The Global Network Initiative (GNI), a multistakeholder organization focused on freedom of expression and privacy in the technology sector, participated in the Open Consultation Process (OCP) for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 High Level Event 2025. The OCP invited inputs from across stakeholder groups on various questions including the strategy, programming, and agenda, which are meant to help shape the WSIS+20 High Level Event program, identify gaps in the implementation of the Geneva Plan of Action and the WSIS Action Lines, and contribute to the WSIS+20 review process. This year, GNI’s submission underpinned the need for inclusive, transparent, accountable, and meaningful multistakeholder consultation and engagement, with particular attention to the facilitation of Global Majority participation. GNI emphasized the need for an agenda focused on human rights, multistakeholder governance, digital technologies, and development that brings stakeholders together across regions and ensures benefits for all stakeholders, as well as the integration of elements of the Global Digital Compact.
GNI has participated in past open consultation processes for the WSIS, and thanks the WSIS Secretariat for continuing to provide their broader communities the opportunity to participate in the consultations and anticipates positive and rights-respecting developments in Internet governance.
In 2025, a myriad of processes and initiatives at the intersection of sustainable development and Internet governance will continue to be implemented and the work of defining and defending the importance of a multistakeholder model to Internet governance will be critical. To this end, the WSIS+20 outcome should affirm the extension of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) mandate and integrate the implementation of the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS. To support this outcome, the WSIS+20 High-Level Event should leverage its convening authority to design an impactful, deliberate, thoughtful, and inclusive program. The High-Level event should also explore avenues and processes to reinforce and build upon existing efforts to empower multistakeholder processes and support work toward a free, open, interoperable, and secure Internet.
To foster a more inclusive and equitable WSIS Forum, it is crucial to prioritize Global Majority participation across all aspects of the event. This includes ensuring that individuals from the Global Majority, particularly those part of civil society, are represented on panels, have their proposals considered for workshops, and receive support for travel and visa costs. This will require adequate planning and human resources given the Forum will be held in Geneva and obtaining a visa can be a significant barrier to participation from individuals based in the Global Majority.
The WSIS process has been instrumental in forging the connection between digital technologies and development. This critical role must continue in the future. To do this the WSIS Forum must build on, support, and integrate new and existing forums and processes. This includes affirming the renewing of the mandate of the IGF and integrating implementation of the Global Digital Compact into the WSIS ecosystem. Through a focus on addressing past shortcomings, the WSIS Forum should transform into a mechanism where stakeholders come together to establish implementation principles and set actionable goals pertaining to digital technologies and sustainable development. Stakeholders could leverage the Forum to advance their commitment to both the open, global and interoperable Internet and the SDGs. To realize this vision, multistakeholder participation will be indispensable – the private sector, technical community, and civil society must be fully engaged to support member states in achieving the SDGs and creating an enabling and inclusive digital environment. Any future process must ensure the inclusion of the Global Majority, specifically civil society organizations and the technical community.