The 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025) took place in Lillestrøm, Norway, from June 23 to 27. Centered around the theme Building Digital Governance Together, the forum underscored the importance of collaborative engagement among governments, businesses, civil society, and the technical community.
IGF 2025 drew more than 9,000 participants from 170 countries, with over 3,300 attending in person at the Lillestrøm venue and approximately 6,000 joining online.
The forum hosted over 260 sessions that addressed a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data protection, internet accessibility, and the role of technology in advancing peace, inclusion, and sustainable development.
The forum was attended by a Russian delegation comprising experts from the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, the Center for Global IT Cooperation, St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (SPbSUT), and the National Research University Higher School of Economics. Representatives from the Center for Global IT Cooperation provided presentations on a range of topics, including the adoption of digital solutions in the agro-industrial sector, the development of IT infrastructure in the Arctic, and strategies for ensuring technological sovereignty. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of international cooperation. During a session focused on dynamic coalitions in internet governance, Vasily Zudin, Deputy Director of the Center for Global IT Cooperation, highlighted the value of bottom-up approaches and advocated for the creation of resilient and sustainable IT alliances. He noted that Russia is developing its own multilateral cooperation platforms, including the International IT Forum with the participation of BRICS and SCO countries, the Youth Digital Forum, and the Global Digital Forum, which has brought together representatives from over 100 countries. As part of the traditional IGF Village at the forum, the Coordination Center also organized an interactive quiz titled Study the Internet & Govern It.
At the closing ceremony, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, emphasized that the forum’s discussions established key directions for continuing global dialogue.
“The messages that emerged from the forum clearly reflect our common aspirations: a digital future that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Rights-based data governance and a shared responsibility for the safe and ethical development of technology stand as essential guiding principles,” he said.
Li Junhua noted that the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), along with the forthcoming discussion at the UN General Assembly in December regarding the extension of the IGF mandate, presents an opportunity to reassess the forum’s role as a central platform for international digital policy dialogue.
“The future of the IGF depends on your leadership, energy, and commitment,” he emphasized.
