UN presents zero draft on AI
On 18 March 2025, the co-coordinators for artificial intelligence at the UN (Costa Rica & Spain) presented a zero draft for the creation of the "Independent International Panel on AI" and the "Global Dialogue on AI Governance" adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The AI Panel is planned to comprise an Expert Committee (20 members) and an Advisory Committee (40 members) and to be appointed by the UN Secretary-General or elected by the UNGA. It shall draw up an annual "AI World Report". The multi-stakeholder AI dialogue shall take place in conjunction with a UN organisation (ITU, UNESCO, IGF). The first AI Dialogue is planned for September 2025 in New York, the second for 2026 in Geneva.
Modalities for WISI+20 defined
On 25 March 2025, the 79th UNGA adopted the modalities for the WSIS+20 Review Conference. They define that the President of the UNGA is to appoint two co-coordinators to lead the "intergovernmental preparatory process", which is intended to result in an "intergovernmental agreed outcome document". The WSIS+20 outcome document shall be adopted by a high-level meeting at the 80th UNGA in New York on 16 and 17 December 2025. The President of the UNGA is obliged to organise "informal interactive consultations with all relevant stakeholders" in order to gather "input" for the intergovernmental negotiation process. Non-governmental stakeholders have criticised this arrangement and fear that their input will not lead to impact and will be marginalised in the actual negotiations. In a five-point plan dated 26 March 2025, over 100 NGOs submitted proposals for constructive interaction.
Course set for 20th IGF
On 26 March 2025, a joint meeting between the MAG and the IGF Leadership Panel (LP) set the course for the 20th IGF in Oslo in June 2025. The LP provided information on "The IGF We Want" campaign and "The Internet We Want" document, which will be discussed in a plenary session in Oslo. Vint Cerf, Co-Chair of the IGF LP, called for WSIS+20 to give the IGF permanent status
FOC campaigns against internet shutdowns
On 17 March 2025, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) criticised the global increase in internet shutdowns at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. "Internet shutdowns restrict human rights. We strongly condemn intentional measures taken by States to undermine a global, free, open, secure, and interoperable Internet." The FOC called on the HRC to take action against digital surveillance, online privacy violations and disinformation. A report by the "HRC Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy" Ana Brian Nougrères on the use of neurotechnologies and the processing of neurodata in internet services was discussed.
EU implements Digital Rulebook
Despite the Trump administration's threats to fight back against EU laws that allegedly discriminate against US tech companies, the EU Commission is continuing to work on the implementation of its "Digital Rulebook". On 19 March 2025, it sent Alphabet two so-called "Preliminary Findings" and drew the US company's attention to violations of the Digital Service Act (DSA) by "Google Play" and "Google Search". Apple was reprimanded for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) due to a lack of interoperability.[8] At the same time, EU Commissioner Virkkunen announced on 28 March 2025 that EU 1.3 billion were going to be invested in AI and cyber security through the Digital Europe Programme.
Autonomous weapons systems and human control
At the spring meeting of the Group of Experts on Internet-based Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE LAWS), which took place in Geneva from 3 to 7 March 2025, progress was made for the first time in years. Although there is still no consensus on the "rolling text", the Chair of the GGE LAWS, Robert in den Bosch, was optimistic that he would be able to present results on key issues such as the definition of LAWS, "human control" and the validity of international humanitarian law (IHL) by the fall meeting in September 2025. UN Secretary-General Guterres is pushing for the conclusion of an international treaty in 2026.
G7 declaration on the protection of submarine cables
At a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in the Canadian Charlevoix on 14 March 2025, a declaration on the protection of submarine cables was adopted. Sabotage and maritime misconduct are increasingly leading to interruptions in internet communication and delays in global data transmission. The ministers asked for cooperation with the industry to be intensified and repair capacities to be expanded.
BRICS calls for global digital equality
At an online expert seminar of the BRICS countries on 18 March 2025, Brazilian Digital Minister Luis Felipe Giesteira called for developing countries to be comprehensively included in the global digital economy to enable fair participation. Many of these countries were becoming suppliers of "raw data", he said, and as a consequence had to purchase digital services at a high price. He called for "clear rules that guarantee equal access to data for all parties". States should negotiate "bilateral data sharing agreements", which should be closely linked to "international negotiations on digital governance.
