Session
Subtheme
Organizer 1: Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Joyce Chen, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Israel Rosas, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Paulos Nyirenda, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 4: Tu An Ngo, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Ellie McDonald, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Israel Rosas, Technical Community, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Paulos Nyirenda, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 4: Tu An Ngo, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Ellie McDonald, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The proposed roundtable layout and duration are best suited for dialogue among stakeholders. The long session format is required to enable appropriate opportunities for discussion, input, and working up recommendations/positions from speakers and from other participants who attend and would like to contribute.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The proposed roundtable layout and duration are best suited for dialogue among stakeholders. The long session format is required to enable appropriate opportunities for discussion, input, and working up recommendations/positions from speakers and from other participants who attend and would like to contribute.
Policy Question(s)
A. How has the multistakeholder approach allowed the technical community and all other relevant stakeholders - on an equal footing - to address governance challenges and impact policy decision making in the technical governance of the Internet?
B. What are the implications for technical connectivity and policy fragmentation if the multistakeholder approach is undermined in Internet governance and digital policy processes?
C. How does the inclusion of all stakeholders in Internet and digital policy development and discussion contribute to an environment that supports sustainable development in the implementation of the WSIS outcomes?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain an understanding of the distinction between the technical layer of the Internet and the content and application layers. They will learn how the multistakeholder model is the cornerstone for the success of this layer, and in ensuring the Internet remains open, free, global, secure, resilient and interoperable. The session will explore governance gaps or threats to the technical layer of the Internet.
Participants will also be able to take away perspectives from technical, government and civil society stakeholders on how the technical layer enables the broader digital development agenda for WSIS+20, as they identify potential focus areas and revisiting WSIS Action Lines from the technical community standpoint. In addition, the session will seek to highlight the unique role that the IGF plays in bringing a diverse range of relevant stakeholders to the table and build capacities and positions that shape global processes (be they multistakeholder and multilateral).
Description:
The decisions that are made in 2025’s WSIS+20 Review will have implications for multistakeholder internet governance for decades to come. Despite widespread recognition of the close ties between the WSIS Action Lines and the technical layer of the Internet, there is often a lack of clear understanding of their interdependency. Drawing on expertise from three geographic regions, this session brings together stakeholders involved in decision-making around the technical operation of the Internet and civil society and governments to clarify these linkages and discuss the risks and opportunities associated with changes to the WSIS Action Lines. The session will also focus on how the technical layer of the Internet and its governance have fostered an open and secure Internet ecosystem, and the implications of the WSIS+20 review for the technical layer of the Internet. While imperfect, the multistakeholder model of Internet governance is the only model that brings together stakeholders groups on equal footing to make decisions about the technical operation of the Internet. Despite its own funding and other challenges, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is the only global platform for discussion on Internet governance and related issues. In addition, the session will seek to highlight the unique role that the IGF plays in bringing a diverse range of relevant stakeholders to the table and build capacities and positions that shape global processes (multi-stakeholder and multi-lateral). As we look ahead to the upcoming WSIS+20 Review negotiations in the final months of 2025, this session will leave attendees with a stronger understanding of the value and contributions of multistakeholder decision-making and dialogue, and a path forward to defend and strengthen this model.
The decisions that are made in 2025’s WSIS+20 Review will have implications for multistakeholder internet governance for decades to come. Despite widespread recognition of the close ties between the WSIS Action Lines and the technical layer of the Internet, there is often a lack of clear understanding of their interdependency. Drawing on expertise from three geographic regions, this session brings together stakeholders involved in decision-making around the technical operation of the Internet and civil society and governments to clarify these linkages and discuss the risks and opportunities associated with changes to the WSIS Action Lines. The session will also focus on how the technical layer of the Internet and its governance have fostered an open and secure Internet ecosystem, and the implications of the WSIS+20 review for the technical layer of the Internet. While imperfect, the multistakeholder model of Internet governance is the only model that brings together stakeholders groups on equal footing to make decisions about the technical operation of the Internet. Despite its own funding and other challenges, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is the only global platform for discussion on Internet governance and related issues. In addition, the session will seek to highlight the unique role that the IGF plays in bringing a diverse range of relevant stakeholders to the table and build capacities and positions that shape global processes (multi-stakeholder and multi-lateral). As we look ahead to the upcoming WSIS+20 Review negotiations in the final months of 2025, this session will leave attendees with a stronger understanding of the value and contributions of multistakeholder decision-making and dialogue, and a path forward to defend and strengthen this model.
Expected Outcomes
- Broad community understanding of the role of the technical community in Internet governance.
- Understanding of the interdependency between the WSIS Action Lines and the technical layer of the Internet.
- Concrete positions to be advocated in the WSIS+20 review to support multistakeholder Internet governance and the technical community’s place in that.
- Concrete positions to be advocated on WSIS Action Lines (if opened) from the technical community perspective.
Hybrid Format: On q1:
All onsite participants will also participate virtually by dialing into the conference room.
Speaker and Q&A queue will be managed through online raised hands to ensure an equitable and transparent participation process.
On Q2:
All onsite participants will be present in the room and in the virtual room and the virtual room will be used to manage the speaking queue after introductory statements.
On Q£3:
There will be a simultaneous online poll on key structuring questions that allows participants to participate in a structured manner and contribute to the outcomes reporting session.