The long anticipated "Alliance for the Future of the Internet" was announced by the White House today in the form of a Declaration for the Future of the Internet. The declaration emphasises the values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms to "reclaim the promise of the Internet", through protecting and enhancing human rights, fundamental freedoms, trust, inclusivity and affordable access, maintaining a global Internet and refraining from shutdowns. The declaration also reinforces the support for multistakeholderism in Internet governance. 60+ "global partners" (referred to in the EU release as "international partners" and "signatories") are basically countries or territories, without using the word "country", most likely because of the inclusion of Taiwan. However, notably absent from Asia are South Korea, India and ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. Only Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and a number of Pacific islands like Maldives, Marshall Islands and Micronesia are included from Asia Pacific. Also missing in the partnership are non-state actors, such as civil society and other stakeholders, although the declaration maintains the partners in the declaration will seek to work with them, as well as "other partners who share this vision", presumably other governments who have not joined the declaration yet. So, what's next? How effective will this be toward (1) more global participation especially from the global south, (2) more civil society and true multistakeholderism in this effort, (3) preventing the splinternet, and what kind of reaction will be drawn from the other camp, led by China and Russia? FACT SHEET: United States and 60 Global Partners Launch Declaration for the Future of the Internet https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/28/fact... Declaration: https://iapp.org/media/pdf/publications/Declaration-for-the-Future-for-the-I... Signatories (32 in addition to EU member states and the US): https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/declaration-future-internet