Developments in the internet governance environment in June 2026

Wolfgang Kleinwächter Jul 13, 2026 9 min read

G7 Summit in Evian focuses on AI transparency and digital child protection

At the G7 summit in Evian (15–17 June 2026)[1], AI was one of the key topics. The heads of state endorsed the ‘G7 Ministerial Declaration on Digital & Technology’ (Paris, 29 May 2026), which focused on how to reconcile AI-friendly innovation policies with strengthening resilience in the face of growing AI vulnerabilities.[2] A “G7 Vision on AI Openness, Opportunities and Shared Language“[3] calls for open-source solutions for AI. The document, which was also signed by the US, is addressed to all states and stakeholders. The “G7 Leaders’ Call on a Safer Digital Space for Minors“[4] focuses on child protection on the Internet. Service providers are urged to create safe digital spaces for minors: “We call on digital service providers to develop and apply technology and systems that ensure safe, secure and age-appropriate experiences, including through effective and innovative age verification mechanisms, whilst preserving the privacy of users in accordance with respective jurisdictions, national circumstances and applicable legal frameworks.” Among those invited were representatives from the private sector, such as the CEOs of OpenAI (Sam Altman), Anthropic (Dario Amodei), Mistral (Artur Mensch) and, from Germany, Black Forest Lab (Robin Rombach)[5]. Following the Evian Summit, the G7 data protection authorities met in Paris on 26 June 2026 and agreed on a flexible procedure for age verification on the Internet (Statement for Privacy-Preserving Age Assurance). In doing so, they highlighted potential collateral damage to fundamental rights and freedoms, reiterated the principle of ‘proportionality’ and called on the industry to develop services based on ‘Privacy by Design’.[6]

EU Commission bolsters digital autonomy with new ‘Tech Sovereignty Package’

On 3 June 2026, the European Commission adopted a ‘Tech Sovereignty Package’[7] aimed at strengthening Europe’s digital autonomy and resilience. The package contains two legislative proposals – the Chips Act 2.0 and the Cloud and AI Development Act – as well as an Open Source Strategy and a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. The package is intended to signal a new beginning for European digital policy, building on the Competitiveness Compass[8] and the Economic Security Strategy[9]. European Commission President von der Leyen said: “We cannot afford to be dependent on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals running, maintain the stability of our energy networks and secure our services. It is about protecting our citizens, defending our interests and making our own decisions. Europe has the talent, the excellence in research, the industrial base and the single market. Together, we must turn these strengths into technological sovereignty.“[10]

Germany and France forge a pact for digital sovereignty

On 16 June 2026, Germany and France signed a declaration on digital sovereignty in Paris on the fringes of Vivatech, one of the world’s largest AI trade fairs.[11] The declaration follows on from the Berlin Digital Summit (November 2025) and reaffirms that it is not about protectionism or isolation. It defines digital sovereignty as “the capability and capacity to develop, provide, use, adapt and control digital technologies, including hardware, in an independent, self-determined and secure manner, in order to strengthen the ability of the EU, a state, an administration or a private organisation to act independently and to have final decision-making authority regarding its processes and activities”. Six political, economic and technical criteria are intended to make digital sovereignty measurable and “as operational as possible”. Digital Minister Wildberger described the declaration “the geopolitical imperative of the hour. We in Europe must no longer stand in our own way, but must join forces to strengthen domestic start-ups and drive forward the development of globally competitive companies”. EU Commissioner Virkkunen welcomed the initiative as a reinforcement of the Tech Sovereignty Package.[12]

40 Internet organisations warn that the Digital Networks Act will spell the end of net neutrality

On 9 June 2026, more than 40 Internet organisations issued a “Joint Statement on the Open Internet and IP Interconnection” opposing the EU’s proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA)[13]. The DNA disregards the principle of net neutrality and “risks weakening key safeguards that protect European consumers and businesses that rely on open and predictable Internet conditions to compete and scale across the EU, whilst undermining the digital single market as a whole”. Alongside the Internet Society (ISOC), Article 19, Netnod, EDRI, BEUC, ACT, VOD, MPA and Blacknight, the statement has also been signed by the BDZV and ISOC Chapter Germany from Germany.

Council of Europe adopts recommendations on protection against digital violence

On 11 June 2026, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg adopted a “Recommendation on Accountability for Technology-Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls.“[14] The recommendations set out measures to protect women and girls from cyberstalking, online harassment, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, privacy violations, misogynistic hate campaigns, threats and image manipulation. Law enforcement agencies are to be strengthened, for example through access to digital forensic expertise.

IGF in Nairobi: Preparations begin and debate on new overarching theme

From 24 to 26 June 2026, the first IGF consultations took place in Nairobi to prepare for the 21st IGF, which is also scheduled to take place in Nairobi in December 2026. The IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) agreed on the key points of the programme. The proposed theme is: “Governing the Internet in the Age of Intelligence”. Following the 80th UN General Assembly, the IGF is now a permanent UN body. The MAG has therefore begun to adapt the IGF’s operating procedures to this new reality. In addition to the approximately 30 Dynamic Coalitions (DCs) and the more than 170 national and regional IGFs (NRIs), inter-sessional work is to be carried out in future primarily by four Policy Networks (Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, Digital Inclusion and Open Digital Infrastructure). Their output is intended to make the IGF more politically relevant. The 2nd IGF consultations will take place in Geneva in early September 2026.

UNCSTD working group struggles to reach consensus on global data governance

On 18 and 19 June 2026, the 6th session of the UNCSTD Working Group on Data Governance (WGDG) took place in Geneva. The WGDG was established by the Global Digital Compact (para. 48)[15] and is tasked with submitting recommendations on equitable and interoperable data governance arrangements by the 81st UN General Assembly. These are to include, amongst other things, “principles of data governance at all levels as relevant to development; proposals to support interoperability between national, regional and international data systems; considerations regarding the sharing of the benefits of data; and options to facilitate safe, secure and trusted data flows, including cross-border data flows as relevant to development.” The draft report, structured in four chapters, is still at a very early stage. The final draft is due to be submitted by 31 August 2026. The 54 WGDG members - comprising 27 government and 27 non-governmental representatives - are still far from reaching a consensus.[16]

Civil society organisations are issuing urgent warnings against an AI arms race in the military

In an appeal dated 16 June 2026, around 300 civil society organisations and activists have spoken out against the escalating AI arms race: “We call on technology companies and states to cease the provision of AI systems for use in the military kill chain and to take all necessary measures to ensure that other AI systems they provide do not cause or contribute to violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law“.[17] The appeal was initiated by Amnesty International (AI). The signatories also include Algorithm Watch, DGF and FIfF from Germany. The initiative stemmed from a letter sent by Amnesty International on 5 May 2026 to the CEOs of OpenAI and Anthropic, asking to what extent new AI services guarantee respect for human rights. In its reply of 12 May 2026, OpenAI referred to “appropriate safeguards and meaningful human oversight” and to the “red lines” it has enshrined in its contracts with the US Department of Defence regarding the prohibition of mass surveillance of US citizens and the use of autonomous weapon systems in conflicts. OpenAI’s standards “are designed to prevent our models from facilitating critical harms, including violence, terrorism, mass domestic surveillance, persecution, or other serious abuses“.[18] Anthropic had not yet responded by the end of June 2026.

Germany signs the UN cyber agreement under the Hanoi Convention

On 1 June 2026, Foreign Minister Wadephul[19] signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) on behalf of Germany at the United Nations in New York.[20] This brings the total number of states that have acceded to the treaty to 77. Three states have already ratified the Convention, which will enter into force once the 45th instrument of ratification has been deposited. Discussions on a first additional protocol have already begun. This protocol is intended to define further criminal offences in cyberspace, including the dissemination of unlawful content on the Internet. The US opposes such a protocol. On 3 June 2026, Russia submitted a draft treaty comprising 25 articles on this matter.[21]

OSCE meeting in Vienna: experts discuss confidence-building in cyberspace

On 1 and 2 June 2026, an OSCE expert meeting on confidence-building measures (CBMs) in cyberspace took place in Vienna.[22] The ‘Point-of-Contact Mechanism (PoC)’, introduced by the OSCE years ago, served as a model for the UN’s 2024 PoC Directory[23]. The new global UN mechanism on cyber security will meet for the first time in July 2026 in New York. The OSCE meeting in Vienna was supported by the German Foreign Ministry.

17 states sign guidelines on the protection of submarine cables

On 30 May 2026, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Security Conference in Singapore, 17 states signed an agreement setting out guidelines for the protection of submarine cables, through which 90 per cent of global internet traffic flows. The “Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges” are intended to better protect maritime network infrastructure against sabotage. The principles are not legally binding. Through the exchange of technology and information, all partners should be able to respond more quickly to attacks. Signatories include France, Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore and Qatar, amongst others. Germany and the USA have not yet signed.[24] The document complements the relevant activities of the ITU and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), such as the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience[25] (November 2024) and the Porto Declaration on Submarine Cable Resilience (February 2026).[26]

Trump’s new AI executive order and renewed tariff threats over the digital tax

On 2 June 2026, US President Trump signed a further executive order (EO) on AI (Promoting Advanced AI Innovation and Security)[27]. The EO reaffirms the rejection of bureaucratic AI regulation, but acknowledges that AI services could pose a threat to national security and that rules are therefore necessary. “Advanced AI capabilities make our nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies.” On 26 June 2026, Trump threatened European governments in favour of a digital tax with a 100 per cent increase in tariffs on all goods. “They think they’re going to make an easy buck; that’s why they’ve all taken advantage of our country,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.[28] Some European countries, such as the UK, Austria and France, have been taxing US tech companies for years. In Germany, opinions are divided on the introduction of a digital tax. In the BEPS agreement on the global digital tax negotiated by the OECD in 2021 – to which over 70 countries are signatories – the G7, under pressure from the US, agreed in July 2025 on a clause containing exemptions for US corporations (side-by-side agreement)[29].

China’s new white paper sets out Beijing’s vision for a global AI framework

On 17 June 2026, the Chinese State Council Information Office in Beijing published a white paper entitled “Building a More Just and Equitable Global Governance System: China’s Concepts, Initiatives and Actions.“[30] At the presentation, China’s Foreign Minister Wang reiterated the proposal to establish a “World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation” (WAICO) based in Shanghai. The proposal is to be discussed at the forthcoming Chinese World AI Conference (Shanghai, 17–20 July 2026). [31]

[1] https://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2026evian/index.html

[2] https://www.g7.utoronto.ca/ict/260529-declaration.html

[3] https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2026/06/20260602005/20260602005-c.pdf

[4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/32fnosbz/leader-s-call-on-a-safer-digital-space-for-minors.pdf

[5] https://www.g7.utoronto.ca/summit/2026evian/06_17_-_Fiche_presse_D%C3%A9jeuner_de_travail_Tech.pdf

[6] https://www.cnil.fr/sites/default/files/2026-06/g7_dpa_statement_on_age_assurance.pdf

[7] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/edb4e13b-8027-4077-a254-3a0c52c18ca5_en?filename=com-2011-500-1_2011_en.pdf

[8] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/competitiveness/competitiveness-compass_en

[9] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/strategic-autonomy-and-european-economic-and-research-security_en

[10] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-proposes-tech-sovereignty-package-strengthen-europes-digital-autonomy-and-resilience

[11] https://bmds.bund.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/detail/deutschland-und-frankreich-praesentieren-gemeinsame-definition-von-digitaler-souveraenitaet

[12] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/henna-virkkunen-interview-ki-digitale-souveraenitaet-europa-schwierigkeiten-li.3503553?reduced=true