Universal access and maximizing the Internet’s benefits are a top priority for the IGF and governments around the world, but efforts to close gaps in adoption suffer without the data to underlie evidence-based policymaking. In this Open Forum, subject matter experts from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Census Bureau will detail the United States government’s ongoing efforts in its three-decade-long mission to measure Internet adoption and use to inform Internet policy. This Open Forum may be of interest to representatives from government agencies, academia, civil society, industry, and other groups analyzing Internet connectivity and use in society.   

Located within the Department of Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is the Executive Branch agency principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA’s mission is to build a better-connected world. 

The United States Census Bureau is the nation's largest federal statistical agency with a mission to serve as the leading provider of quality data about the nation's people and economy. The Census Bureau provides high-quality, timely, and relevant data products that determine how legislative seats are distributed across the nation and supports evidence-building in government and policymaking, planning decisions about community services, and the annual distribution of federal funds to local, state and tribal governments. 

How will you facilitate interaction between onside and online speakers and attendees?

The in-person and remote moderators will facilitate interaction between speakers and attendees by alternating questions from remote and on-site participants. How will you design the session to ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participants? Based upon the assumption of stable connectivity at the IGF venue, as well as from remote participants, both the Open Forum agenda and the moderator will require speaker interventions, as well as attendee interventions, to alternate between “in-person” and “remote,” in order to promote a seamless hybrid environment for all participating. Please note any complementary online tools/platforms you plan to use to increase participation and interaction during the session:  The organizers will ensure that the remote and in-person moderators make maximum use of all features of whichever platform is provided by the IGF2025, to ensure participation and interaction during the session is maximized. We do not anticipate at this stage using multiple tools and platforms, as doing so may actually dilute interaction and participation during the session. However, we are open to suggestions from the MAG or IGF Secretariat.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and cyberdefense are closely intertwined, with AI playing a transformative role in enhancing cybersecurity strategies. At the same time, developing economies face challenges in cyber defense and artificial intelligence (AI). Addressing these challenges is critical for enabling secure digital transformation and leveraging AI for socio-economic growth in developing economies. Developing countries face a critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals, many countries have not established National Cybersecurity Strategies, funding is sometimes not sufficient, and in some cases there is the risk of cyberattacks. Emerging technologies like IoT and cloud systems further increase vulnerabilities. AI development requires high-quality data and computational resources and its development needs skilled professionals who can develop, deploy, and maintain AI systems. The purpose of the open forum is: - Evaluate the impact on the present and future of the use of AI in cyberspace and cyberdefense. - Analyze the current and future national, regional and global scenario in relation to the impact of the use of AI in relation with cyberdefense - Understand the importance of regulatory frameworks as a source of reference for the development of public technological policies - Exchange ideas about research, development and innovation in industries associated with AI and cyerdefense - Exchange information about best practices used in other regions in relation with AI and Cyberdefense The idea of the round table format is to interact with panelists and the audience to find ways to identify these challenges and share ideas on how to address them in a sustainable and effective way. This open forum is a follow up on what was reviewed and discussed in the one organized in the IGF 2024 in Saudi Arabia: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2024-open-forum-1-challenges…

The open forum will be promoted in the different social networks of the organizer´s communities: academia, civilsociety and goverment. There will be previous meetings among the panelists in order to establish a coherent and good flow of the questions and conversations. Onsite and remote moderators will guide the dialogue in the open forum with panelists and within the audience, both onsite and remote.

This session explores innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement in international digital policy, with a focus on strategic foresight.The German Strategy for International Digital Policy, adopted in February 2024, establishes a framework to promote a democratic, free, prosperous, sustainable, and resilient digital future, while reinforcing the multistakeholder model as a cornerstone of international digital policy. Building on this, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) has introduced key initiatives, including most recently in form of financial support for the Internet Governance Forum, an innovative fellowship program for young adults, and a Strategic Foresight process on international digital policy. As part of the Strategic Foresight process, thirty experts spanning all stakeholder groups collaborate across six months to develop scenarios for the two priority areas, Internet governance and international AI governance in 2040, examining their intersections with society, the economy, and geopolitics. For both topics, the groups developed four future scenarios. This foresight exercise is intended to help policymakers and stakeholders to identify strategic priorities, reduce uncertainty and design future-oriented actions.This session explores how strategic foresight and multistakeholder engagement can shape the future of international digital policy, focusing on the development of scenarios for Internet governance in 2040.Session Structure: • Introduction: Overview of BMDV’s stakeholder initiatives and the strategic foresight approach. • Presentation: Drafting Internet governance scenarios for 2040. • Use Cases: Applying strategic foresight to prepare future-oriented actions. • Interactive Discussion: Structured Q&A with both online and in-person participants. Key Takeaways: Panelists will discuss how strategic foresight and stakeholder empowerment equip participants with tools to inform WSIS+20 negotiations, the future of the IGF, and the Global Digital Compact. The session will highlight how shared visions of a preferred digital future can drive coordinated stakeholder efforts toward a global, open, and free Internet.

1) There will be two moderators for this session. The session will mainly be moderated on site with support of a moderator for the virtual space. The on-site moderator will engage both the on-site and online speakers by asking questions and inviting on-site attendees to contribute to the discussion by making statements. The online moderator will monitor and moderate the chat and will be in direct contact with the on-site moderator to guarantee that the Q&A involves both on-site and online attendees.   2) Online interaction in this session will be facilitated by incorporating the thoughts and questions of the audience expressed in the chat in real time. The online moderator will encourage the online audience to use the Q&A function of the platform provided for the session.

The growing use of cyber operations as tools of conflict and coercion has created urgent challenges for global security, human rights, and international justice. As cyber-enabled crimes become more prevalent, international legal institutions must adapt to ensure accountability and strengthen global cybersecurity. Under the IGF 2025 subtheme of [Building] Digital Trust and Resilience, this session will explore how international criminal law – within both national and international judicial systems – can strengthen global cybersecurity by addressing core international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression) enabled by conduct in cyberspace. It will spotlight the forthcoming policy on cyber-enabled crimes by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), which marks a significant milestone in investigating and prosecuting such crimes at the international level. This session will provide an opportunity for ICC OTP representatives, alongside experts from academia, civil society, the private sector, and government, to discuss the legal, technical, and operational challenges in holding perpetrators accountable. The session will also showcase key findings from Chatham House’s upcoming research paper on the prosecution of cyber-enabled international crimes before both international and national courts, complementing the ICC OTP’s work by examining broader legal and policy considerations. Panellists will explore the evolving threat landscape, challenges in evidence collection and attribution, and the need for stronger multistakeholder cooperation to uphold accountability in cyberspace. By fostering a multistakeholder dialogue on international criminal law, cybersecurity, and human rights, this session will provide IGF participants with unique and actionable insights on strengthening accountability for cyber-enabled crimes within global legal frameworks, and the additional measures needed to strengthen accountability for digital threats that undermine human security and stability.

The session will ensure a fully hybrid experience with active engagement from both in-person and online participants: 1. Facilitating interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees: The session will have a dedicated online moderator to ensure online participants can ask questions and engage in the discussion in real time. Online attendees will be able to submit questions via the IGF platform, with priority given to diverse voices across different regions. 2. Designing an inclusive hybrid session: The session will be structured as a moderated panel discussion, followed by an interactive Q&A. The panel will feature a mix of legal, policy, and technical experts representing the ICC OTP, academia, civil society, and the private sector, ensuring diverse perspectives. 3. Complementary online tools to increase participation: The session will leverage online polling tools to gauge audience perspectives on key questions related to cyber-enabled crimes and accountability. Social media engagement will be encouraged before and after the session to sustain the conversation and extend its reach.

In today’s interconnected world, digital technologies continue to pose a range of enduring and novel challenges across the cyber and technological domains.

From cybersecurity threats to data privacy concerns to the digital divide and ethical implications of emerging technologies, developing solutions to these complex and interconnected issues demands a collaborative, inclusive and accountable approach.

The internet and digital technologies are fundamental to realising the Sustainable Development Goals. This session asks the multistakeholder community of experts how to ensure future policy making supports equitable access and tackling of the digital divide while promoting cyber security and and upholding key principles for rights respecting tech governance, such as in the development of emerging tech and digital public infrastructure. Ensuring equality in cybersecurity policymaking (16.7) should remove barriers to participation and access (10.2) and thereby promote an inclusive fourth industrial revolution (9.2) Key Questions for Discussion: - How can we ensure that all relevant stakeholders, including marginalized groups, have a voice in the decision-making process? - What best practices from successful multistakeholder initiatives can be applied to enhance cooperation? - How can we balance the interests of different stakeholders to achieve fair and effective governance outcomes? The 2025 IGF, taking place at a critical time alongside discussions on implementing the GDC and the WSIS+20 review, presents a valuable opportunity to convene an array of perspectives from different geographies, organisations and backgrounds to discuss how they can continue bringing their expertise to bear on a range of existing and new challenges.

This session will be run as a hybrid event to be as inclusive as possible. 

During this Open Forum, relevant stakeholders and groups from the digital development community are gathering to further discuss the Arab region’s perspectives on the recent global developments in digital development and digital cooperation processes, including the Arab IGF, the DCDF and the Arab Digital Agenda and their implications on the region. The ADA represents a regional platform for digital development and cooperation, the Arab IGF and the Arab HL WSIS were convened as part of DCDF.
In this context, selected key messages from the second edition of the Arab International Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF2.0) in 2025, will be discussed and further elaborated in order to help shape a unified Arab position regarding the WSIS+20 review, ahead of the WSIS+20 High-Level Event (Geneva, 7-11 July 2025) and the UNGA High-Level Meeting on WSIS+20 (NY, 16-17 Dec. 2025) and the way forward for the GDC implementation in the Arab region. This would enable the Arab region to play a significant and active role in international decision-making forums pertaining to digital cooperation and development.