The final review phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) has commenced, with co-facilitators Ambassador Suela Janina of Albania and Ambassador Ekitela Lokaale of Kenya publishing their roadmap on May 21, 2025. This roadmap outlines the path to the WSIS High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for December 16-17, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Initial intergovernmental consultations took place on May 30, 2025, in New York, followed by online stakeholder consultations on June 9-10, 2025. An “Elements Paper” is anticipated for June 20, 2025, just before the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, starting June 23, 2025. A “Zero Draft Outcome Document” is expected by mid-August, with intergovernmental negotiations slated for October 2025 in New York, complemented by additional multistakeholder consultations convened by UNGA President Annalena Baerbock. A “Draft Outcome Document” is projected for late November 2025.
The aim is for final negotiations in early December 2025 to yield a consensus-based document acceptable to all 193 UN member states, guiding the global Internet community into the next decade. Historically, all WSIS documents since 2001 have been adopted by consensus, even amidst contentious issues.
The WSIS framework, comprising foundational documents like the Geneva Declaration of Principles (2003), the Geneva Action Plan (2003), and the Tunis Agenda (2005), alongside mechanisms such as the IGF and WSIS Forum, has served as a crucial guide in the transition to the information society. These mechanisms have also acted as an “early warning system” for emerging issues like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
Despite its successes in fostering global cooperation and regional initiatives, the digital landscape presents challenges. The digital divide has evolved into skills, knowledge, and AI divides. The rise of tech monopolies, the politicization of cyberspace, increasing cybercrime, hate speech, mass surveillance, and the development of autonomous weapon systems and an AI arms race are pressing concerns.
The WSIS+20 review will address these complex issues. While a complete resolution is unlikely within this review, it can establish a forward path for stakeholders. The WSIS is an ongoing process, with WSIS+20 serving as a key milestone to refine existing frameworks and advance the discussion for the coming decade. The focus is on consolidating existing initiatives and recommendations from various reports and bodies, including the Broadband Commission, UNCSTD, and the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, to strengthen the WSIS framework.
The WSIS process, initiated in 2001, pioneered the inclusion of non-governmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector in UN negotiations, reflecting the burgeoning “information revolution.” This era saw rapid technological innovation, with code makers outpacing lawmakers. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan emphasized the need for “inclusive and participatory models of governance,” advocating for multistakeholder collaboration over traditional top-down regulation. This led to the development of co-regulatory models that balance national sovereignty with the universality of global networks.
While the world has grown more complex and polarized since 2005, core challenges such as bridging the digital divide, ensuring cybersecurity, upholding human rights in the digital age, and managing emerging technologies remain. Addressing these issues effectively requires the involvement of all stakeholders.
The initial WSIS+20 consultations, while transparent and inclusive, were largely monologues, with limited direct interaction between governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. This raises concerns about genuine dialogue. Moving forward, “Adult Steps” are needed to foster real interaction and ensure non-state actors’ input is meaningfully integrated into intergovernmental negotiations.
Proposals, such as the European Union’s “Multistakeholder Sounding Board” and Switzerland’s suggestion to enhance UNGIS with a Multistakeholder Advisory Group, are seen as positive steps towards collaborative drafting and leveraging diverse expertise. There is strong support for strengthening the IGF and ensuring its permanent establishment with stable financing.
However, disagreements persist on issues like “enhanced cooperation,” which some view as coded language to re-open debates on intergovernmental oversight of critical internet resources, a matter largely settled with the IANA transition in 2016. Concerns were also raised regarding proposals for a stronger governmental role in Internet governance, a stance that goes against the widely accepted multistakeholder approach reaffirmed in numerous international documents. Furthermore, decoupling WSIS Action Lines from the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is seen as counterproductive, given the integral role of digital development in achieving the SDGs.
The opportunity for WSIS+20 lies in fostering political innovation and enhancing the multistakeholder approach to produce a robust outcome document. With political courage, diplomatic skill, and the goodwill of all involved, a future-oriented outcome for the December 2025 High-Level Meeting in New York is achievable.
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