Internet Governance Impact Forum Report Launch 2024
With 80 attendees from different constituent organizations of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) such as ICANN, Internet Society, and other Dynamic Coalitions, the DNS Research Federation presented how the IGF has delivered value and impact over the years. It particularly highlights the direct and indirect impacts of the IGF, as well as the national and regional IGF (NRI) ecosystem, along with specific successes for the Global South/G77 governments. The evidence-based analysis utilized in the report was drawn from 48 interviews with internet governance experts and 1500 documents, comprising 12 million words, using automated artificial intelligence and machine learning-enhanced analysis. Emily Taylor, CEO and Founder of the DNS Research Federation, led the discussion of the impact report. Alongside categorizing direct and indirect impacts, she itemized the six impact areas of the IGF, which are:
- Issue-Driven
1. Discuss existing and emerging issues
2. Advice on access and affordability
3. Help find solutions to misuse
- Engagement-Driven
4. Facilitate engagement and interfacing
5. Exchange information, best practice, and capacity building
- Value-Driven
6. Uphold WSIS values and transparency
The first direct impact of the IGF is their contribution to the interconnection in the Global South. In 2007, before conversations on IXPs took hold in IGF, there were only 12 barely functioning IXPs in Africa. Through discussions in global and regional IGF reports, it helped raise issues in internet connectivity and establish the value brought by IXPs, which was continued in subsequent years as conversations at a regional and local level explored and focused on strategic actions and practicalities of establishing IXPs. Fast forward to 2023, there are now 53 active IXPs across 47 cities and 36 countries in Africa. Following this is their direct impact in enabling regulation for community connectivity. In 2018 and 2019, the community networks movement articulated in the IGF the enabling regulations they needed, leading to the adoption of those policy recommendations across multiple countries in Latin America. Another testament to the direct impact of the IGF is the organic growth of NRIs, with only 26 initiatives in 2011 growing to 162 officially recognized active initiatives in 2023. Despite not being mandated by the Tunis Agenda, NRIs have proliferated organically, particularly in national and youth initiatives. Quoting Carolina Caeiro, one of the impact report authors, “What makes NRIs especially impactful is the notion that good governance begins at home.” Through the presence of NRIs, global conversations are translated and brought to the local level, where implementation is more likely to take place and where internet governance impacts policy outcomes.
When it comes to the last direct impact of IGF, it has facilitated the emergence of a community of young leaders from the Global South, with its commitment to youth involvement evident through dedicated tracks and workshops that integrate youth perspectives. The IGF serves as a catalyst for capacity building and the emergence of the next generation of leaders. Youth participants, particularly from Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, gain deep insights into Internet governance issues, leveraging this knowledge to initiate educational programs, establish regional youth forums, and advocate for impactful policies in their respective countries. Youth participants also actively shape IGF discussions and champion issues both locally and globally, consistently advocating for themes like sustainable development and data protection. Moreover, the IGF fosters an ecosystem of cross-regional collaborations among youth initiatives, where young leaders collaborate to address common challenges, share best practices, and secure support for their initiatives locally.
Moving on to the indirect impacts of the IGF and the role it has played in building on and amplifying discussions, three key areas were discussed, which are:
- Thematic dynamism reflecting emerging technologies and policy issues, particularly the six perennial themes:
1. Human Rights
2. Accessibility
3. Privacy, Surveillance, and Data Protection
4. Internet use and impact
5. Access/Connecting the Unconnected/Digital Divide/Digital Skills
6. Freedom of Expression
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