In recent years, the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) has sought to strengthen the participation of parliamentarians in discussions on some of the most pressing issues related to the use, evolution and governance of the Internet and related digital technologies. Since 2019, the IGF Secretariat, together with the Interparliamentary Union and other stakeholders, have developed the Parliamentary Track, which included a series of activities for parliamentarians in the lead-up to and at the annual IGF meeting. 

The track will continue its global activities, with sessions being held at the various regional and annual IGF meetings, while expanding partnerships with various stakeholders. With the aim to continuously improve the track activities and adjust to Parliamentarians' needs, the preparation of the Parliamentary Track in 2024 will incorporate the feedback collected from IGF 2023 Members of Parliaments, speakers and moderators.

The 2024 workplan is available here. To help shape the IGF 2024 Parliamentary Track, Members of Parliaments will be invited to respond to a call for thematic input in AR | EN | FR | SP and express their interest in participating at the regional and annual IGF Parliamentary Track.

Regional Summit of Parliamentarians: Artificial Intelligence and the Latin American Agenda | June 2024 | Argentina

The Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Track of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), hosts the First Regional Summit of Parliamentarians on Artificial Intelligence and the Latin American Agenda in Buenos Aires City, Argentina, from 13 to 14 June 2024.

The Summit encourages regional collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices related to AI technologies for further decision making. The Summit showcases the role of parliaments and explores concrete actions to consolidate a common regional position on issues related to AI, to create appropriate regulatory frameworks, and to promote responsible innovation, while protecting fundamental rights and values.

Starting with the Regional Summit, the IGF will develop a series of activities dedicated to parliamentarians from the region to have sustained conversations. The IGF plans on hosting a Parliamentary Track alongside the Latin America and the Caribbean IGF to be held in November 2024 in Chile, leading up to the annual IGF taking place from 15 to 19 December 2024 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

To explore the programme and the outcomes, visit the page of the Regional Summit here. 

European Dialogue on Internet Governance | June 2024 | Vilnius, Lithuania

EuroDIG 2024 took place from 17 to 19 June in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was hosted by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Lithuania (RRT) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Lithuania and Public Institution GoVilnius. Interest Parliamentarians were welcome to join this regional IGF. 

 

Parliamentary Track at the Central Asian IGF | June 2024 | Uzbekistan

The Central Asian IGF (CAIGF) are regional IGF initiatives dedicated to fostering exchanges within the region on relevant digital policy topics. 

The IGF is further strengthening Parliamentarian's involvement in discussions around digital public policy issues by expanding its regional activities. In line with this goal, parliamentarians from across Central Asia are invited to participate at CAIGF from 21 to 22 June 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which will include a dedicated session for Parliamentarians around the theme of Digital Transformation in Central Asia.

Visit the webpage of the Central Asian IGF for the programme. 

The recording of the session is available here on our IGF YouTube channel.

Parliamentary Track at the West African IGF | July 2024 | Dakar, Senegal

The West African IGF (WAIGF) is a regional IGF initiative dedicated to fostering exchanges within the region on relevant digital policy topics. 

The IGF is further strengthening Parliamentarian's involvement in discussions around digital public policy issues by expanding its regional activities. In line with this goal, parliamentarians from across West Africa are invited to participate at WAIGF from 11 to 12 July 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, around the theme “Disruptive Technologies: How Far, Thus Far”, featuring dedicated sessions for Parliamentarians. 

Visit the webpage of the West African IGF to view the programme, the full report and the communiqué. 

Key takeaways of the regional Parliamentary Track have been summarized here. 

Parliamentary Track at the Latin America and Caribbean IGF | November 2024 | Santiago de Chile, Chile

The Latin American and Caribbean IGF (LACIGF) is a regional IGF initiative dedicated to fostering exchanges within the region on relevant digital policy topics. The 17th edition will take place from 7 to 8 November 2024 in Santiago de Chile.

In advance of the LACIGF, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile organize in collaboration with the IGF Parliamentary Track the Parliamentary Summit: Artificial Intelligence Agenda from the Southern Cone, to be held in Santiago de Chile, Chile, 6 November 2024. 

To explore the programme and the outcomes, visit the page of the Regional Summit here. 

Parliamentary Track at the Africa IGF | November 2024 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Africa IGF (AfIGF) is a regional IGF initiative dedicated to fostering exchanges within the region on relevant digital policy topics, which will take place this year from 20 to 22 November 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

More information on the Parliamentary Track activities will soon be published. 

Parliamentary Track at the annual IGF | December 2024 | Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2024) takes place from 15 to 19 December in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) under the overarching themes of Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future. Within IGF 2024, a dedicated Parliamentary Track takes place from 16 to 18 December.

Parliamentarians from relevant parliamentary committees and parliamentarians who work on digital affairs and Internet policy issues will engage in dialogue with the private sector, the technical community and civil society, including youth, on challenges and potential solutions for in creating an inclusive, risk-free, ethical, and sustainable digital space.

To participate in the Parliamentary Track, participants need to register for IGF 2024. For any questions or information regarding the Parliamentary Track at IGF 2024, please contact [email protected]

  • Programme (EN | FR | SP)
  • Invitation Letter to Presidents of IPU Groups (AR | EN | FR | SP)
  • Practical Information Note (EN |FR | SP)

To visit the IPU webpage, click here.

The Parliamentary Track at IGF 2024 is jointly organized by the Internet Governance Forum Secretariat from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Shura Council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Other Activities for Parliamentarians and Staff

Open Consultation on regulatory approaches for AI

The Consultation Paper on AI Regulation is part of a broader effort by UNESCO, Inter-Parliamentary Union and Internet Governance Forum’s Parliamentary Track to engage parliamentarians globally and enhance their capacities in evidence-based policymaking for AI.

Following extensive expert consultations and discussions with parliamentarians, the consultation paper is now open for public consultation in English. 

UNESCO encourages stakeholders, including parliamentarians, legal experts, AI governance experts and the public, to review, and provide feedback on the different regulatory approaches for AI. You can read the consultation paper here. 

Share your comments and feedback through the here. 

Deadline for Comments: 19 September 2024

Online Workshops

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, in cooperation with UNESCO and the IGF Secretariat, organized three capacity-building workshops on Artificial Intelligence (AI) from January to March, which were open to parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. The workshops also informed a forthcoming IPU resolution "The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law". The resolution was debated at the 148th IPU Assembly in March with a view to being adopted at the 149th IPU Assembly in October. 

  1. A changing landscape: An overview of recent advances in artificial intelligence: Monday, 22 January 2024, 15:00 (Geneva, CET). Moderated by Michelle Rempel Garner, Member of the House of Commons of Canada, Rapporteur of the IPU resolution. 
  2. The emerging impacts of artificial intelligence on society: Thursday, 15 February 2024, 10:00 (Geneva, CET). Moderated by Neema Lugangira, Member of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, rapporteur of the IPU resolution.
  3. Global responses to emerging advanced artificial intelligence technology: Wednesday, 6 March 2024, 15:00 (Geneva, CET). Moderated by Denis Naughten, Member of Parliament of Ireland, Chair of the IPU Working Group on Science and Technology.

Visit the IPU website for session summaries and highlights: Parliaments and AI: Going beyond the buzz

Quick Links

Annual IGF Parliamentary Track Output Documents

Toolkit for parliamentarians on key Internet and digital policy issues

Parliamentarians can learn more by using this guide to key digital policy issues and related processes and organizations: Towards a Global Digital Compact. This is a living document and will be updated accordingly. 

Common Principles for Support to Parliaments

Based on more than four decades of experience on parliamentary development, the IPU Common Principles for Support to Parliament offer clear guidelines for those receiving or providing support to parliaments. They aim to improve the quality of the support available to parliaments and to encourage the parliamentary community to work together more effectively when planning designing and providing support. 

(العربية | English | Français | Español)

Parliamentary Track recordings

Parliamentary Track activities can be viewed here on our IGF YouTube channel.