforward. Clarifying what means what for the EU is needed to avoid confusion over overlapping mandates.

Cyber vs. digital diplomacy coordination

The EU has two separate diplomatic tracks for cybersecurity and overall digital issues. The new Strategy implies that these converge, but the organisational plan is vague. Will the EU continue to have two – cyber and digital – ambassador networks, or will there be an integrated structure? The cyber-digital coordination will rise in importance as the strategy is implemented. The forthcoming Danish presidency of the EU in the second part of 2025 may provide some solutions as Denmark has experience in running holistic tech diplomacy, combining security, economic, and other policy aspects.

Implementation and resources

The Strategy misses implementation details. Which EU body will lead its rollout? How will funding be allocated across the many initiatives (Tech Business Offer, infrastructure projects, partnerships)? Importantly, will the EU follow up on the 2023 Conclusions, which explicitly call to ensure that ‘at least one official in every EU Delegation has relevant expertise on digital diplomacy‘ and that diplomats receive training?

Progress on this front will be a key test of delivery.

AI Strategy – Computing power vs data and knowledge

The Strategy heavily emphasises computing infrastructure (AI ‘gigafactories’). It follows global inertia but not AI research, which shows that adding GPU power does not significantly improve AI inference quality (diminishing returns).¹ Should the EU instead leverage its data strengths, broad knowledge pool, and human expertise? Ensuring quality data, skilled human capital, and innovative applications may be as important as raw computing. Balancing the EU’s high-education workforce and data resources with these new AI investments is an open policy debate.

6. Conclusion and recommendations

The 2025 Strategy marks a realpolitik turn for EU digital policy. It recognises that digital affairs are a geopolitical competition and an economic power domain. The EU is right to bolster its tech capabilities, diversify alliances, and secure critical infrastructure. However, it must not abandon its foundational advantages.

Keep values and ethics in view

Even as the strategy focuses on power and security, EU core values – human rights, privacy, democracy – remain the EU’s unique selling points. The EU should ensure that its external actions (e.g. tech exports, partnerships) reflect these values. For example, the Ethics Guidelines for AI or human rights due diligence in tech supply chains should accompany hard-power initiatives. Over time, this ‘soft’ aspect of tech diplomacy will underpin global trust in EU solutions, especially during the AI transformation of societies.

Leverage the knowledge ecosystem

Europe’s educated workforce, strong research base, and innovative companies are among its strengths. The Strategy should explicitly link new initiatives (like AI factories) to European data assets and talent. For instance, investing in common European data spaces, R&D hubs, and AI talent training will complement hardware investments. Policies should channel these resources into EU security and cooperative R&D projects with partners, maximising long-term benefits.

Building digital diplomacy capacity

The EU should develop digital diplomacy capabilities. The Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs should clarify the future of the cyber/digital networks, ensuring diplomats and delegations have the skills to carry out the strategy. This could involve appointing Digital Envoys in key regions, scaling up EU-funded training programs for officials, and embedding digital attachés in trade missions. Progress should be reported regularly (as the 2023 Conclusions demanded).

Clarify governance frameworks

The EU should avoid confusion by clearly defining its terms. If ‘digital diplomacy’ now covers everything from 5G to AI, the Strategy (or follow-up guidelines) should explain how it relates to internet governance, cyber diplomacy, and other fields. This will help partners and stakeholders navigate the new agenda.

Continue global engagement

Finally, the EU should remember that its influence often came from combining hard and soft power. Alongside alliances, it should maintain active engagement in multilateral fora (e.g. UN Internet Governance Forum, WTO e-commerce activities) to promote interoperability and standards. The Strategy’s emphasis on bilateral ties should balance efforts to shape open, rules-based markets globally.

The 2025 Strategy lays out an ambitious vision of a stronger, more assertive EU in global tech. To make it work, policymakers should marry this realpolitik turn with the EU’s enduring strengths – its values, expertise, and rule-of-law model – and put concrete implementation in place.

Annex: The strategy and conceptual approach to digital diplomacy

The 2025 strategy covers the impact of digital technology on the geopolitical environment for diplomacy, and topics on the diplomatic agenda, as per Diplo’s methodology for the impact of digitalisation on diplomacy.

The Strategy uses the term ‘digital diplomacy’ only once in the context of a policy topic to advance ‘our international priorities and to build partnerships’. It does not address the use of digital tools for the conduct of diplomacy (e.g. the use of social media). The EU has been using ‘digital diplomacy’ to cover geopolitical changes and new topics on the diplomatic agenda, as summarised here.

The image shows an infographic entitled mapping the interplay between digitalisation and diplomacy, covering the digital impact on geopolitics and diplomacy, digital policy topics on diplomatic agenda, and digital tools for diplomatic activities.

As Ilya Sutskever (OpenAI co-founder) stated: ‘The 2010s were the age of scaling; now we’re back in the age of discovery’ (LINK) ↩︎

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity

Switzerland can chart a unique path in the global AI race by combining three strengths: Zurich’s innovative entrepreneurship, Geneva’s responsible governance, and communal enabling subsidiarity.

Swiss AI Trinity can advance beyond technology by reimagining a national social contract for the AI age, firmly grounded in Swiss values.

The country’s AI transformation unfolds as the tech world faces profound flux. Amid the US push for unfettered tech growth and escalating US-China rivalry resembling an AI arms race, the EU and nations worldwide seek their own strategies. Uncertainty grows alongside deepening concerns about AI’s impact, from jobs and the economy to education and media.

In this fluid environment, Switzerland has a rare opportunity to carve out a distinctive approach to cutting-edge AI development, anchored in subsidiarity, apprenticeship, and national traditions.

Time is short, but the timing is favourable for Switzerland:

AI is commoditised: Switzerland’s delayed start in developing LLMs is no longer a disadvantage. New LLMs emerge daily; open-source models enable easy retraining; AI agents can be built in minutes. Success now hinges on data, knowledge, and uses of AI, not just hardware or algorithms. The key is the nexus between artificial and human intelligence, where Switzerland can excel due to its robust educational and apprenticeship model.

Pushback on AI regulation: After a frenzied regulatory race last few years, a more balanced approach now prioritises short-term risks (jobs, education) over existential long-term threats. The Trump administration has already slowed down US regulatory momentum, while the EU re-evaluates parts of its AI Act concerning generative models. Switzerland’s prudent regulatory stance has become an advantage. New AI regulation may be adopted as technology matures and crystallise real policy problems that should be regulated.

Against this backdrop, Switzerland’s AI Trinity proposes a three-pronged strategy:

Zurich: A hub of private-sector innovation;
Geneva: A crucible for global governance and standardisation;
Swiss cantons, cities, and communities: Upholding subsidiarity to drive inclusive, bottom-up AI development.

Each pillar builds on existing strengths while addressing the urgent need to rethink business models, governance, and social contracts for the AI era.

Zurich: Supercharging business and innovation

While cutting-edge technology often seems concentrated in massive data centres and trillion-dollar corporations, DeepSeek exemplifies how breakthroughs can spring from lean, agile labs. Zurich is ideally placed to harness both approaches.

World-class ecosystem: ETH Zurich—ranked among the world’s top universities—alongside R&D hubs for Microsoft, Google, and others, provides the talent, research excellence, and entrepreneurial mindset to keep Switzerland at AI’s forefront.
Global reach, diverse perspectives: Partnerships must extend beyond Silicon Valley. Engaging Chinese and Indian tech players fosters competition, sparks creativity, and mitigates over-reliance on Western supply chains.
Stronger academic-industry ties: Deeper collaboration between ETH and private-sector leaders will accelerate ventures. Breakthroughs in healthcare, climate tech, and beyond emerge when elite research meets real-world application.

Zurich is thus not just a global financial centre, but a beacon for responsible, human-centric AI.

Geneva: Forging global governance and standards

While Zurich drives innovation, Geneva can shape balanced global AI governance—a race intensifying amid rival initiatives from the Gulf and emerging tech hubs. Geneva must act decisively:

Translating hype into action: Nations urgently need pragmatic AI tools for pandemic response, environmental risk, and equitable education. Geneva-based bodies should prioritise tangible solutions, dispelling perceptions of AI as abstract hype.
Mainstreaming AI: Treating AI as integral to health, commerce, and labour rights is vital. As AI becomes a universal necessity, Geneva’s institutions must weave digital policy into all major global negotiations.
Modernising international organisations: Outdated, top-heavy management of international organisations lacks the agility for rapid AI evolution. Embedding AI translation services, automated reporting, and similar tools will boost transparency, efficiency, and collaboration.
Defining standards where treaties fall short: Without robust international agreements, technical standards ensure interoperability. Geneva’s standardisation expertise positions it to lead in healthcare AI, digital trade, and environmental data.

By embracing this role, Geneva can ensure that multilateral bodies guide AI ethics in a transforming world.

Communities and cantons: Inclusion through subsidiarity

Switzerland’s greatest AI advantage lies in subsidiarity—the principle of localised decision-making. Distributing AI development across cantons and communities ensures innovation aligns with real needs, addresses local contexts, and leaves no one behind. Key activities include:

‘AI for All’ programme: Offer small grants to citizens and small businesses for developing AI agents, democratising access to tools and catalysing solutions rooted in local needs.
AI education and apprenticeship: Develop AI apprenticeship, building on the Swiss long tradition of vocational training; integrate AI education from primary schools to universities.
Libraries and local AI labs: Repurpose libraries, community centres, and post offices into AI knowledge hubs. Applying machine learning to hyper-local challenges – agriculture, tourism, health – can empower communities as active creators of AI innovation.

A call to action: Switzerland’s moment to lead

Switzerland stands at a decisive juncture. Uniting Zurich, Geneva, and its cantons can nurture an AI future that is cutting-edge yet fair, transparent, and Swiss at its core.

By adopting this AI Trinity approach—balancing innovation, governance, and subsidiarity—Switzerland can show the world how to embrace advanced technology without sacrificing societal values.

Practical steps forward:

Scale AI apprenticeships through Switzerland’s vocational tradition.
Launch a national AI capacity-building programme for citizens and companies.
Adapt school and university curricula to foster creativity as AI automates tasks like essay drafting.
Repurpose libraries and post offices into community knowledge hubs.
Prioritise ‘AI for All’ principles in public projects, procurement, and grants at all governmental levels.

Swiss AI Trinity approach can democratise AI, empower local innovation, and fuel inclusive growth from the ground up. The tools, talent, and tradition are in place. The time to act is now.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Breaking down the OEWG’s legacy: Hits, misses, and unfinished business

The OEWG on cybersecurity (2019–2025) shaped global debates on digital security, but did it deliver? External experts weigh in on its lasting impact, while our team, who tracked the process from day one, dissect the milestones and missed opportunities. Together, these perspectives reveal what’s next for cyber governance in a fractured world.

What is the OEWG?

The open-ended working groups (OEWGs) are a type of format present in the UN that is typically considered the most open, as the name suggests. It means that all UN member and observer states, intergovernmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status may attend public meetings of the working group. Yet, decisions are made by the UN member states. There are various OEWGs at the UN. Here, we are addressing the one dealing with cybersecurity.

What does the OEWG on cybersecurity do? In plain language, it tries to find more common ground on what is allowed and what is not in cyberspace, and how to ensure adherence to these rules. In the UN language, the Cyber OEWG was mandated to ‘continue to develop the rules, norms, and principles of responsible behaviour of states, discuss ways for their implementation, and to study the possibility of establishing regular institutional dialogue with broad participation under the auspices of the UN.’

How was the OEWG organised? The OEWG was organised around an organisational session that discussed procedures and modus operandi, and substantive ones dealing with the matter, as well as intersessional meetings and town halls supplementing the discussions. The OEWG held 10 substantive sessions during its 5-year mandate, with the 11th and final session just around the corner in July 2025, where the group will adopt its Final report.

The OEWG through expert eyes: Achievements, shortfalls, and future goals

As the OEWG 2019–2025 process nears its conclusion, we spoke with cybersecurity experts to reflect on its impact and look ahead. Their insights address four key questions:

The OEWG’s most substantive contributions and shortcomings in global ICT security
Priorities for future dialogues on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace
The feasibility of consensus on a permanent multilateral mechanism
The potential relevance of such a mechanism in today’s divisive geopolitical climate

Their perspectives shed light on what the OEWG has achieved—and the challenges still facing international cyber governance.

In addition to external cybersecurity experts, we asked our own team—who have tracked the OEWG process since its inception—to share their analysis. They highlight key achievements over the past five years, identify gaps in the discussions, and offer predictions on where debates may lead during the final session and beyond.

Read the full expert commentaries on our dedicated web page.

Meme coins: Fast gains or crypto gambling?

A high-stakes game of digital chance, meme coins blur the line between viral entertainment and financial risk in the wildest corner of crypto.

Tape, Face, Head, Person, Animal, Cat, Mammal, Pet

Meme coins have exploded in the crypto market, attracting investors with promises of fast profits and viral hype. These digital tokens, often inspired by internet memes and pop culture, like Dogecoin, Pepe, Dogwifhat and most recently Trump coin, do not usually offer clear utility. Instead, their value mostly depends on social media buzz, influencer endorsements, and community enthusiasm. In 2025, meme coins remain a controversial yet dominant trend in crypto trading.

Viral but vulnerable: the rise of meme coins

Meme coins are typically created for humour, social engagement, or to ride viral internet trends, rather than to solve real-world problems. Despite this, they are widely known for their popularity and massive online appeal. Many investors are drawn to meme coins because of the potential for quick, large returns.

For example, Trump-themed meme coins saw explosive growth in early 2024, with MAGA meme coin (TRUMP) briefly surpassing a $500 million market cap, despite offering no real utility and being driven largely by political hype and social media buzz.

Analysis reports indicate that in 2024, between 40,000 and 50,000 new meme tokens were launched daily, with numbers soaring to 100,000 during viral surges. Solana tops the list of blockchains for meme coin activity, generating 17,000 to 20,000 new tokens each day.

Chainplay’s ‘State of Memecoin 2024’ report found that over half (55.24%) of the meme coins analysed were classified as ‘malicious’.

A chaotic blend of internet culture, greed, and adrenaline, meme coins turn crypto investing into a thrilling game where hype rules and fortunes flip in seconds.

The risks of rug pulls and scams in meme coin projects

Beneath the humour and viral appeal, meme coins often hide serious structural risks. Many are launched by developers with little to no accountability, and most operate with centralised liquidity pools controlled by a small number of wallets. The setup allows creators or early holders to pull liquidity or dump large token amounts without warning, leading to devastating price crashes—commonly referred to as ‘rug pulls.’

On-chain data regularly reveals that a handful of wallets control the vast majority of supply in newly launched meme tokens, making market manipulation easy and trust almost impossible. These coins are rarely audited, lack transparency, and often have no clear roadmap or long-term utility, which leaves retail investors highly exposed.

The combination of hype-driven demand and opaque tokenomics makes meme coins a fertile ground for fraud and manipulation, further eroding public confidence in the broader crypto ecosystem.

Gambling disguised as investing: The adrenaline rush of meme coins

Meme coins tap into a mindset that closely resembles gambling more than traditional investing. The entire culture around them thrives on adrenaline-fueled speculation, where every price spike feels like hitting a jackpot and every drop triggers a high-stakes rollercoaster of emotions. Known as the ‘degen’ culture, traders chase quick wins fuelled by FOMO, hype, and the explosive reach of social media.

The thrill-seeking mentality turns meme coin trading into a game of chance. Investors often make impulsive decisions based on hype rather than fundamentals, hoping to catch a sudden pump before the inevitable crash.

It is all about momentum. The volatile swings create an addictive cycle: the excitement of rapid gains pulls traders back in, despite the constant risk of losing everything.

While early insiders and large holders strategically time their moves to cash out big, most retail investors face losses, much like gamblers betting in a casino. The meme coin market, therefore, functions less like a stable investment arena and more like a high-risk gambling environment where luck and timing often outweigh knowledge and strategy.

Is profit from meme coins possible? Yes, but…

While some investors have made substantial profits from meme coins, success requires expert knowledge, thorough research, and timing. Analysing tokenomics, community growth, and on-chain data is essential before investing. Although they can be entertaining, investing in meme coins is a risky gamble. Luck remains a big key factor, so meme coins are never considered safe or long-term investments.

Meme coins vs Bitcoin: A tale of two mindsets

Many people assume that all cryptocurrencies share the same mindset, but the truth is quite different. Interestingly, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and meme coins are based on contrasting philosophies and psychological drivers.

Bitcoin embodies a philosophy of trust through transparency, decentralisation, and long-term resilience. It appeals to those seeking stability, security, and a store of value rooted in technology and community consensus—a digital gold that invites patience and conviction. In essence, Bitcoin calls for building and holding with reason and foresight.

Meme coins, on the other hand, thrive on the psychology of instant gratification, social identity, and collective enthusiasm. They tap into our desire for excitement, quick wins, and belonging to a viral movement. Their value is less about utility and more about shared emotion— the hope, the hype, and the adrenaline rush of catching the next big wave. Meme coins beckon with the thrill of the moment, the gamble, and the social spectacle. It makes meme coins a reflection of the speculative and impulsive side of human nature, where the line between investing and gambling blurs.

Understanding these psychological underpinnings helps explain why the two coexist in the crypto world, yet appeal to vastly different types of investors and mindsets.

How meme coins affect the reputation of the entire crypto market

The rise and fall of meme coins do not just impact individual traders—they also cast a long shadow over the credibility of the entire crypto industry.

High-profile scams, rug pulls, and pump-and-dump schemes associated with meme tokens erode public confidence and validate sceptics’ concerns. Many retail traders enter the meme coin space with high hopes and are quickly disillusioned by manipulation and sudden losses.

This leads to a sense of betrayal, triggering risk aversion and a generalised mistrust toward all crypto assets, even those with strong fundamentals like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Such disillusionment does not stay contained. It spills over into mainstream sentiment, deterring new investors and slowing institutional adoption.

As more people associate crypto with gambling and scams rather than innovation and decentralisation, the market’s growth potential suffers. In this way, meme coins—though intended as jokes—could have serious consequences for the future of blockchain credibility.

Trading thrills or ticking time bomb?

Meme coins may offer flashes of fortune, but their deeper role in the crypto ecosystem raises a provocative question: are they reshaping finance or just distorting it? In a market where jokes move millions and speculation overrides substance, the real gamble may not just be financial—it could be philosophical.

Are we embracing innovation, or playing a dangerous game with digital dice? In the end, meme coins are not just a bet on price—they are a reflection of what kind of future we want to build in crypto. Is it sustainable value, or just viral chaos? The roulette wheel is still spinning.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Cognitive offloading and the future of the mind in the AI age

The rise of AI is transforming work and education, but raises questions about its impact on critical thinking and cognitive independence.

AI reshapes work and learning

The rapid advancement of AI is bringing to light a range of emerging phenomena within contemporary human societies.

The integration of AI-driven tools into a broad spectrum of professional tasks has proven beneficial in many respects, particularly in terms of alleviating the cognitive and physical burdens traditionally placed on human labour.

By automating routine processes and enhancing decision-making capabilities, AI has the potential to significantly improve efficiency and productivity across various sectors.

In response to these accelerating technological changes, a growing number of nations are prioritising the integration of AI technologies into their education systems to ensure students are prepared for future societal and workforce transformations.

China advances AI education for youth

China has released two landmark policy documents aimed at integrating AI education systematically into the national curriculum for primary and secondary schools.

The initiative not only reflects the country’s long-term strategic vision for educational transformation but also seeks to position China at the forefront of global AI literacy and talent development.

The two guidelines, formally titled the Guidelines for AI General Education in Primary and Secondary Schools and the Guidelines for the Use of Generative AI in Primary and Secondary Schools, represent a scientific and systemic approach to cultivating AI competencies among school-aged children.

Their release marks a milestone in the development of a tiered, progressive AI education system, with carefully delineated age-appropriate objectives and ethical safeguards for both students and educators.

The USA expands AI learning in schools

In April, the US government outlined a structured national policy to integrate AI literacy into every stage of the education system.

By creating a dedicated federal task force, the administration intends to coordinate efforts across departments to promote early and equitable access to AI education.

Instead of isolating AI instruction within specialised fields, the initiative seeks to embed AI concepts across all learning pathways—from primary education to lifelong learning.

The plan includes the creation of a nationwide AI challenge to inspire innovation among students and educators, showcasing how AI can address real-world problems.

The policy also prioritises training teachers to understand and use AI tools, instead of relying solely on traditional teaching methods. It supports professional development so educators can incorporate AI into their lessons and reduce administrative burdens.

The strategy encourages public-private partnerships, using industry expertise and existing federal resources to make AI teaching materials widely accessible.

European Commission supports safe AI use

As AI becomes more common in classrooms around the globe, educators must understand not only how to use it effectively but also how to apply it ethically.

Rather than introducing AI tools without guidance or reflection, the European Commission has provided ethical guidelines to help teachers use AI and data responsibly in education.

Published in 2022 and developed with input from educators and AI experts, the EU guidelines are intended primarily for primary and secondary teachers who have little or no prior experience with AI.

Instead of focusing on technical complexity, the guidelines aim to raise awareness about how AI can support teaching and learning, highlight the risks involved, and promote ethical decision-making.

The guidelines explain how AI can be used in schools, encourage safe and informed use by both teachers and students, and help educators consider the ethical foundations of any digital tools they adopt.

Rather than relying on unexamined technology, they support thoughtful implementation by offering practical questions and advice for adapting AI to various educational goals.

AI tools may undermine human thinking

However, technological augmentation is not without drawbacks. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for job displacement, increased dependency on digital systems, and the gradual erosion of certain human skills.

As such, while AI offers promising opportunities for enhancing the modern workplace, it simultaneously introduces complex challenges that must be critically examined and responsibly addressed.

One significant challenge that must be addressed in the context of increasing reliance on AI is the phenomenon known as cognitive offloading. But what exactly does this term entail?

What happens when we offload thinking?

Cognitive offlo ading refers to the practice of using physical actions or external tools to modify the information processing demands of a task, with the aim of reducing the cognitive load on an individual.

In essence, it involves transferring certain mental functions—such as memory, calculation, or decision-making—to outside resources like digital devices, written notes, or structured frameworks.

While this strategy can enhance efficiency and performance, it also raises concerns about long-term cognitive development, dependency on technological aids, and the potential degradation of innate mental capacities.

How AI may be weakening critical thinking

A study, led by Dr Michael Gerlich, Head of the Centre for Strategic Corporate Foresight and Sustainability at SBS Swiss Business School, published in the journal Societies raises serious concerns about the cognitive consequences of AI augmentation in various aspects of life.

The study suggests that frequent use of AI tools may be weakening individuals’ capacity for critical thinking, a skill considered fundamental to independent reasoning, problem-solving, and informed decision-making.

More specifically, Dr Gerlich adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative survey data from 666 participants with qualitative interviews involving 50 individuals.

Participants were drawn from diverse age groups and educational backgrounds and were assessed on their frequency of AI tool use, their tendency to offload cognitive tasks, and their critical thinking performance.

The study employed both self-reported and performance-based measures of critical thinking, alongside statistical analyses and machine learning models, such as random forest regression, to identify key factors influencing cognitive performance.

Younger users, who rely more on AI, think less critically

The findings revealed a strong negative correlation between frequent AI use and critical thinking abilities. Individuals who reported heavy reliance on AI tools—whether for quick answers, summarised explanations, or algorithmic recommendations—scored lower on assessments of critical thinking.

The effect was particularly pronounced among younger users aged 17 to 25, who reported the highest levels of cognitive offloading and showed the weakest performance in critical thinking tasks.

In contrast, older participants (aged 46 and above) demonstrated stronger critical thinking skills and were less inclined to delegate mental effort to AI.

Higher education strengthens critical thinking

The data also indicated that educational attainment served as a protective factor: those with higher education levels consistently exhibited more robust critical thinking abilities, regardless of their AI usage levels.

These findings suggest that formal education may equip individuals with better tools for critically engaging with digital information rather than uncritically accepting AI-generated responses.

Now, we must understand that while the study does not establish direct causation, the strength of the correlations and the consistency across quantitative and qualitative data suggest that AI usage may indeed be contributing to a gradual decline in cognitive independence.

However, in his study, Gerlich also notes the possibility of reverse causality—individuals with weaker critical thinking skills may be more inclined to rely on AI tools in the first place.

Offloading also reduces information retention

While cognitive offloading can enhance immediate task performance, it often comes at the cost of reduced long-term memory retention, as other studies show.

The trade-off has been most prominently illustrated in experimental tasks such as the Pattern Copy Task, where participants tasked with reproducing a pattern typically choose to repeatedly refer to the original rather than commit it to memory.

Even when such behaviours introduce additional time or effort (e.g., physically moving between stations), the majority of participants opt to offload, suggesting a strong preference for minimising cognitive strain.

These findings underscore the human tendency to prioritise efficiency over internalisation, especially under conditions of high cognitive demand.

The tendency to offload raises crucial questions about the cognitive and educational consequences of extended reliance on external aids. On the one hand, offloading can free up mental resources, allowing individuals to focus on higher-order problem-solving or multitasking.

On the other hand, it may foster a kind of cognitive dependency, weakening internal memory traces and diminishing opportunities for deep engagement with information.

Within the framework, cognitive offloading is not a failure of memory or attention but a reconfiguration of cognitive architecture—a process that may be adaptive rather than detrimental.

However, the perspective remains controversial, especially in light of findings that frequent offloading can impair retention, transfer of learning, and critical thinking, as Gerlich’s study argues.

If students, for example, continually rely on digital devices to recall facts or solve problems, they may fail to develop the robust mental models necessary for flexible reasoning and conceptual understanding.

The mind may extend beyond the brain

The tension has also sparked debate among cognitive scientists and philosophers, particularly in light of the extended mind hypothesis.

Contrary to the traditional view that cognition is confined to the brain, the extended mind theory argues that cognitive processes often rely on, and are distributed across, tools, environments, and social structures.

As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in daily life, this hypothesis raises profound questions about human identity, cognition, and agency.

At the core of the extended mind thesis lies a deceptively simple question: Where does the mind stop, and the rest of the world begin?

Drawing an analogy to prosthetics—external objects that functionally become part of the body—Clark and Chalmers argue that cognitive tools such as notebooks, smartphones, and sketchpads can become integrated components of our mental system.

These tools do not merely support cognition; they constitute it when used in a seamless, functionally integrated manner. This conceptual shift has redefined thinking not as a brain-bound process but as a dynamic interaction between mind, body, and world.

Balancing AI and human intelligence

In conclusion, cognitive offloading represents a powerful mechanism of modern cognition, one that allows individuals to adapt to complex environments by distributing mental load.

However, its long-term effects on memory, learning, and problem-solving remain a subject of active investigation. Rather than treating offloading as inherently beneficial or harmful, future research and practice should seek to balance its use, leveraging its strengths while mitigating its costs.

Human VS Ai Background Brain and heart hd background 1024x576 1

Ultimately, we -as educators, policymakers, and technologists- have to shape the future of learning, work and confront a central tension: how to harness the benefits of AI without compromising the very faculties—critical thought, memory, and independent judgment—that define human intelligence.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

DW Weekly #219 – AGI or bust: Tech giants gamble big on the future of intelligence

27 June – 4 July 2025

Dear readers,

Over the past week, Meta has dramatically escalated its push toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), launching a new AI Superintelligence Lab and aggressively hiring top talent from rival firms, most notably OpenAI. This hiring spree includes at least eight high-profile researchers who worked on OpenAI’s o3 and GPT-4o teams. The move comes with eye-popping compensation offers: reports suggest Meta dangled multi-year packages worth up to $300 million, although Meta has denied the $300 million figure specifically. Still, reports suggest that offers in the range of $100 million in equity are becoming the new norm in high-stakes AI recruitment.

This recruitment drive is part of a broader reorganisation under Meta’s newly created Superintelligence Labs (MSL), combining existing AI divisions—including FAIR and the LLaMA development team—into one streamlined unit aimed squarely at AGI.

OpenAI, for its part, appears to be reeling. The high-profile departures have sparked internal concerns about the organisation’s culture and long-term vision. OpenAI execs likened Meta’s tactics to ‘breaking into our home,’ while others within OpenAI point to growing discontent over its shift to a capped-profit structure and Microsoft’s increasing influence. To contain the fallout, OpenAI is now reportedly revising its compensation and equity structures to retain remaining staff.

At the same time, tensions between OpenAI and Microsoft—its largest investor and infrastructure partner—are also coming to a head. A central point of contention is a clause in their 2019 partnership agreement that terminates Microsoft’s access to OpenAI’s technology if OpenAI achieves AGI. Microsoft is pushing to remove this clause as part of a renegotiation tied to OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit model. Microsoft reportedly wants a more substantial equity stake—potentially up to 35%—and clearer influence over strategic direction.

These developments highlight an AI ecosystem undergoing deep transformation. Meta is betting on vertical integration, elite hiring, and open-source models as the path to AI dominance. OpenAI is grappling with internal coherence, external partnerships, and its public mission. Microsoft, meanwhile, is recalibrating its relationship with OpenAI even as competitors like Google DeepMind and Anthropic continue their own ambitious pushes.

Looking ahead, the implications are far-reaching. The extraordinary compensation packages now on offer are reshaping global talent flows, drawing researchers out of academia and away from startups toward Big Tech’s AGI arms race. As Meta centralises its superintelligence efforts and OpenAI charts its future course, governance questions loom large: Who decides when AGI is achieved? Who controls access? In the coming months, expect not only fierce competition for technical breakthroughs but also intensifying negotiations over power, accountability, and the rules of the game in an increasingly AGI-centric tech world.

Last week in Geneva

The Global Digital Collaboration Conference, held on July 1–2, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, was a significant event focused on advancing digital identity, credentials, and trusted infrastructure. Hosted by Federal Councillor Beat Jans and co-organised with 46 organisations, including UN agencies, international bodies, standardisation organisations, and open-source groups, the conference attracted over 1,000 experts from around the world. Discussions over 22 overview sessions and almost 100 collaborative sessions highlighted the importance of aligning governance frameworks with technical design to build trustworthy, open digital systems.

Diplo, the organisation that operates the Digital Watch Observatory, C4DT-EPFL and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) co-hosted the session ‘Understanding cyber norms and the rules-based order: Ahat are the stakeholders’ roles in protecting critical infrastructure?” during the conference.

The UN CSTD multi-stakeholder working group on data governance at all levels kicked off its second meeting yesterday, 3 July, in Geneva. Yesterday, the group started discussing (a) fundamental principles of data governance at all levels as relevant for development; (b) proposals to support interoperability between national, regional and international data systems; (c) considerations of sharing the benefits of data; (d) options to facilitate safe, secure and trusted data flows, including cross-border data flows as relevant for development. They continued these discussions today and started discussions on the structure of the group’s report. The modalities of the group’s work, as well as agreement on dates and the provisional agenda for future sessions, are on the agenda for this afternoon.

DW team

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots, from daily updates to main weekly developments, to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 27 June – 4 July 2025

China unveils server chips to rival Intel models

Beijing narrows tech gap with CPU and quantum launches.

the flag of switzerland flying on a banner

Ransomware attack hits Swiss government data

Sarcoma hackers leaked 1.3TB of sensitive files after breaching Swiss contractor Radix.

africa ai digital continent only the african continent with artificial intelligence digitalised

Africa risks being left behind in global AI development

Oxford researchers reveal only 32 countries have the infrastructure to build advanced AI, leaving most of Africa sidelined in the race.

computer keyboard with red deepfake button key deepfake dangers online

Denmark proposes landmark law to protect citizens from deepfake misuse

Platforms could face fines for failing to remove illegal deepfake content under proposed Danish law.

Ransomware victims still paying, Sophos finds

Sophos says 49% of ransomware victims paid in 2025, but average ransom payments and backup use have declined.

UK plans new laws to tackle undersea cable sabotage

As geopolitical tensions mount beneath the waves, the UK is racing to future-proof its defence laws against unseen threats lurking in the deep.

Hacktivist attacks surge in Iran–Israel tensions

Experts say geopolitical hacktivism now poses serious risks to national infrastructure, calling for coordinated strategic cyber defences.

DeepSeek gains business traction despite security risks

US and global firms adopt DeepSeek’s models due to cost savings, even as public sector bans remain in place.

View all updates

UPCOMING EVENTS

BRICS 2025 Summit

The BRICS partnership will use the annual summit, to be held 6-7 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to address issues such as the environment, energy, science and technology, health and the inclusion of more civil society actors.

UN OEWG 2021-2025 11th substantive session

The Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICT security will hold its eleventh substantive session on 7-11 July 2025 in New York, USA. This will be the final session of the group’s work.

WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 will take place on 7–11 July 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The event will facilitate multistakeholder dialogue on achievements, key trends, and challenges since the two phases of WSIS in 2003 and 2005. In the lead-up to the WSIS+20 review by the UN General Assembly, the event will also feature discussions on progress made in the implementation of the WSIS outcomes.

AI for Good Global Summit 2025

The AI for Good Global Summit 2025 will be held from 8 to 11 July in Geneva, Switzerland and feature 3 events: AI for Good Global Summit from 8 to 9 July, AI Governance Day on 10 July, and International AI Standards Day on 11 July.

Navigating the interplay between artificial intelligence, philosophy, education, and governance

This discussion between young leaders and experts will explore how AI can be governed in a way that reflects shared human values and ensures inclusive, sustainable, and ethical development.

Big week ahead—don’t miss a beat!
With WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, AI for Good 2025, and the final session of the OEWG all taking place next week, it’s impossible to follow everything live. That’s where we come in.

Our coverage combines expert analysis with AI-generated session reports and insights to help you stay informed, even when you can’t attend it all.

Bookmark our event pages to get real-time updates, highlights, and key takeaways as they happen.

READING CORNER

AI and Magical Realism: When technology blurs the line between wonder and reality – Diplo

The interplay between the magical and the real is at the heart of AI governance. How do we regulate something that feels both wondrous and mundane? How do we balance its promises with its perils? To navigate this, we might turn to the literary tradition of magical realism, where the impossible coexists seamlessly with the ordinary.

The future of global security and why cyber diplomacy matters – Diplo

At June’s G7 meeting, leaders agreed that reactive defense is no longer enough for AI and cybersecurity challenges. Clear rules to prevent conflict, but questions remain about who will set them and the Global South’s role in this new technological era.

Internet Governance Forum 2025

Revisit the key discussions of IGF 2025 with expert reporting with AI-powered tools, including session reports, a visual map of discussions, and an assistant that answers your policy-related questions.

ai generated image of a humanoid robot touching a digital hologram in a hyperreal urban background

The cognitive cost of AI: Balancing assistance and awareness

What if the very tool designed to boost your productivity is quietly dulling your mind each time you use it?

The power of self-organisation – Diplo

Can Wikipedia teach diplomacy a lesson? Aldo Matteucci contrasts rigid hierarchies with messy, adaptive self-organising systems, and asks which one truly gets more done.

IGF 2025 Highlights by DiploAI and experts

Dear readers,

This year, we reimagined how our IGF coverage can serve you.

At IGF 2025, we launched personalised reporting: participants told us which topics mattered most, and we delivered tailored, expert-verified updates—powered by DiploAI. It’s just one way we’ve deepened our commitment to timely, accessible, and actionable reporting.

Combined with interactive tools like a visual summary and a knowledge graph of the event, as well as a conversational AI assistant, our IGF 2025 coverage made navigating digital policy easier and more relevant than ever.
In partnership with the IGF Secretariat and the Government of Norway (as the host country), we were proud to provide AI-enabled, just-in-time reporting that brought the forum’s discussions directly to you.

Our session summaries deliver in-depth AI-powered insights for every discussion. Each report breaks down the key points, highlights the speakers’ perspectives, and maps out consensus and disagreements. Complementing this, our knowledge graphs visually chart the relationships among topics and contributors. To encourage ongoing dialogue, we also present thoughtful follow-up questions based on the session’s content.

With the support of DiploAI, our team provided daily summaries that distilled the essential insights from each day’s discussions.

Our AI system processed and analysed all session transcripts from the day, delivering concise overviews of key issues, the most important questions under discussion, and additional inputs that captured the daily highlights at the IGF.

Explore the event through our interactive visual overview, which maps the connections between major themes and participants. This engaging tool helps you see how different topics and conversations intersect across the forum. Whether you want to track particular speakers, explore your areas of interest, or spot broader patterns, the visual overview offers an intuitive and compelling way to uncover key insights from the forum.

Our AI assistant – powered by DiploAI – is designed to answer questions about IGF 2025 discussions. It can provide information about event speakers, arguments, transcripts, and other related queries.

We asked the tough questions—now it’s AI’s turn to respond. Drawing from key discussions, these answers won’t close the debate, but they’ll move it forward. They offer insights, spark reflection, and open the door to new ideas in digital policy.

Visit the IGF 2025 web page

Geneva Dialogue Community Newsletter #2

Dear friends,

Welcome to the second edition of the Geneva Dialogue Community Newsletter – this edition highlights three key trends shaping today’s cyber landscape.

First, there is a growing focus on cyber defence and cyberwarfare. The UK has announced the creation of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, the USA is integrating generative AI into its cyber operations, and the Dutch Ministry of Defence is expanding its team of cyber reservists—demonstrating how digital capabilities are becoming central to national defence strategies.

Second, countries are taking important steps in setting new cybersecurity policy directions. Japan is developing a new national cybersecurity strategy, India has introduced AI incident reporting for critical infrastructure, and Denmark is working to reduce reliance on foreign software as part of its digital sovereignty efforts. Meanwhile, the EU and Australia are launching negotiations on a Security and Defence Partnership.

Finally, in the area of cyber norms and thanks to your contributions, the Geneva Dialogue has launched the second chapter of the Geneva Manual, focusing on how non-state stakeholders can implement the agreed cyber norms and confidence-building measures (CBMs) for the protection of critical infrastructure. This comes at a timely moment, as the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) – the primary forum for cyber discussions within the UN – approaches its concluding session in July.

As highlighted in Diplo’s analysis of the OEWG’s legacy (below), while progress has been made in reaffirming key norms and advancing voluntary cooperation, critical gaps remain, particularly in operationalising these norms and ensuring broader stakeholder engagement. The Geneva Dialogue’s work directly addresses this challenge by translating norms into actionable guidance and by reinforcing the role of industry, academia,the technical community, and civil society in supporting responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

The Geneva Dialogue team

Highlights from the previous months

dig.watch

Breaking down the OEWG’s legacy: Hits, misses, and unfinished business

The OEWG on cybersecurity (2019–2025) shaped global debates on digital security—but did it deliver? External experts weigh in on its lasting impact, while our team, who tracked the process from day one, dissect the milestones and missed opportunities. Together, these perspectives reveal what’s next for cyber governance in a fractured world.

flags european union australia linen flags closeup flag made canvas eu australian canberra national symbols 3d illustration

dig.watch

EU and Australia to begin negotiations on security and defence partnership

Brussels and Australia will launch negotiations on a non-binding Security and Defence Partnership to enhance cooperation in areas such as cyber threats, counter-terrorism, and defence industry collaboration.

dig.watch

Supply chain cyber attack hits UBS and Swiss banks

Attackers published stolen internal data on dark web, UBS confirms.

dig.watch

Denmark moves to replace Microsoft software as part of digital sovereignty strategy

Denmark’s Ministry of Digitalisation has begun phasing out Microsoft Office 365 and Windows, replacing them with LibreOffice and Linux as part of a government-wide initiative to enhance digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on US technology providers.

dig.watch

UK National Cyber Security Centre calls for strategic cybersecurity policy agenda

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has urged the government to adopt a strategic cybersecurity policy agenda, citing legislative delays and insufficient market incentives for secure technology development.

dig.watch

India unveils AI incident reporting guidelines for critical infrastructure

As India positions itself as a global leader in AI safety, a new framework could quietly reshape how nations prepare for algorithmic failures in critical systems.

Geneva Dialogue at the African School of Internet Governance 1200x800 1

dig.watch

Diplo highlights cybersecurity at AfriSIG

As Africa’s digital landscape rapidly evolves, new alliances and fresh perspectives are emerging to shape the continent’s cybersecurity future from within.

dig.watch

Trump Executive Order revises US cyber policy and sanctions scope

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order revising US cybersecurity policy by narrowing sanctions to foreign actors, revoking digital ID provisions, and directing new technical standards on encryption, AI, and software security.

ChatGPT Image May 29 2025 at 06 45 43 PM

dig.watch

UK to establish cyber and electromagnetic command to enhance warfare capabilities

As the digital battlefield expands, the UK is reshaping its military to confront invisible threats with a force designed for the age of cyber and electromagnetic warfare.

japan flag is depicted on a sports cloth fabric with many folds sport team waving banner

dig.watch

Japan to develop new cybersecurity strategy and measures

As Japan ramps up its cybersecurity efforts, a sweeping transformation is underway—one that could redefine how the country protects its digital infrastructure in the face of quantum-era threats and geopolitical tensions.

ChatGPT Image May 29 2025 at 06 24 15 PM

dig.watch

China blamed of cyberattack on Czech Republic government networks

The Czech Republic blames China-linked hacking group for a breach on its foreign ministry network. China has dismissed allegations but NATO, the EU and the US stand behind Prague.

netherlands flag is depicted on a sports cloth fabric with many folds sport team waving banner

dig.watch

Dutch Ministry of Defence expands recruitment of cyber reservists to support national cybersecurity efforts

The Dutch Ministry of Defense is expanding its recruitment of cyber reservists—civilian cybersecurity professionals who support military cyber operations on a part-time basis—as part of its strategy to enhance national cyber defense capabilities.

Geneva Dialogue Announcing Chapter II GM 2025

genevadialogue.ch

From words to protection – how do cyber norms guide security of critical infrastructure? Announcing Chapter II of the Geneva Manual

The session titled ‘From words to protection – how do cyber norms guide security of critical infrastructure?’ took place on 14 May 2025 in Geneva, as part of the Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) organised by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE). This session marked the launch of Chapter II of the Geneva Manual – a milestone in defining what the UN cyber norms mean for real-world protection of critical infrastructure.

flag of the united states of america detail

dig.watch

US Cyber Command integrates generative AI for enhanced cybersecurity operations

The agency has outlined an AI roadmap with around 100 tasks to embed AI across logistics, security, and defence functions.

View all updates

DW Weekly #218 – DiploAI at the IGF 2025 in Norway, bridging the digital divide, AI, data governance, digital justice, and more!

20 – 27 June 2025

Book, Comics, Publication, Person, Adult, Male, Man, Clothing, Coat, Face, Head, Art

Dear readers,

This week, DiploAI took center stage in Lillestrøm, Norway, at the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025), the world’s annual gathering on internet governance, where we proudly served as the official reporting team in partnership with the Government of Norway and the IGF Secretariat, combining Diplo’s diplomatic expertise with AI.

Armed with cutting-edge AI-driven transcription, our team captured every session, from the opening keynote to the final workshop, delivering real-time news, detailed reports, and daily newsletters that you can find on our dig.watch platform. With Dr Jovan Kurbalija and Sorina Teleanu leading the charge, Diplo documented and actively shaped the dialogue, advocating for inclusive, innovative governance alongside global leaders, policymakers, and tech visionaries.

DiploAI at the IGF 2025

The forum kicked off on 23 June with a bold focus on ‘Building Digital Governance Together,’ setting the stage for intense debates on AI’s role in humanity’s future. Day 1 spotlighted the urgent need to bridge the digital divide, with 2.6 billion people still offline, and explored sustainable data centre solutions to curb the ICT sector’s 2-4% contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Jovan Kurbalija’s Day 0 address at the WGIG+20 session called for a renewed IGF mandate, while discussions pushed for permanent leadership and innovative funding to strengthen the forum ahead of the WSIS+20 review.

On Day 2, held on 24 June, showcased success stories like India’s Aadhaar system (80 million daily users) and Brazil’s PIX (saving $5.7 billion annually), though funding challenges loomed large. Dr Kurbalija spoke at an open forum on international AI cooperation, and Sorina Teleanu moderated a parliamentary session on digital policy, reinforcing multistakeholder collaboration. The narrative shifted toward power concentration and accountability, with sessions on AI therapists and digital emblems for conflict zones sparking fresh ideas.

As IGF 2025 progressed into Days 3 and 4, the focus sharpened on actionable outcomes. Discussions on AI governance emphasised local ecosystems and cultural diversity, while the knowledge ecology project, unlocking 19 years of IGF data with AI, promised deeper insights for the SDGs.

Efforts to tackle internet fragmentation definitely caught the attention of the audience on the last day of IGF 2025, addressing its technical, governance, and user experience dimensions. The session focused on implementing Article 29C of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) to prevent fragmentation, with stakeholders advocating for measurable frameworks and sustained dialogue via national and regional IGFs. Key concerns included the tension between seamless infrastructure and fractured user realities, raised by Gbenga Sesan. Marilia Maciel highlighted the need for economic research to understand fragmentation’s real-world impact, noting that billions face access and content restrictions, underscoring the issue as both a technical and human challenge requiring collaborative action.

Freedom Online Coalition convened a diverse panel to explore ‘How can technical standards bridge or broaden the digital divide?‘ The session, moderated by Laura O’Brien, Senior International Counsel at Access Now, highlighted how open and interoperable standards can empower underserved communities.

The final day reframed the debate with critical questions: What should the IGF look like post-2025, and how can it align with the Global Digital Compact? With Diplo’s booth (#45) and the CADE consortium’s (#57) presence in the IGF Village until the end of today’s sessions, we invite you to explore these instructive expert dialogues on dig.watch in the special IGF 2025 event section for more detailed information!

EuroDIG outcomes shared at IGF 2025 session in Norway

UNESCO and ICANN lead push for multilingual and inclusive internet governance

Ask our personalised IGF 2025 chatbot for more information on which were the most important topics discussed at the forum!

Other highlights of the week:

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman revealed that he had a conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday to discuss the future of their partnership.

A groundbreaking quantum leap has taken place in space exploration. The world’s first photonic quantum computer has successfully entered orbit aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 14 mission.

Bitcoin holds strong above $100,000. Technical signals on Bitcoin and Ethereum point to cautious optimism with key resistance levels ahead.

The digital sector is urging the EU leaders to delay the AI act, citing missing guidance and legal uncertainty.

Meta Platforms’ messaging service WhatsApp has been banned from all devices used by the US House of Representatives, according to an internal memo distributed to staff on Monday.

NATO’s 76th summit opened in the Hague amid rising tensions in EU and the Middle East, overshadowed by conflict and cyber threats.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to assist organisations in meeting the upcoming EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) requirements.

A coalition of cybersecurity agencies, including the NSA, FBI, and CISA, has issued joint guidance to help organisations protect AI systems from emerging data security threats.

Diplo Blog – AI in Sophie’s world: How a philosophy book can help us govern AI

Jovan Kurbalija

As we convene in Oslo for the Internet Governance Forum, we reflect on the philosophical insights from Jostein Gaarder’s ‘Sophie’s World.’ The novel’s exploration of identity and constructed reality parallels the challenges of AI governance today. Just as Sophie learns her existence is scripted, AI systems are shaped by data and algorithms, raising questions about consciousness and accountability. The complexities of AI, such as the ‘black box’ problem, highlight the need for transparency and understanding. Ultimately, governance should prioritise values and meaning, urging us to engage with fundamental questions about identity and existence in our digital age. Read the full blog!

Last week in Geneva

HRC

The ongoing 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which opened on 16 June and will last until 11 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, presided over by Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland, addressed critical issues including civil society space, climate change, sexual orientation and gender identity, and violence against women, while spotlighting grave human rights situations in countries like Afghanistan, China, and Sudan.

Key outcomes included the consideration of OHCHR reports on 26 June, such as the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to technology companies’ AI activities (A/HRC/59/32) and the use of digital technologies for universal birth registration (A/HRC/59/61), signaling a focus on tech accountability and inclusion.

The session also featured interactive dialogues on systemic racism, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and climate change, with the Special Rapporteur Elisa Morgera presenting a report on defossilizing economies (A/HRC/59/42), though debates revealed tensions between economic priorities and human rights obligations. Despite robust discussions, scepticism persists about the practical impact of these deliberations amid geopolitical divides and funding challenges for the UN rights system.

ITU Council 2025

ITU Council 2025, which opened on 17 June and is closing today, 27 June, in Geneva, Switzerland, delivered key highlights and outcomes that are shaping the future of global telecommunications.

The session focused on critical governance and operational matters, including the review and adoption of the 2026–2027 biennial budget, oversight of ITU programs, and strategic planning for the 2028–2031 cycle, ensuring alignment with evolving telecom landscapes.

A significant milestone was the inauguration of the Giga Connectivity Centre on 25 June at Geneva’s Campus Biotech, a joint ITU-UNICEF initiative co-hosted with Switzerland and Spain, aimed at connecting every school to the internet.

The Council also confirmed the World Telecommunication Development Conference for 17–28 November 2025 in Baku and set the 202 6 World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum theme as ‘Accelerating an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and innovative digital future,’ emphasising bridging digital divides.

Additionally, an AI Workshop for Councillors on 16 June explored opportunities in diplomacy and governance, while side events like the WSIS information session and AI for Good initiative underscored ITU’s commitment to digital transformation and sustainable development goals.

Upcoming events

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots, from daily updates to main weekly developments, to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 20 – 27 June 2025

IGF 2025 opens in Norway with focus on inclusive digital governance

Internet Governance Forum returns to Europe for its 20th anniversary.

Big Tech’s grip on information sparks urgent debate at IGF 2025 in Norway

With democracy under siege from AI-fueled disinformation and opaque algorithms, global leaders at IGF 2025 grappled with the urgent question: who really controls the truth in our digital age?

Civil society pushes for digital rights and justice in WSIS+20 review at IGF 2025

As global civil society leaders converge to reshape the digital rights landscape, their bold proposals signal a pivotal moment in the future of internet governance.

Children safety online in 2025: Global leaders demand stronger rules

IGF panel warns that regulation without enforcement won’t protect children from digital exploitation.

WSIS prepares for Geneva as momentum builds for impactful digital governance

At IGF 2025 in Norway, stakeholders mapped priorities ahead of the WSIS+20 high-level event in Geneva.

WGIG reunion sparks calls for reform at IGF 2025 in Norway

As digital power dynamics shift and global tensions rise, a reunion of internet governance pioneers reignites debate over who really shapes the rules of our online future.

Kurbalija’s book on internet governance turns 20 with new life at IGF

Amid rapid digital change and rising AI hype, a familiar voice returns to challenge the buzzwords and bring clarity to the evolving debate.

Global consensus grows on inclusive and cooperative AI governance at IGF 2025

AI is no longer confined to tech labs—it’s becoming a global concern that demands cooperation, creativity, and a shared commitment to humanity’s future.

AI governance debated at IGF 2025: Global cooperation meets local needs

AI governance must be inclusive, context-aware, and rooted in human rights, IGF 2025 panellists agree.

AI and the future of work: Global forum highlights risks, promise, and urgent choices

As AI continues to reshape industries and redefine the workplace, world leaders and innovators face a pressing question: Can we ensure its benefits are shared fairly before the gap between…

IGF panel urges rethinking internet governance amid rising geopolitical tensions

Can imagining the internet of 2040 help us fix the broken governance models of today?

AU Open Forum at IGF 2025 highlights urgent need for action on Africa’s digital future

With Africa’s digital ambitions at a crossroads, leaders at the IGF 2025 urged a decisive shift from promises to practical solutions that can bridge the continent’s growing connectivity and policy…

Tower of Babel reimagined: IGF 2025 experiment highlights language barriers in internet governance

What happens when global internet policy experts suddenly abandon English and try to govern in dozens of different native languages?

Rethinking AI in journalism with global cooperation

As AI rapidly transforms journalism, a diverse group of global experts and grassroots voices came together in Norway to rethink how media can harness these tools without compromising ethics, inclusion,…

View all updates

READING CORNER

AI in Sophie’s world: How a philosophy book can help us govern AI

As we convene in Oslo for the Internet Governance Forum, we reflect on the philosophical insights from Jostein Gaarder’s “Sophie’s World.” The novel’s exploration of identity and constructed reality parallels the challenges of AI governance today.

The reinvention of yoga: From ancient practice to global soft power

India has championed International Yoga Day as a celebration of its ancient tradition. But is this a genuine cultural revival, a soft-power strategy, or a political rebranding? From Vivekananda to Modi, Aldo Matteucci unpacks the reinvention of yoga.

AI governance debated at IGF 2025: Global cooperation meets local needs

AI governance must be inclusive, context-aware, and rooted in human rights, IGF 2025 panellists agree.

WSIS+20 Review Elements Paper published

On 20 June 2025, an Elements Paper was published as part of the WSIS+20 review process, outlining thematic priorities to guide negotiations ahead of the WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting in December…

Understanding Vietnam’s Rise Through Bamboo Diplomacy

How does Vietnam thrive by befriending global rivals? The answer lies in “bamboo diplomacy.” Uncover the delicate art of Vietnam’s foreign policy, which allows it to bend with geopolitical pressures without breaking its principles.

Yoga in the age of AI: Digital spirituality or algorithmic escapism?

As yoga enters the digital frontier, we must confront the paradox: can a practice rooted in presence survive an era defined by simulation?

30 June 2025

E-Commerce at the WTO: Key Insights for LDCs and SIDS

E-Commerce at the WTO: Key Insights for LDCs and SIDS As the global economy becomes increasingly digitalised, there is growing recognition of the need…

30 Jun 2025 – 4 Jul 2025

Pacific IGF 2025

Participants will address connectivity, cybersecurity, and global digital processes through workshops, policy dialogues, and side events, ensuring Pacific perspectives shape internet governance at regional and international levels.

1 Jul 2025 – 2 Jul 2025

Global Digital Collaboration Conference

The conference is designed to advance global digital trust by promoting interoperable infrastructure for digital identity, credentials, and wallets.

02 July 2025

Tech attache briefing: AI, WSIS, and IGF in Focus

Tech attache briefing: AI, WSIS, and IGF in Focus The event is part of a series of regular briefings the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) is delivering for…

3 Jul 2025 – 4 Jul 2025

Second meeting of the UN CSTD multi-stakeholder working group on data governance at all levels

The working group aims to engage in a comprehensive and inclusive multistakeholder dialogue on data governance regarding development.

3 Jul 2025, 12:30h – 13:30h

AI Summit/WSIS25: Just-in-Time Explainer

The webinar offers international actors a timely briefing on the evolving landscape of global digital and AI governance.

6 Jul 2025 – 7 Jul 2025

BRICS 2025 Summit

The BRICS partnership, built on political-security, economic-financial, and people-to-people cooperation, will also use the annual summit to address issues such as the environment, energy, science and technology, health, and broader…

IGF Daily Summary

for Thursday, 26 June 2025

Dear readers,

Welcome to our daily report from Day 3 at IGF 2025.

On the third day, the IGF discussed its future ahead of WSIS+20 negotiations. It is happening in the broader context of an unprecedented crisis at the UN and UN80 debates about the future of organisations. There is no enthusiasm for new bodies and forums in such a context, making the IGF’s future role even more critical.

While there is a shared opinion that the IGF should continue to evolve, discussants expressed a wide range of views about concrete steps and reforms. The Leadership Panel argued for stronger institutionalisation of the IGF, while some discussants warned that such a move could reduce the Forum’s flexibility and agility.

Another issue that stood out for us in yesterdays’ discussions was that digital sovereignty is becoming a priority for developing countries instead of the traditional focus on connectivity and infrastructure. For example, they aim to become content generators instead of just consumers of content provided somewhere else.

The third day debates also featured emerging technologies and their governance challenges, from open-source AI applications to autonomous weapons systems. Participants discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping power dynamics between states, private entities, and users, while exposing vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 3

1. How can child safety be ensured in algorithmic environments?

Participants emphasised that self-regulation has not worked. Instead, regulation is needed, such as the Digital Services Act. Key recommendations included privacy and safety by design and default, turning things off to ensure children’s experience stays private with real agency and choice, and implementing age-appropriate design principles. Participants noted that platforms need to take more responsibility for taking down content that is damaging and prohibited, and secure appropriate age verification.

2. What should be the IGF’s role in digital governance?

Participants strongly supported the renewal of the IGF with adequate resourcing, describing it as the ‘only place globally where stakeholders can come together as peers’. The IGF was described as a successful prototype for implementing the multistakeholder approach in the UN system, which could be built upon to strengthen multistakeholderism in other parts of the UN system. Some concerns were expressed ‘about the IGF trying to juggle everything and please everyone,’ which was described as a disservice because it makes it impossible to dive deeply into particular topics.

3. How can AI divides be bridged sustainably?

Participants noted that ‘between 2022 and 2025, AI-related investment doubled from $100 to $200 billion’, which is about three times the global spending on climate change adaptation. Participants suggested transitioning from brute force models that are large and energy-consuming to vertical and agile foundation models with specific purposes. TinyML was presented as involving running machine learning models on extremely small devices, with the advantages of being low power and low cost.

4. How can AI development serve global needs equitably?

Participants noted that current AI deployment tends to reinforce existing inequalities while marginalising non-Western worldviews and indigenous knowledge. Participants suggested creating a CERN-like model for AI that could help pool resources to provide shared infrastructure for every stakeholder. The importance of working with community-led data and indigenous knowledge to focus on specific problems in local contexts was emphasised.

5. How can critical internet infrastructure be protected during conflicts?
Participants suggested creating multistakeholder mechanisms involving states, the technical community, private telecommunications companies, and civil society to respond to crises, providing funding and political leverage to allow repair equipment into affected areas. Technical solutions such as mesh technologies should be enforced into phones, allowing devices to communicate with each other for emergencies, particularly for low-bandwidth text communications

Summary of discussions

AI governance and development

Participants noted that policy responses to AI are very often fragmented, reactive and dominated by short-term interests, with no continuity or globality in addressing policy responses to AI’s impact. They also highlighted that current AI deployment tends to reinforce existing inequalities while marginalising non-Western worldviews and indigenous knowledge.

Discussions also revolved around the concentration of AI power, with participants noting that the real power of AI is concentrated in a few companies in a few countries. ‘Balancing the speed of how this technology is evolving (…) with the depth of the safeguards that we have to provide’ was identified as a primary challenge.

Environmental sustainability needs to be more prominent in AI governance debates. Sustainable AI will not emerge by default and needs to be actively supported and incentivised. TinyML was presented as an approach involving running machine learning models on extremely small devices with few kilobytes of memory and slow processors, but with the advantages of being extremely low power and low cost, with devices costing less than a dollar for chips and about $10 for full devices.

In the African context, open-source AI offers entrepreneurs, NGOs, governments, researchers, and academics affordable access to advanced tools that would otherwise require costly proprietary licenses. Yet over half the population of the continent are not connected to the internet, and there is a dearth of access to data and computing power for data scientists.

Child safety and digital platforms

The high-level session on child safety provided concerning statistics about children’s digital experiences. Consistently, around half of the children surveyed say they feel addicted to the internet, with rates of ADHD, depression, eating disorders, child sexual abuse, and suicide going through the roof. Nearly two-thirds say they often or sometimes feel unsafe online, with more than three-quarters encountering content they find disturbing, including sexual content, violence, and hate.

Participants noted that most services where children spend time are designed with three primary purposes geared towards revenue generation: maximise time spent, maximise reach, and maximise activity. This creates environments ‘where children can go from a simple search for slime to porn in just a single click, or from trampolining to pro-anorexia in just three clicks, and nudge to self-harm in 15 clicks’.

Research on children’s perspectives provided insights about AI development. When children learned about environmental impacts, particularly water consumption and the carbon footprint of generative AI models, they often chose not to use those models in the future. Children also identified that AI models consistently produced images of people that were white and predominantly male by default, causing distress, particularly for children of colour who felt unrepresented.

Effective regulation – illustrated by the Digital Services Act – often proves more successful than self-regulation, it was said. Recommended actions include building in privacy and safety by design and by default so children’s experiences remain private while preserving real agency and choice, and adopting age-appropriate design principles.

Digital infrastructure and connectivity

Digital exclusion translates into a ‘lack of access to essential services’, limiting opportunities and deepening inequalities. The problem is now less and less a coverage gap and more and more a usage gap requiring different interventions to close the gap, related to digital literacy, technology affordability, online safety, and ensuring that the online environment is compatible with linguistic and cultural diversity.

Community networks were discussed as representing a form of digital sovereignty, allowing communities to control and own their digital infrastructure while deciding how it is built, maintained and who benefits. However, one study showed that only a minority of surveyed initiatives cover all costs with autonomous revenues, with most requiring blended financing approaches combining private fees, community financing, public grants, and local government support.

The Arctic region presents unique connectivity challenges, with participants noting that ‘there are no roads, and there are no railways which would lead to these regions and people’. Solutions included creating IT camps where people, especially indigenous communities with nomadic lifestyles, can access free internet and digital resources upon arrival.

Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure

Cybersecurity sessions addressed evolving threats and governance challenges. Participants noted that ‘cybercriminals operate at the speed of light, while law enforcement or The Good Guys operate at the speed of the law, implying that it will always be a game of catch-up.’

Critical infrastructure protection was addressed through the lens of conflict situations. The session on securing internet access during crises noted that ‘armed conflict has become the leading trigger of internet shutdowns worldwide. What we see is that in times of conflict, warring parties see civilian internet infrastructure as a military target.[…] the warring parties weaponise access, such as banning or restricting access to repair parts, spare parts or critical components of the infrastructure that is needed to repair it.’

While the physical internet infrastructure falls within national borders, its cross-border nature raises questions about due diligence responsibilities and the prevention of transboundary harm.

Participants suggested creating a multistakeholder mechanism involving states, the technical community, private telecommunications companies, and civil society to respond to crises, providing funding and political leverage to allow repair equipment into affected areas.

Multilingualism and cultural diversity

Language barriers are obstacles to digital inclusion. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, the dominance of a few major languages online prevents billions of users from fully participating in digital spaces. Almost 50% of online content is still in English, despite English not being the native, second, or third language for many internet users and those yet to come online.

The IDN World Report 2025 provided statistics showing roughly 70% of the estimated 4.4 million IDNs worldwide are under country code TLDs, but with almost minus 1% yearly growth for ccTLDs and even 5.5% growth for gTLDs. Technical implementation gaps were noted, as over half of registries do not support Unicode addresses in email servers at all, three-fourths do not permit Unicode symbols as contact emails in their registry database, and none of the ccTLDs stated they would offer support to internationalised email addresses.

A paradigm shift to multilingual first as opposed to English first was recommended, implementing multilingual by design and universal acceptance by design.

Environmental sustainability and e-waste

According to the Global E-waste Monitor, over 62 million tons of e-waste are generated annually globally, with only 32% formally collected and recycled, meaning 78% remains unmanaged and results in polluting land, air, and water while causing severe health risks. Data-driven technologies (AI, IoT, digital product passports) are crucial for making e-waste traceable and manageable – ‘we can’t manage what we can’t measure’.

Participants recommended implementing comprehensive regulations and policies focusing on strengthening and enforcing extended producer responsibility (EPR) with clear mandates that legally require manufacturers, importers and retailers to take responsibility. Moreover, environmental sustainability must be embedded in all business operations, with every digital activity having a measurable carbon footprint.

SDGs in focus

Several sessions made explicit connections between digital governance and the SDGs.

SDG 15 (Life on land) was referenced through Microsoft’s Project Sparrow, an AI-enabled device for environmental monitoring that supports SDG 15 by tracking biodiversity and habitat health in remote areas like the Amazon rainforest.

SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) featured in the discussion on local digital governance. Participants noted that the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) network plays a critical role in supporting the achievement of SDG 11, making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Over 65% of SDG targets fall under the jurisdiction of local authorities, making local digital governance essential rather than just relevant.

SDG 5 (Gender equality) was referenced in connectivity discussions. While most African countries have adopted gender-equality frameworks, the missing piece is rigorous implementation: building gender-intentional digital infrastructure, systematically measuring and tracking its impact, and feeding those insights back into policy so gaps close sustainably and no one is left behind.

Participants emphasised that achieving the SDGs can only be done by unlocking opportunities through digital transformation. TinyML applications were noted as having an impact on SDGs, with diverse applications including disease detection in livestock, bee counting, anaemia detection, and wildlife behaviour monitoring.

Thought-provoking ideas and questions

‘Why won’t adults stand up for children? You watch everything we do online, you nag us to get off our devices, even though you stay firmly glued to yours, and now you just want to outright ban us. When are you going to stop making out that we are the problem instead of the system? Why don’t you stand up for us?’

‘AI doesn’t happen to us. The current narrative is often that AI is something like the weather. We have no idea how to control it. […] But AI is not weather. AI is developed by us, is developed by organisations, by people.’

‘Now the debate is not humans versus machines. Now the debate is about who understands and uses managed AI versus who doesn’t.’

‘Nobody’s coming to save us. We need to start thinking of ways where we can invest, locally invest in natural language processing, so that we can then call the shots.’

WSIS+20 review process and the IGF

The importance of inclusive and accountable multistakeholder participation was underscored throughout the Forum. Many participants pointed to the São Paulo principles as a valuable reference for fostering transparent and equitable engagement across WSIS, IGF, and GDC discussions. They stressed the need for clear accountability mechanisms to ensure stakeholder inputs are meaningfully considered and followed up on.

Looking ahead to the WSIS+20 review, it was noted that processes must be transparent, comprehensible, actionable, and accessible to diverse stakeholders. National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) should be considered special assets within discussions on the WSIS+20 review and IGF mandate renewal. NRIs are uniquely positioned to engage with local governments and broader communities for implementing GDC and WSIS outcomes. There was strong support for positioning the IGF as a central space for tracking the implementation of outcomes from both the GDC and WSIS.

Concerns were raised about overlapping UN processes, with calls for more streamlined and simplified approaches. Participants observed the potential value of aligning GDC implementation with the WSIS architecture to foster coherence and reduce duplication in digital cooperation efforts. It was suggested that UNGIS could consider integrating GDC priorities into existing WSIS action lines and explore joint implementation mapping. accountable’.

Read all session reports

The IGF we want

Permanent mandate and enhanced institutional resourcing: Multiple participants emphasised the need for a permanent mandate for the IGF, along with support for national and regional IGFs to create a holistic and effective ecosystem. There were also recommendations for securing a long-term and stable financial foundation for the IGF to ensure the full implementation of its mandate and to strengthen the IGF Secretariat.

Cross-sectoral collaboration expansion: Participants suggested that the IGF should expand by extending invitations to educational ministries, finance ministries, and experts from other areas less represented at the Forum, as digital has become an enabler across all sectors, and decisions cannot be made in isolation.

Streamlined focus and priority setting: There were calls for greater prioritisation and streamlining IGF processes and intersessional work, to give the Forum more focus.

Enhanced accessibility and language support: A suggestion was made that there should be more possibilities to exchange in different languages at the IGF.

Diplo/GIP at IGF2025

Diplo is partnering with the IGF Secretariat and the Government of Norway (as host country) to deliver AI-enabled, just-in-time reporting from the IGF 2025 meeting. Building on a decade of just-in-time IGF reporting, we will continue to provide timely and comprehensive coverage from the forum. Our reporting initiative will include session reports, an ‘Ask IGF 2025’ AI assistant, daily highlights, and more, available on our dedicated IGF 2025 web page on the Digital Watch Observatory.

Yesterday, 26 June, the Diplo-led CADE consortium held an in-person lightning session exploring multilingual challenges in global processes. A ‘Tower of Babel’ simulation invited participants to speak their native languages, followed by a discussion on practical solutions for language barriers.

Crowd, Person, Adult, Male, Man, Clothing, Footwear, Shoe, Audience, Accessories, Glasses, Speech, Desk, Furniture, Table, Janette Oke

Text, Handwriting, Symbol, Business Card, Paper, Number

Still in Lillestrøm for IGF? We’re here too! Come visit the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and the CADE booth (#57) — and don’t forget, both are also live in the virtual village.

Crowd, Person, Audience, Adult, Female, Woman, Speech, Male, Man, Clothing, Coat, Face, Head, Computer Hardware, Electronics, Hardware, Monitor, Screen, QR Code, Jeans, Pants, Mailbox, Lisa Badum

Electronics, Screen, Computer Hardware, Hardware, Monitor, Furniture, Table, Adult, Female, Person, Woman, Advertisement, Desk, TV, Poster, Accessories, Jewelry, Necklace, Face, Head, Computer, Electrical Device, Switch

Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

IGF 2025 – Daily 3

IGF Daily Summary

for Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Dear readers,

Welcome to our daily report from Day 2 at IGF 2025.

Day 2 of the IGF featured discussions across multiple sessions addressing AI governance, digital divides, cybersecurity, and the future of the IGF. Participants examined how emerging technologies are reshaping digital governance while exploring practical solutions for inclusion and protection online.

One specific issue raised in several AI discussions was the need for equitable access to AI computing power, particularly for the Global South. Key takeaways included the challenges of ‘compute deserts’ and the potential of regional consortia to pool investment and technical capacity. Speakers stressed the importance of not only hardware access but also digital skills development, AI literacy, and inclusive governance. Concrete projects, like leveraging AI and other technologies to transform Africa’s coffee value chain, showed how localised innovation can meet global goals. The tone was hopeful yet clear: collaboration, transparency, and political will are indispensable.

AD 4nXfem8YO3PN0 B2 z3VAZP3Ne7xGkm5AswyJNFAjES7YVm0h67SlRCTY800Vq3zunCNnTsPM4PC4

The WSIS+20 review process featured prominently, with participants calling for a permanent IGF mandate and sustainable funding, and noting the importance of an inclusive and transparent process, among other issues.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 2

How can we ensure AI development serves humanity rather than concentrating power?

Participants identified ‘a double concentration of power’ where only a ‘handful of private actors shape what people see, influence democratic debate, and dominate key markets without meaningful oversight’. The Freedom Online Coalition’s Joint Statement emphasised ‘putting humans at the centre of AI development’ with ‘clear obligations for both states and the private sector’. Technical solutions included ‘developing agent-to-agent interaction protocols and model context protocols to create interoperability among various agentic systems’ while policy approaches focused on ‘risk-based regulation where high-risk applications require high levels of safety and due diligence from providers’.

What does meaningful connectivity mean in practice?

Participants defined meaningful connectivity as ‘extending beyond broadband connection to include quality, affordability, digital skills, and capabilities such as financial transactions online, security awareness, and access to government services’. Device affordability emerged as the primary barrier, with ‘for the poorest 20% of people in sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level internet-enabled device costs 99% of average monthly income’.

How do we protect children in an AI-enabled digital environment?

Participants emphasised that ‘the digital space, the internet was not designed for children’ and that ‘children are systematically exposed to risks and harms because services are designed with three main aims: increased time spent, increased reach, and increased engagement’. Solutions include ‘safety by design approaches’ and cross-platform collaboration. The Tech Coalition’s Lantern program was highlighted as the first cross-platform signal-sharing program that helps companies securely share signals about accounts and activity that violate child safety policies.

How do we bridge the compute divide in AI development?
Participants noted that ‘AI computing power is concentrated in roughly 30 nations, primarily the US and China’. To illustrate, Brazil has ‘1% of all data centres in the world’ and ‘according to EAA numbers, Brazil has 0.2% of computational power globally’. Solutions explored included ‘multistakeholder collaboration models similar to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization’ and ‘investment in local talent and support for community-driven research’.

Summary of discussions

AI governance and technological concentration

AI dominated governance discussions, with participants examining both opportunities and challenges. The High Level Session on AI and the Future of Work demonstrated AI’s transformative potential through concrete examples: agricultural extension services costs dropped from $35 per farmer to $0.3 per farmer through AI implementation, while Norway’s tax administration achieved 85% detection rates for missing tax returns using AI, compared to 12% before.

However, participants identified fundamental architectural differences between internet and AI systems. While the internet was built on ‘open, decentralised, transparent, interoperable architecture,’ AI represents ‘a highly centralised architecture’ that is ‘frequently proprietary, non-interoperable, and very opaque’.

The concentration of AI development emerged as a critical concern. Participants noted that AI computing power is concentrated in roughly 30 nations, primarily the US and China. In China alone, there are 434 large language models as of the session date.

Agentic AI systems present additional challenges. A Stanford study revealed that ‘almost half of the tasks by the AI agents’ described in the study ‘were seen by workers as non-desired for automation’. Bias issues were illustrated through a case from Argentina where an AI agent for career guidance ‘tended to recommend degrees that usually have lower tuition fees’ to low-income students, despite most Argentine universities not charging tuition fees.

Magical realism of AI

Like many technologies, AI is magical as it amplifies our capabilities and brings us beyond our limitations. Yet, the impact of AI on our lives is very realistic. The main challenge ahead of us is reconciling this ‘magical realism’ of AI and its governance.

Jovan Kurbalija, Main session on AI governance

Digital divides and meaningful connectivity

Digital inclusion discussions revealed persistent challenges despite decades of connectivity efforts. Like in previous days, participants noted that 2.6 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, but significantly, ‘only 4% of unconnected people live in areas without mobile broadband coverage’ while ‘90% of unconnected people live in covered areas but face other barriers’.

The concept of meaningful connectivity emerged as crucial, extending beyond broadband connection to encompass quality, affordability, digital skills, and broader capabilities, including people’s ability to transact financially online, awareness of security threats, data protection capabilities, and access to government services.

Device affordability was identified as the primary barrier. Participants noted that ‘for the poorest 20% of people in sub-Saharan Africa, an entry-level internet-enabled device costs 99% of average monthly income’.

Gender disparities persist, with ‘women in low and middle-income countries 14% less likely than men to use the internet’ and ‘this gender gap has stalled without significant progress’.

Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection

Cybersecurity discussions revealed an increasingly dangerous threat landscape. Participants noted that ‘nearly 40% of all documented cyber operations by states in 2024 focused on critical infrastructure’ while ‘ransomware attacks surged by 275%.’ The scale was illustrated by the observation that if cybercrime were a country measured by GDP, it would be the world’s third largest economy.

The interconnected nature of infrastructure creates cascading vulnerabilities where ‘a compromise in one sector, say electricity, can ripple into others like healthcare, telecommunications or transportation.’

Information sharing is both crucial and challenging. While its value for digital resilience is widely recognised, participants noted that ‘in practice, it proves to be something that is actually very difficult’ because intelligence agencies emphasise secrecy and have limited incentive to share; companies face reputational damage and liability risks when sharing breach information; and threat intelligence companies tend to protect their business models.

The most effective information sharers were identified as CISRTs and the CERT community which ‘have a long-standing tradition in the international community of exchanging information, and they see it as a core value’.

Child protection online is a critical priority. Participants noted that ‘roughly 300 million victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation every year globally; that’s about 14% of the world’s children each year’. The challenge is compounded because ‘bad actors typically exploit multiple services across the tech ecosystem in their attempts to groom children, distribute CSAM, or engage in other harmful activities like financial extortion’. Mentioned solutions included cross-platform collaboration through initiatives like the Tech Coalition’s Lantern programme which was highlighted as the ‘first cross-platform signal sharing programme’ that helps companies securely share signals about accounts and activity that violate child safety policies.

Content governance and AI-generated misinformation

The challenge of combating misinformation intensified with AI-enabled content creation. Participants documented dramatic growth of AI content forums monitored grew from 49 sites in May 2023 to 1,271 sites currently with ‘one individual behind more than 273 AI-generated websites imitating local news sites in the US and Germany.

AI reliability emerged as a critical concern, with research showing that AI chatbots repeat false claims authoritatively approximately 26% of the time when tested, creating what participants described as ‘a vicious circle of disinformation.’

Sexual deepfakes affecting teenagers became a particular focus. In Korea, policy reports about deepfake sex crimes increased from 156 cases in 2021 to 1,202 cases in 2024. The availability of creation tools was highlighted as problematic, with ‘nearly 35,000 AI models available for public download on one platform service for generative AI, many of which are even marketed or with the intention to generate NCIIs, non-consensual intimate imagery’..’ Educational responses showed promise. The Korean Ministry of Education, for instance, published five guidebooks tailored to different age groups covering three key situations: being a victim, witnessing someone else as a victim, and causing harm.

WSIS+20 and the IGF’s institutional evolution

The WSIS+20 review process dominated institutional discussions. Multiple participants called for a permanent mandate for the IGF with sustainable funding. Co-facilitators noted receiving ‘calls for either renewal of the mandate of the IGF, or a strengthening of that mandate, or even in some cases, calls to make it a permanent institution that’s able to access financing from regular resources of the United Nations’.

Participants emphasised the IGF’s unique role as ‘the only place across all the fora that we have about digital transition where all stakeholders are on equal footing’. This is especially important as some strategic foresight exercises reveal the concerning trend of ‘multistakeholder processes either being hollowed out or kind of completely undermined by corporate actors and state actors’.

Some points were made about the ability of the IGF to have its outcomes and outputs conveyed to decision-makers. Participants noted that ‘limited by its design, a lot of the great IGF discussions and outcomes do not necessarily land in decision-making fora at the UN regional or national levels’.

Despite challenges, participants proposed that a redesigned IGF, ‘a redesigned and a braver IGF, redesigned in terms of making it much more participative and innovative, in terms of the methodologies we use for our sessions, and a braver IGF, more willing to actually ask difficult questions around which there’s not going to be consensus.’

SDGs in focus

Digital technologies’ role in advancing SDGs featured in discussions, though progress remains uneven. Participants noted that with only 17% of SDGs on target, there is recognition of gaps still experienced five years into 2030, which is the target date for sustainable development goals.

Research showed that ‘digital technologies directly benefit 70% of SDG targets’, with strong correlations found between the ICT development index and SDG index, particularly on economic development. Specific examples included SDG 1 (no poverty), showing broadband expansion correlating with lower poverty, SDG 3 (good health and well-being), with universal health coverage correlating with ICT development, and SDG 4 (quality education), showing literacy and enrollment rates with positive trends related to higher ICT development index scores.

Digital public infrastructure was cited as having ‘immense potential’, with Harvard University estimates suggesting it can unlock value equivalent to 3 to 13 per cent of GDP, with an average improvement of 6 per cent for emerging economies.

However, funding gaps persist. Participants noted that ‘only 3% of official development assistance is going toward digitalisation, and digital public goods are being underfunded and undervalued’.

The African context highlighted particular challenges, with participants noting that ‘500 million of our population without any legal form of identity’ and ‘700 million of our population don’t have access to electricity’.

Thought-provoking ideas and questions

‘Will tomorrow’s Internet still be open, decentralised and user-driven if most of our online action is mediated by a handful of AI tools?’.

‘What economic incentive do people have to be creative, to do great things, to work hard?’ This question was raised in the context of concerns about AI companies using human-created content without compensation.

‘If we’re so clever with technology, why can’t we make something that, when once we’ve put an image online, it becomes indelible, it becomes unchangeable?’ This question was raised in the context of combating sexual deepfakes.

‘Innovation without trust is short-lived. Respect for rights is not a constraint, it’s a condition for sustainable, inclusive progress’.

Read all session reports

The IGF we want

– The IGF mandate should be made permanent with stable and predictable funding

– Consideration could be given to rebranding the IGF as a Digital Governance Forum, to more accurately reflect the fact that it has expanded its scope beyond internet governance to include AI and other emerging technologies

– Better integration between the IGF and NRIs, so that contributions from local communities are better brought to the global IGF

– A redesigned IGF that is ‘much more participative and innovative, in terms of the methodologies we use for our sessions, and a braver IGF, more willing to actually ask difficult questions around which there’s not going to be consensus’

– Dynamic Coalitions should be integrated into the main program rather than treated as side activities

Diplo/GIP at IGF2025

Diplo’s Executive Director, Jovan Kurbalija, launched the eighth edition of his seminal textbook ‘Introduction to Internet Governance’, marking a return to writing after a nine-year pause. The session unpacked not just the content of the new edition but also the reasoning behind retaining its original title in an era buzzing with buzzwords like ‘AI governance’ and ‘digital governance.’

AD 4nXdKmITpgKKJARVXVPNMl9bjFS1cDwN3C2vH0u3kwNo4e0HfZ pexxMz yTF9SZ1JAD93DxiPZ3jc1pwpeWt9XNmGvKpU

Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo, at the launch of the 8th edition of the ‘Introduction to internet governance’

Kurbalija was also featured as a speaker during Wednesday’s main session on the governance of AI, noting that the policy community should make AI governance common sense, bottom-up, and explainable to anyone who is using AI.

AD 4nXfLZmk4VynohOobMed8il7bKJrbrJTYr1wavxIZeriV4M3izvANxOJnYsGXCPe7lIV5jUShNCy3uxwyHzMNTHLN UGi5erpllfEJxU0t jtLBz6aIf pJkgpInS9YutQycbpuHIyQ?key=hWh6wTYDU0VnnQND RHLLw

What to expect?

On Thursday, 26 June, the Diplo-led CADE consortium will organise an in-person lightning session to explore multilingual challenges in global processes. The session will recreate a ‘Tower of Babel’ experience, inviting participants to speak in their native languages and attempt spontaneous communication. The activity will be followed by a group discussion on real-world solutions to language barriers, focusing on adaptation, inclusion, and communication accommodations.

At IGF Lillestrøm? Find us at the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and CADE booth (#57) – also online in the virtual village.

Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

IGF 2025 – Daily 2

IGF Daily Summary

for Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Dear readers, welcome to our daily report from Day 1 at IGF 2025.

Marking the 20th edition of the multistakeholder dialogue, the IGF kicked off in Oslo amidst celebrations and a stark reality check on our fractured digital landscape. The opening ceremony set the challenge memorably: ‘When digital transformation is done right, it is like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. But when it is done wrong… all that you have is really a fast caterpillar’.

From the launch of the Global Internet Standards Testing Community to discussions on AI therapists for mental health, from digital emblem initiatives for protecting infrastructure during conflicts to the role of parliamentarians in shaping digital policy, participants outlined the breadth and complexity of contemporary digital governance challenges.
A recurring theme emerged around power concentration and accountability. Session after session highlighted how ‘most of AI today is controlled by a few companies in a few countries’ and how their dominant position in organising information and knowledge can affect the lives of billions worldwide.

AD 4nXf0 XlrFjCFK sfFm2rUeOC1Oh 58wiZOdiorgVMyzWuV1yN4dtZP8ifz8HT4umOyndVbILnci6H wBDM6jCBxrfCVsoGjOkpHGHOKzMoL0o2RJmtMB58 eZZMm0f kA0preNcm A?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

Alongside this, the deep digital divides have persisted. For example, fixed broadband devouring a third of incomes in some places, leaving 2.6 billion entirely offline. Yet, IGF discussions also brought a sense of optimism: community networks of fast-growing way for affordable access, AI protecting the environment, and digital public infrastructure revolutionising governance in the Global South.

What stood out to you in yesterday’s discussions?

Diplo reporting team

Key questions from Day 1

How can we ensure AI development benefits everyone, not just a few?

Participants identified multiple barriers to inclusive AI development, including infrastructure gaps where ‘All of Africa, less than a thousand GPUs, less than one percent of the data center capacity’. Solutions include creating ‘shared infrastructure‘ and developing ‘new business models that take that reality into account’ for GPU and data center access. India’s example of making ‘around 50,000 GPUs available at a very low cost, less than a dollar a GPU per hour’ demonstrates how public infrastructure can democratise access.

What measures are needed to protect vulnerable groups online?

The challenge is multifaceted, with research showing that ‘about one in three women had experienced some form of online violence’ across Africa. Search for solutions should be multi-stakeholder collaboration and regional with participants suggesting that ‘instead of Malaysia trying to engage with this (Meta) platform, we are hoping that ASEAN as a whole can engage with this platform’. Design-based solutions include introducing ‘design friction that you can introduce that stops the content from being shared’ rather than relying solely on reactive takedowns.

How can we bridge persistent digital divides?

Despite decades of effort, participants noted that ’20 years ago we were talking about the digital divide. After 20 years, we are also talking about the digital divide’. The challenge has evolved beyond basic connectivity to meaningful access, where in Brazil, ‘almost 90% of the population has some internet connection and only 22%, according to our estimates, have meaningful connectivity’. Solutions include community-based connectivity initiatives and recognising that ‘accessibility and connectivity to the internet is a right and not a luxury’.

How should the IGF evolve for the next 20 years?

Multiple participants advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, a mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’, noting ‘we are not talking about tens of millions. We are talking about a couple of millions, so it’s doable’. The WSIS+20 review represents ‘an important opportunity to renew and strengthen the IGF mandate, including by ensuring a more sustainable financial basis from the regular UN budget that such a global, inclusive effort deserves and needs’.

How can we ensure information integrity in political processes?

The challenge is significant, with just two companies, Google and Meta, holding a dominant global position in how news and information are distributed. Addressing this requires three key elements: first, ensuring the financial survival of independent media — in other words, media viability; second, giving due prominence to journalism and reliable information in digital spaces; and third, tackling the question of safety, because if we want quality journalism to thrive online, journalists must be safe to operate and navigate these environments.

Summary of discussions

AI technology and governance

The discussions on AI revealed both transformative potential and significant governance challenges. Participants emphasised that ‘AI is truly a new electricity, so everything can change once electricity comes into your home’, yet warned of an emerging AI divide where ‘All of Africa, less than a thousand GPUs, less than 1% of the data centre capacity’.

The concentration of AI power emerged as a critical concern. Participants noted that ‘most of AI today is controlled by a few companies in a few countries’ and that ‘most of the data sets are in six or seven languages’, with the cultural context being very specific, North American and Western European. This concentration creates significant barriers for developing countries, where ‘Africa currently accounts for only 0.1% of the world’s computing capacity, and just 5% of the AI talent in Africa has access to the compute power it needs’.

However, promising initiatives are emerging to address these inequities. India has ‘made available almost 35,000 GPUs at a very low cost of a dollar per GPU per hour’, demonstrating how public infrastructure can democratise access to AI capabilities. The Bureau of International Cooperation, Cyberspace Administration of China, reported that ‘more than 430 generative AI service models have been registered and put online in China’, showing rapid deployment at scale.

The governance challenges are particularly acute in content moderation, where AI systems exhibit systematic biases. For instance, research revealed that on counterrorism filtering, content in Arabic was wrongly flagged 77% of the time, highlighting the risk of false negatives in AI moderation.

For mental health applications, AI presents both opportunities and risks. While AI tools could potentially reach millions in need, participants warned of inadequate responses to mental health crises, with ChatGPT responding to suicidal thoughts with: ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t assist you with that. Please seek help from a mental health professional or contact emergency services’. The solution lies in culturally sensitive approaches where ‘AI should support, not replace human connection’.

AD 4nXddlk2n2r0FFCogVsZim8k34Vxl RlaXFtltuLDtrFQLK8LW4duGkJMZashrH8qG59Mn wCHeS8wnjxcvW905jcKbtz9P3JGmkmeZYCDy8wbvp7jdeZ jdf8vExPumpoiMnxkdz?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

Digital infrastructures and services

Critical internet infrastructure was identified as both a foundation for digital development and a source of vulnerability. The Global Internet Standards Testing Community was launched to highlight that ‘not deploying the new generation security-related internet standards and ICT best practices should no longer be an option for anyone manufacturing devices or offering digital services’.

The digital emblem initiative represents an innovative approach to protecting humanitarian infrastructure from cyber-attacks. Building on the historical development of the Red Cross emblem, the initiative ‘aims to create a universally-recognised symbol for protecting digital infrastructure during conflicts’. The technical implementation involves ‘protected entity flags on website addresses’, ‘digital certificates like passports for websites’, and ‘labels that are behind the scenes on digital files’.

Digital divides, inclusion, and capacity development

Despite decades of effort, digital divides remain stubbornly persistent. The nature of digital divides has evolved beyond simple connectivity. In ‘Brazil, ‘almost 90% of the population has some internet connection and only 22%, according to our estimates, have meaningful connectivity’, highlighting the gap between basic access and meaningful use. Meaningful connectivity means having ‘reliable, affordable access’ with ‘sufficient speed and quality’, supported by ‘digital literacy’, ‘relevant content and services’, a ‘safe and secure environment’, especially for children, and an ‘enabling policy framework’.

Community-based connectivity emerged as a promising solution. Participants emphasised that ‘addressing this question in today’s context is not about improving infrastructure or updating regulation. It’s about recognising that accessibility and connectivity to the internet is a right and not a luxury’. However, regulatory barriers persist, as ‘these community models cannot have the same requirements as traditional models. They must have reduced or exempted fees, and reporting requirements must be simplified and adapted to the conditions of these networks’.

Universal acceptance can help advance digital inclusion. The principle that ‘all domain names and email addresses should work across every internet enabled application device platform regardless of the language, the script or the length’ remains unrealised, contributing to digital divides where ‘the language of the internet cannot be and should not be only English’.

Skills gaps remain significant, as ‘less than 10% of adults in several countries in Africa possess basic digital skills.’ The emergence of AI creates new skill requirements, with participants noting that ‘it’s not enough to be digitally savvy, but you could also be AI ignorant. That’s the reality. Absolutely, you could be a PhD, but if you’re not adapted to AI, we have another gap. So AI gap.’

Internet governance, digital governance, and digital cooperation

The 20th anniversary of the IGF prompted significant reflection on the evolution and future of internet governance and the forum itself. Participants noted that the IGF has grown to serve ‘over 10,000 participants annually and inspiring 176 national, sub-regional, regional, and youth IGF initiatives worldwide’.

An interplay between multistakeholder and multilateral approaches remains one of the central themes often framed as a ‘false dichotomy’ between the two. Participants emphasised that ‘we cannot reinforce trust, we cannot reinforce cooperation if we don’t put a multistakeholder approach at the core of these processes. Transparency and inclusion at the core’. The geopolitical shifts featured prominently in yesterday’s discussion with participants describing ‘a shifting geopolitical order’ where ‘the last three decades of an international rule-based order are right now at a conjunction’.

The WSIS+20 review process represents a critical juncture for internet governance. Participants emphasised that ‘the review is also an important opportunity to renew and strengthen the IGF mandate, including by ensuring a more sustainable financial basis from the regular UN budget that such a global, inclusive effort deserves and needs.’ Multiple stakeholders advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’, noting ‘we are not talking about tens of millions. We are talking about a couple of millions, so it’s doable’.

Parliamentary engagement in digital governance showed promising developments. Participants noted that ‘participation of governments and parliamentarians is not very high in the regional and local IGFs’, yet there are encouraging signs of change with ‘3,300 parliamentarians and their staff’ completing training on digital governance issues.

Content governance and information integrity

Information integrity is a critical challenge for democratic societies. Participants emphasised that ‘democracy is not an act of voting. Democracy is something that we exercise on a daily basis, an informed discussion, exchanging different views and opinions and doing it in an information environment that is healthy and sound.’

The concentration of power in information distribution poses significant risks. Participants noted that ‘two companies, Google and Meta, hold a dominant global position in the distribution of news and information. Daily, 5 billion people are affected by their decisions. The media’s heavy reliance on these platforms to reach their audiences threatens the independence and sustainability of journalism. This can lead to a fragmented information landscape.’

Climate disinformation represents a specific challenge that ‘really delays our ability to tackle climate change’ and becomes a democratic issue when ‘climate disinformation is weaponised for political purposes and political gains’. The response includes Brazil’s pledge of ‘one million dollars’ to a global fund for information integrity initiatives.

Content moderation challenges are particularly acute for vulnerable groups. Research on online violence against women showed that ‘about one in three women had experienced some form of online violence’ across Africa. Platform accountability remains inconsistent, with participants noting that some platforms have ‘no accountability’ and no longer maintain ‘trust and safety teams’ or ‘human rights teams’.

Human rights and digital technologies

The application of international law to digital spaces revealed both opportunities and gaps. Participants emphasised that ‘big tech companies, have obligations under international frameworks, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, to respect and protect digital and human rights’.

Children’s rights in digital environments require particular attention. With the 2017 UNICEF report saying that worldwide, one in three internet users is a child, the stakes are high. Research published by UNICEF found that ‘children who experience online sexual abuse or exploitation and online bullying have significantly higher levels of anxiety, more suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and are more likely to self-harm’. However, children ‘don’t want to be totally protected or excluded from the digital space, but they want to use the online space safely’.

Gender equity in digital spaces faces significant challenges. Statistics show that ‘31% of women worldwide are not in education, employment or training. 740 million women in developing economies remain unbanked. In technology development, ‘almost half of publicly documented bias in AI systems is bias against women and girls’ while ‘only about 2% of medical research funding goes towards pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive health’.

AD 4nXcwgyPdxRVgIUbBXI8OCc5zylglvmbhiX6 CSTS2Qg0W07vTEUA65r9tTF6L6nxa iUOUclfOuWByOVSHsl6Wol5aK FUyhekjFrrsBKUkGrxsaogPxz0lBbsOH 6j eg5 1s4toQ?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

Digital economy and innovation

Digital public goods are a transformative force for development. Defined as ‘open source digital solutions that are relevant for the attainment of the sustainable development goals and that are designed as a do no harm and with the highest respect for privacy and applicable best practices’, these solutions are scaling rapidly. The 50-5 campaign aims ‘to take DPGs to 50 countries in five years’ with about 30 countries already using one or more DPG products.

Success stories demonstrate significant impact. India’s digital infrastructure covers ‘1.3 to 1.4 billion people’ with Aadhaar being ‘used 80 million times a day today’. The UPI payment system processes ‘about 18 billion transactions a month, over 400 billion users, and over 50 million merchants’. Brazil’s PIX system achieved remarkable efficiency with ‘$4 billion investment that in a single year led to savings of $5.7 billion.’

However, funding challenges threaten digital development progress. Participants noted ‘there is a crisis in development funding that we are witnessing right at the moment’ with estimates that ‘next year there will be about 38% less development funding available around the world’. This is compounded by cuts to specific programs, with ‘the development money at the moment (being) severely cut, not only by the US government, (…) which is a large portion of international development aid for media’.

Data governance for digital public infrastructure requires new approaches. Participants noted that ‘the ambition that we have for DPI is not realised unless we have relevant governance frameworks to give us direction, to give us a strategy, and to keep us accountable for what we will do with DPI’. The challenge is that ‘there is currently a regulatory blind spot’ because ‘if this data collection, data usage by the private entities on these public platforms is not regulated, it may lead to creation of monopolistic enclosures and data hegemony in public-private partnerships’.

Cybersecurity and digital resilience

The discussions on cybersecurity revealed persistent vulnerabilities across digital infrastructure. Despite decades of awareness, fundamental security challenges remain unresolved, with ‘users still vulnerable due to low numbers of standards deployment, ICTs, devices and services that enter the market without security by design built into them’.

The internet of things (IoT) presents particular risks, with participants warning that ‘we have millions of devices with similar software and similar vulnerabilities, which makes them vulnerable to massive attacks’. The problem is compounded by poor lifecycle management, where ‘many devices like smart meters lack an over-the-air update mechanism, leaving them vulnerable for years’.

Solutions focus on implementing security by design principles and improving procurement practices. Participants emphasised that ‘security must be embedded at every layer’ and recommended adopting ‘zero-trust architecture, and so treating every request as untrusted until verified’.

Post-quantum cryptography represents an emerging critical challenge. The threat of ‘harvest now, decrypt later‘ attacks means that ‘malicious actors might be recording today’s encrypted communications for days or months or longer with the aim to decrypt them once they can utilise a cryptographically relevant quantum computer’.

SDGs in focus

The discussions explicitly connected digital technologies and governance to the SDGs. Digital public goods were defined as solutions ‘relevant for the attainment of the sustainable development goals’, helping countries advance ‘financial inclusion, food security, crisis response, healthcare delivery and public service efficiencies’. Digital public infrastructure has ‘the potential to accelerate the attainment of the Agenda 2063 and advance digital transformation, and also address the socio-economic inequalities’.

It was emphasised that ‘digitalisation accelerates progress towards the sustainable development goals’ and that ‘addressing the current digital divide will help us to get back on track when it comes to Agenda 2030 and the majority of SDG targets’. The urgency was captured in the observation that ‘we have 17 sustainable development goals, but the 18th one is keeping the Internet going because we have become so much more dependent on it’.

Research quoted that ‘more than 79% of SDGs can be done responsibly and appropriately’ with AI, highlighting the potential for artificial intelligence to accelerate progress when properly governed.

Read all session reports

The IGF We Want

Permanent mandate: Multiple participants advocated for making the IGF permanent, ‘with stable funding, mixed funding, voluntary contributions, but also UN contributions’.

Sustainable mission: Participants emphasised that ‘ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the global IGF and the wider IGF ecosystem is essential if we’re to fully realise both its purpose and its value’.

Stronger NRI integration: Recommendations included ‘ensuring that we capture and disseminate the outcomes of those national and regional initiatives in a more kind of targeted and dedicated way’.

Digital governance radar: A suggestion for creating a digital inclusion or digital governance radar in collaboration between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the IGF secretariat.

Improve IGF outputs and policy impact: Participants called for the IGF to generate more actionable outcomes, with clearer pathways for follow-up. Suggestions included improving how session outcomes are communicated and integrated into policy dialogues at various levels.

Convene a multistakeholder discussion in 2026 on the IGF’s mandate and structure: One speaker proposed that there is a need for a clear discussion on how to improve the IGF, revise its mandate, and organise its structure more formally. This was followed by a suggestion to hold a multistakeholder discussion in 2026 on how to improve the IGF, convened under the auspices of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) or another appropriate forum’.

Diplo and GIP at IGF2025

Diplo and the GIP are also organising and participating in various sessions. Yesterday, 24 June, Diplo’s Executive Director, Jovan Kurbalija, spoke at an open forum on building an international AI cooperation ecosystem. Diplo’s Director of Knowledge, Sorina Teleanu, moderated a parliamentary exchange on enhancing digital policy practices.

AD 4nXcbymcwvaNfLYX5JdMfbuN4Sxk5w84ogJjlbCxMlI9wMUH9QS8 cYMdNfepa3toSpyo7gTzN1N hVeZELADtwgF1J8EnUkrX 9imC6S46ZLNgEqPBMLRsQPKw2A5xOU1HEDD8Oj1A?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

AD 4nXdSuI PGbxMR6EEHvF9av4uyLUjqOoC GyNxIbCM2rQxPMXRXl POENTG28BuuJ5XnTsXmOHelMyc IpqyanjicnlIx ym7O1xCiHmMbxFWFo3yg G4CoiyXRrxdacQRziEHqt2?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

On Wednesday, 25 June, the 8th edition of Jovan Kurbalija’s book will be presented at the IGF. Kurbalija will also speak at the main session on the governance of AI. Diplo-led consortium CADE will organise a session to help connect CSOs from the Global North and Global South to share strategies on challenging repressive cyber laws and strengthen joint efforts to protect civic space.

Attending IGF in Lillestrøm? Visit the Diplo and GIP booth (#45) and the CADE consortium booth (#57)—both also accessible in the virtual village.

AD 4nXchL6C7kMRmyOkEHHK1kZhUS2k0RazzfrVCS3TwJnziLPubgztYOIFnel3DcRQzAT8f3X94rxmuDc1TEZpCgpPXZcOUEZlMAnNE siOB5QsEKosF4SrxWmAQ43ZeinouyML9M9SBg?key=Uc rWrwGN1EnbsL96vdHXw

Do you like what you’re reading? Bookmark us at https://dig.watch/event/internet-governance-forum-2025 and tweet us @DigWatchWorld

Have you heard something new during the discussions, but we’ve missed it? Send us your suggestions at digitalwatch@diplomacy.edu.

DW Weekly #217 – Reassessment of digital sovereignty strategies, data governance and exposure, and global crypto adoption

13 – 20 June 2025

Dear readers,

This week, concerns over digital sovereignty, data governance, and reliance on foreign cloud providers have led some EU states and other entities to question Microsoft’s reliability and review their digital sovereignty strategies.

Notably, Microsoft is under reassessment in Germany and Denmark, as the German state of Schleswig-Holstein is uninstalling the tech giant’s ubiquitous software across its entire administration, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and the risks of foreign cloud dependency. The German case follows the Danish one, as the cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus have announced plans to reduce reliance on Microsoft software and cloud services, moving to systems such as Linux and LibreOffice. The two cases come after Microsoft previously came under scrutiny for blocking the email account of Karim Khan, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in compliance with US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.

Microsoft is also facing growing tensions with OpenAI, as the company reportedly seeks to revise its partnership by reducing Azure’s exclusive hosting rights, excluding a planned $3 billion Windsurf acquisition from the agreement, and renegotiating profit-sharing terms, all while OpenAI considers filing an antitrust complaint over alleged anti-competitive behaviour. On the other hand, the US Department of Defence has awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop prototype generative AI tools for military use, opening alternative funding channels.

Concerns about data abuse have led a federal judge in New York to order the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop sharing sensitive personal data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agents.

Additionally, regarding data governance, the European Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement to strengthen cross-border enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

One of the largest-ever leaks of stolen login data has come to light, exposing more than 16 billion records across widely used services, including Facebook, Google, Telegram, and GitHub.

Let’s move to the Middle East, where Iran’s Bank Sepah was reportedly hit by the hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow in a cyberattack. The group announced on Tuesday that it had ‘destroyed all data’ at the bank, which is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s military.

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East worsened, Bitcoin prices slumped Monday evening. The drop followed Trump’s early G7 exit, his reported return to Washington for an emergency White House meeting and his Tehran evacuation warning. OKX, instead, has expanded into the EU by launching fully compliant centralised exchanges in Germany and Poland, offering access to over 270 cryptocurrencies and 60+ crypto-to-euro trading pairs. Concerning cryptocurrency adoption, the US Senate has passed the GENIUS Act, the first bill to establish a federal framework for regulating dollar-backed stablecoins. Vietnam has also officially legalised crypto assets as part of a landmark digital technology law passed by the National Assembly on 14 June.

The semiconductor export landscape is shifting as Taiwan has officially banned the export of chips and chiplets to China’s Huawei and SMIC, joining the USA in tightening restrictions on advanced semiconductor transfers.

Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing have revived fears about the long-term security of Bitcoin. With IBM aiming to release the first fault-tolerant quantum computer, the IBM Quantum Starling, by 2029, experts are increasingly concerned that such advancements could undermine Bitcoin’s cryptographic backbone.

In terms of infrastructure, Amazon will invest AU$ 20 billion to expand its data centre infrastructure in Australia, using solar and wind power instead of traditional energy sources.

Diplo in Armenia

Diplo has launched a new round of training sessions in Armenia to strengthen civil society’s understanding of digital governance. The initiative, which began on 12 June, brings together NGO representatives from both the region and the capital to deepen their knowledge of crucial digital topics, including internet governance, AI, and digital rights.

Coming up: IGF 2025 in Norway on 23–27 June

Mark your calendars for one of the main events in digital governance! The 20th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) kicks off on 23 June 2025 in Lillestrøm, Norway, at Nova Spektrum, and will run through 27 June under the theme ‘Building Digital Governance Together’. The event will welcome over 4,000 in-person participants, with an equal number joining online, uniting governments, private sector leaders, civil society, academia, and technical experts to shape the future of the internet. Excitingly, Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) will serve as official reporting partners, delivering just-in-time daily updates and a comprehensive summary via the Digital Watch Observatory.

What is the OEWG on cybersecurity?

The UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cybersecurity has brought all states to the table to shape responsible behaviour in cyberspace. As it wraps up its 5-year mandate in July 2025, experts reflect on its biggest gains, such as trust-building and the Points of Contact Directory, and its challenges, from geopolitical tensions to unresolved cyber threats. The next chapter? Read the full article

Diplo Blog – Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity
In his recent blog post ‘Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity’, Jovan Kurbalija proposes a distinctive roadmap for Switzerland to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. Rather than mimicking the AI power plays of the US or China, Kurbalija argues that Switzerland can lead by integrating three national strengths: Zurich’s thriving innovation ecosystem, Geneva’s global leadership in governance, and the country’s foundational principle of subsidiarity, rooted in local decision-making.

Last week in Geneva

The Human Rights Council opened its 59th session on 16 June and is now in full swing. This week, the HRC has considered:

The Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, titled ‘Freedom of expression and elections in the digital age’ (A/HRC/59/50)
The Report of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, titled ‘Artificial intelligence procurement and deployment: ensuring alignment with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’ (A/HRC/59/53).

The ITU Council has also kicked off this week. Some of the things on the agenda in the last few days are:

The European Broadcasting Union held its annual Media Cybersecurity Seminar. The 2025 programme included sessions on broadcast infrastructure security, cloud and hybrid environments, ransomware mitigation, regulatory updates, and the integration of security practices into media workflows.
CERN hosted Sparks! 2025 – Imagining Quantum City at the CERN Science Gateway in Geneva, bringing together scientists, urban planners, and the public to explore how quantum technologies could shape the cities of the future. The event offered a balanced glimpse into the possibilities of quantum technologies, grounded in current scientific developments.

For the main updates, reflections and events, consult the RADAR, the READING CORNER and the UPCOMING EVENTS section below.

Join us as we connect the dots – from daily updates to main weekly developments – to bring you a clear, engaging monthly snapshot of worldwide digital trends.

DW Team

RADAR

Highlights from the week of 13 – 20 June 2025

TikTok ban delayed for the third time by Trump order

Caught between global politics and a massive American user base, TikTok’s fate hangs in the balance as the clock resets once again.

business person futuristic business environment

Latin America leads growth in crypto remittances this year

Stablecoins offer Latin Americans a vital dollar proxy, helping preserve value amid currency controls and economic instability.

China pushes global use of digital yuan

Beijing wants to reshape global finance with a multipolar currency model, reducing dependence on the US dollar and euro.

business concept with calculator close up

GENIUS Act clears path for bank-run blockchains

New US law clears the way for banks to issue stablecoins and run blockchains, promising faster, regulated payments for clients.

Massive data leak exposes 16 billion login credentials from Google, Facebook, and more

Cybersecurity experts warn of increased phishing and identity theft risks following the discovery of 30 massive leaked datasets.

closeup shot of the waving flag of the united nations with interesting

Smart machines, dark intentions: UN urges global action on AI threats

UK security services told to prepare for AI-led terror scenarios.

eu artificial intelligence act 415652543

EU AI Act challenges 68% of European businesses, AWS report finds

AWS is helping customers comply with the EU AI Act through certified tools, responsible AI frameworks, and guidance on prohibited practices.

closeup shot pile cryptocurrency cash golden coins

Over $4 billion in crypto options expire today

Expiring options often push prices toward ‘max pain’ levels, where most contracts expire worthless, increasing short-term uncertainty.

France appeals porn site ruling based on EU legal grounds

A growing legal battle over online age checks is putting national authority to the test against the backdrop of the EU digital law.

woman reading online news on digital tablet

Social media overtakes TV as main news source in the US

As Americans increasingly scroll instead of switch channels, the way we engage with news is undergoing a seismic transformation that challenges the very foundations of traditional journalism.

Brazil lawmaker pushes to scrap crypto tax on Bitcoin holders

The proposal calls for formal recognition of Bitcoin as a strategic asset and tax exemption for holders.

SoftBank plans $1 trillion AI and robotics park in Arizona

Project Crystal Land could be SoftBank’s most ambitious venture, with AI-driven robotics and automation production backed by Vision Fund startups and global tech partners.

Publishers lose traffic as readers trust AI more

Cloudflare plans a tool to block unauthorised content scraping.

View all updates

READING CORNER

Advancing Swiss AI Trinity featured image

Advancing Swiss AI Trinity: Zurich’s entrepreneurship, Geneva’s governance, and communal subsidiarity

Switzerland can inspire global AI transformation by leveraging its unique strengths: Zurich’s entrepreneurial spirit, Geneva’s governance expertise, and a focus on communal subsidiarity.

The myth of the lone genius: How scientific revolutions really happen

Scientific breakthroughs aren’t lightning strikes of genius. They grow out of collective effort, practical tools, and the long churn of disagreement. Aldo Matteucci writes.

Gulf AI deals mark a new era for AI diplomacy

How is AI changing the way countries interact and hold power in the world? Find out how nations in the Middle East are teaming up on AI projects, the emergence of competing groups led by the US, China, and Russia, and what these developments could mean for the future of relationships between countries.