Internet governance and digital policy
Internet governance, also referred to as digital policy, deals with the policy issues associated with digital technology.
Diplo has been providing capacity development support to digital policy practitioners for almost 20 years. This includes online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion, and community support. Since many small and developing countries have limited resources and institutional capacity in this sector, Diplo provides special assistance to practitioners from these countries.
What is internet governance?
Internet governance refers to the shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. Governments, the private sector, and civil society each contribute to developing these principles, rules, and processes, in their respective roles. (WGIG, 2015)
The book An Introduction to Internet Governance (7th ed.), by Dr Jovan Kurbalija, is one of the most widely-used books by digital policy professionals and across universities. It has also been translated into 10 languages. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the main issues and actors in the field through a practical framework for analysis, discussion, and resolution of significant issues. Download the latest edition, or any of the translated versions.
Updates
The internet governance taxonomy: 7 baskets, 40+ topics
Diplo classifies the main issues in internet governance and digital policy into seven categories, or ‘baskets’. These are Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Human Rights, Legal and regulatory, Economic, Development, and Sociocultural. Many of the digital policy topics falling under each area are cross-cutting.
Diplo’s executive director Dr Jovan Kurbalija developed the taxonomy in 1997, and then introduced it in his book An Introduction to Internet Governance. Diplo later adopted it in its internet governance courses.
Diplo’s digital policy experts review the taxonomy regularly to account for emerging trends in this vibrant process. Today, the Digital Watch observatory uses the taxonomy as its underlying structure.Â
The Digital Watch observatory
The Digital Watch observatory is a comprehensive internet governance and digital policy observatory which serves as a one-stop shop for ongoing developments and overviews of the main issues. It also provides an up-to-date calendar of global events, an overview of the actors active in each field, just-in-time event reports, and other resources related to every topic and process in internet governance and digital policy.Â
The observatory includes quantitative research (e.g. data-mining of open data, topic profiling), and relies on a team of 30+ digital policy experts from around the world, for digital policy research and analysis.
Our monthly internet governance briefings
The Geneva Internet Platform used to hold monthly online briefings to provide a zoomed-out update of the major Internet governance and digital policy developments. Although the series of online briefings has been discontinued, the archive of past events remains available.
At the same time, our team in Geneva continues to hold dedicated briefings for Permanent Missions of UN Member States. If you are a Geneva-based diplomat interested in joining these briefings, please contact us at geneva@diplomacy.edu.
The monthly Digital Watch Newsletter
The monthly Digital Watch Newsletter provides in-depth analysis of digital policy developments taking place each month. It is published on the first week of every month (excluding July and December).
Since 2015, the newsletter has been providing digital policy practitioners a regular round-up of global developments. It also provides analysis on the most topical issues of the month. Updates on events help practitioners keep track of events that may impact digital policy in one way or another. Read or download the latest newsletter.
The Digital Watch weekly digest
The weekly digest is a subscription-based newsletter, published every Friday. Since 2020, the digest has been providing practitioners with the latest updates on global policy developments. Subscribe for the weekly digest.
What’s next?
Diplo has been providing online and blended courses, policy research, policy immersion and community support in internet governance and digital policy for many years. We invite you to:
- Read the book An Introduction to Internet governance or the translated versions.
- Enrol in courses on Internet governance, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and more.
- Visit the GIP Digital Watch observatory, for the latest updates on developments, explanatory texts, events, instruments, resources, and more.
- Subscribe to our weekly and monthly digital policy newsletters.
- Get in touch with Diplo’s digital policy team.
From our blog
Part 8: ‘Maths doesn’t hallucinate: Harnessing AI for governance and diplomacy’
12 December 2024
This post is part of the AI Apprenticeship series: Part 1: AI Apprenticeship 2024 @ DiploFoundation Part 2: Getting introduced to the invisible apprentice – AI Part 2.5: AI reinforcement lea...
Early origins of AI in Islamic and Arab thinking traditions
09 December 2024
Whenever I attend the annual Internet Governance Forum, or the IGF as we call it, I ponder the historical and cultural tapestry that each venue weaves. Next week, our journey takes us to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which wi...
The dance of certainty, probability, and mystery: Insights from AI and faith
08 December 2024
Last week, while watching the film Conclave by Robert Harris, a particular line stayed with me as highly relevant for dealing with AI: "There is one sin which I have come to fear above all others. Certainty! If there...
Geneva AI Attaché: Technology for inclusive, informed, and impactful diplomacy
04 December 2024
Small and developing countries often find themselves overshadowed in complex multilateral negotiations. Picture a small mission with just a handful of diplomats trying to keep pace with the multitude of parallel diplo...
Training and courses
Events
25th European Diplomatic Programme: The use of AI in diplomacy
21 Nov 24 - 22 Nov 24
AI and diplomacy: Navigating technology and policy
07 Nov 24 - 07 Nov 24
Digital trade for Africa’s prosperity
13 Nov 24 - 13 Nov 24
February 2025 online courses |Â Diplo Academy
17 Feb 25 - 17 Feb 25
Lecture on AI between technology, economy and humanity
08 Oct 24 - 08 Oct 24
Leadership training on AI and diplomacy @ the UAE diplomatic academy
18 Nov 24 - 20 Nov 24
UN Cybercrime Convention: What does it mean and how will it impact all of us?
22 Oct 24 - 22 Oct 24
AI for Media Professionals: Briefing at the Montenegrin Public Service Broadcaster
08 Oct 24 - 08 Oct 24
EBU Leadership Summit – AI Discussion
26 Sep 24 - 26 Sep 24
50th Meeting of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training
08 Oct 24 - 11 Oct 24
Africa in the AI era
24 Aug 24 - 24 Aug 24
Decoding disinformation: Lessons from case studies
30 Sep 24 - 30 Sep 24
AI Accountability and Digital Trade: Policy Options for the UK
09 Sep 24 - 10 Sep 24
Summer School on AI and Digital Governance
16 Jul 24 - 18 Jul 24
Western Balkans Regional Conference ‘Building Regional Cyber Resilience’
11 Jun 24 - 11 Jun 24
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait and Diplo forge strategic partnership
21 May 24 - 21 May 24
Trade Meets AI: Navigating in a ‘Digital New World’
19 Apr 24 - 19 Apr 24
Unpacking the EU AI Act
29 Apr 24 - 29 Apr 24
Tech Diplomacy: Regulation and Digital Issues on the International Agenda
24 Apr 24 - 24 Apr 24
Brainstorming with UN AIÂ Advisory Body @ WMO and Diplo
12 Mar 24 - 12 Mar 24
AI in training and education: Launch of Diplo AI Campus
21 Mar 24 - 21 Mar 24
Panel: Climate | AI | DigitalÂ
05 Mar 24 - 05 Mar 24
Tech Attaches Briefing: Unpacking the AI Advisory Body’s interim report
08 Feb 24 - 08 Feb 24
AI Governance: Priorities, Challenges & Opportunities for Africa
25 Jan 24 - 25 Jan 24
Policy Meets Tech: Cryptography
24 Jan 24 - 24 Jan 24
Policy meets tech: Augmented and Virtual reality
13 Feb 24 - 13 Feb 24
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) Forum High-Level Event
27 May 24 - 31 May 24
AI for Good Global Summit
30 May 24 - 31 May 24
The impact of AI on data collection, exploitation, protection, and privacy in Africa
17 Jan 24 - 17 Jan 24
Africa
AI and Digital Predictions for 2024
11 Jan 24 - 11 Jan 24
Geneva AI Community launch
23 Nov 23 - 23 Nov 23
Meeting in Czech Embassy on NATO and cyber
20 Mar 23 - 20 Mar 23
Briefing for Delegation of German Cyber Ambassador
14 Mar 23 - 14 Mar 23
Meeting with a representative of APNIC
14 Mar 23 - 14 Mar 23
Geneva Dialogue | The launch of the Geneva Manual
07 Dec 23 - 07 Dec 23
Diplo @ UNCTAD eWeek
04 Dec 23 - 08 Dec 23
Town hall meeting on AI and Diplomacy at the Swiss Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva
29 Sep 23 - 29 Sep 23
Switzerland
Brussels meets Geneva in the AI era
26 Sep 23 - 26 Sep 23
AI Axial Moment: From history’s lessons to future AI governance
05 Sep 23 - 05 Sep 23
AI – Opportunities, Risks and Challenges of Generative AI (CIGF 2023)
24 Aug 23 - 24 Aug 23
AI-based report of United Nations Security Council debate marks start of a new era in multilateral diplomacyÂ
03 May 23 - 03 May 23
Switzerland
The Power of the Unsaid – Diplomatic Communication in the AI Era (Workshop)
25 Apr 23 - 25 Apr 23
Serbia, Southeast Europe
Diplo @ InnoVent 2: How can AI help our meetings?Â
30 Mar 23 - 30 Mar 23
How to Train Diplomats to Deal With AI and Data? (WebDebate #58)
04 Apr 23 - 04 Apr 23
Bridging the Cybersecurity Skills Gap
16 Feb 23 - 16 Feb 23
What role can AI play in diplomatic negotiation? (WebDebate #57)
07 Mar 23 - 07 Mar 23
Will AI take over diplomatic reporting? (WebDebate #56)
07 Feb 23 - 07 Feb 23
Digital Diplomacy in practice: How knowledge sharing happens thoughout the UN system
24 Nov 22 - 24 Nov 22
2022 Diplo Week in Geneva
07 Nov 22 - 11 Nov 22
2023 Diplo Days in Geneva
04 Dec 23 - 08 Dec 23
Summit on Digital Diplomacy and Governance
17 Nov 22 - 19 Nov 22
AI Policy Summit 2022
10 Oct 22 - 13 Oct 22
AI: A Threat or a Chance for Humanity?
15 Sep 22 - 15 Sep 22
[Briefing #86] Africa at the forefront | AI sentience & social challenges
28 Jun 22 - 28 Jun 22
Africa
AI as a Tool for Diplomacy and Mediation
17 May 22 - 17 May 22
Global Communications and Audiences: Propaganda, Fake News & AI Censorship
28 Mar 22 - 28 Mar 22
[Briefing #82] Standards in digital policy | Cybersecurity and humanitarian work
22 Feb 22 - 22 Feb 22
[Briefing #81] What’s in store for digital policy in 2022?
25 Jan 22 - 25 Jan 22
Digital standards, China, and geopolitics: What is at stake?
14 Dec 21 - 14 Dec 21
[Briefing for diplomats] An inclusive internet: Lowering the barriers for access
02 Dec 21 - 02 Dec 21
Promoting inclusiveness in e-commerce negotiations through capacity building
01 Dec 21 - 01 Dec 21
[SEEDIG 7 Series] Faces of Internet Governance in SEE+: Intergenerational Dialogue
29 Nov 21 - 29 Nov 21
Security Tour – 12 Tours to Navigate Digital Geneva
29 Nov 21 - 29 Nov 21
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Global Conflict
18 Oct 21 - 18 Oct 21
AU-GFCE Cybersecurity Knowledge Modules
01 Sep 21 - 01 Oct 22
ARIN/CTU Caribbean Internet Public Policy Forum
17 May 21 - 18 May 21
Debate: E-commerce or Digital Trade or Both? What’s Negotiated at the WTO in Geneva
11 May 21 - 11 May 21
Online
1st International Online Conference on Digital Transformation in Culture and Education
14 Apr 21 - 16 Apr 21
Online
RightOn #12: SDGs and Human Rights: Leading the way to COVID-19 response and recovery
30 Sep 20 - 30 Sep 20
Online
RightOn #11: Communicating human rights: How to win the global ‘battle of ideas’Â
09 Sep 20 - 09 Sep 20
Online
RightOn #9: Access to Information and the safety journalists in times of crisisÂ
04 Jun 20 - 04 Jun 20
RightOn #8: Protecting the rights of older persons during the COVID-19 pandemicÂ
27 May 20 - 27 May 20
Online
Humanism and artificial intelligence
24 Dec 19 - 24 Dec 19
Round-table on current practices and trends in the use of e-learning platforms
02 Dec 19 -
Switzerland
[WebDebate] AI for peacemaking: New tools and opportunities for mediators
04 Jun 19 - 04 Jun 19
Online
Business-Policy Roundtable
02 Apr 19 25 Mar 19 -
Report: Mapping the challenges and opportunities of AI for the conduct of diplomacy
28 Jan 19 - 28 Jan 19
Diplo & the Geneva Internet Platform at the 13th Internet Governance Forum
12 Nov 18 - 14 Nov 18
France
Digital technology: An unprecedented opportunity for the prevention of trafficking
17 Oct 18 -
Switzerland
Introduction to Digital Policy and Diplomacy 2018 (just-in-time Geneva-based course)
08 Oct 18 - 17 Dec 18
Switzerland
#Cybermediation: What role for blockchain technology and natural language processing AI?
05 Oct 18 -
Switzerland
Information session: Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace
01 Oct 18 - 02 Oct 18
Switzerland
Ministerial Conference on High-Tech Crime and Information Security
20 Sep 18 - 21 Sep 18
Serbia, Southeast Europe
Artificial Intelligence Lab launched
01 Sep 18 - 01 Sep 18
‘2018: A Tipping Point for the Internet’ – public discussion by Jovan Kurbalija
11 Jul 18 -
Indonesia
Diplo at the ‘Cyber security and cybercrime policies for African diplomats’ workshop
12 Apr 18 - 13 Apr 18
Ethiopia, Africa
Diplo at Public private partnerships for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
10 Apr 18 - 13 Apr 18
Switzerland
Diplo at Visions of the Internet from Delhi, Wuzhen, Geneva, and everywhere else
22 Jan 18 -
United States
Digital policy in global governance: Issues and challenges discussed in Geneva
22 Sep 17 -
Switzerland
Diplo at MyData 2017
30 Aug 17 - 01 Sep 17
Balkan School on Internet Governance 2017
21 Aug 17 - 25 Aug 17
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Southeast Europe
ITU regional workshop on ‘Strengthening capacities in international Internet governance’
14 Aug 17 - 16 Aug 17
Brazil
Diplo at EuroDIG 2017
05 Jun 17 -
Diplo at third South Eastern Europe Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG)
24 May 17 - 25 May 17
North Macedonia, Southeast Europe
Young Faces Conference: Strategic cybersecurity policy development in Southeast Europe
29 Nov 16 - 01 Dec 16
Serbia, Southeast Europe
Internet Inclusion: Global Connect Stakeholders Advancing Solutions
05 Oct 16 - 06 Oct 16
United States
Diplo at Middle East and Adjoining Countries School on Internet Governance
08 Aug 16 - 12 Aug 16
Lebanon
Engaging digital actors – fostering effective digital policy – monitoring digital governance
02 May 16 -
Switzerland
Technical Innovation for Digital Policy
25 Apr 16 - 25 Apr 16
Cybersecurity Competence Building Trends: Presentation of study and follow-up discussion
08 Apr 16 -
Switzerland
Cybersecurity and Digital Challenges for Europe – The Role of International Geneva
23 Feb 16 -
Switzerland
WSIS Side Event – GIP Digital Watch: A practical tool for navigating digital policy
16 Dec 15 -
United States
Navigating through the Complex Field of Digital Politics. GIP Digital Watch Launch
28 Sep 15 -
Switzerland
Introduction to Digital Politics 2015: online course for Geneva-based diplomats
27 Apr 15 - 22 Jun 15
Online
Diplo director on lecture tour in Asia
12 Mar 15 - 17 Mar 15
The Geneva Internet Conference – Internet Governance at a Crossroads
17 Nov 14 - 19 Nov 14
Switzerland
New Trends in Diplomatic Practice – Cyber Security as a New Area of Peace and Security
24 Sep 14 -
South Africa, Africa
Bitcoin and other crypto currencies
13 Jun 14 - 13 Jun 14
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies: technical, monetary, policy and development context
13 Jun 14 -
Switzerland
Briefing for Geneva permanent missions: just-in-time course on Internet governance
24 Feb 14 -
Switzerland
Cyber War and Cyber Crime: Session at the Belgrade Security Forum
20 Sep 12 -
Serbia, Southeast Europe
Joint Australian-Egyptian Missions informal roundtable on information and cyber security issues
01 Jun 12 -
United States
Discussion Workshop on Internet Governance
27 Mar 12 -
Panel on Fraud and other abuse of Emblems (Red Cross/Red Crescent) on the Internet
30 Nov 11 -
Switzerland
Resources
Unpacking Global Digital Compact: Actors, Issues, and Processes
Unpacking the Global Digital Compact explores the origins and impact of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), a new UN framework adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future to shape digital and AI governance. This book explores the GDC's complex negotiations and its role in f... Read more...
2024
Decoding Disinformation: Lessons from Case Studies
The evolution of the internet over the years has played a crucial role in the access to and dissemination of information. The digitalisation of news portals, the creation of social media, and the presence of AI have not only contributed to informing people about everyd... Read more...
Reforms to the International Financial Architecture | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 6Â
The international financial architecture is outdated and failing humanity. From egregious borrowing costs for developing countries to underinvestment in global crises like climate change and pandemics, the system is rife with inefficiencies and biases. It's a tale of t... Read more...
Cybersecurity, cybercrime, and child online protection in Africa: National approaches and elements of foreign policyÂ
With digital transformation processes accelerating across Africa, cybersecurity challenges become more pressing. In response, governments are putting in place cybersecurity strategies and cybercrime laws focused on issues such as building individual and institutional c... Read more...
Status of internet access and connectivity in Africa
Africa has been focusing on internet connectivity and access as a priority. The continent is a fast adopter of technology, internet penetration rates are growing, and improvements are being made at the level of internet infrastructure. But challenges remain, from consi... Read more...
2022
Rapport: Des voix africaines plus fortes dans le numérique : construire une politique étrangère et une diplomatie africaines du numérique
À mesure que le dynamisme numérique de l'Afrique s'accroît, sa participation à la politique numérique mondiale doit augmenter. Dans cette transition, les pays africains doivent composer avec les réalités géopolitiques de notre époque.... Read more...
2022
Stronger digital voices from Africa: Building African digital foreign policy and diplomacy
As Africa’s digital dynamism grows, its participation in global digital policy must increase. In this
transition, African countries have to navigate the geopolitical realities of our times.
The report is also Read more...
2022
Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Declaration
The text discusses the need for trusted cross-border data flows to support economic growth and innovation. It introduces the establishment of a Global Forum to promote interoperability in data protection and privacy, aiming to enhance international cooperation and stan... Read more...
