Dear all,
Thank you all for this wide-ranging discussion. I’ve found the different perspectives enriching. As many of you have emphasized, the current breadth of the IGF's agenda demonstrates its relevance far beyond technical coordination. But that is precisely the point: the IGF has evolved without needing a new name. Its strength lies in its flexibility, multistakeholder character, and the legitimacy it has built over two decades under the banner of Internet Governance. I continue to believe that the problem is not the name but the narrative. The term “Internet governance,” as anchored in the Tunis Agenda, is already broad and inclusive. If there is confusion or misperception among the public or policymakers, we should address that through better communication and framing, not by discarding a well-established identity.
I also want to echo Fiona and others in urging a more balanced and forward-looking framing of the Elements Paper. While it’s useful as a starting point, we risk missing the opportunity to recognize the real progress and outputs of the IGF and other WSIS follow-ups over the past 20 years.
Rather than rebranding the IGF, let’s invest in stronger public messaging on what Internet governance means in practice today, acknowledging the IGF’s contributions in the WSIS+20 process, and avoiding confusion that may arise from unnecessary structural or branding change.
Cheers,
Pari
On Fri, Jul 4, 2025 at 6:03 AM Annebeth Lange via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org> wrote:_______________________________________________Dear all,
Very sensible thoughts which I wholeheartedly support.
Best,Annebeth LangeSendt fra Outlook for iOS
From: CASSA Concettina via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 3, 2025 9:05:05 PM
To: Wolfgang Kleinwächter <wolfgang@kleinwaechter.info>; Veni Markovski <veni.markovski@icann.org>; Veni Markovski via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>; Jordan Carter <jordan.carter@auda.org.au>
Subject: [wsis20] R: Re: Thoughts on WSIS+20 elements paper// food for thoughtI support the proposal shared by Wolfgang to add a subtitle.
Titti
Da: Wolfgang Kleinwächter via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>
Inviato: giovedì 3 luglio 2025 13:51
A: Veni Markovski <veni.markovski@icann.org>; Veni Markovski via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>; Jordan Carter <jordan.carter@auda.org.au>
Oggetto: [wsis20] Re: Thoughts on WSIS+20 elements paper// food for thought
1++ to Jordan. And again, keep the acronym IGF and add a subtitle: "Global Forum for Digital Policy Making"
Wolfgang
Veni Markovski via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org> hat am 03.07.2025 13:46 CEST geschrieben:
Jordan’s arguments sound quite right.
Best,
v/
From: WSIS20 Outreach Network <wsis20@icann.org>
Reply-To: Jordan Carter <jordan.carter@auda.org.au>
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 17:00
To: WSIS20 Outreach Network <wsis20@icann.org>
Subject: [wsis20] Re: Thoughts on WSIS+20 elements paper// food for thought
Hi all
Just to add one complication – if the name was changed (and a “Digital” name does feel more in keeping with contemporary use), there’d have to be a definition of what Digital Governance meant.
You can easily argue that the current Tunis definition of Internet Governance would be appropriate:
“the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.”
But – here’s the rub – can you foresee a situation where United Nations member states were able to come to a consensus that that was the right definition for Digital Governance in 2025?
The simplest approach is probably to keep the existing broad definition, acknowledge that this provides a suitable framework to deal with internet governance and digital policy processes (thank you Sao Paulo!), and focus more on the substance?
Cheers
Jordan (a personal view)
From: Mark W. Datysgeld via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>
Sent: Thursday, 3 July 2025 1:03 AM
To: Sivasubramanian M <6.internet@gmail.com>; Sivasubramanian M via wsis20 <wsis20@icann.org>; Chafic Chaya <cchaya@ripe.net>
Cc: Blaker, Paul (DSIT) <paul.Blaker@dsit.gov.uk>; wsis20@icann.org
Subject: [EXTERNAL] - [wsis20] Re: Thoughts on WSIS+20 elements paper// food for thought
While a name change is not necessary, the underlying reality is that the IGF is already a DGF. For example, a great number of recent sessions concerned AI, and not even particularly its direct impact on the Internet.
If there is a desire for the forum not to be about "Digital", then the effort needs to be to scale it DOWN from what it already became.
Best,
_______________________________________________ Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources: https://go.icann.org/wsis20 Read the public archives for this mailing list: https://mm.icann.org/pipermail/wsis20/ _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources: https://go.icann.org/wsis20
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By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.--_______________________________________________Pari EsfandiariPresidentPario - Architects of IdeasTel: +1-202-735-1415 (Office): +1-310-435-0888 (Cell): +44-731-210-4049 (Cell)
Learn more about the WSIS+20 Outreach Network and review relevant resources: https://go.icann.org/wsis20
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By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.