UN agrees to continue multi-stakeholder internet governance

The Evolution of Internet Governance

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) has played a crucial role in shaping how the world manages the internet. In recent years, the United Nations General Assembly reached a consensus on a review of global internet governance arrangements, reaffirming the multi-stakeholder model that ensures governments are just one of many voices involved in discussions about the future of the internet.

This decision marks the culmination of a process that began in 2003 with the first WSIS. The summit was established as a forum to explore the impact of technology on society and to create a framework for an inclusive and development-oriented information society. At that time, participating nations committed to building a people-centred digital environment where everyone could access and share knowledge.

One of the key outcomes of the initial WSIS was the adoption of the multi-stakeholder model. This approach involves a wide range of actors, including governments, academics, civil society groups, and private sector organizations. Entities such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet Society (ISOC), and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) all play important roles in maintaining the stability and growth of the internet.

The Role of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Under the WSIS framework, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was created to facilitate public policy discussions related to the internet. Over the years, the IGF has become a central platform for addressing emerging issues, including the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). It has been instrumental in initiating international conversations about the laws and ethical considerations surrounding AI technologies.

In 2015, the UN revisited the WSIS framework but decided to keep it largely unchanged. A commitment was made to review the initiative again in 2025. This process concluded on Wednesday with the approval of the WSIS+20 resolution, which introduced significant changes.

Permanent Status for the IGF

One of the most notable changes in the WSIS+20 resolution is the decision to make the IGF a permanent body and provide it with proper funding. This move is seen as a critical step in ensuring the IGF can continue to serve as a globally representative platform for dialogue on digital governance.

ICANN, a key organization in internet governance, welcomed this decision, calling it a "significant element" of the WSIS+20 resolution. They emphasized that giving the IGF a permanent mandate is essential for its continued role in facilitating global discussions on internet policy.

The Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism (TCCM), which represents technology businesses and governance organizations, also expressed support for the WSIS+20 resolution. They highlighted the importance of the IGF elements and the reaffirmation of the existing multi-stakeholder model.

Balancing Global Initiatives

TCCM and ICANN had previously campaigned against another United Nations initiative called the Global Digital Compact, fearing it could marginalize the technical community from important discussions about the internet. However, the version of the Compact adopted in 2024 acknowledged the need for tech experts to have a seat at the table. The WSIS+20 resolution takes a similar approach by reinforcing the role of the technical community in internet governance.

Khaled Koubaa, a Mozilla Fellow and former director at ICANN, praised the WSIS+20 resolution for providing the United Nations with the tools needed to address the governance of agentic AI. He emphasized the need for a "constitutional layer" for the agentic internet, which would ensure that technical architecture, accountability, safety, and inclusion are prioritized.

The Future of Internet Governance

According to Koubaa, the WSIS+20 resolution offers a stronger platform for advancing these goals without the need to start from scratch. It protects the space where multistakeholder problem-solving can occur and reinforces the idea that closing digital divides, protecting human rights, and maintaining an open and interoperable internet are not secondary concerns but central to the mission of the internet.

As the world moves forward, the decisions made through the WSIS+20 resolution will shape the future of internet governance and ensure that diverse voices continue to be heard in the digital age.