Internet governance and digital policy
Contents
What is Internet governance?Taxonomy: 40 issues, 7 basketsGIP Digital Watch observatoryMonthly IG briefingsDigital Watch newsletterWhat's next?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.
Update: Science & Diplomacy: How countries interact with the Boston innovation ecosystem
Update: 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 perception, requiring an analogue approach, covering a continuum of options and compromises.
The 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.
Taxonomy: 40 issues, 7 baskets
Diplo’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.
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).
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.
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
From our blog
[Podcast] The Diplomat’s Sofa #3: Why diplomats should care about cybersecurity
06 July 2021
Critical infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Digital diplomacy, Network security
Welcome to the third episode of our new podcast series The Diplomat’s Sofa where we speak to diplomats about their craft and the latest developments in international diplomacy. In our third episode, hosted by D...
[Podcast] The Diplomat’s Sofa #2: Cybersecurity: A meeting place for diplomats and techies with David Koh
21 June 2021
Welcome to the second episode of our new podcast series The Diplomat’s Sofa where we speak to diplomats about their craft and the latest developments in international diplomacy. In our second episode, hosted by...
What is the future of a cyber detente after Biden and Putin’s Geneva summit?
18 June 2021
Critical infrastructure, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Network security
A cyber detente between Russia and the USA started in Geneva with the easing of tensions and kick off of bilateral cybersecurity consultations. Biden and Putin built on the dynamism of successful outcomes in cyber p...
What’s new with cybersecurity negotiations? The second cyber OEWG’s organisational session
16 June 2021
Critical infrastructure, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Network security
Two weeks ago, the second cyber Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), which will be active until 2025, held its first organisational session to determine how and when it will conduct its work. This second cyber OEWG start...
Training and courses
Events
ARIN/CTU Caribbean Internet Public Policy Forum
17 May 21 - 18 May 21
Business-Policy Roundtable
02 Apr 19 25 Mar 19 -
Digital technology: An unprecedented opportunity for the prevention of trafficking
17 Oct 18 -
Switzerland
Introduction to Digital Policy and Diplomacy (just-in-time Geneva-based course)
08 Oct 18 - 17 Dec 18
Switzerland
‘2018: A Tipping Point for the Internet’ – public discussion by Jovan Kurbalija
11 Jul 18 -
Indonesia
Information session: Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace
01 Oct 18 - 02 Oct 18
Switzerland
Diplo at the ‘Cyber security and cybercrime policies for African diplomats’ workshop
12 Apr 18 - 13 Apr 18
Ethiopia
Diplo at Visions of the Internet from Delhi, Wuzhen, Geneva, and everywhere else
22 Jan 18 -
United States
Digital policy in global governance: Issues and challenges discussed in Geneva
22 Sep 17 -
Switzerland
Diplo at third South Eastern Europe Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG)
24 May 17 - 25 May 17
North Macedonia
Diplo at EuroDIG 2017
05 Jun 17 -
Diplo at Global Internet Governance – Actors, Regulations, Transactions and Strategies (GIG-ARTS) Conference
30 Mar 17 - 31 Mar 17
France
Young Faces Conference: Strategic cybersecurity policy development in Southeast Europe
29 Nov 16 - 01 Dec 16
Serbia
Diplo at Middle East and Adjoining Countries School on Internet Governance
08 Aug 16 - 12 Aug 16
Lebanon
Engaging digital actors – fostering effective digital policy – monitoring digital governance
02 May 16 -
Switzerland
Cybersecurity Competence Building Trends: Presentation of study and follow-up discussion
08 Apr 16 -
Switzerland
Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe – The Role of International Geneva
23 Feb 16 -
Switzerland
WSIS Side Event – GIP Digital Watch: A practical tool for navigating digital policy
16 Dec 15 -
United States
Navigating through the Complex Field of Digital Politics. GIP Digital Watch Launch
28 Sep 15 -
Switzerland
Introduction to digital politics: online course for Geneva-based diplomats
27 Apr 15 - 22 Jun 15
Online
Diplo director on lecture tour in Asia
12 Mar 15 - 17 Mar 15
The Geneva Internet Conference – Internet Governance at a Crossroads
17 Nov 14 - 19 Nov 14
Switzerland
New Trends in Diplomatic Practice – Cyber Security as a New Area of Peace and Security
24 Sep 14 -
South Africa
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies: technical, monetary, policy and development context
13 Jun 14 -
Switzerland
Briefing for Geneva permanent missions: just-in-time course on Internet governance
24 Feb 14 -
Switzerland
Joint Australian-Egyptian Missions informal roundtable on information and cyber security issues
01 Jun 12 -
United States
Discussion Workshop on Internet Governance
27 Mar 12 -
Panel on Fraud and other abuse of Emblems (Red Cross/Red Crescent) on the Internet
30 Nov 11 -
Switzerland
Resources
2018
The Rise of TechPlomacy in the Bay area
Tech diplomacy is becoming a necessity for countries worldwide. Countries need to capture the nexus between technology innovation and economic developments. To be effectively present in the Bay Area, countries need to use innovative diplomatic approaches. This report d... Read more...
2014
Global Inviolability of the Internet Root Zone (Briefing Paper #1)
Dr Kurbalija explains the internet root zone, and highlights the context and controversy of questions about its inviolability. Possible solutions identified by him include legal elements (customary law, diplomatic law, common heritage of mankind), 'software' inviolabil... Read more...
2019
The EU’s New Commission: Digital Policy in the Limelight (Briefing Paper #13)
In this briefing paper, Dr Stephanie Borg Psaila analyses Ursula von der Leyen's new EU Commission's emphasis on digital policy for 2019–2024.... Read more...
2018
Searching for Meaningful Human Control. The April 2018 Meeting on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (Briefing Paper #10)
In this briefing paper, Ms Barbara Rosen Jacobson analyses the debate of the April 2018 meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). The group was established to discuss emerging technologies in the area of... Read more...
Monthly IG briefings
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.