Internet governance for development

Summary

The expansion of the Internet’s functionality and reach has significantly increased its importance for development objectives, offering potential improvements in education, information access, business opportunities, government services, cultural diversity, and language preservation. Given this impact, addressing Internet Governance (IG) issues is crucial for development, particularly in closing the digital divide between developed and developing countries.

In response, the UN Secretary-General established the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which will hold its first meeting in Athens, Greece, from October 30 to November 2, focusing on the themes of openness, security, diversity, and access. Key concerns for developing countries include ICANN governance, capacity building, technical standards, Internet security, multilingual content, and access costs. Strategies for raising these issues at the IGF include submitting statements, active participation in plenary sessions, and proposing workshops that link these themes to development. Additionally, developing countries are encouraged to form coalitions with each other and civil society to address issues like ICANN reform more substantively in future IGF meetings.