The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is proud to publish its 2024 Annual Report, Forging Relationships, Evolving Together. This year’s report details GNI’s continuing evolution as a global multistakeholder platform advancing human rights in a rapidly shifting tech and regulatory landscape.
2024 marked a pivotal year for the digital rights ecosystem, as governments worldwide introduced sweeping regulatory frameworks for online safety, artificial intelligence, and data governance. In response, GNI deepened its focus on rights-respecting approaches, expanded its global network, and implemented key strategic reforms to ensure its work remains inclusive, adaptive, and impactful.
“GNI is growing not just in size, but in depth and connection. We are building a stronger, more inclusive network that reflects the complexities and challenges of today’s digital environment,” said Elonnai Hickok, GNI’s Managing Director, in an in-depth interview featured in the report.
Key highlights from the 2024 Annual Report include:
- Expanded Global Membership and Inclusion: GNI welcomed 18 new members, including seven based in or focused on the Global Majority. The year also marked GNI’s first in-person Members’ Meeting, convening 70 participants in Washington, DC and online, representing 13 countries across all four membership constituencies.
- Strategic Policy Engagement: GNI actively engaged in policy processes on five continents — from commenting on transparency guidance under the UK’s Online Safety Act and AI legislation in Canada, to expressing human rights concerns around surveillance and censorship in Senegal, Brazil, and Hong Kong. GNI also contributed to global governance forums such as NETmundial+10, the UN Global Digital Compact, and WSIS+20.
- Multistakeholder Innovation in Accountability: A landmark expansion of GNI’s accountability framework will allow broader participation in company assessments. The fifth assessment cycle, launched in 2024, introduces a staggered review timeline and a more representative review structure, reflecting GNI’s growing and diverse membership.
- Focused Learning and Capacity Building: The 2024 Annual Learning Forum explored emerging government pressures on tech companies, including those related to AI and digital infrastructure. Throughout the year, regional learning calls and public workshops deepened engagement on algorithmic risk assessments, transparency in the Global Majority, and evolving trust and safety practices.
- Stakeholder Engagement Pilots: GNI launched fee-for-service engagements for companies to consult with diverse stakeholders on human rights risks in complex contexts, including Myanmar and EU Digital Services Act implementation. These pilots reflect GNI’s commitment to fostering meaningful engagement grounded in international human rights principles.
- Governance Reforms: In response to recommendations from a 2023 review, GNI adopted changes to its governance model and Board structure to enhance member engagement, accountability, and operational transparency.
As the digital policy landscape grows increasingly complex and fragmented, GNI remains committed to fostering trusted relationships, promoting human rights-centered governance, and amplifying diverse perspectives across the digital ecosystem.
“Whether navigating AI regulation, platform accountability, or government demands, GNI is a space where members can come together to share insights, elevate local realities, and work toward rights-based solutions,” said Hickok.