The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was launched in two phases, in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005, to address the global potential and challenges of information and communication technologies (ICTs). At the core of WSIS were concerns about the digital divide, unequal access to information, and the lack of coordination in using digital technologies for development. A key outcome of the process was the articulation of 11 Action Lines, which remain the backbone of the WSIS framework. These action lines include areas such as ICT infrastructure, access to information, capacity building, media freedom, ethical use of ICTs, and international cooperation. Initially, the WSIS process had a strong focus on infrastructure and telecommunications—reflecting the digital priorities of the early 2000s.

Over the past two decades, the landscape has transformed dramatically. While the Action Lines have not been formally revised, they have been reinterpreted in practice. For instance, Action Line C10, originally about ethical dimensions of the Information Society, is now increasingly linked to issues such as AI governance and algorithmic transparency. However, with the expanding influence of tech platforms, growing threats to freedom of expression and data rights, and emerging global consensus on the need to govern digital technologies, there is increasing momentum to formally revisit and update the WSIS framework.

Civil society actors across the world have begun to articulate a common set of demands for the WSIS+20 review. These include: operationalizing the review process to ensure transparency and inclusivity; establishing an online platform to centralize all inputs and drafts; and evaluating how the WSIS framework and its associated institutions have delivered on the original promises. Organizations have called for a human rights-based approach to all Action Lines, especially in light of the rise of AI, data exploitation, and platform monopolies. As noted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the WSIS+20 process should also reinforce the connections between the Action Lines and the UN's Global Digital Compact, which seeks to uphold international human rights law in digital governance.

The WSIS+20 review is therefore not just a technical exercise; it offers an important opening for national and regional stakeholders to reshape the global agenda based on current digital realities. It comes at a time when digital governance faces contradictory pressures: while governments demand greater regulation, many also impose repressive laws that undermine online freedom. For countries like Bangladesh, which have long participated in the WSIS process, this review represents a moment to reassess national strategies, bridge policy gaps, and reengage diverse actors in inclusive dialogue.

In the last twenty years, Bangladesh’s tech landscape has shifted. The private sector has grown rapidly. A new generation of entrepreneurs, activists, and civil society groups has emerged. Platforms now play an outsized role in shaping how information flows and how people engage with public issues. At the same time, laws such as the Digital Security Act—later replaced by the Cyber Security Act—have raised concerns for their impact on free expression and privacy. The changes make the WSIS+20 process not only relevant, but necessary, to rethink Bangladesh’s digital direction and connect it with more inclusive, rights-based global approaches.

To contribute to ongoing discussions around the WSIS+20 review, Digitally Right Ltd., Global Network Initiative (GNI), and Global Partners Digital (GPD) will jointly organise a day-long national workshop titled "The Road to WSIS+20: Stakeholder Perspectives on National Priorities" on May 25, 2025, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The workshop will convene stakeholders from various sectors including the government, private sector, civil society and academia to analyse past processes, identify priorities aligned with WSIS Action Lines, and develop recommendations for the way forward.

Bazlu

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AHM. Bazlur Rahman | Specialist in Advancing Digital Democracy

MSS in Government & Politics, Bachelor of Laws (LL. B)

Chief Executive Officer

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

[In Consultative Status with the ECOSOC, Associated with the Department

of Global Communications of the United Nations & Observer Organization

with the UNFCCC, Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) & International

Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC)]

Policy Research Fellow,

Shaping the Future of Media, Culture & Society in the Era of the

Fourth Industrial Revolution

House: 9/4 Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207| Bangladesh|

Phone: +8801711881647 | +88 02 48116262 | +88 02 48119374

E-Mail: ceo@bnnrc.net | bnnrcbd@gmail.com | https://www.bnnrc.net