Update and reporting on global Internet governance processes (GDC, WSIS+20, NETmundial+10) – Pre 04 2024

17 June 2024 | 11:30 - 13:00 EEST | Auditorium |
Consolidated programme 2024

Session teaser

This session is a continuation of EuroDIG’s effort to facilitate stakeholder engagement in global processes and a direct follow up from a session that was held last year in Tampere See details here! In preparation of this session a virtual EuroDIG Extra on the zero draft of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) was organised on 25 April 2024, 14:00 CEST (12:00 UTC) See details

The results of this session, including the virtual meeting in April, will be summarised and submitted as a report to the UN co-facilitators.

Session description

This next 18 months will be a crucial period for global Internet governance as the framework established by the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003-05 approaches its 20th year in 2025 when the UN General Assembly undertakes a comprehensive review of the WSIS process and decides the future of the IGF’s mandate. This EuroDIG session will provide updates on the current global processes that relate to the WSIS+20 review next year.

• WSIS+20 Review and IGF+20 Review by the UN General Assembly

The preparatory phase for the WSIS+20 review led by the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is now under way and EuroDIG is pleased to provide the CSTD with a European regional platform for consulting non-government stakeholders from civil society, the technical community and the private sector more generally – and for young people to express their views as the next generation of Internet decision-takers (Pre 8 session on 17 June). The future of the IGF’s mandate and its role in relation to the global network of national and regional IGFs (the NRIs) - including EuroDIG - that emerged in the wake of the IGF, will to a large extent depend on the outcomes of the WSIS+20 Review.

• The UN Summit of the Future and the Global Digital Compact (GDC)

EuroDIG has been actively engaged in the UN Secretary-General’s consultations during the last two years on strengthening global digital cooperation. [1]. Most recently on 25 April a EuroDIG Extra online consultation was held on the initial draft of the proposed Global Digital Compact which will influence and inform national and regional policies across Europe. A revised text that takes into account stakeholders’ views and comments was published in May.

This session provides a further opportunity for stakeholders to express their views before the finalised Compact is launched at the Summit of the Future in New York in September. Following the EuroDIG meeting in Vilnius, a summary of the main points raised during the EuroDIG consultations will be submitted to the UN co-facilitators of the GDC process. A EuroDIG commenting platform enables the submission of written comments on the GDC text.

• The Declaration on the Future of the Internet (DFI)

The EU and several other European governments including Albania, Iceland, Norway, Serbia and the UK, have signed up to the Declaration on the Future of Internet (DFI). Launched by the US administration in 2022 and with over 70 signatories in total, the DFI expresses supports for the Internet that is open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure, and affirms the partners’ commitment to protecting and respecting human rights online and across the digital world. The European Commission will provide an update in the session on the next steps and the potential for extending the DFI partners to include non-government stakeholder entities.

• NETmundial+10

This session in Vilnius will also provide an opportunity for European stakeholders to reflect on the outcome statement of the NETmundial+10 multistakeholder conference held in Sao Paulo in April which set out the core principles for strengthening Internet governance and digital policy processes and as such provides a strong steer for the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, and for the WSIS+20 Review next year.

Format

Presenters will provide updates on the progress of the negotiations and next steps of each of these four processes. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment in an interactive half hour segment.

1. Introduction on the importance of stakeholder engagement in these four global initiatives and how these processes interrelate. Presenter: Ana Neves, Vice Chair of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) (10 minutes)
2. Updates and next steps for each of the four global processes (40 minutes / 10 min each)

   • Global Digital Compact (GDC), Presenter: Mark Carvell, Internet governance consultant; EuroDIG member
   • WSIS+20 Review, Presenter: Ana Neves, Vice-Chair of the UN Commission on Science and Technology Development (CSTD)
   • NETmundial+10, Presenter: Thomas Schneider, Ambassador, Switzerland; President, EuroDIG Support Association
   • Declaration on the Future of the Internet (DFI), Presenter: Esteve Sanz - Head of Sector, Internet Governance and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, DG CNECT, European Commission

3. YouthDIG perspectives on global Internet governance and digital cooperation, Presenter: Izaan Khan, YouthDIG 2023 fellow (5 minutes)
4. Moderated open discussion with on-site and on-line participants (30 minutes)
5. Concluding remarks (5 minutes)

Further reading

EuroDIG's stakeholder consultation on digital cooperation since 2019

Global Digital Compact

• The report Our Common Agenda where the proposed Global Digital Compact is described in para 93: https://www.un.org/en/content/common-agenda-report/
• The Office of the Envoy on Technology launched a consultation on the proposed thematic areas for the GDC which concluded on 30 April. The details of the consultation process are accessible at https://www.un.org/techenvoy/global-digital-compact
• EuroDIG's response to the Tech Envoy's consultation is accessible at: https://www.un.org.techenvoy/files/GDC-submission_EuroDIG.pdf
• UN Secretary-General’s Policy Brief 5: A Global Digital Compact https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/our-common-agenda-policy-brief-gobal-digi-compact-en.pdf
• UN's High Level Board on Effective Multilateralism (HLAB) report with recommendations on digital and data governance (pp 39-45) including a proposal to establish a "Global Commission on Just and Sustainable Digitalisation", a multistakeholder coordinating body for addressing in particular online rights, data security and digital inclusion. The full report is accessible at: https://highleveladvisoryboard.org/breakthrough/
• The GDC Zero Draft: https://www.un.org/techenvoy/sites/www.un.org.techenvoy/files/Global_Digital_Compact_Zero_Draft.pdf
• The first revision of the GDC: https://www.un.org/techenvoy/sites/www.un.org.techenvoy/files/Global_Digital_Compact_Rev_1.pdf

The Declaration for the Future of the Internet

• signed by over 70 states and international partners including all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Serbia and the UK; sets out the vision and principles of a trusted Internet. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/declaration-future-internet

WSIS+20 Review

• IGF information on WSIS+20 and IGF+20 Review by the UN General Assembly: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/wsis20-and-igf20-review-by-the-un-general-assembly-2025
• Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD): https://unctad.org/topic/commission-on-science-and-technology-for-development

• CSTD roadmap for WSIS+20 Review https://unctad.org/system/files/non-official-document/ecn162023_roadmap_p05_CSTDChair_en.pdf
• UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 2022/15 - Assessment of the progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society: https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/ecosoc_res_2022d15_en.pdf
• ITU WSIS Forum 2023: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2023/en

The NETmundial+10 Multistakeholder Statement

• Strengthening Internet governance and digital policy https://netmundial.br/netmundial-10-multistakeholder-statement-strengthening-internet-governance-and-digital-policy-processes

People

Key participants:

• Ana Cristina Amoroso das Neves, Vice Chair of the 28th Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) of the United Nations
• Mark Carvell, Independent IG Consultant and EuroDIG Associate Member
• Concettina Cassa, Agency for Digital Italy (AgID)
• Thomas Schneider, Ambassador, Switzerland; President, EuroDIG Support Association
• tbc, European Commission
• Izaan Khan, YouthDIG 2023 fellow

Messages

EuroDIG looks forward to the opportunities to amplify the purpose and objectives of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) following the Summit of the Future. EuroDIG offers to play its part in contributing to and monitoring progress in the implementation of GDC commitments.

EuroDIG strongly supports the commitment in the Rev.1 draft text of the GDC to strengthen the multistakeholder model of governance and advises against any watering down of this commitment in the finalisation of the text.

EuroDIG believes that the GDC process should build on the strong foundations and accomplishments of the WSIS instead of creating new mechanisms.

EuroDIG supports enhancing the role of the UN IGF.

EuroDIG recommends simplifying the process of GDC follow up and review of the implementation of the GDC commitments, with a substantive role for the Internet Governance Forum and the WSIS Forum so that non-governmental stakeholders can fully contribute to the process.

Video record

https://youtu.be/s3gYcWL4hpM