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?
At the 2025 Internet Governance Forum in Lillestrøm, Norway, an unconventional session titled ‘Tower of Babel Chaos’ challenged the norm of using English as the default language in global digital policy discussions. Moderator Virginia Paque, Senior Policy Editor of Diplo and the only native English speaker among the participants, suspended English as the session’s required language and encouraged attendees to define internet governance and interact in their own native tongues.
That move sparked both confusion and revelation as participants experienced firsthand the communicative fragmentation caused by linguistic diversity. The experiment led to the spontaneous clustering of speakers into language groups and highlighted the isolation of individuals whose languages—such as Maltese, Samoan, Cape Verdean Creole, and Chichewa—had no other representation.
Participants reported feelings ranging from curiosity to frustration, underlining the practical importance of shared language in international settings. Yet, some also discovered unexpected bridges through linguistic overlap or body language, hinting at the potential for cross-cultural communication even in chaotic conditions.
AI emerged as a potential remedy. Ken Huang from Lingo AI noted that while AI can process thousands of languages, its effectiveness is currently limited by a lack of diverse datasets, making it default to English and other dominant tongues. Others emphasised that while technology offers hope—like real-time translation tools—it cannot guarantee equitable inclusion for all linguistic groups, particularly under-resourced languages.
The session ultimately balanced idealism with pragmatism. While many acknowledged the convenience of English as a global lingua franca, others argued for providing multiple language options with simultaneous interpretation, as practised by institutions like the UN.
The discussion underscored the political, cultural, and technological complexities of multilingualism in internet governance, and concluded with a shared recognition: fostering a more inclusive digital dialogue means embracing both innovation and linguistic diversity.
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