The submission of session proposals for the 2023 edition of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) closed on May 24, 2023 with a record number of proposals received across all session types, according to the IGF Secretariat.
The Secretariat said 434 submissions were made as proposals for workshops at the 18th IGF, which will take place in Kyoto, Japan, from October 8 to 12, 2023. The figure is nearly double the number of submissions received for the 2022 as well as 2021 IGFs.
Out of this number, 398 have gone on for evaluation by the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG).
The MAG is established by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to advise the Secretary-General on the programme and schedule of IGF meetings. It is comprised of 55 members from governments, the private sector and civil society, including representatives from the academic and technical communities. In addition, representatives of former IGF host countries, as well as representatives of intergovernmental organisations, are invited to attend and contribute to the meetings and work of the MAG.
The IGF Secretariat said it also recorded a 10 to 100 percent increases in requests for other sessions, such as open forums, town halls, networking sessions and lightning talks, with a total of 768 proposals these sessions.
It noted that stakeholders submitted proposals selecting from eight IGF 2023 subthemes, namely: AI and Emerging Technologies; Avoiding Internet Fragmentation; Cybersecurity, Cybercrime and Online Safety; Data Governance and Trust; Digital Divides and Inclusion; Global Digital Governance and Cooperation; Human Rights and Freedoms; as well as Sustainability and Environment.
The Secretariat said Cybersecurity, Digital Divides and AI topped the list of most subscribed subthemes but that a final selection of the workshop proposals received will be made by the MAG at its second face-to-face.
The theme of the 18th Annual IGF meeting is: “The Internet We Want – Empowering All People”.
Meanwhile, the Secretariat is inviting intending participants, both onsite and online, to register electronically prior to the event.
The IGF serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet. Although there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors. During the annual meetings, delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices with each other. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.
