WSIS+20 review highlights gaps in digital access and skills
Capacity building and inclusion top WSIS+20 review at IGF Oslo
Experts gathered at the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Norway to assess progress since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was launched two decades ago. The session, co-hosted by the Government of Finland and ICANN, offered a timely stocktake ahead of the WSIS+20 negotiations in December 2025.
Panellists emphasised that WSIS has successfully anchored multistakeholder participation in internet governance. Yet, pressing challenges persist, particularly the digital divide, gender gaps, and lack of basic digital skills—issues that remain just as urgent now as in 2005.
Yu Ping Chan of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stressed that WSIS principles are ‘just as relevant today,’ calling for precise language in negotiations and continued commitment to digital capacity development. She highlighted the disconnect between New York diplomatic processes and those who’ve worked on technical implementation for decades.
Jarno Syrjälä, Undersecretary of State at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, said WSIS and the Global Digital Compact must be implemented in sync. ‘A strong focus on trusted, open and secure connectivity is vital for ensuring the internet remains a driver for rights, trade, and sustainability,’ he noted.
Fiona Alexander from American University reminded attendees that WSIS’s hallmark was opening internet governance to all stakeholders. She urged continued pressure to maintain that openness: ‘Don’t accept the status quo—show up, speak up, and stay at the table.’
ICANN CEO Kurtis Lindqvist spotlighted tangible successes such as DNSSEC, root server deployments, and internationalised domain names. ‘We risk forgetting that global internet standards have worked phenomenally well. That’s why we must protect the multistakeholder model that delivered them,’ he said.
Smart Africa’s Director General Lacina Koné outlined four digital development gaps for Africa: meaningful connectivity, regulatory harmonisation, skills development—including AI literacy—and digital sovereignty. He explained, ‘WSIS gives us the vision; Smart Africa is building the bridge.’
The group reflected on emerging issues like AI and the need for interoperable legal and technical frameworks. A live poll during the session revealed that capacity development remains the top global priority. Speakers called on governments, civil society, and the technical community to stay engaged in shaping WSIS+20 outcomes. As Koné put it, ‘Multipolarity is a fact, but multilateralism is a choice.’
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