UN Press Release
Forum held in Lillestrøm, Norway, convenes global stakeholders to shape digital governance under WSIS+20 and Global Digital Compact processes
LILLESTRØM, NORWAY, 24 JUNE— The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) opened today in Lillestrøm, Norway. Convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the Government of Norway, the multi-stakeholder meeting takes place from 23 to 27 June.
The milestone event comes at a pivotal time for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global digital governance, as countries seek to implement the Global Digital Compact (GDC) adopted last September, and assess the twenty years since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20). The opening in Lillestrøm, Norway, marks two decades of progress in global digital governance and provides a chance to reaffirm shared commitments to an Internet that is open, secure, inclusive, and centred on human dignity and rights.
In a video message, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres marked “the 20th anniversary of the Forum and its work advancing inclusive collaboration on internet public policy.” “Through the years”, he said, the Forum has “shown how dialogue – across sectors, regions and generations – can help shape an internet that is rooted in dignity, opportunity and human rights.”
Held under the overarching theme “Building Digital Governance Together,” IGF 2025 brings together more than 8,000 participants from governments, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, and international organizations—both in person and online. The Forum is recognized as the world’s most inclusive platform for digital policy dialogue.
Highlighting both the pivotal moment and sustained momentum of the Forum, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, remarked: “Let the IGF 2025 in Lillestrøm be the moment we go further—toward a digital future rooted in trust, equity, and human dignity.”
Throughout the five-day event, participants will examine approaches to building secure, transparent, and rights-respecting digital spaces—essential for the long-term stability of democratic societies and open economies; and emphasize the importance of ethical standards, regulatory foresight, and sustainable digital development. Centering around four thematic areas—digital trust and resilience; sustainable and responsible innovation; universal access and digital rights; and digital cooperation, discussions will explore how to restore trust in digital systems as well as how to adapt to an era shaped by artificial intelligence, evolving social platforms, and the widespread threat of mis- and disinformation.
The Forum will address policies aimed at closing the digital divide and upholding human rights online—including privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information—to promote inclusive digital participation. It provides a platform for participatory digital governance, engaging stakeholders from all regions and backgrounds, including representatives from the Global South, youth, and marginalized communities.
For further information, including session recordings and outcome documents, please visit: https://www.intgovforum.org/en
About the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
The Internet Governance Forum, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and hosted this year by Norway, is the global multistakeholder forum for dialogue on digital public policy. Each year, the IGF annual meeting brings together thousands of stakeholders from around the world to discuss the most pressing digital governance trends and challenges. The IGF meetings facilitate the exchange of information and the sharing of good policies and practices related to key elements of digital governance to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet.
Held from 23 to 27 June, this year’s IGF will bring together more than 8,000 registered participants from over 160 countries. Representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical community and international organizations are gathering under the umbrella theme of “Building Digital Governance Together”.
Join onsite, online and via livestream, with plenary sessions broadcast live on UN Web TV.
For additional information and schedule, please visit: https://www.intgovforum.org/en
Media contacts:
Martin Samaan, UN Department of Global Communications, samaanm@un.org
Eleonora Mazzucchi, IGF Secretariat, eleonora.mazzucchi@un.org
Jennifer Kim, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, jennifer.kim@un.org
