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  1. Home
  2. Internet Governance and Digital Policy

Internet Governance and Digital Policy

Internet governance is a new topic on the global policy agenda and is addressed in a wide variety of global public and business forums. For many small and developing countries with limited resources and institutional capacity in this sector, it is a major challenge to follow and participate in these processes.

Diplo provides capacity development support through online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion and community support. Browse this portal, and learn more about our philosophy and approach. Get in touch with Diplo's IG Team.
 

Science and diplomacy: How countries interact with the unique Boston ecosystemUpdate: Science & Diplomacy: How countries interact with the Boston innovation ecosystem

The report Science & Diplomacy: How countries interact with the Boston innovation ecosystem, on how diplomatic representations use their science and technology arms to conduct activities in the Boston ecosystem, is now available for download.

What is Internet governance?

Internet governance can be defined 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. (WGIG, 2015)

Although Internet governance deals with the core of the digital world, governance cannot be handled with the digital-binary logic of the true or false, or good or bad. Instead, the subject demands many subtleties and shades of meaning and percepti

Internet governance can be defined 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. (WGIG, 2015)

Although Internet governance deals with the core of the digital world, governance cannot be handled with the digital-binary logic of the true or false, or good or bad. Instead, the subject demands many subtleties and shades of meaning and perception, requiring an analogue approach, covering a continuum of options and compromises.

 

An Introduction to Internet GovernanceThe book An Introduction to Internet Governance, by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, now in its seventh edition, needs no introduction. It provides a comprehensive overview of the main issues and actors in the field through a practical framework for analysis, discussion, and resolution of significant issues, and is one of the most widely-used books by IG professionals. The book has been translated into 10 languages. Download the latest edition, or any of the translated versions.

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Taxonomy: 40 issues, 7 baskets

A taxonomy of Internet governance issuesDiplo’s classification of Internet governance groups the main 40+ issues into the following seven categories, or 'baskets': Infrastructure and Standardisation, Security, Human Rights, Legal, Economic, Development, and Socio-cultural. Although this categorisation was needed for the purposes of classifying the policy areas into broad areas, many of the digital policy areas interact with other areas in different clusters.

This taxonomy was first developed in 1997 by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, and then introduced in the book An Introduction to Internet Governance (now in its sixth edition). It was later adopted in Diplo's Internet governance courses. The taxonomy is under regular development to account for emerging trends and new developments in this vibrant process. Today, it is used as the underlying structure for the GIP Digital Watch observatory, a comprehensive Internet governance and digital policy observatory. It has also been adopted in the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development's report on Mapping of international Internet public policy issues, and in the GIPO initiative sponsored by the European Commission.

Explore each basket on the GIP Digital Watch observatory.

A taxonomy of Internet governance issuesDiplo’s classification of Internet governance groups the main 40+ issues into the following seven categories, or 'baskets': Infrastructure and Standardisation, Security, Human Rights, Legal, Economic, Development, and Socio-cultural. Although this categorisation was needed for the purposes of classifying the policy areas into broad areas, many of the digital policy areas interact with other areas in different clusters.

This taxonomy was first developed in 1997 by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, and then introduced in the book An Introduction to Internet Governance (now in its sixth edition). It was later adopted in Diplo's Internet governance courses. The taxonomy is under regular development to account for emerging trends and new developments in this vibrant process. Today, it is used as the underlying structure for the GIP Digital Watch observatory, a comprehensive Internet governance and digital policy observatory. It has also been adopted in the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development's report on Mapping of international Internet public policy issues, and in the GIPO initiative sponsored by the European Commission.

Explore each basket on the GIP Digital Watch observatory.

From our blog

Unpacking the High-Level Panel’s Report on Digital Cooperation: Geneva policy experts propose action plan

Editor   01 Jul 2019   Internet Governance

On 24 June, the digital policy community in Geneva gathered to discuss ways of implementing the final report of the UN High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, The Age of Digital Interdependence.

More than 80 participants from international organisations, diplomatic missions, academia, business, and civil society, contributed with concrete action points that could potentially see the report materialise in the months to come. The ‘Contributions from Geneva’ come one week after the report was officially launched in Geneva on 17 June. 

0 comments

From digital independence to digital interdependence

Stephanie Borg Psaila   14 Jun 2019   Internet Governance

An analytical summary of the Final Report of the UN High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation

The report of the High-level Panel in Digital Cooperation, The age of digital interdependence, has historical relevance.

0 comments

New York Introduction to Digital Policy and Diplomacy course comes to a successful conclusion

Editor   10 Jun 2019   Diplomacy, E-Learning, Internet Governance


Some 28 participants from 25 countries around the world attended and successfully completed the Introduction to Digital Policy and Diplomacy course, running from 25 March to 15 May 2019, in New York. This was the second session of this interactive blended learning course offered by the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) and DiploFoundation in co-operation with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in New York.

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Training and courses

Digital Policy DC
Digital Policy Geneva
Digital Commerce Geneva
Master in Contemporary Diplomacy
Starting 25 January 2021
Cybersecurity
Starting 11 October 2021
Internet Technology and Policy
Starting 26 July 2021
Intro to Internet Governance
Starting 22 February 2021

Events

[Briefing] Internet governance in June 2019

25 June 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance in May 2019

28 May 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance in April 2019

30 April 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance in March 2019

26 March 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance in February 2019

26 February 2019  | online

February online courses

18 February 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance forecast for 2019

29 January 2019  | online

[Briefing] Internet governance in November 2018

27 November 2018  | Online

Books and publications

An Introduction to Internet Governance
Dr Jovan Kurbalija
Internet Governance Acronym Glossary
Compiled by DiploFoundation

Resources

Book of Abstracts - IGCBP Policy Research Project
Advancing the interests of small developing countries
Multiplying the value received from the IGF
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Videos

[Briefing #32] Internet governance in February 2017
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #30] Internet governance in November 2016
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #28] Internet governance in September 2016
DiploFoundation
IG Briefing: Internet governance in June 2016
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #25] Internet governance in May 2016
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #23] Internet governance in March 2016
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #22] Internet governance in February 2016
DiploFoundation
[Briefing #19] Internet governance in October 2015
DiploFoundation

Photos

Just-in-time Course on Internet Governance, March 6, 2014
See the photo gallery
Just-in-time Course on Internet Governance, March 6, 2014
See the photo gallery
Just-in-time Course on Internet Governance, March 20, 2014
See the photo gallery
Just-in-time Course on Internet Governance, March 20, 2014
See the photo gallery
Official Launch of the Geneva Internet Platform
See the photo gallery
geneva internet platform,
See the photo gallery
Conference Participants
See the photo gallery

Illustrations

Network Neutrality
See the gallery
Digital Tower of Babel
See the gallery
Digital policy operating system
See the gallery
Internet Governance Restaurant
See the gallery
Network neutrality (zoom in)
See the gallery

GIP Digital Watch observatory

The GIP Digital Watch observatory, an initiative of the Geneva Internet Platform (operated by DiploFoundation) in partnership with the Internet Society, is a comprehensive Internet governance and digital policy observatory. The platform – at digitalwatch.giplatform.org – provides a neutral one-stop shop for live developments, overviews and explanatory texts, events, resources, and other content related to Internet governance and digital policy. It draws from the strengths of its partners’ assets: the resources DiploFoundation has developed over the last 15 years, the Geneva Internet Platform's international reach, and the Internet Society’s network of Chapters that will help shape localised content.

The observatory:

  • maintains a comprehensive live summary of the latest developments in digital policy;
  • provides an overview of issues, actors and ongoing process;
  • maintains a live calendar of upcoming and past events;
  • provides access to the latest research and data on Internet policy.
  • is enriched by quantitative research (e.g. data-mining of open data, topic profiling).

The GIP Digital Watch observatory, an initiative of the Geneva Internet Platform (operated by DiploFoundation) in partnership with the Internet Society, is a comprehensive Internet governance and digital policy observatory. The platform – at digitalwatch.giplatform.org – provides a neutral one-stop shop for live developments, overviews and explanatory texts, events, resources, and other content related to Internet governance and digital policy. It draws from the strengths of its partners’ assets: the resources DiploFoundation has developed over the last 15 years, the Geneva Internet Platform's international reach, and the Internet Society’s network of Chapters that will help shape localised content.

The observatory:

  • maintains a comprehensive live summary of the latest developments in digital policy;
  • provides an overview of issues, actors and ongoing process;
  • maintains a live calendar of upcoming and past events;
  • provides access to the latest research and data on Internet policy.
  • is enriched by quantitative research (e.g. data-mining of open data, topic profiling).

Monthly IG briefings

The monthly Geneva Internet Platform briefings provide a 'zoomed-out' update of the major global digital policies and Internet governance developments. Every month, the briefings round-up the developments of the previous weeks, and discuss their impact on other areas and on future developments. The briefings are held every last Tuesday of the month. Participants can join in Geneva, or online, from one of the GIP local hubs. Follow the links on our calendar of Internet governance events to participate in the next briefing. Learn more about the briefings and access the archive of recordings, digests and other resources.

GIP hubs provide a great opportunity to meet others working in Internet governance. We encourage you to establish a GIP hub in your local community to enable you to follow the global digital developments and to have sustainable discussions with others from your local community. The GIP can provide organisational and promotional support. If you are interested in establishing a local hub, let us know.

The monthly Geneva Internet Platform briefings provide a 'zoomed-out' update of the major global digital policies and Internet governance developments. Every month, the briefings round-up the developments of the previous weeks, and discuss their impact on other areas and on future developments. The briefings are held every last Tuesday of the month. Participants can join in Geneva, or online, from one of the GIP local hubs. Follow the links on our calendar of Internet governance events to participate in the next briefing. Learn more about the briefings and access the archive of recordings, digests and other resources.

GIP hubs provide a great opportunity to meet others working in Internet governance. We encourage you to establish a GIP hub in your local community to enable you to follow the global digital developments and to have sustainable discussions with others from your local community. The GIP can provide organisational and promotional support. If you are interested in establishing a local hub, let us know.

The GIP briefings are organised by the Geneva Internet Platform (operated by DiploFoundation) as part of the GIP Digital Watch initiative. The briefings complement the GIP Digital Watch observatory and the monthly Geneva Digital Watch newsletter.

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Digital Watch newsletter

The Geneva Digital Watch newsletter is a monthly newsletter, published by the Geneva Internet Platform/DiploFoundation, which includes a round-up of developments for each month, interviews with prominent Internet governance experts, features and articles on various digital policy areas, and a just-for-fun section. Read or download the latest version of the newsletter.

The newsletter was created by the GIP and DiploFoundation in 2015 with the aim of providing digital policy practitioners a regular round-up of global developments, and analysis on the most topical issues of the month. Updates on Geneva events and upcoming global events aim to help practitioners keep track of the events that are likely to have an impact on digital policy in one way or another. These aims are achieved by analysing and providing context to the large amount of developments that take place every month. The newsletter is in line with the GIP and Diplo's mission to build capacity among stakeholders, especially those who are unrepresented or have limited resources.

The newsletter is published every last day of the month, and complements the GIP Digital Watch observatory and the monthly GIP briefings on Internet governance. We invite you to subscribe to the GIP News mailing list to receive notifications about new issues of the newsletter, and to get in touch if you are interested in developing a regional version.

 

The Geneva Digital Watch newsletter is a monthly newsletter, published by the Geneva Internet Platform/DiploFoundation, which includes a round-up of developments for each month, interviews with prominent Internet governance experts, features and articles on various digital policy areas, and a just-for-fun section. Read or download the latest version of the newsletter.

The newsletter was created by the GIP and DiploFoundation in 2015 with the aim of providing digital policy practitioners a regular round-up of global developments, and analysis on the most topical issues of the month. Updates on Geneva events and upcoming global events aim to help practitioners keep track of the events that are likely to have an impact on digital policy in one way or another. These aims are achieved by analysing and providing context to the large amount of developments that take place every month. The newsletter is in line with the GIP and Diplo's mission to build capacity among stakeholders, especially those who are unrepresented or have limited resources.

The newsletter is published every last day of the month, and complements the GIP Digital Watch observatory and the monthly GIP briefings on Internet governance. We invite you to subscribe to the GIP News mailing list to receive notifications about new issues of the newsletter, and to get in touch if you are interested in developing a regional version.

 

What's next?

Diplo has been providing online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion and community support in Internet governance and digital policy for many years. Learn more about our philosophy and approach. We also invite you to engage in IG discussions, join us for training, research, and other activities, and meet other professionals working in IG:

  • Read the book An Introduction to Internet governance or the translated versions.
  • Enrol in courses on Internet governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and more.
  • Visit the GIP Digital Watch observatory, for the latest updates on developments, explanatory texts, events, instruments, resources, and more.
  • Attend our monthly GIP webinar briefings and subscribe to our IG webinars group
  • Consult research papers and texts on IG topics, which you can also consult by area of interest: cloud computing | network neutrality | domain name system (DNS) | cybersecurity | online human rights | privacy | digital divide | child online safety | open data | digital signatures | e-commerce | e-participation | social networks | ICT policy | infrastructure
  • Participate in the online Internet governance community, with over 1,500 members from every continent
  • Meet emerging leaders and pioneers in IG through their engaging life stories
  • Engage in the lively Internet governance debate on Diplo’s IG blog channel
  • Follow us for updates on Twitter and Facebook
  • Learn about Diplo's capacity development support for IG, and Diplo's contributions to IG
  • Subscribe to DiploNews, our bi-monthly e-newsletter
  • Follow our IG calendar of events
  • Get in touch with Diplo's IG Team, and send us ideas and suggestions

Diplo has been providing online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion and community support in Internet governance and digital policy for many years. Learn more about our philosophy and approach. We also invite you to engage in IG discussions, join us for training, research, and other activities, and meet other professionals working in IG:

  • Read the book An Introduction to Internet governance or the translated versions.
  • Enrol in courses on Internet governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and more.
  • Visit the GIP Digital Watch observatory, for the latest updates on developments, explanatory texts, events, instruments, resources, and more.
  • Attend our monthly GIP webinar briefings and subscribe to our IG webinars group
  • Consult research papers and texts on IG topics, which you can also consult by area of interest: cloud computing | network neutrality | domain name system (DNS) | cybersecurity | online human rights | privacy | digital divide | child online safety | open data | digital signatures | e-commerce | e-participation | social networks | ICT policy | infrastructure
  • Participate in the online Internet governance community, with over 1,500 members from every continent
  • Meet emerging leaders and pioneers in IG through their engaging life stories
  • Engage in the lively Internet governance debate on Diplo’s IG blog channel
  • Follow us for updates on Twitter and Facebook
  • Learn about Diplo's capacity development support for IG, and Diplo's contributions to IG
  • Subscribe to DiploNews, our bi-monthly e-newsletter
  • Follow our IG calendar of events
  • Get in touch with Diplo's IG Team, and send us ideas and suggestions

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Diplo is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.

     

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