Global South pushes for digital inclusion
As global leaders gather to confront the rising tide of digital inequality, a new urgency emerges: ensuring the world’s most vulnerable communities aren’t left behind in the AI revolution.
At the 2025 Internet Governance Forum in Lillestrøm, Norway, global leaders, youth delegates, and digital policymakers convened to confront one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age: bridging the digital divide in the Global South. UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua highlighted that while connectivity has improved since 2015, 2.6 billion people, primarily in the least developed countries, remain offline.
The issue, however, is no longer just about cables and coverage. It now includes access to affordable devices, digital literacy, and the skills needed to navigate the internet safely and meaningfully.
A recurring concern throughout the session was the alarming decline in development funding, expected to drop by 38%, just as AI surges forward. Francis Gurry, former head of WIPO, warned that the rapid deployment of AI could deepen global inequalities if developing nations are left without the necessary support to build infrastructure or acquire technical expertise.
Several speakers, including ICANN co-chair Tripti Sinha, emphasised that beyond access, true digital inclusion hinges on governance models that prioritise openness, multistakeholder collaboration, and localised technical capacity, especially as state-led approaches risk fragmenting the global internet. In response, countries shared concrete initiatives.
China detailed its AI training workshops and digital cooperation programs with Global South nations. Malaysia showcased its nationwide digital literacy centres and grassroots AI training under its NADI initiative. Ghana’s Dr Nii Quaynor spotlighted Africa’s progress but underscored enduring gaps in infrastructure and capacity. All speakers agreed: the divide cannot be closed without coordinated global action, inclusive policies, and strategic investments.
The forum concluded with a united call for bottom-up solutions, cross-border cooperation, and sustained support for community-driven digital development. As the world prepares for the WSIS+20 review, there is cautious optimism that the commitments made in Lillestrøm will catalyse real progress in making digital inclusion a global reality.
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