- The 19th IGF will convene in Riyadh from December 15 to 19, 2024, featuring a hybrid format，offering both in-person attendance and digital participation to foster global engagement.
- The decision to adopt a hybrid format reflects the organisation’s commitment to accessibility and the evolving digital landscape.
OUR TAKE
The 19th annual IGF meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format, aiming to accommodate both onsite and online participation of stakeholders in Riyadh equitably. Session organising teams, including organisers, speakers, moderators, and rapporteurs, will also participate both online and onsite. This allows all session participants to engage either onsite or online, making participation in IGF 2024 meaningful and inclusive for everyone.
–Rebecca Xu, BTW reporter
What happened
The 19th annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting will be hosted in a hybrid format this year. The IGF meeting serves as a key platform for individuals, organisations, and governments to come together and discuss critical issues related to the future of the Internet. By hosting the event in a hybrid format, organisers aim to ensure that stakeholders from around the world can participate in discussions and share their perspectives on various internet governance topics.
The meeting will be hosted under the overarching theme: “Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future”. The programme will be developed around the following themes: “Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space”, “Enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability”, “Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age”, “Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want”.
The Forum emphasised the need for the global community to intensify efforts, including addressing various types of digital gaps, enforcing principles of openness and interoperability, and sustaining a robust multistakeholder strategy for internet governance.
Also read: What is the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)?
Also read: IGF 19 to address digital challenges and opportunities
Why it’s important
The IGF is an annual UN conference that brings together stakeholders from the fields of politics, business, science and research as well as civil society to discuss current issues and topics relating to the joint shaping of the internet and the digital environment.
The upcoming meeting aims to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue on internet governance, explore emerging technologies, and address pressing issues in the digital space. It will also provide a platform for stakeholders to share best practices and collaborative solutions.
The 19th annual IGF meeting in Riyadh will serve as a critical venue for global internet governance discussions. With a hybrid approach, the IGF ensures that the voices of various stakeholders are heard, regardless of their ability to attend in person. The IGF 2024 will help to shape the future of the global digital agenda.
