Tech Global Institute backs joint civil-society proposals for WSIS+20 Elements Paper

Tech Global Institute has contributed to the WSIS+20 Elements Paper through coordinated civil-society submissions developed with the Global Digital Justice Forum and the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS. The organisation stated that these joint inputs reflect its broader commitment to inclusive and rights-based digital governance and aim to ensure that the WSIS+20 review responds to the structural challenges shaping today’s digital landscape.

The submission from the Global Digital Justice Forum frames digital governance through a systemic lens, arguing that issues such as Big Tech dominance, data extractivism, and unequal access to financing continue to define global power imbalances. The document calls for a realignment of the digital economy toward democratic governance, ecological sustainability, and intersectional justice. It also stresses that debates on AI governance must consider not only technical safeguards but also the distribution of power, the role of public institutions, and the need to prevent extractive data practices that disproportionately affect communities in the Global South.

In parallel, the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS brings together civil-society actors from both the Global Majority and the Global North. Its submission urges the WSIS+20 process to ground the outcome document firmly in international human rights law while preserving meaningful multistakeholder participation. The coalition argues that sustainable digital development requires an explicit commitment to digital inclusion, noting that connectivity gaps remain a major barrier to economic and social opportunity. According to the coalition, the WSIS+20 review should reaffirm digital rights as central to future cooperation rather than treating them as secondary to technology or market-driven approaches.

Tech Global Institute endorsed both submissions in full, describing the joint contributions as essential for shaping an equitable WSIS+20 outcome. The organisation reiterated that global digital governance should be people-centred and built on accountability frameworks that apply to both governments and technology companies. Its statement emphasised that the WSIS review is a critical opportunity to advance digital justice and that civil-society collaboration remains key to ensuring that the next phase of WSIS responds to the needs of communities most affected by digital inequality.