The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of Norway in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025, under the overarching theme Building Digital Governance Together.
Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) will participate in the 20th IGF in several tracks, providing just-in-time reporting and contributing to discussions during the forum. More information will be provided on this page and on the Digital Watch observatory.
Just-in-time reporting
We are pleased to share that the GIP Digital Watch Observatory is the official reporting partner of this year’s IGF. Building on a decade of just-in-time IGF reporting, we will continue to provide timely and comprehensive coverage from the forum.
Bookmark the Digital Watch space or download the Dig.Watch News+ app to stay up-to-date with our IGF session reports and newsletters.
Diplo sessions
Book launch: Introduction to internet governance, 8th edition
Wednesday, 25 June, 10:00 – 10:30 | Workshop room 4
Diplo and CADE
Day 2 NS #93: Cyber laws and civic space: GN-GS advocacy strategies (Organised by CADE)
Wednesday, 25 June, 09:00-09:45 CEST (07:00-07:45 UTC) | Event link on the IGF website
This session will convene civil society organisations (CSOs) from both the Global North and Global South to discuss two key areas:(a) how the Global South’s lived experiences with repressive cyber laws can inform Global North advocacy, and (b) how the Global North’s resources and policy influence can support Global South efforts in challenging these laws. This structured networking session will focus on equipping CSOs to share practical tools and develop joint approaches to counter the erosion of freedom of expression, political opposition, and civic participation.
Participating: Stephanie Borg Psaila
Sessions with Diplo involvement
Day 0 event #79 WGIG+20: Glancing backward and looking forward
Monday, 23 June, 10:45 – 12:15 CEST
The roundtable, moderated by the former WGIG Executive Coordinator, will revisit the legacy of the UN Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), which played a pivotal role in shaping global internet governance during the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The roundtable will revisit the WGIG’s legacy through three themes:
- Nature of internet governance: Assessing whether the 2005 definition remains relevant amid evolving digital governance debates.
- Multilateral vs. multistakeholder governance: Examining ongoing tensions between these approaches and the applicability of WGIG’s models today.
- IGF’s evolution: Evaluating the IGF’s alignment with the WGIG’s vision and its potential future reforms.
An open discussion will invite participant input before concluding with reflections on the IGF’s role in the 2025 WSIS Review. The session will highlight the WGIG’s enduring influence while exploring contemporary challenges in digital governance.
Participating: Jovan Kurbalija
Day 1 Open Forum #33: Building an international AI cooperation ecosystem
Tuesday, 24 June, 16:00 – 17:00 CEST (14:00 – 15:00 UTC) | Event link on the IGF website
The rapid global advancement of AI technologies has exerted profound impacts on economic and social development as well as human civilisation, bringing tremendous opportunities to the world. However, with the explosive growth of the new generation of AI technologies, emerging issues such as ethical controversies, security risks, and privacy breaches have posed significant risks to economic development and social operations.
Closely aligned with the theme of the 20th IGF, the theme of this open forum is Building an International AI Cooperation Ecosystem Based on Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution, and Shared Benefits, which addresses two critical dimensions: fostering a sound policy environment for AI and building an innovative cooperative ecosystem for AI. It aims to provide valuable insights and solutions for promoting international AI cooperation and nurturing a thriving AI development ecosystem. By jointly constructing a community of shared future in cyberspace, this initiative seeks to contribute to achieving the UN SDGs.
Participating: Jovan Kurbalija
Day 2 May session on artificial intelligence
Wednesday, 25 June, 11:30 – 13:00 CEST (09:30-11:00 UTC)
Participating: Jovan Kurbalija
Day 4 Main session on Internet fragmentation
Friday, 27 June, 9:00 – 10:15 CEST (07:00-08:15 UTC)
Participating: Marilia Maciel
Diplo/GIP booth in the IGF village
If you are attending the IGF in Norway, make sure to drop by our Diplo and GIP booth.
We’ll showcase some of our publications and initiatives and we look forward to engaging with you.
