Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 2: Technical Community, African Group
Organizer 3: Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 5: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 2: Technical Community, African Group
Organizer 3: Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Organizer 5: Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 1: Ihita Gangavarapu, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Samaila Atsen Bako, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 3: ISSAKHA DOUD-BANE KHOUZEIFI, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 4: Monojit Das, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 5: Lily Edinam Botsyoe, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 2: Samaila Atsen Bako, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 3: ISSAKHA DOUD-BANE KHOUZEIFI, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 4: Monojit Das, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 5: Lily Edinam Botsyoe, Technical Community, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This interactive roundtable facilitates collaborative dialogue, promotes equal participation from onsite and online attendees, and maximizes engagement.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This interactive roundtable facilitates collaborative dialogue, promotes equal participation from onsite and online attendees, and maximizes engagement.
Policy Question(s)
How does the design of cybersecurity governance frameworks influence the resilience, sovereignty, and trust in digital infrastructures, particularly telecom and critical sectors?
In the rapidly evolving technological landscape featuring quantum computing, AI-driven threats, and next-gen encryption, what core principles should universally underpin effective cybersecurity policy development and implementation?
Can global standards in cybersecurity governance realistically be harmonized, and what role does the Global Digital Compact play in guiding international consensus and cooperation toward secure digital infrastructures?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain deep insights into the emerging intersections between cybersecurity and national security shaped by frontier technologies, acquiring actionable strategies to address AI-powered attacks, quantum encryption threats, and telecom vulnerabilities. The workshop’s scenario-driven format will offer practical tools to enhance cyber resilience and policy responsiveness, grounded in diverse global case studies. Attendees will emerge with an enriched understanding of core governance principles such as security-by-design and digital sovereignty, alongside methods for fostering multistakeholder collaboration in cybersecurity governance. This session will enable attendees to confidently advocate for inclusive and harmonized cybersecurity policies in their respective countries or organizations. Participants will also contribute to defining innovative global standards aligning with the principles of the Global Digital Compact, fostering international cooperation and interoperability in cybersecurity governance.
SDGs
Description:
Recent frontier technology breakthroughs have transformed digital ecosystems, altering the cybersecurity landscape and shifting power dynamics between state actors, private entities, and users. AI-driven cyber threats, quantum computing advances, and innovative encryption methods pose severe operational, strategic, and technical challenges globally. Telecom infrastructure breaches (such as the 2025 "Salt Typhoon" espionage operations), deepfake-induced misinformation, and automated ransomware attacks have revealed the fragility and interconnectedness of national cybersecurity defenses. This workshop explores how policymakers, technical communities, private sectors, and civil societies can collectively establish robust governance frameworks, incorporating principles of security-by-design, resilience, and digital sovereignty to ensure global interoperability and trust. Through interactive scenario-based sessions, breakout discussions, and multistakeholder dialogue, this workshop will dissect recent global incidents to derive policy lessons applicable worldwide. Participants will analyze cases from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to understand how frontier technologies impact national security differently across contexts. With the Global Digital Compact (GDC) as a foundational reference, the workshop will examine pathways toward harmonizing cybersecurity standards and response protocols internationally. Stakeholders will collaboratively propose actionable strategies, emphasizing inclusive approaches and cross-sectoral partnerships, to effectively safeguard critical infrastructure and build resilient, trustworthy digital societies globally.
Recent frontier technology breakthroughs have transformed digital ecosystems, altering the cybersecurity landscape and shifting power dynamics between state actors, private entities, and users. AI-driven cyber threats, quantum computing advances, and innovative encryption methods pose severe operational, strategic, and technical challenges globally. Telecom infrastructure breaches (such as the 2025 "Salt Typhoon" espionage operations), deepfake-induced misinformation, and automated ransomware attacks have revealed the fragility and interconnectedness of national cybersecurity defenses. This workshop explores how policymakers, technical communities, private sectors, and civil societies can collectively establish robust governance frameworks, incorporating principles of security-by-design, resilience, and digital sovereignty to ensure global interoperability and trust. Through interactive scenario-based sessions, breakout discussions, and multistakeholder dialogue, this workshop will dissect recent global incidents to derive policy lessons applicable worldwide. Participants will analyze cases from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to understand how frontier technologies impact national security differently across contexts. With the Global Digital Compact (GDC) as a foundational reference, the workshop will examine pathways toward harmonizing cybersecurity standards and response protocols internationally. Stakeholders will collaboratively propose actionable strategies, emphasizing inclusive approaches and cross-sectoral partnerships, to effectively safeguard critical infrastructure and build resilient, trustworthy digital societies globally.
Expected Outcomes
A set of clearly defined, actionable recommendations for cybersecurity governance, emphasizing resilience and security-by-design.
Frameworks for international cooperation derived from real-world case analyses and multistakeholder dialogue, facilitating alignment with the Global Digital Compact principles.
Concrete strategies for integrating frontier technology considerations (quantum computing, AI-driven threats) into national cybersecurity policies and infrastructures.
Establishment of a policy brief or white paper summarizing the workshop outcomes, which will be disseminated widely through IGF channels, influencing policymakers, technical experts, and stakeholders globally.
Commitment to a follow-up virtual roundtable in late 2025 to review implementation progress and foster continuous collaboration among participants and broader IGF stakeholders, enhancing the sustainable impact of workshop recommendations.
Hybrid Format: Ensuring Hybrid Session Engagement: (150 words)
The session will seamlessly integrate onsite and online participation using interactive tools such as Slido or Mentimeter for real-time polling, Q&A, and scenario-based discussions. Breakout groups will merge onsite and online participants through facilitated virtual rooms, guided by onsite moderators and an online moderator who ensures equitable engagement. A shared online collaboration platform (Jamboard or Google Docs) will document inputs and allow simultaneous contributions from all attendees. A dedicated online moderator will monitor and relay virtual participants' questions and comments to the onsite discussion, maintaining inclusivity. The hybrid approach will be regularly evaluated during the session to ensure online participants' full inclusion, with adaptations made as necessary. Post-session, a synthesized summary capturing inputs from both onsite and online groups will be circulated to all participants, further ensuring comprehensive integration and meaningful outcomes from both participation modalities.