By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: The Norwegian Government announced they will be hosting the Internet Governance Forum 2025 in Oslo. The announcement was made less than a month before this year’s Global Forum which will be held at King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 15th -19th December.
In the meantime, the 13th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF-2024) will convene from November 20-22, 2024, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa. This hybrid event will see industry leaders, policymakers, and technology enthusiasts from across the continent converge and engage in discussions surrounding Internet Governance issues.
The annual IGF meetings are structured hierarchically, starting at the national level. National meetings provide input to regional meetings, which in turn feed into continental meetings. Finally, the continental meetings contribute to the Global forums.
The announcement of the Oslo event comes after the United Nations invited Norway to host the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in 2025 – the world’s largest forum on Internet governance.
“Norway is committed to ensuring an open, safe, and free Internet for all. In an era where some countries seek to restrict online freedoms, it is more vital than ever for nations like Norway to engage in discussions and negotiations regarding the frameworks that govern the Internet. As the host country for IGF 2025, the international community trusts Norway to bring together global stakeholders for crucial conversations about the future role of the Internet,” said Karianne Tung, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance.
The Internet Governance Forum 2025 will be the largest UN meeting ever hosted in Norway. In June 2025, several thousand participants from around the world will convene in Norway to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and collectively address key issues related to digital public policy. The IGF has established itself as one of the most significant platforms for these discussions.
Governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, technical experts, as well as international and intergovernmental organizations from both developing and developed countries will collaboratively discuss and set the agenda for the future of the Internet, all while celebrating the forum’s 20th anniversary.
“A free and open Internet is fundamental to democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. International cooperation to ensure the Internet remains a safe and inclusive space for everyone is more crucial than ever. Norway wants to contribute to this effort,” said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
The Internet Governance Forum will take place over five days, featuring several hundred presentations, meetings, and workshops organized around carefully selected main themes. The forum is expected to welcome around 4,000 physical participants and an equal number of digital attendees. All stakeholders are invited to participate and contribute, with Norwegian actors having the opportunity to showcase local solutions and perspectives.
Norway and Russia were candidates to host the IGF 2025. Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua has on behalf of the UN accepted Norway’s offer to host the Internet Governance Forum in 2025.
