The Global Network Initiative calls for action-focused, rights-based approach at WSIS Forum 2026
A submission to the WSIS consultation process urges a shift from discussion to implementation, with stronger emphasis on human rights, inclusion, and global cooperation.
The Global Network Initiative (GNI) has called for the 2026 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum to move beyond discussions and focus more on practical implementation of digital policy goals.
WSIS is a long-running UN process that brings together governments, companies, civil society, and technical experts to discuss how digital technologies should be used for development. The 2026 Forum is part of a broader review marking 20 years since the original WSIS agreements.
In its submission to the consultation process, GNI argues that the Forum should prioritise concrete outcomes rather than general dialogue. This includes developing actionable plans on issues such as internet access, digital skills, and the governance of emerging technologies.
The proposal highlights five main areas. These include aligning global digital governance frameworks, improving meaningful access to the internet, strengthening human rights protections online, ensuring that artificial intelligence is developed in a fair and inclusive way, and addressing inequalities in the digital economy.
The submission also emphasises the need to address global disparities. Research cited in the document shows that access to digital technologies, participation in policymaking, and economic benefits remain uneven across regions.
To make the Forum more effective, GNI suggests changes to how it is organised. These include smaller, implementation-focused working groups, stronger links between regional and global discussions, and more opportunities for collaboration between different stakeholders.
The timing of the 2026 Forum is also seen as significant. It will take place alongside other international processes, including the AI for Good Global Summit and the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance. GNI argues that aligning these discussions could help ensure that AI policies are grounded in real-world challenges and shaped by a broader range of participants.
