The recent 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, and the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva were important milestones in global digital cooperation. As preparations for the WSIS+20 review continue, conversations around digital governance, Internet fragmentation, and inclusive participation have taken on renewed urgency.
Across both events, Internet fragmentation emerged as a consistent concern. From alternative DNS root systems to data localization mandates, policy decisions are increasingly affecting the Internet’s coherence. These shifts are often caused by a lack of coordination and understanding between stakeholders.
To address this, the Internet community continues to focus on practical solutions: Inclusive policy dialogue, capacity building, and stronger coordination between technical and non-technical communities. The IGF remains a key platform for these efforts — a space where governments, civil society, and the technical community can exchange knowledge and build mutual trust.
At IGF 2025, sessions such as the Policy Network on Internet Fragmentation (PNIF) and Multistakeholder Perspectives: WSIS+20 & the Technical Layer highlighted the importance of governance that is both principles-based and rooted in real-world operations.
Similarly, efforts like the Technical Community Coalition on Multistakeholderism (TCCM) are helping close knowledge gaps by turning technical knowledge into policy-friendly language.
These initiatives are a reminder that protecting the Internet’s core infrastructure is essential, particularly in the context of digital platform governance and emerging technologies like AI.
Watch Joyce and fellow pannelists disucss efforts to address the issue of Internet fragmentation during the PNIF session at IGF 2025.
Local and regional efforts were also a key focus. National and Regional IGFs (NRIs) in the Asia Pacific region were highlighted as essential forums for engaging diverse stakeholders and building policy from the ground up. These local platforms not only reflect community priorities but also serve as trusted advisors to governments.
To help advance the WSIS+20 process, multistakeholder workshops at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event focused on actionable priorities such as integrating new topics such as AI and strengthening outcome reporting. They also addressed improving collaboration among UN agencies and making participation more inclusive, especially for marginalized and Indigenous communities.
These discussions underlined the importance of sustainability, transparency, and local participation in governance processes.
The Asia Pacific Regional IGF (APrIGF) WSIS+20 Working Group, which I chair, is one such regional effort helping to build capacity and understanding around the WSIS+20 review. Its first webinar introduced the process to the regional community and marked the start of continued contributions toward the review’s Zero Draft.
Keeping the technical layer on the agenda
Despite broad support for the IGF, challenges remain. Technical issues, while foundational, are becoming less visible in IGF programming. Community calls to strengthen the IGF process and ensure sustained focus on infrastructure and standards reflect a shared concern that these core elements remain on the agenda.
Funding and accessibility are also persistent hurdles. Technical organizations, including APNIC through the Number Resource Organization (NRO), remain among the largest financial supporters of the IGF and IGF Support Association. However, lowering participation barriers — whether financial, linguistic, or structural — is essential for more diverse and sustainable engagement.
Strengthening the IGF process
As discussions evolve, including proposals to rebrand the IGF as the Digital Governance Forum (DGF), it is clear that format changes must preserve the IGF’s open, multistakeholder character. Regardless of name, the community continues to call for a forum that is more action-oriented, inclusive, and accountable to those it serves.
Looking ahead: A shared responsibility
As we move toward the WSIS+20 review, maintaining an open, interoperable Internet requires continued collaboration between all stakeholders. My participation in key sessions focused on reinforcing the value of capacity building, inclusive dialogue, and the need for governance processes that reflect operational realities.
In Lillestrøm, I called for a more focused and streamlined IGF process that sustains attention on the technical foundations of the digital ecosystem while remaining responsive to emerging issues.
This message was central to my remarks during the Multistakeholder Perspectives: WSIS+20 & the Technical Layer session where I stressed that technical governance must be grounded in openness, inclusivity, and operational reality. To illustrate this, I pointed to the APNIC Policy Development Process — a bottom-up, consensus-driven, and transparent model — as a practical example of how these principles work in action.
Joyce discusses equitable access to essential Internet number resources during the Multistakeholder Perspectives: WSIS+20 & the Technical Layer session.
Looking ahead, it will be essential to lower barriers to participation, from funding and language to institutional knowledge, while continuing to strengthen local and regional capacity. The multistakeholder model thrives when new voices are heard, and when all parts of the Internet community can meaningfully contribute to shaping its future.
APNIC remains committed to this mission. We invite peers and partners to stay engaged and work together toward a resilient, inclusive Internet — one that continues to serve the needs of everyone, everywhere.
The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct applies to this blog.