Internet governance and digital policy
Internet governance, also referred to as digital policy, deals with the policy issues associated with digital technology.
Diplo has been providing capacity development support to digital policy practitioners for almost 20 years. This includes online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion, and community support. Since many small and developing countries have limited resources and institutional capacity in this sector, Diplo provides special assistance to practitioners from these countries.
What is internet governance?
Internet governance refers to the shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. Governments, the private sector, and civil society each contribute to developing these principles, rules, and processes, in their respective roles. (WGIG, 2015)
The book An Introduction to Internet Governance (7th ed.), by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, is one of the most widely-used books by digital policy professionals and across universities. It has also been translated into 10 languages. The book 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. Download the latest edition, or any of the translated versions.
The internet governance taxonomy: 7 baskets, 40+ topics
Diplo classifies the main issues in internet governance and digital policy into seven categories, or ‘baskets’. These are Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Human Rights, Legal and regulatory, Economic, Development, and Sociocultural. Many of the digital policy topics falling under each area are cross-cutting.
Diplo’s executive director Dr Jovan Kurbalija developed the taxonomy in 1997, and then introduced it in his book An Introduction to Internet Governance. Diplo later adopted it in its internet governance courses.
Diplo’s digital policy experts review the taxonomy regularly to account for emerging trends in this vibrant process. Today, the Digital Watch observatory uses the taxonomy as its underlying structure.
The Digital Watch observatory
The Digital Watch observatory is a comprehensive internet governance and digital policy observatory which serves as a one-stop shop for ongoing developments and overviews of the main issues. It also provides an up-to-date calendar of global events, an overview of the actors active in each field, just-in-time event reports, and other resources related to every topic and process in internet governance and digital policy.
The observatory includes quantitative research (e.g. data-mining of open data, topic profiling), and relies on a team of 30+ digital policy experts from around the world, for digital policy research and analysis.
Our monthly internet governance briefings
The online briefings provide a zoomed-out update of the major developments. Every month, the briefings provide a much-needed space to discuss the main trends, and highlight key developments from previous weeks, all in a neutral way. The briefings are held on the last Tuesday of every month. Access the archive of recordings, digests and other resources.
The Digital Watch weekly digest
The weekly digest is a subscription-based newsletter, published every Friday. Since 2020, the digest has been providing practitioners with the latest updates on global policy developments. Subscribe for the weekly digest.
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. We invite you to:
- 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 webinar briefings.
- Subscribe to our weekly and monthly digital policy newsletters.
- Get in touch with Diplo’s digital policy team.
From our blog
Cyber-Panopticism: A perilous techno-political issue
29 April 2022
The global cyber security environment is confronted with a variety of problems, such as network information inundation, information pollution, information infringement, information monopoly and the cybersecurity cri...
National champions do not help to win the race for digital industrialisation
27 April 2022
From a governmental perspective, national champions are usually private-led companies seen as vital to promoting the interests of the nation. Often, this recognition translates into governmental policies that support ...
What’s new with cybersecurity negotiations: OEWG 2021-2025 second substantive session
25 April 2022
The UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on cyber, which will be active until 2025, held its second substantive session. The discussions were overtaken by an organisational issue that should have been solved at the very...
The Ukraine crisis may shape the future of the internet
15 April 2022
Conflict and crisis, Critical internet resources, Cyberconflict and warfare, Cybersecurity
On 28 February, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov requested that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) cut Russia’s access to the infrastructure of the global internet. This...
Training and courses
Events
AI as a Tool for Diplomacy and Mediation
17 May 22 - 17 May 22
[Briefing #82] Standards in digital policy | Cybersecurity and humanitarian work
22 Feb 22 - 22 Feb 22
[Briefing #81] What’s in store for digital policy in 2022?
25 Jan 22 - 25 Jan 22
Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform at IGF 2021
06 Dec 21 - 10 Dec 21
Security Tour – 12 Tours to Navigate Digital Geneva
29 Nov 21 - 29 Nov 21
[Briefing for diplomats] An inclusive internet: Lowering the barriers for access
02 Dec 21 - 02 Dec 21
[SEEDIG 7 Series] Faces of Internet Governance in SEE+: Intergenerational Dialogue
29 Nov 21 - 29 Nov 21
Digital standards, China, and geopolitics: What is at stake?
14 Dec 21 - 14 Dec 21
Promoting inclusiveness in e-commerce negotiations through capacity building
01 Dec 21 - 01 Dec 21
ARIN/CTU Caribbean Internet Public Policy Forum
17 May 21 - 18 May 21
Debate: E-commerce or Digital Trade or Both? What’s Negotiated at the WTO in Geneva
11 May 21 - 11 May 21
Online
1st International Online Conference on Digital Transformation in Culture and Education
14 Apr 21 - 16 Apr 21
Online
Report launch: ‘Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa’
09 Mar 21 - 09 Mar 21
Online
RightOn #12: SDGs and Human Rights: Leading the way to COVID-19 response and recovery
30 Sep 20 - 30 Sep 20
Online
RightOn #11: Communicating human rights: How to win the global ‘battle of ideas’
09 Sep 20 - 09 Sep 20
Online
RightOn #9: Access to Information and the safety journalists in times of crisis
04 Jun 20 - 04 Jun 20
RightOn #8: Protecting the rights of older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic
27 May 20 - 27 May 20
Online
[WebDebate] AI for peacemaking: New tools and opportunities for mediators
04 Jun 19 - 04 Jun 19
Online
Round-table on current practices and trends in the use of e-learning platforms
02 Dec 19 -
Switzerland
Business-Policy Roundtable
02 Apr 19 25 Mar 19 -
Diplo & the Geneva Internet Platform at the 13th Internet Governance Forum
12 Nov 18 - 14 Nov 18
France
Digital technology: An unprecedented opportunity for the prevention of trafficking
17 Oct 18 -
Switzerland
Introduction to Digital Policy and Diplomacy 2018 (just-in-time Geneva-based course)
08 Oct 18 - 17 Dec 18
Switzerland
#Cybermediation: What role for blockchain technology and natural language processing AI?
05 Oct 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 Public private partnerships for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
10 Apr 18 - 13 Apr 18
Switzerland
Diplo at Visions of the Internet from Delhi, Wuzhen, Geneva, and everywhere else
22 Jan 18 -
United States
Diplo at MyData 2017
30 Aug 17 - 01 Sep 17
Digital policy in global governance: Issues and challenges discussed in Geneva
22 Sep 17 -
Switzerland
ITU regional workshop on ‘Strengthening capacities in international Internet governance’
14 Aug 17 - 16 Aug 17
Brazil
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
Internet Inclusion: Global Connect Stakeholders Advancing Solutions
05 Oct 16 - 06 Oct 16
United States
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 2015: 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
2022
Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU internal market by 'promoting effective competition in digital markets' and, in particular, a fair and contestable online platform environment.... Read more...
2021
Report: The geopolitics of digital standards: China’s role in standard-setting organisations
Standards for digital technologies are all around us, enabling devices to interact with each other, allowing us to connect to mobile networks, and facilitating the exchange of information. By providing rules or guidelines for the development and functioning of techno... Read more...
2021
Improving the practice of cyber diplomacy: Training, tools, and other resources – Final study
This study analyses the capacity development of cyber diplomacy, including training opportunities, tools, and other resources, and looks at their reach, take-up, and what should come next. Why? Because although cyber diplomacy, the conduct of diplomacy with respect to ... Read more...
2021
Digital Commerce Course: a five-year assessment
The publication evaluates the impact of the Digital Commerce Course, aimed at providing capacity building on e-commerce to trade professionals. Over the years, the course has helped trade negotiators navigate an ever more complex e-commerce agenda, which currently enco... Read more...
2021
Improving the practice of cyber diplomacy: Training, tools, and other resources – Phase I
Cyber diplomacy, the conduct of diplomacy with respect to a state’s interests in cyberspace, is too important to ignore. Yet, the participation of countries is far from ideal.... Read more...
2021
UNCTAD Digital Economy Report 2021
The Digital Economy report 2021 provides a review of studies dealing with cross-border data flows and analyses the inequalities in the data-driven digital economy. The Report looks at existing governance approaches at national, regional and multilateral levels, with a ... Read more...
2020
Addressing the Digital Divide in the Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce: from enabling issues to data and source code provisions
This paper examines the evolution of the ‘digital divide’, especially in the context of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce. As an integral part of its analysis, the paper examines textual proposals raised under the current Joint Statement Ini... Read more...
2020
Sustainable Capacity Building: Internet Governance in Africa – An Action Plan
Enhancing sustainable capacity building on internet governance (IG) would have positive consequences within and beyond the African context. Considering the importance of the issues that fall under the framework of IG – ranging from providing access to infrastructure... Read more...
The monthly Digital Watch Newsletter
The monthly Digital Watch Newsletter provides in-depth analysis of digital policy developments taking place each month. It is published on the first week of every month (excluding July and December).
Since 2015, the newsletter has been providing digital policy practitioners a regular round-up of global developments. It also provides analysis on the most topical issues of the month. The barometer measures the prominence of policy topics compared to the previous month. Updates on events help practitioners keep track of events that may impact digital policy in one way or another. Read or download the latest newsletter.