A week at the Internet Governance Forum 2025

During challenging times of geopolitics, it is more important than ever to meet and unite efforts to preserve an open and secure internet to the benefit of mankind. The role of the internet as a common platform for communication needs contributions from all stakeholders to strengthen human rights and democratic values.

The IGF is a highly important agenda-setter for the future of the internet and a key global and inclusive discussion platform for internet governance. The IGF’s multistakeholder model provides significant flexibility to accommodate a wide range of perspectives and inputs while also strengthening the participation of underrepresented groups that typically have less space and access in multilateral forums. 

IGF opened with a welcome session featuring remarks from the Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, Karianne Oldernes Tung, followed by Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Both highlighted the IGF’s vital role over the past 20 years in fostering transparent and inclusive dialogue on Internet governance.

The ICC Norway delegation participated in a series of bilateral meetings hosted by the ICC Digital Economy Commission in partnership with the ICC BASIS group. The first of these, held with the Japanese delegation, marked the inaugural ICC BASIS business-government meeting. The session served as a platform to launch discussions on critical global digital priorities, including AI governance, the WSIS+20 review process, cybersecurity, and the protection of children online.

Following the bilateral meeting, ICC Norway’s Secretary General, Anne Worsøe, participated in the ICC BASIS Closed Business-Government Roundtable. This inaugural roundtable brought together senior government officials and business leaders for a Chatham House Rule discussion on key digital policy issues, including AI governance, cybersecurity, online child safety, and the WSIS+20 Review. The session was moderated by ICC Honorary Chair Maria Fernanda Garza and featured remarks from Norway’s Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, Karianne Oldernes Tung, as well as State Secretary Marianne Wilhelmsen from the same ministry.

The following day included a bilateral meeting with the U.S. delegation, during which they outlined their key priorities for the WSIS+20 Review.

A meeting was also held with the European Commission, which emphasized that strengthening the EU’s competitiveness, particularly in the digital sector, is a top priority. The Commission aims to position Europe as a global hub for investment and innovation, especially in the field of AI. To support this objective, efforts are underway to simplify legislation for SMEs, focusing on areas such as digital identity, data, and AI, in order to reduce regulatory burdens.

On the final day of the IGF, a bilateral meeting was held with UN DESA. The delegation expressed appreciation for ICC BASIS and its role as a key conduit for business input into the IGF over the past 20 years.

ICC Norway is honored to have worked with the ICC Digital Economy Commission, the ICC BASIS group, and ICC Honorary Chair Maria Fernanda Garza, along with Meni Anastasiadou, Jessica Reed, and Barbara Wanner, during IGF 2025.