This session launches the Freedom Online Coalition’s 2025 Joint Statement on AI and
Human Rights, which reaffirms the need for international AI governance to be grounded in international human rights law and developed through inclusive, multistakeholder processes. As AI systems are increasingly used in ways that suppress dissent, enable arbitrary surveillance, amplify discrimination, and erode democratic participation, the statement highlights the urgent need to embed human rights protections throughout the entire AI lifecycle, from design and development to deployment and oversight. The session will explore how global governance efforts can uphold these principles and advance a human-centric, accountable, and rights-respecting approach to AI.
This session will explore how multi-stakeholder coalitions can effectively contribute to strengthening information integrity and ensuring access to reliable information in the digital public sphere. At a time when challenges to information integrity are becoming more complex and tactics used to influence public discourse are continuously evolving, strengthening collaborative approaches has never been more important. There is a growing need for dedicated spaces where these challenges can be openly discussed, shared, and addressed collectively. Successful examples exist and show that by bringing together key stakeholders, these coalitions foster inclusive and collaborative approaches to addressing information challenges. UNDP has led a Global Coalition on Information Integrity and Elections bringing together governments, civil society, and tech platforms, while also supporting national coalitions in various countries. These experiences provide actionable insights and best practices to inform this session. The discussion will bring together representatives from the Brazilian government, the German government, UNDP, the Samir Kassir Foundation, and TikTok to spotlight innovative strategies, best practices, and lessons learned from successful global and national initiatives, examining what works, why it works, and how these approaches can be scaled and adapted to diverse contexts. The participants will provide an analysis of the topic from multiple angles and reflect on it critically and constructively. This session aims to underscore the strategic importance of coalition-building in upholding democratic principles, strengthening information integrity, fostering digital resilience and promoting a trustworthy Internet.
The session will be fully hybrid, ensuring equal participation for both onsite and online attendees. A Zoom platform will facilitate virtual connections, with a dedicated online moderator managing the virtual audience, relaying questions, and encouraging real-time engagement. To foster interaction between speakers and participants, live polling and a moderated Q&A session will be incorporated, allowing both in-person and online attendees to contribute equally. Panelists will address both onsite and virtual audiences directly, with clear visual and audio integration to ensure inclusive participation. To enhance interactivity, digital engagement tools such as Slido or Mentimeter will be used for live polls and Q&A. A collaborative document (such as Google Docs or Padlet) may be used to capture key takeaways and reflections from participants in real time, fostering ongoing engagement even after the session concludes.
Session Overview
This 90-minute session at IGF2025 will provide a retrospective of the Internet Governance Forum, to celebrate the IGF's journey over two decades to celebrate the IGF's journey over two decades, to reflect upon its significant achievements and the challenges it has navigated, to honor the diverse community that has shaped it, examining its history, impact, and possible future directions. The session will include a short video, tributes to key figures who have passed away, a panel discussion by the MAG Chairs, and community participation to create an engaging and meaningful reflection on the IGF's journey.
Session Structure
1. Opening and Welcome (5 minutes)
a. Brief welcome by the session moderator
b. Introduction to the session's purpose and format
c. Recognition of the significance of IGF2025 as the 20th annual meeting
2. Visual Retrospective: "IGF: 20 Years in Motion" (5-minute video)
a. A specially curated 5-minute video showcasing highlights from past IGF meetings (2006-2024), featuring a visual journey through different host locations
3. Short keynote: The Enduring Relevance of the IGF (3 minutes)
4. Tribute to Those who have passed away (10 minutes)
A respectful remembrance of key figures in the IGF ecosystem who have passed away:
- Dr. Kofi Annan
- Dr. Tarek Kamel
- Bill Graham
- Frances Muguet
- Marylin Cade
- Makane Faye
- Nigel Hickson
5. Voices from the Helm: Panel Discussion with Past MAG Chairs (40 minutes)
A moderated panel discussion featuring past chairpersons of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG):
Moderator: Carol Roach
Panelists:
- Nitin Desai (Remote)
- Markus Kummer
- Jānis Kārkliņš
- Lynn St. Amour
- Anriette Esterhuysen
Discussion Topics:
- Evolution of the IGF's role and impact over the past two decades
- Key challenges faced during different periods of the IGF's history
- Most significant achievements and milestones
- Lessons learned from the multistakeholder approach
- Reflections on how the IGF has adapted to changing internet governance landscapes
- Vision for the future of the IGF in the next decade
An interactive segment where IGF stakeholders can share their memorable moments:
- Participants invited to approach designated microphones in the session room
- Each speaker limited to 2 minutes
- Encouraged to share personal experiences, turning points, or impactful moments from the IGF
- Remote participants can contribute via the online participation platform
- Moderator to ensure diverse representation of stakeholders and regions
- Brief reflection by moderator after each set of 3-4 speakers
6. Closing and Looking Forward (5 minutes)
Indigenous language technologies already exist, and their combination with AI holds significant promise for addressing a critical challenge faced by Indigenous communities: the shortage of specialists across various fields who possess both cultural and linguistic expertise. However, non-technical barriers continue, and are likely to continue, to limit the meaningful uptake and integration of these technologies. This session explores key obstacles, including the dominance of closed, proprietary platforms that prevent Indigenous communities from using their own languages in digital spaces. We also examine how strong data protection laws, though essential, can unintentionally hinder the development and deployment of AI applications for Indigenous peoples. Finally, we address broader ethical and political challenges, such as cultural appropriation and the responsible use of Indigenous data and knowledge in technology development. This panel is organized as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) 2022-2032.
In this session, MPs will exchange current practices in their respective parliaments that aim at contributing to a healthy information ecosystem and upholding freedom of expression, while protecting citizens, including the most vulnerable, from online harms. All participating parliamentarians will be invited to share their experiences and contribute approaches to combating false and harmful content and ensuring safer digital spaces – both those that have worked and those that have proved less effective. Through peer learning and discussion, the concluding session of the Parliamentary Track will aim to foster collaboration and inspire actionable solutions across jurisdictions.
Speakers:
- Franco Metaza, Member of Parliament of Mercosur
- Tsvetelina Penkova, Member of the European Parliament
- Amina Ali Idris, Member of the Pan African Parliament
- Council of Representatives, Bahrain
- Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, Senator, Pakistan
Moderator:
- Sorina Teleanu, Director of Knowledge, DiploFoundation
The digital space offers significant opportunities to every connected person to express themselves, and to access online information and services. A combination of evolving social, structural and technological factors exposes vulnerable groups – such as children, people with disabilities and marginalized communities – to a range of online threats including cyberbullying and algorithmic discrimination. Protecting the most vulnerable in society against these threats demands targeted, inclusive and enforceable policy responses. This session will explore current legislative gaps, propose online safety frameworks and examine good practices in regulation and platform accountability to ensure a safer digital space for all.
Speakers:
- H.E. Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications, Malaysia
- Arda Gerkens, President of the Regulator online Terrorist and Child Sexual Abuse Material
- Raoul Danniel Abellar Manuel, Member of Parliament, the Philippines
- Neema Iyer, Founder and Advisor, Pollicy
- Sandra Maximiano, President of ANACOM, Portugal
- TikTok (tbc)
Moderator:
- Alishah Shariff, Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Nominet
As online criminal activities increase in scope and sophistication, efforts to combat cybercrime continue to evolve. Recent legislative initiatives in this area have focused on targeting misinformation and other misconduct online. However, laws on content regulation, surveillance and platform liability can pose serious risks to freedom of expression and access to information. Experts from the media, the private sector, law enforcement, and technical and intergovernmental organizations will provide a holistic view of this complex policy landscape and explore how policymakers can navigate the delicate balance between ensuring cybersecurity and upholding fundamental human rights, especially the right to freedom of expression.
Speakers:
- Paul Ash, Chief Executive Officer, Christchurch Call
- Cagatay Pekyour, Head of Community Engagement & Advocacy
- Pavel Popescu, Vice President, ANCOM
- Silvia Nane, Member of Parliament, Uruguay (tbc)
- Thibault Bruttin, Director General, Reporters without Borders (tbc)
- Global Encryption Coalition
Moderator:
- Bjørn Ihler, Bjørn Khalifa Foundation
Online mis- and disinformation has emerged as one of the most pressing societal challenges, with the potential to undermine trust in elections and deepen social polarization. This session will provide an overview of the current state of play and emerging trends, the mechanisms by which misleading content is propagated online, and the policy responses deployed around the world. It will bring together experts from civil society, the private sector, the media and the technology community to discuss successful approaches to building a healthy information ecosystem, as well as effective legislative responses.
Speakers:
- Lindsay Gorman, German Marshall Fund (virtual)
- Dominique Hazaël-Massieux, W3C
- Tateishi Toshiaki, Japan Internet Providers Association
- Abdelouahab Yagoubi, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Algeria
- UNESCO
Moderator:
- Charlotte Scaddan, Senior Adviser on Information Integrity, UN Department on Global Communications
Building on the outputs of the 2024 IGF Parliamentary Track and the discussions held so far in 2025, this multi-stakeholder consultation will bring together MPs and key digital players to reflect on how to operationalize concrete, inclusive and collaborative policymaking efforts. All groups will be invited to propose cooperative approaches to building digital governance and identify practical steps for sustaining cooperation beyond the IGF.
- Representatives of all stakeholders groups are invited to join and actively contribute to the session
Moderator:
Anna Jahn, Senior Director Public Policy and Inclusion at Mila
Speakers:
- Celine Bal, Associate Programme Officer, IGF Secretariat
- Andy Richardson, Information Specialist, Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Storting
Participants will be welcomed to the 7th IGF Parliamentary Track and the 20th IGF. The introductory remarks will inform attendees about how to best engage in IGF processes, as well as highlighting past achievements of the Parliamentary Track and showcasing what is to be expected at IGF 2025.
Speakers:
- Chengetai Masango, Head of Office, IGF Secretariat
- Andy Richardson, Information Specialist, Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport on Communications, Parliament of Norway
Citizens need to have confidence in the system and institutions of democracy, including electoral processes. However, trust is deteriorating with the rapid spread of misinformation through digital technologies. This session brings together legislators from all regions of the world to highlight risks undermining the integrity of democratic processes, to exchange good practices on strengthening institutional resilience against misinformation, and to discuss lessons learned from diverse regulatory approaches to preserve information integrity.
Introductory Remarks:
- Mr. Junhua LI, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General, Inter-Parliamentary Union (online)
Speakers:
- Marsha Caddle, Member of Parliament, Barbados (tbc)
- Catherine Mumma, Senator, Kenya
- Abel Pires da Silva, Member of Parliament, Timor-Leste
- Zafar Alizoda, Member of Parliament, Tajikistan
- Grunde Almeland, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Standing Committee on Family and Cultural Affairs, Norway
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahn, Assembly Member, State of California, USA (tbc)
