French version:
Notre session se déroulera en français, mais une interprétation en anglais sera proposée. La gouvernance internationale du numérique et de l’IA est aujourd’hui à la croisée des chemins. 

La gouvernance internationale du numérique et de l’IA est aujourd’hui à la croisée des chemins. Le calendrier institutionnel fait de 2025 une année cruciale, celle de la mise en œuvre des recommandations du Pacte numérique mondial (PNM) et de la reconfiguration en cours de l’architecture mondiale de la gouvernance du numérique et de l’IA. Dans ce contexte en pleine mutation, la Francophonie et ses pays membres sont convaincus d’avoir un rôle à jouer pour orienter les discussions internationales et faire valoir des priorités qui permettront aux technologies numériques et d’IA d’être réellement des accélérateurs de développement économique et social pour le plus grand nombre. Les enjeux pour les pays francophones se déclinent ainsi autour de trois grandes priorités : faire de la gouvernance un véhicule d’inclusion numérique individuelle et collective ; promouvoir la diversité culturelle et linguistique des contenus, bataille essentielle dans un contexte où ces contenus modèlent l’IA d’aujourd’hui et de demain ; réguler les données pour assurer leur interopérabilité, leur sécurité et leur souveraineté.

Les experts présents, représentant différents échelons de la gouvernance du numérique et de l’IA, discuteront des pistes d’intervention possibles, en mettant en lumière les bonnes pratiques et initiatives en matière de cadre règlementaire prises par les pays francophones ces dernières années. Enfin la session soulignera les convergences entre les priorités francophones et les besoins de l’environnement numérique international, l’alignement entre les suggestions de la Francophonie et les principales recommandations du PNM.

 

Technical standards shape global connectivity by determining how networks interoperate, how data flows, and how people access the Internet. While these standards are critical for interoperability and affordability as well as for creating an inclusive digital environment, their development often excludes key stakeholders, particularly from Global Majority countries, civil society, and marginalized communities. This session will explore how open and interoperable standards can help bridge the digital divide, with a focus on infrastructure like undersea cables, network protocols, and security frameworks. Participants will examine the barriers to inclusive participation in standard-setting bodies such as ITU, IETF, IEEE, and W3C and discuss strategies for greater transparency and engagement. The session will also highlight how multistakeholder cooperation in technical governance supports the WSIS Action Lines (C2, C3, C11) and SDGs by reinforcing digital inclusion and human rights. Through expert discussions and interactive engagement, the session will provide actionable recommendations for improving transparency in standard-setting, fostering collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society, and ensuring that technical frameworks prioritize accessibility and connectivity for all. By promoting open, interoperable, and inclusive standards, this session aims to advance a more equitable, secure, and resilient global digital ecosystem.

1) On-site support staff and online moderators will ensure that there is a seamless level of interaction between panellists present at the venue and those participating through a virtual meeting platform. Attendees both in-person and online will also be invited to ask questions through the available platforms. Ample time will be carved out for engagement from audience members. 2) We will aim to set rules of engagement for all attendees (inform them about the different ways they can interact during the event with the speakers and fellow participants, both online and offline, let online attendees know how they should use the chat feature, help them understand when to stay muted/unmuted, advise all participants on how and when they should ask questions, tell them who to contact in case any technical or practical issues arise). We would also assign designated online and on-site moderators, and prepare compelling content and structure of the agenda while being wary of meeting length. 3) We have not had any complementary tools or platforms planned at this time (subject to change).

International governance frameworks for AI are gradually taking shape through a multitude of processes including within the United Nations, AI Action Summits, G7, G20, and others. Yet parliaments are already challenged to take action on AI regulation. The European Union’s AI Act stands as the most significant legislative development to date, and the issue is on the agenda of many parliaments. Parliaments are faced with the tensions of, on one hand, protecting their citizens and ensuring economic prosperity, and on the other, how best to bring a legislative perspective to a fast-moving technology environment. Within this context, key questions arise: What approaches are parliaments taking? What actions should they pursue—when, how and with whom? Equally, what should they avoid? Based on examples from different jurisdictions, this session will open a multistakeholder dialogue about how parliaments can work with the executive, civil society, the private sector and the technical community to craft a legislative framework that is grounded in human rights and provides predictability while also being flexible and adaptable over time. Mission impossible? Perhaps. But this is the challenge that parliaments are taking up every day, as they seek to lay the foundations for sustainable and responsible innovation in the societies that they represent.

Moderators will be attentive to online participation and will ensure that their comments and questions are brought into the discussion.

Informal Interactive WSIS stakeholder consultation on the review of implementation of the outcomes of the World Summiton the Information Society (WSIS+ 20)

Guiding questions for the consultation:

1. What are the most important achievements arising from WSIS that should be highlighted in the Zero Draft?
2. What are the most important challenges to the achievement of WSIS outcomes to date and in the future that need to be addressed in the Zero Draft?
3. What are the most important priorities for action to achieve the WSIS vision of a ‘people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society’ in the future, taking into account emerging trends?
4. What additional themes/issues, if any, should be included in the Elements Paper?
5. What suggestions do you have to support the development of the WSIS framework (WSIS Action Lines, IGF, WSIS Forum, UNGIS etc.)?

Speakers:

• Co-Facilitator H.E. Mr. Ekitela Lokaale, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations
• Co-Facilitator H.E. Ms. Suela Janina, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania
• David Souter, Lead Consultant (online)

Moderator:

• Mr. Konstantinos Komaitis, Atlantic Council

The discussion will focus on several policy guiding questions from the ones listed below: Fairness, Accountability & Ethics in AI and Data Governance How can data governance frameworks promote fairness, accountability, and ethics in AI… As artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies increasingly shape critical decisions in society, robust data governance frameworks are essential to promote fairness, accountability, and ethics. This session will explore how such frameworks can reduce algorithmic bias, ensure responsible decision-making, and clearly establish accountability when AI systems cause unintended consequences. We will examine practical examples of successful governance models, such as the EU's GDPR and Canada's Algorithmic Impact Assessment framework, and discuss their potential for replication. The conversation will also focus on public engagement strategies that foster trust and transparency, addressing the need for governments and companies to empower individuals with greater control over their personal data. As only 15% of countries worldwide have comprehensive personal data protection laws (UNCTAD, 2024), this gap underscores the urgency of developing accessible, understandable mechanisms for data consent. We will further delve into the role of Open Data initiatives in providing unbiased public information and the challenges of tailoring governance processes to local and global contexts. Finally, the session will consider how multistakeholder approaches can ensure governance structures remain agile in the face of technological change, and how debates around digital sovereignty are reshaping the future of data governance worldwide.Through a dialogue and exchange of practices and experiences of different NRIs, this session will focus on ways to govern data responsibly.

Session Overview

This 90-minute session at IGF2025 will provide a retrospective of the Internet Governance Forum, to celebrate the IGF's journey over two decades to celebrate the IGF's journey over two decades, to reflect upon its significant achievements and the challenges it has navigated, to honor the diverse community that has shaped it, examining its history, impact, and possible future directions. The session will include a short video, tributes to key figures who have passed away, a panel discussion by the MAG Chairs, and community participation to create an engaging and meaningful reflection on the IGF's journey.

Session Structure
1.    Opening and Welcome (5 minutes)
   a.    Brief welcome by the session moderator
   b.    Introduction to the session's purpose and format
   c.    Recognition of the significance of IGF2025 as the 20th annual meeting

2.    Visual Retrospective: "IGF: 20 Years in Motion" (5-minute video) 
   a.    A specially curated 5-minute video showcasing highlights from past IGF meetings (2006-2024), featuring a visual journey through different host locations

3.    Short keynote: The Enduring Relevance of the IGF (3 minutes) 
4.    Tribute to Those who have passed away (10 minutes)
5.    Voices from the Helm: Panel Discussion with Past MAG Chairs (40 minutes) 

A moderated panel discussion featuring past chairpersons of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG):
Moderator: Carol Roach
Panelists:

• Nitin Desai (Remote)
• Markus Kummer
• Jānis Kārkliņš 
• Lynn St. Amour 
• Anriette Esterhuysen 

Discussion Topics:

• Evolution of the IGF's role and impact over the past two decades
• Key challenges faced during different periods of the IGF's history
• Most significant achievements and milestones
• Lessons learned from the multistakeholder approach
• Reflections on how the IGF has adapted to changing internet governance landscapes
• Vision for the future of the IGF in the next decade

An interactive segment where IGF stakeholders can share their memorable moments:

• Participants invited to approach designated microphones in the session room
• Each speaker limited to 2 minutes
• Encouraged to share personal experiences, turning points, or impactful moments from the IGF
• Remote participants can contribute via the online participation platform
• Moderator to ensure diverse representation of stakeholders and regions
• Brief reflection by moderator after each set of 3-4 speakers

6. Closing and Looking Forward (5 minutes)

• Summary of key themes from the session
• Acknowledgment of all contributors
• Connection to the WSIS+20 meeting in December 2025
• Invitation to continue the conversation throughout IGF2025 and beyond.

Whether or not AI is used in courts is no longer an issue. The issue is now whether Courts are prepared to maintain the human element in the field of technology. One of the most important aspects of Judging is empathy- the ability to enter into the shoes of another without losing objectivity. Further, in numerous jurisdictions, especially in criminal matters, courts’ decisions have to be made on the judge’s own conviction and assessment. This has contributed to the enduring legitimacy and integrity of courts in many jurisdictions. Is the fear that AI could compromise fundamental principles of justice and/or replace the human elements in judging justified?

The aim of this session is to examine the implications of the use of AI in the judiciary, and examine ethical consequences, in the light of new and emerging regulatory frameworks.  Discussions will center on current initiatives by UN agencies and other stakeholders to develop norms for effective use of AI in the judiciary.

 

 Main questions:

1. How prepared are the judicial systems, in different jurisdictions, to handle the rise of AI-generated evidence and arguments?

2. As AI becomes more advanced and harder to detect, how can courts ensure they’re not being manipulated by fake or misleading content?

3. Can judicial systems afford to delay regulatory responses while technology advances rapidly?

4. Can AI-generated evidence be admissible in courts? Should it be held to the same standards as human expert testimony? Why or why not?

5. What is the difference between using basic scientific tools (like breathalyzers) and advanced AI models in courts—and why should one be exempt from stricter rules?

6. How reliable is public feedback in shaping legal rules about AI? Can non-experts meaningfully contribute to this conversation?

7. Is it ethical for lawyers to rely on AI without verifying every detail? Should there be professional consequences if they don’t?

8. Are automated courts and online sentencing fair alternatives to traditional trials—or do they risk removing human judgment and empathy from the process?

9. Does AI strengthen access to justice?

10. How far are we from a courtroom where both the defendant and the victim are represented by AI?

11. What safeguards need to be put in place now to protect the integrity of the justice system in the age of AI?

12. Will future generations view today’s legal system as outdated, just like we see old courtroom practices today?

Ultimately, can justice still be blind in the age of artificial intelligence—or will it be blinded by it?

 

Moderator:

Eliamani Laltaika, Judge, High Court of Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania

 

 

 

In partnership with Google & Interparliamentary Union, with the support of the IGF Secretariat.

1.Introduction/Background

Google’s AI Sprinters programme focuses on capturing the economic opportunities AI presents inthe international market, and the role of policies in unlocking these opportunities. The programmeincludes a course on the foundations of AI and cloud policy making. We envision holding a workshopaimed to familiarize participants with AI and Cloud terminology, identify opportunities for AI andcloud from a global point of view, and understand the AI Sprinters Framework. We aim to driveconfidence in discussing and implementing AI and Cloud terminology, policy making andgovernment usage in their roles and department.

Proposed Curriculum: Enhancing Government Efficiency with AI (120 mins)

• Get familiar with AI and Cloud terminology
• Discuss AI’s potential to streamline your work
• Get hands on with AI
• Explore how your peers are using AI
• Review AI use cases in government and the public sector
• Discuss challenges to AI and Cloud adoption

Proposed Agenda

• Session Welcome and Introduction (15 minutes)
• Introduction to AI and the Cloud (15 minutes)
  • Terminology
  • Considerations &Challenges
• Streamlining your work with AI (15 minutes)
  • How AI and Cloud can helpin your role
  • Working together with AI
• Get Hands On with AI (30 minutes)
  • Predictive vs. Generative AI
  • Generative AI use cases
  • Privacy and security within Gen AI
  •  Trying out AI tools 
  • Writing good prompts
  • Challenges and best practice
• Strategies and Challenges of AI (15 minutes)
  • Challenges of AI adoption
  • The balancing act of innovation and risk
  • AI use cases in government and the public sector (Climate, healthcare, education) relevant to the region.
• Discussion and Q&A (25 minutes)
  • Trainer asks guided questions on AI use in participants’ departments and addresses challenges or concerns.
  • Answers any questions that arise based on the content
• Feedback (5 minutes)
• Trainer prompts participants to complete the feedback form

2. Problem Statement

Many international markets face unique challenges, including limited infrastructure, digital skills gaps, and regulatory hurdles, which hinder the adoption of AI and Cloud technologies. Without targeted strategies, these markets risk falling behind in the global digital economy, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities.

There is a need to address the challenges and barriers to the adoption of AI and cloud, such as limited internet access, affordability, misuse and exclusion, data gaps, and infrastructure challenges, at a government level.

There is also a need to ensure the responsible use of AI, considering the risks of misinformation, bias, privacy and security concerns, and job displacement. Public officials and parliamentarians currently exhibit insufficient proficiency in leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency.

3. Objectives
The workshop aims to familiarize participants with AI and Cloud terminology, policy making and usage.

❖ Participants will identify opportunities for AI and Cloud across various sectors.
❖ Participants will become familiar with the AI Sprinters Framework. The framework seeks to address issues including:

• The impact of data and infrastructure on the adoption of Cloud and AI.
• Creating regulations and policies for the ethical adoption of AI.
• Skills development to ensure talent pipelines.
• Direct experience applying AI in their professional roles.

5. Expected Outcomes and Impact

The programme will contribute to building an AI-ready government workforce with different levels of AI fluency that they can implement in their roles and organisations. It is intended that the program will highlight how responsible adoption at a government level can foster increased international understanding and improve access to digital resources. This will lead to a more widespread embrace of Cloud and AI technologies, which will, in turn, enhance critical infrastructure and accelerate economic growth The programme will also help ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

We have implemented regular feedback of AI and Cloud sessions to assess performance and relevance to the intended audience, metrics to measure digital adoption, infrastructure improvements, and socio-economic impact, and feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.

IGF 2025 Side Event: Organized by the Digital Trust & Safety Partnership (DTSP) and Coimisiún na Meán 

• When: 25 June, 17:30 – 18:30
• Where: Workshop Room 3 
• Format: Panel Discussion followed by Q&A, in-person participation only 

Moderator:

• David Sullivan, DTSP 

Speakers: 

• John Evans, Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM)
• Agustina Callegari, World Economic Forum Global Coalition for Digital Safety (WEF)
• Maria Paz Canales, Global Partners Digital (GPD)

With billions of people across the globe logging on each day, the “trust and safety” field is rapidly growing as a key enabler for digital citizens’ ability to connect and interact within each other—within and across borders. This session will bring diverse stakeholders together to discuss how best practices, international standards, and online safety regulation can provide a coherent and rights-respecting path toward trust and resilience.

The aim of this session is for actors who are engaged in online safety regulation and standardization to share their approaches and receive feedback from the global Internet community. Brief opening remarks from DTSP will frame the discussion, followed by interventions from CnaM, WEF, Meta and GPD. Questions for speakers to address include: 

• How should industry best practices evolve to keep pace with emerging change, regulatory trends, and threats to the open Internet? 
• How can different stakeholders contribute to regulatory interest in safety and risk mitigations? What role can cross-industry best practices, norms, and principles play in broader policy conversations when it comes to promoting safety, expression, and the open Internet?
• How can industry and regulators engage to ensure a safe and trusted online environment?

We will reserve approximately one-third of the time allotted for Q&A and open discussion with the audience of in-person participants. 

Six months after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact by world leaders, the session will be an opportunity for stakeholders to hear about progress on its implementation. More importantly, it will provide a space for the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community to share insights on their ongoing initiatives and planned activities that contribute to achieving the goals of the Compact. Stakeholder participation is a cornerstone of the Compact. The UN will provide an update on how it is partnering to achieve its objectives and will share updates on the Compact's implementation map. The session will be an opportunity to co-design the way forward for a strengthened stakeholder engagement across all the Global Digital Compact priorities.

Online participants will be prioritized in the Q&A segment. The online moderator will ensure the on-site MC has full visibility in online comments and requests from the floor. In case of a substantive amount of online participants (>20) we will use tools such as Menti, Slido, or Webex-equivalent to poll the participants and gather their feedback

Cloud computing underpins modern economies, yet its concentration among a few dominant providers raises critical concerns about digital autonomy, security, and regulatory compliance. While European countries are primarily dependent on U.S.-based hyperscalers (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud), Asia presents a more diverse landscape and also use services from cloud providers as Alibaba and Tencent. Only few countries have managed to build a strong domestic cloud ecosystem, leaving many other countries to have become dependent of these large cloud providers. Some countries are looking into option to become less dependent and are promoting domestic growth by data localization policies, regulatory frameworks, strengthening national cloud initiatives and local technology partnerships. During the workshop we aim to ensure that governments understand (national) security and strategic dependencies from these cloud providers. And which regulatory mechanisms can effectively be adopted to ensure data protection (where necessary) while maintaining the benefits of cloud efficiency and scalability. Finally we will touch upon the question whether national governments should invest in sovereign cloud initiatives, or whether investments in the cloud market should be left to the market. So by the end of the workshop, participants will gain a deep understanding of global cloud dependencies and possibilities to develop actionable strategies for strengthening their digital autonomy in an open manner. This is particularly relevant for policymakers, IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, and regulatory experts working on cloud governance.

During this hybrid session we will make use of interactive tools to engage with the audience by for example mentimeter. We have onsite and online speaker(s) and will ensure all have equal time to speak, also leaving ample time for quesitons and further engagement with the audience.

In a world where online information risks - such as misinformation, disinformation and hate speech - shape public opinion, influence policy and erode trust, the impact on marginalized individuals can be devastating. This session examines information risks through a forced displacement lens – highlighting both the challenges and the opportunities to strengthen digital protection, access to reliable information, freedom of expression and social cohesion. When harmful narratives go unchallenged, they don’t just distort public debate—they create barriers to asylum, justify restrictive policies, and fuel hate speech that can lead to violence, social unrest, and further displacement. The urgency of the challenge cannot be overstated. To ensure digital protection for refugees, this Open Forum examines how we can collectively strengthen digital resilience and trust to ensure the integrity of information online. Presentations from diverse stakeholders – including Government, Tech and Private Sector, and the UN – will discuss digital resilience building approaches from pre-bunking, digital literacy, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. The session will be opened by the Norwegian Government (Innovation Norway). Opening remarks will emphasize the critical role of private sector partnerships to strengthen digital resilience. It will also highlight the importance of innovation in the Information Integrity space, and how innovative funding streams can promote the development of creative solutions to complex and evolving challenges. The session will then include 4 presentations from: UNHCR: This presentation will outline the specific information risks faced by forcibly displaced and stateless persons. This will include testimony from individuals with lived experience of displacement to highlight real-world examples where online risks have caused offline harms and hindered humanitarian access. Freedom of expression includes the right to seek, receive and impart information. When digital feeds are full of potentially harmful content, it becomes more challenging for communities to access trustworthy information, and for humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance. The presentation will argue for the critical role that strengthening digital resilience has to play in minimizing these risks and outline recommendations for diverse stakeholders. Department of Basic Education, South Africa: This presentation will focus on how approaches to build resilience to online information risks amongst learners can strengthen social cohesion in schools. It will highlight learning from a pilot project in South Africa which has tested innovative approaches to “pre-bunking” online anti-foreigner sentiment in support of the South African National Action Plan against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Applied Law and Technology (ALT) Advisory, South Africa: ALT Advisory is an Africa-based collective of public interest lawyers, researchers, strategists, communicators and technologists working to safeguard and promote human rights in the digital environment. This presentation brings a perspective grounded in human rights and public interest – emphasizing the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms linked to information integrity. Tik Tok: This presentation will highlight the practical steps that social media companies can play in strengthening information integrity and promoting resilient information eco-systems. This includes examples of collaboration with civil society partners, the UN and media development organizations to strengthen digital literacy and promote trust and safety online. It will also profile the important role of supporting positive content that promotes solidarity and cohesion against prevailing divisive narratives.

The session will promote engagement from in-person and online participants. As an icebreaker, the session will open with an anonymous polling option (online with an accessible QR code to those in the room). This will not only break the ice, but support presenters to appropriately pitch their content. A Q&A session will also be scheduled to ensure interaction. This will include a dedicated online moderator to support online engagement – with questions submitted via an online Q&A with the option for anonymous participation. This Q&A will be made available for in-person participants wishing to remain anonymous. The rapporteur will make every effort to follow-up on unanswered questions in the Q&A for their inclusion in the session report. The moderator will frequently refer to online questions to support the session flow. A dedicated video screen will be available to support the engagement of online participants to allow them to address in-person attendees.

As AI adoption accelerates, so do concerns about its environmental footprint. This workshop, organized by UNESCO’s Communication and Information and Natural Sciences sectors in partnership with University College London’s Computer Science department, will explore strategies to mitigate AI’s energy demands while fostering inclusive and sustainable innovation. The session will introduce key resources, including the "Sustainable AI Playbook: A Guide for Policymakers", which offers actionable strategies for integrating sustainability into AI governance, and the "Environmeter", an online tool designed to help policymakers and practitioners assess the environmental impact of generative AI models. Aligning with the IGF 2025 subtheme of Sustainable and Responsible Innovation, this session will provide a deep dive into the intersection of AI, sustainability, and governance. Discussions will focus on: - Policy and regulatory framework that encourage energy-efficient AI development and deployment. - Best practices from industry, academia, and international organizations for reducing AI’s environmental footprint. - The role of renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in AI innovation. - International cooperation and multi-stakeholder approaches to advancing greener AI ecosystems. By convening policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society representatives, this session aims to foster cross-sectoral dialogue and drive actionable solutions for a more sustainable digital future.

Session Interaction and Participation in a Hybrid Meeting 1) How will you facilitate interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees? The session will feature live Q&A, allowing both onsite and online participants to pose questions. A dedicated online moderator will manage virtual interactions, ensuring remote participants are actively included in discussions. 2) How will you design the session to ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participants? The session will use interactive polling tools, audience Q&A via Slido or Mentimeter, and real-time discussions on AI’s environmental impact. Speakers will engage with online and in-person participants equally, and key materials (e.g., the Sustainable AI Playbook) will be made available for download. 3) Complementary online tools/platforms for participation and interaction: • Slido/Mentimeter (for audience polling and Q&A) • Zoom Chat and Q&A (for virtual participant engagement)