Media Advisory
6,000 participants from over 170 countries expected to join
19th Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on
shaping policies for a safe, inclusive, and innovative digital future
Media accreditation is open for the IGF
The 19th annual Internet Governance Forum will take place in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 15 to 19 December, under the theme ‘Building Our Multistakeholder Digital Future.’
IGF is a global, open and inclusive platform convened by the United Nations, for multistakeholder dialogue on digital public policy. Discussions will cover a range of issues such as the role of digital technologies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; advancing governance for emerging technologies like AI; ensuring ethical technology use, and more. Other key issues include bridging the gender digital divide and increasing women’s participation in tech and leadership.
Digital governance and the digital divide remain critical global concerns as highlighted within the framework of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) that was adopted by United Nations Member States this past September. While 68% of the global population are connected to the Internet, around 2.6 billion people, primarily in developing regions, remain unconnected.
The GDC serves as a framework for global cooperation in digital governance and artificial intelligence, prioritizing a human rights-based approach and advocating for a secure, open, and inclusive digital future. One of its key recommendations is supporting multistakeholder platforms like the Internet Governance Forum to engage governments, private companies, and civil society in collaborative digital governance efforts.
The Forum will feature over 300 sessions under the four main themes:
- Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space.
- Enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability.
- Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age.
- Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want.
WHAT: The Internet Governance Forum
WHEN: 15 to 19 December 2024
WHERE: King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
WHO: The annual Internet Governance Forum currently has nearly 6,000 registered participants from over 170 countries. Representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical community and international organizations will come together under the umbrella theme of ‘Building Our Multistakeholder Digital Future’.
Featured Speakers at the Forum:
- António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General (video message)
- Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
- E. Mr. Abdullah Alswaha – Minister of Communications, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology
- Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General, ITU
- Sally Wentworth, Chief Executive Officer, Internet Society (ISOC)
- E. Mr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President, Saudi Data & AI Authority, Saudi Arabia
- Vinton Cerf, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google (virtual)
- Kojo Boakye – Vice President of Public Policy for Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Meta
- Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital Transformation, The World Bank
- Kurtis Lindqvist, President & CEO, ICANN
- Ivana Bartoletti, Global Chief Privacy & AI Governance Officer, Wipro
- Eugene Kaspersky, CEO, Kaspersky
In addition, the IGF Secretariat in collaboration with the UN Department of Global Communications, will host a daily Media Hub, providing a space for dynamic talks on key issues with featured speakers and selected journalists from the Global South. Check the website for schedule.
Media Accreditation
Media Accreditation for the Forum is open until 10 December 2024. Media representatives, including journalists, photographers, and videographers who are not part of official delegations, must apply for accreditation: https://indico.un.org/event/1012522/
Media Facilities
Accredited media will have access to a working room at the venue. Open media corners for one-on-one interviews will be available to use; private rooms for interviews are limited and available on request.
Key links:
Social Media
Please follow us using the hashtag #IGF2024
On Facebook: @GlobalGoalsUN, @joinUNDESA, @IntGovForum
On Twitter: @GlobalGoalsUN, @UNDESA, @intgovforum
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intgovforum/
Media contacts:
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