IGF - Internet Governance Forum

📢 New report published!

We are pleased to share the report from the very first IGF 2026 Youth Track Workshop: From Deepfakes to “Nudification”: Evolving Threats of Generative AI to Information Integrity & Human Rights.

🤖 As generative AI evolves, so do the risks. The workshop explored the shift from political deepfakes to AI-powered "nudification" tools that create non-consensual sexual content, and the implications for human rights, gender equality, online safety, and information integrity.

💡 Bringing together youth advocates, policymakers, and digital rights experts, the discussion highlighted emerging legal approaches, accountability mechanisms, and the need to ensure that governance frameworks keep pace with technological change.

📖 Read the report:https://www.intgovforum.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/IGF%202026%20Youth%20Track%20Workshop%201%20Report.pdf

Visit the IGF 2026 Youth Track page to stay updated on the next Workshops: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-youth-track

👏 Join us in welcoming our new interns at the IGF Secretariat, Ariana and Julia! 🌎

Ariana Espinoza: “I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, a coastal city with beautiful sunsets and heartwarming food. I am a political scientist with an international relations and political communication focus. In the past few years I have become thoroughly interested in themes surrounding social media and internet politics, which led me to an undergraduate thesis on Twitter/X’s political usage in Peru. I recognise that not everybody has equitable access to internet platforms — even in Peru, connectivity is uneven across regions. For this reason, I felt compelled to join the IGF team and become part of the mission to make the internet a tool that reaches every corner of the world in an equitable way. Through my work and presence at the IGF Secretariat, I seek to contribute in a way that ensures female and Andean voices are heard in the development of internet policies.”

Julia Williams: "I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, currently completing my undergraduate degree of international relations. My interest in Internet governance grew out of research I conducted on military applications of artificial intelligence, work that pushed me to think seriously about the international frameworks shaping how AI is developed and deployed. I completed a fellowship with the DiploFoundation that gave me a much broader perspective on the internet governance landscape and why the multistakeholder model matters so much for bringing every voice to the table, building capacity across regions, and meaningfully including youth in these conversations. The IGF Secretariat felt like a natural next step, as this environment puts those principles into practice. I hope to carry the experience and connections I'm building here into a long-term career in AI policy and advocacy."

Read the press release from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly highlighting the participation of OSCA PA Special Representative on AI, Federica Onori, in the first IGF 2026 Youth Track Workshop at EuroDIG in Brussels on 26 May.

The session, “From Deepfakes to ‘Nudification’: Evolving Threats of Generative AI to Information Integrity and Human Rights,” brought together perspectives from policymaking, youth, and digital trust and safety.

Alongside Ms. Onori, speakers included Dorijn Boogaard, Inês Joaquim, Robbert Hoving, and Sherry Shek (moderator), who explored the growing risks posed by generative AI and discussed approaches to safeguarding human rights, information integrity, and online safety.

Read the full press release here: https://www.oscepa.org/en/news-a-media/press-releases/2026/in-brussels-special-representative-onori-addresses-un-organized-forum-on-ai-governance-and-digital-safety

Learn more about the IGF 2026 Youth Track here: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-youth-track

We are grateful to share that the ICANN Board of Directors has approved a US$1 million contribution to support the IGF — a significant investment for the IGF's long-term sustainability, operations, and inclusive global dialogue.

This contribution reflects a strong commitment to the multistakeholder model that has guided Internet governance for two decades. It comes at a pivotal moment, following the WSIS+20 process, which secured IGF's permanent mandate and marked an important milestone for the global Internet community.

The funds will strengthen the capacity of the IGF Secretariat, support more predictable operations, advance capacity-building efforts, and support meaningful participation of stakeholders from developing countries.

Thank you, ICANN, for your continued support of the IGF and the multistakeholder model.

Read more: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-announces-us-1-million-contribution-to-support-the-internet-governance-forum-08-06-2026-en

🎓🌍 Today, the IGF Secretariat had the pleasure of welcoming a group of nearly 90 Master’s students and faculty members from Leiden University’s International Relations and Democracy programme to the UN Palais in Geneva.

The students, who are soon to graduate, received an introduction to the IGF, its history, multistakeholder mechanisms, broader ecosystem, and the opportunities and challenges ahead for digital governance 💻🤝.

Following a presentation by the Head of the IGF Secretariat, Chengetai Masango, the session concluded with an engaging and insightful Q&A 💬. The thoughtful questions and perspectives shared throughout the discussion reflected the strong academic foundation and critical thinking skills developed through the programme.

It was a pleasure to exchange views with the next generation of policymakers, diplomats, and leaders shaping our digital future 🚀.

Thank you to Universiteit Leiden / Leiden University for an inspiring visit!

📢 The First IGF 2026 Open Consultations & MAG Meeting will be held on 24–26 June 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya & Online.

This hybrid meeting of the IGF will bring together stakeholders from all regions and sectors to kick off the 2026 preparatory process.

Participation is open to all 💻🤝

Register here to join (same registration for both online and onsite): https://indico.un.org/event/1024132/

🌍 Looking to engage in Internet governance and digital policy discussions over the coming weeks?

📅 A range of national and regional IGF meetings are taking place across the globe between 27 May and 30 June 2026 — offering opportunities to participate, contribute, and connect with other stakeholders.

🤝 Join the discussions, share your perspectives, and engage with the global IGF community.

🔗 More information: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/event-created/202605?title=&feed_me=

EuroDIG | Cro-IGF | Internet Society | Swiss IGF | Uganda Internet Governance Forum

🚨 IGF 2026 Youth Track Workshop at EuroDIG: From Deepfakes to “Nudification”: Evolving Threats of Generative AI to Information Integrity & Human Rights

📅 26 May | 09:00–10:00 CEST
📍 Brussels, Belgium & Online
💬 Submit and vote on questions to the panelists: https://www.menti.com/ale2hj9xd2tf
🔗 Register for online participation: https://www.eurodig.org/get-involved/register-for-eurodig-2026/

This session marks the first of four Global IGF 2026 Youth Track workshops taking place throughout the year — all building toward the Global Youth Summit at the IGF 2026 Annual Meeting.

🌍 What makes this initiative unique?
The entire IGF Youth Track is designed in an open, bottom-up process, led by a global team of dedicated young experts who collaboratively shape each session.

💡 In this opening session, we’ll explore how generative AI is transforming the information ecosystem — including the rise of “nudification” tools that enable the creation of non-consensual explicit content.

👥 Speakers:
🔹 Ms. Federica Onori, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence
🔹 Mr. Robbert Hoving, Director of Offlimits & President of INHOPE
🔹 Ms. Inês Joaquim, YOUthDIG
🔹 Ms. Dorijn Boogaard, Netherlands Youth IGF

🎤 Moderator:
🔹 Sherry Shek, Head Coordinator at Asia Pacific Youth IGF

Join us for a critical conversation on AI, human rights, and information integrity — and be part of a youth-led process shaping global digital governance.

🔗 IGF 2026 Youth Track: https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2026-youth-track

📣 Call for Nominations: African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) 2026

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the African Union Commission (AUC), and Research ICT Africa (RIA) have launched the call for nominations for the 14th African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG 2026).

🗓️ When & Where
AfriSIG 2026 will take place in the last quarter of 2026, just ahead of the Africa IGF in Accra, Ghana.

🌍 Focus Area
This year’s edition will explore AI governance in the African context, including the AU AI Strategy, data governance, digital inclusion, and emerging global policy processes.

👥 Who should apply?
Mid- to senior-level professionals working in internet governance, digital policy, AI, data, ICT regulation, or related fields across government, private sector, civil society, academia, media, and the technical community.

🌐 Why apply?
AfriSIG offers a unique, multidisciplinary learning experience—equipping participants to engage more effectively in national, regional, and global digital governance discussions.

🔗 Read more: https://www.afrisig.org/african-school-on-internet-governance-2026-call-for-nominations

📅 Deadline: 31 May 2026 (23:59 UTC)
📩 Submit to: [email protected]

The 2026 call for nominations for the 14th African School on Internet Governance is now open! The deadline is 31 May 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

The African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) is an initiative of the Association for Progressive Communications, the Information Society Division of the African Union Commission and Research ICT Africa.

AfriSIG 2026 will be convened in Accra in the final quarter of 2026, in collaboration with the Africa Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Secretariat, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and in close partnership with the United Nations IGF Secretariat and its Parliamentary Track and the host of the 2026 Africa IGF, the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation of Ghana.

In addition to providing an overview of internet and digital policy, in Africa and globally, AfriSIG 2026 will focus on the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the African context.

AfriSIG26 will take place over the course of five days as an intensive residential, interactive learning and leadership development event.

Find all the details here: https://afrisig.org/african-school-on-internet-governance-2026-call-for-nominations (call also available in French and Portuguese).