WSIS+20 Review Zero Draft

Preamble

A. We, the Ministers and heads of delegations participating in the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the twenty-year review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in New York on 16 and 17 December 2025: 

B. Recalling the outcome document of the high-level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/125 on 16 December 2015, which requested that the Assembly hold a further high-level meeting in 2025, involving the input and participation of all stakeholders in the preparatory process, to take stock of progress and identify areas of continued focus and challenges, and its recommendation that the outcome should be an input into the review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 

C. Reaffirming the Pact for the Future, adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 79/1 of 22 September 2024, and the Global Digital Compact, which set out objectives, principles, commitments and actions to achieve an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe and secure digital future for all., 

D. Reaffirming resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which the General Assembly adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Goals and targets committed to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner. 

E. Recalling resolution 79/277, adopted by the General Assembly on 27 March 2025, which established modalities for the twenty-year review to be held in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, and that this should take stock of progress in implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, address potential information and communications technology gaps and areas for continued focus, and address challenges including bridging the digital divide and harnessing information and communications technologies for development, 

F. Welcoming the many constructive inputs from Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organisations, the technical and academic communities, youth, and all other stakeholders made in response to the request for contributions on the themes set out in resolution 79/277, through both written and oral consultation processes, 

G. Building, , among other inputs, on the twenty-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society conducted by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in April 2025, including its report Implementing World Summit on the Information Society Outcomes: a Twenty-Year Review, the outcomes of the Internet Governance Forum held in Norway in June 2025 and the WSIS+20 Forum held in July 2025, other international and regional conferences and contributions from WSIS Action Line facilitators,

Introduction 

1. We reaffirm our common desire and commitment to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilise and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life, premised on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respecting fully and upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

2. We further reaffirm our commitment to the Geneva Declaration of Principles, the Geneva Plan of Action, the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. 

3. We reaffirm the value and principles of multi-stakeholder cooperation and engagement that have characterized the World Summit on the Information Society process since its inception, and recognise that effective participation, partnership and cooperation of Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organisations, the technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders, with balanced representation of all countries has been and continues to be vital in developing the Information Society, including the implementation of Summit outcomes. 

4. We reaffirm that the full inclusion of developing country governments and other stakeholders is critical to achieving the WSIS vision. Addressing this requires attention to capacity building, the sharing, transfer and development of technology, and financial resources to promote equitable access and innovation. We will address the diverse needs and challenges faced by countries in special situations, in particular African countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

5. We recognise that many developing nations face barriers to participating fully in global digital governance and policy-making processes due to financial, technical, and institutional constraints. We encourage governments and other stakeholders to ensure that decision-making processes concerned with the Information Society enable full and effective participation by developing countries. 

6. We welcome the tremendous growth in connectivity and development of the Internet, social media and other applications that has taken place since the World Summit. These improvements have enhanced the ability of governments, businesses, civil society and other organisations and individuals to develop and deploy applications and digital resources that can play a central role in driving economic growth, social development and innovation. 

7. We note that the widespread availability of the Internet has transformed traditional structures of public discourse. This has had significant impacts on societal behaviour, policy-making processes and the dynamics of information reliability and public trust. 

8. We recognise that digital development and digital inclusion are critical instruments in enabling progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and encourage close alignment between the World Summit process and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We reaffirm the importance of cooperation to ensure that the benefits of digital cooperation are fairly distributed and do not exacerbate existing inequalities or impede the full achievement of sustainable development. 

9. We recognise that the outcomes of the World Summit are anchored in international law, including international human rights law, and reaffirm that all human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and fundamental freedoms, must be respected, protected and promoted online and offline. 

10. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, fundamental freedoms and the rights of the child, the rights of persons with disabilities and the right to development. 

11. We recognise that the achievement of universal meaningful and affordable access to information and communications technologies and the Internet, including the ability of people in all communities to create, access and use digital technologies, is fundamental to achieving a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. 

12. We are concerned that there remain critical digital divides between and within countries in access to and use of digital technologies. These constrain the achievement of WSIS goals, restrict the achievement of economic and social development, threaten to increase social and economic inequalities and may be exacerbated by new technological developments. Bridging them requires measures concerned not just with connectivity but with the affordability of networks and devices, the availability of relevant content and services in local languages, and the development of digital skills, literacy and capabilities. 

13. We reaffirm that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and their full, equal and meaningful participation in the digital space, are essential to close the gender digital divide and advance sustainable development. Our cooperation will empower all women and girls, encourage leadership of women, mainstream a gender perspective and counter and eliminate all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence that occurs through or is amplified by the use of technology. 

14. We are committed to addressing the access and specific information and technology challenges facing children, adolescents and young people, the elderly, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised communities, and to the needs of future generations. 

15. We recognise that the pace and power of emerging technologies are creating new possibilities but also new risks for humanity, some of which are not yet fully known. We recognise the need to identify and mitigate risks and to ensure human oversight of technology in ways that advance sustainable development and the full enjoyment of human rights. 

16. We also recognise that building confidence and security in ICTs is critical to ensuring the implementation of WSIS goals, and that advancing digital inclusion requires a predictable and transparent enabling environment that encompasses policy, legal and regulatory frameworks that support innovation, protect consumer rights, nurture digital talent and skills, promote fair competition and digital entrepreneurship, and enhance consumer confidence and trust in the digital economy. 

Information and communications technologies for development 

17. We are convinced that information and communications technologies have demonstrated great potential to contribute to advancing human welfare and prosperity and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Their rapidly increasing capabilities and growing pervasiveness have enabled tremendous growth in the range of applications for development deployed by governments, the private sector and other stakeholders, creating new opportunities to improve productivity, prosperity and quality of life. 

18. We are deeply concerned, however, that the capacity of these technologies to support development remains constrained by digital divides and inequalities between and within countries, regions and communities. A third of the world’s population still does not make use of the Internet, while many people with access make little use of it for reasons that include lack of affordability, limited content including content in locally relevant languages, and limited digital skills. Strengthened international cooperation and enabling policy environments are required to address gaps in access and affordability, digital skills, financing and technological resources. 

19. We recognise the work of the United Nations Group on the Information Society to develop a matrix aligning the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Digital Compact and urge all stakeholders to align these commitments in their work for digital development. 

20. We acknowledge that developing digital public goods and digital public infrastructure are critical drivers of inclusive digital transformation and innovation and recognise the need to increase investment in their successful development with the participation of all stakeholders. Digital public goods include open-source software, open data, open artificial intelligence models, open standards and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable international laws, standards and best practices and do no harm, empower societies and individuals to direct digital technologies to their development needs and can facilitate digital cooperation and investment. Resilient, safe, inclusive and interoperable digital public infrastructure has the potential to deliver services at scale and increase social and economic opportunities for all. We recognise that there are multiple models of digital public infrastructure, and we recognise that each society will develop and use shared digital systems according to its particular priorities and needs. 

Bridging digital divides 

21. We applaud the growth in access to the Internet and digital services that has taken place since the World Summit on the Information Society. The proportion of the world’s population living in areas covered by broadband networks capable of providing effective Internet access is now over 95 per cent, with more than 90 per cent now covered by 4G networks. The proportion of people aged ten or over owning a mobile phone worldwide has reached almost 80 per cent, while the proportion of people now making use of the Internet has risen from just over 15 per cent in 2005 to more than 67 per cent in 2025. 

22. We note that the growth of information and communications infrastructure and services since the World Summit has been achieved through a combination of private sector and public investment. 

23. We are concerned, however, about substantial and persistent digital divides between and within regions, countries and communities. The proportion of people using the Internet in high-income countries (93 per cent) is three and a half times that in low-income countries (26.5 per cent), with the proportion below 20 per cent in some countries. The proportion of the population accessing the Internet in urban areas worldwide is estimated to be almost 83 per cent, while that in rural areas is less than 50 per cent 

24. We are particularly concerned by persistent gender digital divides. Only 77 per cent of women aged ten and over worldwide use a mobile phone compared with 82 per cent of men, while only 65 per cent of women are using the Internet compared with almost 70 per cent of men. Women and girls are also under-represented in education, employment and other areas of digital activity. All stakeholders have a part to play in addressing and rectifying these gender digital divides. 

25. We note that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities affirms the right of those with disabilities to access information and communications technologies, including the Internet, on an equal basis. We are concerned that persons with disabilities nevertheless remain less likely to access the Internet. We call for concerted action by all stakeholders to promote accessibility and equal access to the Internet and digital resources as a priority. 

26. We are further concerned that other groups that experience disadvantage are under-represented online, including the elderly, ethnic and linguistic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, refugees and migrants. We urge all stakeholders to include the needs of people in vulnerable situations and those in underserved, rural and remote areas in the development and implementation of national and local strategies for digital connectivity. 

27. We are particularly concerned that digital divides between and within regions and countries, and within societies, and the rapid pace of development of digital technologies, may exacerbate economic and social inequalities. 

28. We are determined to ensure the achievement of universal meaningful and affordable access to the Internet and digital services, including the availability of networks offering higher capabilities, the affordability of access, data and devices, the availability of content and services that respond to users’ priorities and needs, the extent to which these are multilingual, and the capabilities and resources required to make effective use of them, including information literacy, and to ensure that no one will be left behind in the Information Society. 

29. We are committed to achieving entry-level broadband subscription costs that are accessible to the widest section of the population. 

30. We reiterate the need for the development of local content and services in a variety of languages and formats that are accessible to all people and recognise the vital importance of multilingualism to ensure the linguistic, cultural and historical diversity of all nations. We commend the work that has been done since the World Summit to extend the multilingual nature of the Internet, including the introduction of Internationalised Domain Names, and urge all stakeholders to ensure that the Internet and digital services become fully accessible to all, including Indigenous Peoples and speakers of minority languages. 

31. We reiterate the need for all users of the Internet and digital services to develop the capabilities and capacities, including media, information and digital literacy skills, to develop and make more extensive use of information and communications technologies. 

32. We call on governments, multilateral development banks, relevant international organisations and the private sector to develop financing mechanisms and incentives to connect the unconnected to the Internet and to improve the quality and affordability of connectivity. 

The digital economy 

33. We recognise that the digital economy is increasingly central to global trade and economic development as information and communications technologies have created new markets, businesses and employment opportunities in many economic sectors, international trade and supply chains have diversified, and e-commerce has grown to account for about 20 per cent of global retail trade. 

34. We note that there have been extensive changes in the business environment for ICTs and that digital platforms, including those for social media and e-commerce, have come to play a central role in the Information Society. 

35. We recognise that equitable and meaningful inclusion in the digital economy requires efforts to tackle concentrations of technological capacity and market power in order to ensure that the benefits of digital cooperation are fairly distributed and do not exacerbate existing inequalities or impede the full achievement of sustainable development. 

36. We note that financial services have evolved rapidly to take advantage of the capabilities of digital transactions, and that Internet banking, cashless payments and mobile money systems have changed the ways in which many businesses and customers now interact, increasing ease of access to financial services for many who were previously excluded. We will support developing countries, in line with their national circumstances and priorities, in creating enabling domestic environments for development of digital financial services for all. 

37. We recognise that digital technologies have been extensively adopted in all economic sectors, enabling enhancements in productivity, new forms of manufacturing and services, and changes in the modalities of international trade. Businesses in all sectors have used digital resources to expand domestic markets, reaching a wider range of customers through new marketing opportunities, e-commerce and digital transactions. 

38. We are encouraged that growing use of digital services has created opportunities for enterprises in all countries, including micro, small and medium enterprises, to provide digital services to serve both domestic and export markets. We welcome the work of United Nations agencies and development partners to support small businesses in developing countries, including businesses led by women, to take advantage of these opportunities, and urge all stakeholders to foster an open, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory digital environment that enables micro, small and medium enterprises to thrive, including appropriate financial support and access to capital. 

39. We recognise that information and communications technologies have contributed significantly to the development of agriculture, enabling productivity improvements in large-scale food production, through precision targeting of resources and production cycles, and supporting small-scale and subsistence farmers to access information, expertise and capital. 

40. We note that digital technologies have had significant impacts on employment, including changes in workplace environments and training requirements, opportunities for more flexible working and the emergence of digital labour platforms, and that automation, robotics and artificial intelligence are expected to have further substantial impacts on employment opportunities, including the displacement of some professional, clerical and manual types of work. 

Social and economic development 

41. We recognise that information and communications technologies have contributed to higher levels of social benefit and inclusion, providing new channels for citizens, businesses and governments to share and augment knowledge and to participate in decisions that affect people’s lives, livelihoods and social welfare, including the provision of public services, education, health care and employment, business and science. 

42. We recognise that information and communications technologies have fundamentally impacted the ways in which individuals and communities interact, consume and spend their time. While many of these impacts have been positive, others have raised concerns, including for human rights, health, employment and the welfare of individuals and communities. 

43. We are encouraged that many governments have established national strategies to leverage the opportunities of information and communications technologies for development, drawing on the framework of Action Lines agreed at the World Summit , and that they also provide a range of e-government services to citizens and businesses, giving access to information and advice and, in many cases, the opportunity to undertake online transactions. 

44. We recognise that digitalisation has enabled new ways of providing education and training in schools, higher and adult education including innovative educational approaches such as distance learning, open educational resources and online courses. We are concerned, however, that the benefits of digitalisation are still not available to many children and young people as a result of digital divides in connectivity and educational facilities. We reaffirm our commitment to connecting every school to the Internet by 2030. 

45. We also recognise that digitalisation has enabled new ways of addressing health and medicine by facilitating dissemination of public health information, including information on reproductive rights and protection against communicable diseases, remote diagnosis to support local health workers, improved analysis of health data and improvements in clinical practice. 

46. We note that information and communications technologies have had substantial impacts on diversity of cultural expression and development of the cultural and creative sectors. We urge all stakeholders to recognise the importance of ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage and access to recorded information in the digital environment. 

47. We recognise that information and communications technologies have helped governments and other stakeholders to address risks associated with natural disasters and facilitate humanitarian assistance at times of crisis through more consistent and remote monitoring of environmental and other hazards, enhancing and developing early warning systems and improving preparedness, response, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. 

48. We remain concerned, however, that equitable delivery of social and economic development programmes and opportunities is hampered by digital divides, particularly in countries and communities where access is constrained by poor connectivity and lack of affordability. More attention is required to digital inclusion and digital literacy, capacity building and financial mechanisms in order to achieve greater impact and ensure progress towards the achieving Sustainable Development Goals. 

Environmental impacts 

49. We welcome the ways in which digital technologies support environmental sustainability by enhancing monitoring and measurement of environmental change and hazards, implementing early warning systems in response to environmental threats, and enabling governments and development partners to prioritise interventions, protect those at greatest risk and forecast priorities for future action. Digital technologies can also enable improvements in the efficient use of energy and other resources through ‘smart’ management of economic, social and environmental systems and facilitating more efficient delivery of public services. Our cooperation will leverage digital technologies for sustainability while minimizing their negative environmental impacts. 

50. We are concerned, however, about growing levels of energy consumption arising from digitalisation and consequential impacts on greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, including those arising from growth in the manufacture and use of digital devices, the volume of data traffic, the number and impact of data centres, growing use of the Internet of Things and rapid growth in the energy requirements of artificial intelligence. We call for the development of global reporting standards on environmental impacts and cooperation by all stakeholders to ensure the environmental sustainability of digital transformation. 

51. We are also concerned about the sustainability of and equitable access to critical resources, particularly scarce minerals required in the manufacture of digital equipment, the extraction of which has also been associated in some cases with human rights abuses, dangerous employment practices and civil conflicts. 

52. We are further concerned about rapid growth in the volume of electronic waste, including toxic waste. The volume of e-waste is growing rapidly, particularly in developing countries, leading to pollution and risks to human health, while rates of recycling and recovery are low. We call on all stakeholders to improve data gathering, facilitate collaboration in safe and efficient waste management, including sharing of technology and best practices, and ensure compliance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. 

53. We recognise the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, including sustainable lifestyles, and circular economy approaches. We call on governments and the private sector to develop global standards for the design of sustainable digital products as well as for reuse, repair and recycling. 

54. We recognise that an inclusive and integrated approach is needed to enable policymakers to align digital and environmental policies at all levels, thereby enhancing the global community’s ability to address complex and interdependent global challenges. We urge all stakeholders to cooperate in leveraging digital technologies for sustainability while minimising their negative environmental impacts, promoting sustainability across the life cycle of digital technologies, including context-specific measures to increase resource efficiency and to conserve and sustainably use natural resources and to ensure that digital infrastructure and equipment are sustainably designed to address environmental challenges in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. 

The enabling environment for digital development 

55. We acknowledge the importance of a positive enabling environment for investment, innovation and technological development in enabling the development and implementation of a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. 

56. We recognise that science, technology and innovation are integral to digital development, and that rapidly growing capabilities of digital technologies have contributed greatly to research and development across all scientific fields, enabling researchers to explore complex problems using methods that were unavailable before the Summit. We recognise the importance of ensuring that stakeholders in all countries are able to play a part in digital innovation. 

57. We recognise that certain policies have substantially contributed to bridging digital divides and the value of information and communications technologies for sustainable development. We commit to continuing to identify and implement best and emerging practices for the establishment and functioning of education, innovation and investment frameworks for information and communications technologies. 

58. We note the importance of legal and regulatory frameworks concerned with the deployment of digital services including those concerned with market structure, digital transactions, data protection and data privacy, consumer rights and intellectual property, human rights and environmental impacts. 

59. We support international, regional and national efforts to develop enabling environments for digital transformation, including predictable and transparent policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, and sharing of best practices. We commend the work in this context of United Nations Regional Commissions and other regional organisations. We call on all stakeholders, where requested, to provide technical assistance to developing countries, in line with national digital transformation policies and priorities. 

60. We encourage the international community to promote the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, including ICTs, to adopt policies and programmes with a view to assisting developing countries to take advantage of technology in their pursuit of development through, inter alia, technical cooperation and the building of scientific and technological capacity in our efforts to bridge the digital and development divides. 

61. We request the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, and Action Line facilitators within their respective mandates and existing resources to work with all stakeholders to support the enabling environment for information and communications technologies and development and provide demand-driven policy advice, technical assistance and capacity-building, as appropriate, to realise them. 

Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs 

62. We reaffirm that strengthening confidence and security in the use of information and communications technologies is a crucial driver for innovation and sustainable development. We reaffirm that building confidence and security in the use of information and communications technologies should be consistent with human rights. 

63. We commend the significant efforts that have been taken by governments, the private sector, civil society and the technical community to build confidence and security in the use of digital technologies and to protect infrastructure, services, transactions and other digital activity from the rising threat of cyberattacks. 

64. We recognise that we must urgently counter and address all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, which occurs through or is amplified by the use of technology, all forms of hate speech and discrimination, misinformation and disinformation, cyberbullying and child sexual exploitation and abuse. We will establish and maintain robust risk mitigation and redress measures that also protect privacy and freedom of expression. 

65. We recognise the challenges that States, in particular developing countries, face in building confidence and security in the use of information and communications technologies. We reiterate the call made by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/125 of 16 December 2015 for renewed focus on capacity-building, education, knowledge-sharing and regulatory practice, as well as promoting multistakeholder cooperation at all levels and raising awareness among users of information and communications technologies, particularly among the poorest and most vulnerable. Targeted support for capacity building is needed to enable all countries, particularly developing countries, to improve cybersecurity governance, align regulatory frameworks with international norms and ensure effective cooperation between Computer Emergency and Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CERTs/CSIRTs). 

Capacity development 

66. We note that lack of capacity is a major barrier to closing digital divides, and recommend that capacity development, including for innovation, be leveraged to empower local experts and local communities to benefit from and contribute to information and communications technology applications for development. 

67. We reaffirm our commitment to the international cooperation of all stakeholders to promote human resource development and training and enhance activities and initiatives at national and local levels aimed at providing advice, services and support, with a view to enhancing the capacity of developing countries to innovate and participate fully in building an inclusive, people-centred and development-oriented Information Society. 

68. We recognise the importance of digital skills and lifelong access to digital learning opportunities, taking into account the specific social, cultural and linguistic needs of each society and persons of all ages and backgrounds. 

69. We recognise the need to build digital literacy in order to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to identify reliable information that will help them to access opportunities and improve their quality of life, and to protect themselves against misinformation and abuse. We call on all stakeholders to promote digital literacy and awareness-raising efforts to empower individuals, especially those in vulnerable situations, to understand and exercise their data protection and privacy rights, make informed choices about their personal data and take appropriate steps to safeguard their online security and privacy. 

70. We recognise the need to scale up international cooperation and financing for digital capacity development in developing countries and to support the development of local content and content relevant to local realities online. The role of Regional Commissions and other regional bodies will be particularly important in this context. 

Financial mechanisms 

71. We recognise that the scope and scale of financial investment in ICT infrastructure has grown enormously since the World Summit on the Information Society as a result of expanding markets, new technological capabilities and new types of service. 

72. We recognise that harnessing ICTs for development and bridging digital divides will require further sustained investment in infrastructure and services, capacity-building, promotion of joint research and development and transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, with public as well as private investment. 

73. We call on all stakeholders to promote an enabling policy environment for investment and to foster public-private cooperation and partnership for sustainable investment in ICT infrastructure, applications and services, content and digital skills, including the use of universal service funds and innovative financing mechanisms, with the aim of ensuring the meaningful connectivity needed to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. 

74. We note that the Sevilla Commitment, the outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development held in July 2025, recognised that closing the infrastructure gap in critical sectors, including information and communications technologies, will greatly improve access to essential services, employment opportunities, economic growth and sustainable development. We reaffirm the call in the Sevilla Commitment for coordinated investment in digital infrastructure, including digital public infrastructure, and digital public goods, and international collaboration between governments, development partners and private sector actors, to support countries in their design of digital infrastructure, its financing models and impact assessment. 

75. We recognise the critical importance of private sector investment in information and communications technology infrastructure, content and services, and we encourage Governments to create legal and regulatory frameworks conducive to increased investment and innovation. 

76. We recognise that development partners, including regional development banks, and public funding have also played an important role in financing information and communications networks and services, particularly supporting their deployment in areas that have been considered commercially unviable. Innovative mechanisms, including universal access funds and community networks, have contributed to extending connectivity in remoter areas. 

Human rights and ethical dimensions of the Information Society 

77. We recognize that human rights have been central to the vision of the World Summit on the Information Society and that information and communications technologies have shown their potential to strengthen the exercise of human rights, enabling access to information, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association. 

78. We reaffirm our commitment to the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and to the framework of rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We reaffirm that democracy, sustainable development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as good governance at all levels, are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. 

79. We reaffirm our commitment, set out in General Assembly resolution 69/166 of 18 December 2014, that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights. 

80. We recall the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 78/213 on 22 December 2023, which set out principles and actions concerning the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of digital technologies, and commit to respect, protect and promote human rights in the digital space. We will uphold international human rights law throughout the life cycle of digital and emerging technologies, so that users can safely benefit from digital technologies and are protected from violations, abuses and all forms of discrimination. 

81. We commit to establish appropriate safeguards to prevent and address any adverse impact on human rights arising from the use of digital and emerging technologies and protect individuals against violations and abuses of their human rights in the digital space, including through human rights due diligence and establishing effective oversight and remedy mechanisms. 

82. We encourage all Member-States to promote an open, safe, secure, stable, free, interoperable, inclusive, accessible and peaceful digital technology environment in accordance with international law, including the obligations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. 

83. We recognise the responsibilities of all stakeholders in this endeavour. We call on the private sector and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that respect for human rights is incorporated into the conception, design, development, deployment, operation, use, evaluation and regulation of all new and emerging digital technologies and to provide for redress and effective remedy for the human rights abuses that they may cause, contribute to, or to which they may be directly linked. We also call on the private sector to apply the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. 

84. We acknowledge the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ ongoing efforts to provide, through an advisory service on human rights in the digital space, upon request and within existing mandate and with voluntary resources, expert advice and practical guidance on human rights and technology issues. 

85. We reaffirm our commitment to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in which it is stated that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and that this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. 

86. We recall General Assembly resolution 69/166 and emphasise that no person shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence, consistent with countries’ obligations under international human rights law. 

87. We reaffirm our commitment to the provisions in article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his or her personality is possible and that, in the exercise of his or her rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society and in accordance with the principles of necessity, proportionality and legality. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. 

88. We stress the importance for all Member States, and stakeholders as appropriate, to promote universal, free, open, interoperable, safe, reliable and secure use of and access to the Internet by facilitating international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and communications facilities in all countries, by respecting and protecting human rights and by refraining from undue restrictions, such as Internet shutdowns, arbitrary or unlawful surveillance or online censorship. 

89. We express deep concern regarding the development of technologies and practices that facilitate surveillance that may jeopardise the right to privacy. We call on Member States to ensure that targeted surveillance technologies are only used in accordance with the human rights principles of legality, necessity and proportionality, and that legal mechanisms of redress and effective remedies are available for victims of surveillance-related violations and abuses. 

90. We underscore the need to respect the independence of media, including digital media. We express particular concern about increased threats to the safety of journalists. In this context, we reaffirm that digital transformation must serve to uphold and advance, not restrict, fundamental rights and freedoms. We emphasise the crucial importance of safeguarding journalists, media workers, whistleblowers, human rights defenders and other civil society actors, who are increasingly targeted through digital means. We call on all stakeholders to prevent and respond to online and offline threats, including harassment, mass surveillance, and arbitrary detention linked to their legitimate activities. 

91. We recognize that digital and emerging technologies can facilitate the manipulation of and interference with information in ways that are harmful to societies and individuals, and negatively affect the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. We will work together to promote information integrity, tolerance and respect in the digital space, as well as to protect the integrity of democratic processes. We will strengthen international cooperation to address the challenge of misinformation and disinformation and hate speech online and mitigate the risks of information manipulation in a manner consistent with international law. 

92. We stress the importance of ensuring that women and girls can participate in and contribute to society at large on equal terms and without discrimination, particularly in the realms of economic and political participation, and reaffirm that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in the digital age is critical to achieving gender equality and women empowerment, sustainable development, peace and democracy. We commit to enhance and protect women’s and girls’ rights online and address the problems caused by inequality, discrimination and gender-based violence. 

93. We recognise that children and young people are among the most active users of the Internet and online services. We commit to strengthen legal and policy frameworks to protect the rights of the child in the digital space, in line with international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We welcome the comprehensive approach to promoting children’s digital rights and the best interests of the child in the digital. 

Data governance 

94. We recognize that responsible and interoperable data governance is essential to advance development objectives, protect human rights, foster innovation and promote economic growth. 

95. We reaffirm the approach to data governance that was adopted by the General Assembly in the Global Digital Compact. 

96. We note the establishment of a working group of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development to engage in a comprehensive and inclusive multistakeholder dialogue on data governance at all levels as relevant for development, including the development of recommendations towards equitable and interoperable data governance arrangements, which may include fundamental principles of data governance arrangements. 

Artificial intelligence 

97. We note the significant developments that have taken place in the Information Society with the emergence in the public sphere of artificial intelligence, which significantly advances the pace and scale with which artificial intelligence is expected to have an impact on many aspects of human societies, and also acknowledge concerns about the potential negative impacts on employment, labour, the environment, human rights and information integrity. 

98. We reaffirm the approach to international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity that was adopted by the General Assembly in the Global Digital Compact. 

99. We emphasize the importance of leveraging existing resources within specialized agencies, funds, programmes, other entities, bodies and offices, and related organizations of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and resources, to improve capacity building efforts on artificial intelligence, including through using appropriate inter-agency mechanisms, conducting research, mapping and analysis, reporting on progress and challenges in this field, and leveraging their resources and expertise to provide tailored assistance 

100. We request the Secretary General to establish an AI Research programme, leveraging existing UN system-wide capacities and within existing resources, with a particular focus on developing countries with the purpose of increasing AI research expertise in the Global South. 

101. We further request the Secretary General to launch an AI capacity building fellowship, leveraging existing UN system-wide capacities and within existing resources, in consultation with member states, aimed at strengthening the technical, practical knowledge and expertise of government officials to enable meaningful participation in global AI governance initiatives, in particular for developing countries. 

102. We welcome the work that is underway to establish a multidisciplinary Independent International Scientific Panel on AI with balanced geographic representation to promote scientific understanding through evidence-based impact, risk and opportunity assessments, drawing on existing national, regional and international initiatives and research networks, and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance involving Governments and all relevant stakeholders which will take place in the margins of existing relevant United Nations conferences and meetings. 

Internet governance 

103. We reaffirm the working definition of Internet governance in the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society as the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. 

104. We recognise that the management of the Internet as a global facility includes multilateral, transparent, democratic and multi-stakeholder processes, with the full involvement of Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders in accordance with their respective roles and responsibilities. We reaffirm the principle agreed in the Geneva Declaration of Principles that the management of the Internet encompasses both technical and public policy issues and should involve all stakeholders and relevant intergovernmental and international organizations, within their respective roles and responsibilities, as set out in paragraph 35 of the Tunis Agenda. We reaffirm that effective Internet governance must preserve the open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure nature of the Internet, and reject models of state-controlled or fragmented Internet architectures. 

105. We recognise the need to promote greater participation and engagement in Internet governance discussions of Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, the technical and academic communities and all other relevant stakeholders from all countries. Measures are needed to ensure more effective participation by stakeholders from developing countries and under-represented groups, particularly African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. 

106. We recognize that the Internet is a critical global facility for inclusive and equitable digital transformation. To fully benefit all, it must be open, global, interoperable, stable and secure. 

107. We recognise that the open, interoperable nature of the Internet has underpinned the development of an extraordinary range of services and applications, reaching across the range of human society including governance, economy, development and rights. We reaffirm the need to promote international cooperation among all stakeholders to prevent, identify and address risks of fragmentation of the Internet. 

108. We reaffirm that Internet governance should continue to follow the provisions set forth in the outcomes of the summits held in Geneva and Tunis, including in relation to enhanced cooperation. 

109. We recall the work of the Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation, established by the Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/125, to develop recommendations on how to further implement enhanced cooperation as envisioned in the Tunis Agenda. 

110. We reaffirm our commitment to improve the coordination of the activities of international and intergovernmental organisations and other stakeholders concerned with Internet governance. 

111. We recognise that many new initiatives and opportunities have arisen since the World Summit that facilitate discussion and the sharing of experience and cooperation amongst governments and with all stakeholder groups. We call on Member States and other stakeholders, in their respective roles and responsibilities, to cooperate in order to achieve the vision of a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. 

112. We applaud the successful development of the Internet Governance Forum, established by the Secretary-General following the World Summit on the Information Society, which provides a unique platform for multistakeholder discussion of Internet governance issues, including emerging issues, as reflected in paragraph 72 of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. 

113. We welcome the evolution of the Internet Governance Forum from an annual meeting into an ecosystem that includes a wide range of intersessional and other activities. We particularly welcome the emergence of more than 170 National and Regional Internet Governance Forums, which have enhanced multistakeholder discussion of relevant issues in all continents, many sub-regions and a majority of Member States. We also welcome the establishment by the Secretary-General of the Forum’s Leadership Panel. 

114. We recognise the successful steps that have been taken since the ten-year review of the World Summit to improve the working modalities of the Internet Governance Forum, increase and broaden the participation of governments and other stakeholders, particularly from developing countries and under-represented groups, build stronger relationships with other digital discussion fora, and enable more substantive outcomes that can achieve greater impact. We call for these measures to continue and request the Forum to report annually on progress towards their implementation to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development. 

115. We decide that the Internet Governance Forum shall be made a permanent forum of the United Nations. 

116. We call upon the Forum to report on outcomes of its annual meetings and intersessional work to relevant UN entities and processes, and call, in particular, on the UN Group on Information Society and all relevant UN agencies, Action Line Facilitators, the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the WSIS Forum to duly take Internet Governance Forum outcomes into account in their work and proceedings. 

117. We further call upon the Forum to enhance its working modalities, including by reinforcing its intersessional work and supporting national and regional initiatives, and to apply innovative, open, inclusive, transparent and agile collaboration methods. We emphasize the need to broaden the participation of all relevant stakeholders, with particular attention to underrepresented communities as well as Governments and other stakeholders from developing countries. 

118. We call for the strengthening of the Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum, to enable it to continue its development, implement further improvements and support the work of National and Regional Internet Governance Forums and intersessional activities, and invite the Secretary-General to make proposals concerning future funding for the Forum. 

The development of the WSIS framework 

119. We note that the arrangements established in the Tunis Agenda provide a sound foundation for continued implementation of the vision and principles established by the Summit. However, experience during and since the Summit, together with the evolution of the Information Society, suggests the need for their further development to ensure that they continue to support the achievement of the Summit’s vision and objectives and integration with the Global Digital Compact. 

120. We recognise that multistakeholder participation has been crucial to the success of the World Summit’s implementation framework, drawing expertise and experience from governments, international organisations, the private sector, civil society, the technical community and academia. We reaffirm the values and principles of multistakeholder cooperation and engagement that were established at the Summit, reaffirmed in General Assembly resolution 70/125, and reinforced in the Global Digital Compact. 

121. We reaffirm the principle of the sovereign equality of all States. We believe that the equitable participation of governments and stakeholders from all countries is crucial to achieving the goals established at the Summit and to ensuring that no country or community is left behind in the pursuit of a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. 

122. We recognise the importance of ensuring alignment of implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, building synergies between them to ensure their effective implementation and avoiding wasteful duplication of resources and decision-making processes. We recognise in particular the importance of enabling all countries and stakeholders to play a full part in achieving their fulfilment. 

123. We welcome the efforts of United Nations entities and World Summit Action Line facilitators to support the implementation of WSIS outcomes over the past two decades within their mandates and areas of responsibility. 

124. We recognise the important role that has been played by United Nations Regional Commissions in developing regional action plans and coordinating work to implement the Summit’s outcomes. We reaffirm the mandates of the Regional Commissions to serve as regional mechanisms for implementation and follow-up of World Summit outcomes and support the operationalisation of the Global Digital Compact, encourage them to continue their work to implement and review implementation of these outcomes in their regions, and call for adequate resources to enable them to scale up technical assistance, capacity building and partnerships. 

125. We welcome the establishment by the Secretary-General of the Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies strengthening United Nations system-wide coordination on digital cooperation and supporting the follow-up and implementation of the Global Digital Compact. 

126. We applaud the work undertaken by the International Telecommunication Union in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Development Programme to establish the annual World Summit on the Information Society Forum, which has become a central platform for multistakeholder dialogue and collaboration in the implementation of the World Summit outcomes, the development of networks and coordination of initiatives on digital development, as well as the annual review of the Summit’s Action Lines. We call for the Forum to be continued annually. 

127. We recall that the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society established a framework of eleven Action Lines, together with eight subsidiary Action Lines, concerned with different aspects of digital development. We recognise the value that many governments, have attributed to these Action Lines in supporting the formulation of national strategies and approaches to digital development. 

128. We call on Action Line facilitators to ensure close alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development when considering new work to implement the outcomes of the World Summit, according to their existing mandates and resources. 

129. We further request Action Line facilitators to develop implementation roadmaps for their Action Lines, including potential targets, indicators and metrics to facilitate monitoring and measurement, and to report on the outcomes of this review to the 30th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in 2027. 

130. We recognise the importance of human rights to the implementation of all Action Lines and call on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to play a part in the facilitation and assessment of all Action Lines. 

131. We call on all Action Lines and Action Line facilitators to address gender equality and empowerment of women as a core theme within their work to implement the outcomes of the Summit, with the full involvement of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and other stakeholders. 

Monitoring and measurement 

132. We acknowledge the importance of data and statistics to support information and communications technology for development and call for further quantitative data to support evidence-based decision-making, as well as the inclusion of ICT data in national strategies for the development of statistics and regional statistical work programmes. 

133. We commit to strengthen international cooperation to close the current serious gaps on data for development and to increase its public availability. We will champion the responsible use and sharing of data within and between countries to advance progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. 

134. We note with appreciation the work of the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, which was established at the time of the World Summit and has made a valuable contribution to the development of indicators, data gathering and dissemination of data on the Information Society. We acknowledge the work of United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to develop targets, indicators and metrics for various dimensions of the Information Society. 

135. We are committed to the further development and strengthening of internationally agreed targets, indicators and metrics for universal meaningful and affordable connectivity, including gender-disaggregated targets, indicators and metrics, building on work undertaken by the International Telecommunication Union, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, other United Nations entities, international organisations and other stakeholders. We underline the importance of ensuring that such targets and metrics are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and that they are integrated into international, regional and national development strategies. 

136. To this end, we request the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development, in cooperation with the Action Line facilitators, to undertake a systematic review of existing indicators and methodologies, and to report its findings to the 29th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in 2026, with a further consolidated progress report to the 30th session of the Commission in 2027, in order to inform the future development of monitoring and measurement of the Information Society. 

137. We also call upon United Nations and other relevant organisations and forums to periodically review the methodologies for information and communications technology indicators, taking into account different levels of development and national circumstances, put in place data infrastructure at the national level on information and communications technologies, and share information about country case studies. 

138. We recognise the need for further funding and capacity-building of national statistical systems to enable all countries to meet the demand for improved data and statistics, and call on development partners to provide additional resources, share best practices, and support capacity development, particularly in developing countries. We also urge the private sector to contribute by making appropriate data available to support the gathering and analysis of statistical evidence on the development of the Information Society, thereby strengthening research, policy development, and the work of governments, civil society, academia and other stakeholders. 

Follow-up and review 

139. We reaffirm that the ongoing implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society will require the continued commitment and action of all stakeholders, including Governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and the technical and academic communities, and that regular review of progress of the full set of Summit action lines will be essential to achieving the vision of the Summit. 

140. We stress the need to ensure convergence between the implementation of the World Summit outcomes and the Global Digital Compact to avoid duplication and enhance synergies, efficiencies and thereby impact. 

141. We call for continuation of the work of the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) as a platform for multistakeholder dialogue, partnership-building and review of progress on digital development. We request the UN Secretary-General to strengthen the agility, efficiency and effectiveness of UNGIS as the United Nations system’s inter-agency stewardship mechanism for advancing policy coherence and programme coordination on digital matters, including by expanding its membership with further United Nations entities with responsibilities in matters of digital cooperation, such as the Office of Digital and Emerging Technologies and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), as well as multistakeholder advice to its work as appropriate. 

142. We note with appreciation the matrix prepared by the United Nations Group on the Information Society, which maps the Global Digital Compact objectives to existing World Summit structures, mechanisms and activities, offering a structured approach for effective follow-up and implementation of the Compact. We request that the United Nations Group on the Information Society develop a joint implementation road map, to be presented to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development at its twenty-ninth session in 2026, to integrate the Global Digital Compact commitments into the World Summit architecture, ensuring a unified approach to digital cooperation that avoids duplication and maximizes resource efficiency. 

143. We request the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, on a yearly basis, a report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution and the assessment of the quantitative and qualitative progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society and the Global Digital Compact. 

144. We recognise the role of the Economic and Social Council’s role in overseeing the system-wide follow-up of the implementation of the World Summit on Information Society outcomes and request the Council to further integrate in such oversight implementation of the Global Digital Compact. 

145. We recognise the role of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in reviewing and assessing progress made in implementing the World Summit on Information Society outcomes, requests the Commission further to review and assess progress made in implementing the Global Digital Compact commitments, and further call upon the Commission to advise ECOSOC thereon, including through the elaboration of strategic guidance and recommendations aimed at furthering the implementation of these outcomes and commitments. 

146. We note that the General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting to review implementation of the Global Digital Compact during its eighty-second session in 2027, based on a progress report by the Secretary-General, with the input and meaningful participation of all stakeholders including the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Internet Governance Forum and World Summit Action Line facilitators. We call for the high-level meeting to consider among other issues, progress in alignment between World Summit outcomes and the Global Digital Compact. 

147. We recall that the General Assembly determined, in its resolution 70/125 of 16 December 2015, that the outcome of its twenty-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society should be an input into the review process for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We therefore resolve to submit this resolution as an input to the high-level meeting to review the 2030 Agenda, which is to be convened by the General Assembly in 2030. We call on the General Assembly to undertake a review of the outcomes of the joint implementation roadmap. 

148. We request the General Assembly to hold a high-level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society in 2035, involving the input and participation of all stakeholders, including in the preparatory process, to take stock of progress and challenges concerning the outcomes of the World Summit and identify areas of continued focus.