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IGF Knowledge for the Digital Future

Context

Since its launch in 2006, the IGF has been at the forefront of multistakeholder discussions on the most pressing issues surrounding the internet and digital technologies. Over the years, the forum has accumulated a wealth of knowledge covering critical topics such as access, digital divide, multilingualism, internet infrastructure, cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, and AI.

At the core of this IGF knowledge ecology are the diverse contributions that individuals and organisations have brought to the IGF over the years, through their session proposals, inputs to various consultations, and participation in the myriad of IGF discussions, be it via mailing lists or during annual meetings (captured, for instance, in session recordings and transcripts). Formal documents – from session reports and IGF Messages, to outputs of youth and parliamentary tracks, best practice forums, policy networks, and dynamic coalitions – have continuously added value to this complex and ever-evolving knowledge ecology. 

This rich and constantly refreshed knowledge built around the IGF and its epistemic communities has a tremendous, yet largely untapped potential to meaningfully and substantively inform and shape our decisions on the digital future. The IGF knowledge ecology is a valuable resource for everyone who is interested in building a sustainable, inclusive, and human-centric digital future. It is a resource that we must protect and nurture.

Purpose

The project will focus on unlocking the vast IGF knowledge through the use of digital technology, in particular AI. The idea is to organise and codify the IGF knowledge and transform it into an accessible and easy to use public good. 

Plan

Core elements of the project include:

  • Bring together the many outputs and outcomes generated by the IGF and its communities over the years (e.g. documents submitted to public consultation; session recordings and reports; IGF Messages and annual reports; outputs of youth and parliamentary tracks, best practice forums, policy networks, and dynamic coalitions; summaries of MAG meetings; reports from national, regional and youth IGF initiatives).
  • Developing a tailored AI system able to unravel the vast amount of knowledge accumulated at the IGF in an easy to use way. This would enable users to connect and compare discussions across various IGF sessions, identify commonalities, link related topics, and facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter (see example in the text box).
  • Guiding users (the IGF community itself, but also researchers, governmental entities, IGOs, etc.) into how best to use the system to serve their needs. 

Use case example

The system will show how the discussion on a specific issue (e.g. digital divide, cybersecurity, child safety online) has evolved over the years, reflecting, for instance, repeated narratives, involved stakeholders, points of convergence and divergence between different stakeholder views, etc. 

This could then be used in several ways, including:

  • Encouraging future IGF session organisers to not repeat the previous narrative beyond whatnecessaryary but rather focus on how to take the discussion forward. 
  • Allowing stakeholders to identify points of convergence with like-minded organisations and individuals, thus opening the doors to new forms of cooperation and collaboration. 

Estimate budget

The overall costs of the project are estimated at EUR 850,000.

How to join?

This project is launched at the initiative of DiploFoundation. If you are interested in joining – as a partner, sponsor, etc – please contact the project team at igfai@diplomacy.edu:

  • Lead: Mr Markus Kummer, Senior Advisor to DiploFoundation / Geneva Internet Platform
  • Co-lead: Mr Qusai Al-Shatti, Chairman of Automated System, Kuwait
  • Co-lead: Ms Sorina Teleanu, Knowledge Director of DiploFoundation