What’s going on in global internet governance?
Governments are renegotiating how they work together in the digital age. The successful completion of the 2024 Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the 2025 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 Review were significant milestones for internet governance, reaffirming the importance of the multistakeholder model.
Looking ahead, WSIS+20 may be over, but pressure on multistakeholder governance remains. Attention will now turn to other forums, including the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, where CIRA and other technical community stakeholders will continue to track policy proposals that shift internet governance decision-making away from open, multistakeholder processes.
If multistakeholderism is weakened, more decisions about our shared digital future may be made by governments alone. Other voices would have less influence—including people who operate the internet every single day. This outcome would risk the internet’s enormous technological, democratic and social potential.
What CIRA is doing about it
Both independently and in coordination with other technical operators, including a Technical Community Coalition for Multistakeholderism, we’re engaging with the Government of Canada and in key United Nations processes.
We recently published a report, shaped by the perspectives of members of the internet’s technical community from across the world, emphasizing why the multistakeholder model should not only be protected, but refreshed and reinvigorated for the challenges that lie ahead.
We're advocating for
Recognition of the technical community's unique contributions
The technical community should be recognized as separate and distinct from other stakeholder groups. It should be recognized as a key contributor to the operation and governance of the internet—on equal footing with governments and other stakeholders.
Strengthen and improve multistakeholder internet governance
Following the outcomes of the GDC and WSIS+20, the technical community has an important role to play in strengthening multistakeholder internet governance and supporting an open, global, interoperable and unfragmented internet.
Fulfil the potential of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
The IGF is the primary global platform for multistakeholder dialogue on internet policy. Its strengthened mandate creates an opportunity to improve how the IGF is resourced, connected to the wider internet governance ecosystem and equipped to support meaningful participation from all stakeholders.
