Internet Governance

Who Authorizes Legitimacy if the Community Is Absent in the Redefined Procedural Space?

In African Internet governance, procedural authorship is quietly displacing community legitimacy. When conveners, not members, define reform processes, legitimacy becomes retrospective and trust erodes -- not by intention, but through unchecked structural roles. more

Why the IGF Now Sits at the Fault Line

The UN's move to grant permanence to the Internet Governance Forum reframes legitimacy in digital policy. As states accelerate action, multistakeholder processes risk becoming ceremonial, with speed replacing consent as the arbiter of influence. more

WSIS+20: A Small Light of Hope in a Darkening Political Landscape

Despite deep geopolitical divides, the WSIS+20 outcome document was adopted by consensus, preserving a multistakeholder vision for the digital future while deferring controversial issues to a time more conducive to progress. more

When Neutrality Isn’t Neutral: ICANN, Smart Africa, the “BluePrint” and “CAIGA”

ICANN's role in Smart Africa's governance blueprint highlights a widening divide between legality and legitimacy. Funding and participation occurred without early community consultation, raising concerns about procedural integrity, RIR independence, and the precedent such interventions may set for global Internet governance. more

The Critical Role of the RIR Governance Document for the Internet Numbering System

A revised governance document for Regional Internet Registries aims to replace outdated policy, enhancing transparency, continuity, and oversight in managing IP resources while preparing for future disruptions across the global Internet infrastructure. more

Three Views of Multistakeholder Leadership in the Age of Sovereignty

As multistakeholder governance nears a critical juncture, leaders must navigate diverging views, geopolitical pressures and technological upheaval. With sovereignty concerns mounting, the Internet's institutions face a complex future that demands deft stewardship. more

Governance or Capture? Africa’s Internet Rules Face a Double Standard, Expert Warns

Alice Munyua criticises ICANN's support for a proposed African internet governance overhaul, arguing it undermines multistakeholder principles and sets a dangerous precedent of political interference in global internet infrastructure. more

Internet Society Seeks Nominations for 2026 Board of Trustees

The Internet Society is seeking nominations for its 2026 Board of Trustees. Four seats are open across its global stakeholder communities, offering an opportunity to help steer the future of a trusted, open Internet. more

Connectivity in Every Language: Building a Multilingual Internet Together

Around the world, communities are racing to close the digital divide. From fiber deployments in rural areas to affordable smartphones and digital skills training, the goal is clear: connect the unconnected. But as we pursue that goal, a deeper question emerges that demands just as much urgency as infrastructure: When people get online, can they actually participate in the digital world? more

Failure in ICANN’s Governance Framework

The legitimacy of the ICANN multistakeholder model and its governance framework are facing an existential threat requiring immediate attention. The recently announced results of the ICANN Nominating Committee highlight how the ICANN Board is captured by "affiliated" directors, which threatens its independence and ability to act for the public interest. more

AFRINIC at the Crossroads: ISPA Endorses Candidates Ahead of Pivotal Board Election

After three years of turmoil, AFRINIC - the regional internet registry for Africa - has opened online voting for a new board, marking what could be a turning point for the embattled organisation. The election, running from September 10 to 12, follows a failed attempt earlier this year that was annulled amid allegations of vote manipulation and procedural irregularities. more

Learning from History: The Potsdam Call on Autonomous Weapon Systems

Eighty years ago, in August 1945, the world saw hope and horror. On August 1, 1945, just weeks after the adoption of the UN Charter, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union signed the Potsdam Agreement, which produced hope for a peaceful post-war world. Only some days later, the world saw the horror of nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A cold war followed. more

WSIS+20 and the Youth Dilemma: Rethinking Participation in Global Internet Governance

On Wednesday, 9 July, I attended the WSIS+20 HLE Overall Review multistakeholder consultation with co-facilitators H.E. Mr Ekitela Locale from the Republic of Kenya, and H.E. Ms Suela Janina from the Republic of Albania with my UNU-CRIS hat and had the opportunity to talk with them together with my fellow youth IGF colleagues Dana Cramer and Jasmine Ko. We discussed youth participation in Internet governance, and I raised my concerns about the future of youth IGFs. more

ICANN Warns of Governance Crisis at AFRINIC Amid Allegations and Legal Challenges

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has issued a stern open letter to the Government of Mauritius and the court-appointed receiver of AFRINIC, the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa and the Indian Ocean. The letter, dated July 16th, expresses grave concern over AFRINIC’s governance failures, opaque election practices, and recent attempts by a controversial resource member to dissolve the organization. more

An Internet Infrastructure Perspective on AI Service Provision

This study analyzes the differences in domain name and IP address strategies among a number of current mainstream artificial intelligence (AI) service providers. We find that these technical choices not only reflect deployment decisions but also deep-seated corporate knowledge and capabilities in Internet infrastructure service provision, as well as brand positioning and market strategies. more