Organisations & initiatives

Organisations & initiatives working on Internet Governance. (Featured in alphabetical order)

Access Now

Access Now is an international non-profit, human rights, public policy, and advocacy group dedicated to an open and free Internet. Access Now hosts the RightsCon Summit Series each year, and also initiated the #KeepItOn campaign against Internet shutdowns.

Access Now - Access NowAccess Now

They also produce reports and briefings, such as the following resource:

• 26 recommendations on content governance: A guide for lawmakers, regulators, and company policy makers

• Access Now Position Paper: Understanding the “Right to be Forgotten” Globally

• Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

• Proposals for Regulating Internet Apps and Services: Understanding the Digital Rights Impact of the “over-the-top” (OTT) Debate

• Transparency Reporting Index

Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of organizations that was founded in 1990 to provide communication infrastructure, including Internet-based applications, to groups and individuals who work for peace, gender equality, human rights, protection of the environment, and sustainability.

Association for Progressive CommunicationsAssociation for Progressive Communications

They have multiple publications and other resources relevant to journalists and media development organizations such as:

• Feminist Principles of the Internet

• Global Information Society Watch (GIS Watch)

Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development

The Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development – a joint International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNESCO venture that publishes an annual report titled “The State of Broadband“

Publications - Broadband CommissionBroadband Commission

CircleID

CircleID - Breaking Internet News, Opinions and Blogswww.circleid.com

Council of Europe (CoE)

The Council of Europe produces many relevant resources on Internet freedom, freedom of expression, algorithm transparency, and more.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/full-list/media-development-indicators-a-framework-for-assessing-media-development/www.unesco.org

They also host specialised working groups, such as:

MSI-JOQ – Committee of Experts on Quality Journalism in the Digital Age

• Draft recommendation on promoting a favourable environment for quality journalism in the digital age

• Draft study on media and information literacy in the digital environment

MSI-AUT – Committee of Experts on Human Rights Dimensions of Automated Data Processing and Different Forms of Artificial Intelligence

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also advocates for Internet freedom.

• No press freedom without Internet freedom

No press freedom without Internet freedom - Committee to Protect JournalistsCommittee to Protect Journalists

DiploFoundation and GIP Digital Watch

DiploFoundation is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.

DiploFoundation | Leaders in digital diplomacy and global governance.Diplo

One of its initiatives, the GIP Digital Watch observatory, is a comprehensive Internet governance and digital policy observatory that provides monthly updates about digital policy as well as tracks issues and policy developments. Some of their resources include:

• Contribute to the DiploFoundation blog

• DiploFoundation’s IG acronym glossary

• Monthly briefings

• Read the Introduction to Internet Governance (7th edition) e-book (for free)

• Sign up for one of their online courses, such as the Introduction to Internet Governance

• Stay updated with upcoming Internet policy events

• Subscribe to the newsletter

European Digital Rights (EDRi)

European Digital Rights (EDRi)European Digital Rights (EDRi)

Freedom House

Technology & DemocracyFreedom House

Freedom House has multiple resources relevant to Internet freedom, including:

• Freedom in the World

• Freedom on the Net

• Internet Freedom Election Monitor

GigaNET

The Global Internet Governance Academic Network (GigaNET) is an international association of academic researchers.

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Members include researchers from a wide range of disciplines and locations who are contributing to research, teaching, and engagement in local, regional, and international debates on Internet governance.

Global Internet Policy Observatory (GIPO)

http://www.giponet.org/enwww.giponet.org

Global Network Initiative (GNI)

Launched in 2008, the Global Network Initiative (GNI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that helps companies respect freedom of expression and privacy rights when faced with government pressure to hand over user data, remove content, or restrict communications.

Global Network InitiativeGlobal Network Initiative

For more information, see the GNI Principles and their Country Legal Frameworks Resource (CLFR). GFMD became an official member of GNI in June 2019.

Additional resources include:

• Content Regulation and Human Rights: Analysis and Recommendations (briefing)

Global Partners Digital (GPD)

Global Partners Digital (GPD) is a social purpose company working to protect and promote human rights values online, and the governance processes that uphold and further these values. Their two main priorities are to grow the number of civil society groups engaging in the internet policy and governance arena, and to make governments, public authorities, international institutions, and businesses aware of the benefits of internet policies and governance processes that promote and protect human rights. Relevant resources include:

• A Rights-respecting Model of Online Content Regulation by Platforms

• Content regulation laws threaten our freedom of expression. We need a new approach

• Framework for Multistakeholder Cyber Policy Development

• GPD’s Organisational Development Framework

• GPD’s response to David Kaye’s report on platform content regulation

• GPD’s response to the UK’s Online Harms White Paper

• How to Engage in Cyber Policy video series

• Some thoughts on the updated UN Resolution on Human Rights and the Internet

• Travel Guide to the Digital World: Cybersecurity Policy for Human Rights Defenders

• World Map of Encryption

ICANN

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the organisation responsible for operating the Domain Name System (DNS), which is essentially the equivalent of the Internet’s phone book – holding the registry of all Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and domain names. It is governed by an international, multi-stakeholder community. ICANN holds three meetings each year, rotating among the different regions. For more information, see the following resources:

• Apply for the ICANN Fellowship program if you’d like to be introduced to ICANN and want to take part in its work

• ICANNWiki – A non-profit organisation dedicated to providing a community-developed wiki on ICANN and Internet governance

• Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) list of stakeholder groups and constituencies

• GNSO document archive

• GNSO Projects List – a compilation of all active and/or open projects within the GNSO

• Join a group or constituency, such as the Non-Commercial Stakeholders’ Group (NCSG)

• Join a working group – e.g., the Middle East and Adjoining Countries Strategy Working Group (MEAC-SWG)

• Learn about how to write ICANN policy via the Noncommercial User’s Constituency’s (NCUC) Policy Writing Course

• Participate in meetings remotely

• Read the ICANN beginners guide

• Submit a public comment

• Visit ICANN Learn and take a free course

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a professional body that primarily works at the physical (infrastructure) layer of the Internet. It develops international standards for modern telecommunications and ICT hardware, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and is a key area of engagement vis-à-vis strengthening Wi-Fi security standards.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has multiple Internet governance-related resources, including:

• Development and Access to Information

• IFLA and the Information Society

• What is Internet Governance?

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations body responsible for global radio spectrum and satellite orbit management. Working primarily at both the physical (infrastructure) and logical (protocols, standards, and applications) layers, it also develops certain technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect. Additionally, it works to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide. Key resources include:

• Radio spectrum management

• Reports from the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development

Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network (I&J)

Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network | Internet & Jurisdiction Policy NetworkInternet & Jurisdiction Policy Network

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is a key organization involved in the development of technical standards and protocols – the basic traffic rules of the Internet that define how information travels across the network, and who can connect to whom and to what content. Housed within the Internet Society, the work of IETF encompasses protocols that range from Internet Protocol (IP), the basic language that enables two devices to communicate, to applications like email.

HomeIETF

Internet Governance Caucus

The Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) is a civil society network on Internet governance and Internet rights. It offers an open space where each group can present and advocate for the initiatives that they believe offer the best positive agenda for advancing broadly shared civil society interests in Internet governance. Participate by signing up for their mailing list.

Welcome to the IGC websiteInternet Governance Caucus

Internet Governance Project

The Internet Governance Project (IGP) is a leading source of independent analysis of global Internet governance. It is comprised of a group of professors, postdoctoral researchers, and students hosted at the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. For more information, see the IGP guide to Internet governance.

Internet Governance Project | Georgia Tech School of Public PolicyInternet Governance Project

Internet Society (ISOC)

The Internet Society (ISOC) is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet-related standards, education, access, and policy.

Internet Society: The Internet is for Everyone - Internet SocietyInternet Society

It features chapters all over the world, and ISOC members are involved in every aspect of Internet governance. Some of their resources include:

• Apply for an ambassadorship to the IGF (when the call opens each summer)

• Apply for a fellowship to attend one of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meetings

• Become a global member (for free) and join a chapter

• Check out their publications, such as the 2017 Global Internet Report: Paths to Our Digital Future

• ISOC’s online course “Shaping the Internet: History and Futures”

• ISOC’s guide to the Internet ecosystem

• Join the ISOC Policy or other mailing lists

• Participate in an e-learning course as part of the Next Generation Leaders program (NGL)

• Young journalists and students: apply for ISOC’s Youth@IGF programme (ages 18-25)

Media and Development Forum (FoME)

The Media and Development Forum (Forum Medien und Entwicklung – FoME) is a network of German institutions and individuals active in the field of media development cooperation. In addition to hosting an annual Symposium, they also feature many relevant resources and publications. You can also join their mailing list.

Startseitefome

Mozilla

Mozilla is a non-profit technology organisation that is also heavily invested in digital policy discussions and protecting human rights online. In addition to creating technology like code, apps, and the Firefox browser, Mozilla also engages in policy development, advocacy, and curates resources like the annual Internet Health Report and related toolkits.

Mozilla - Internet for people, not profit (US)Mozilla

openDemocracy

Human Rights & The Internet (HRI) is a special section of openDemocracy focusing on various technology-related rights issues.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/digitaliberties/human-rights-and-internet/www.opendemocracy.net

Open Internet for Democracy

The Open Internet for Democracy project is a collaborative initiative by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA).

Open Internet for Democracyopeninternet.global

It is endeavoring to build a network of open Internet advocates who champion the democratic values and principles that should guide the future development of the Internet.

• Apply to be an Open Internet Leader

• Democratic Principles for an Open Internet

Ranking Digital Rights (RDR)

Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) works to promote freedom of expression and privacy on the internet by creating global standards and incentives for companies to respect and protect users’ rights.

Home - Ranking Digital RightsRanking Digital Rights

They fulfill their mission primarily by publishing the RDR Corporate Accountability Index, which evaluates the world’s most powerful Internet, mobile, and telecommunications companies’ disclosed policies and practices affecting users’ freedom of expression and privacy.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Reporters Without Borders (RWB), or Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), is based in Paris, France, and promotes and defends the freedom to be informed and to inform others throughout the world. They have multiple publications, and also produce the annual World Press Freedom Index. Other resources include:

• Digital Security for Journalists – A help desk featuring information on training, digital security guides, and FAQs/dangerous misconceptions

• International Declaration on Information and Democracy: principles for the global information and communication space

• Internet Governance – The Position of Reporters Without Borders

Reuters Institute

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University publishes an annual Digital News Report, which tracks digital news consumption across countries, and provides timely data and analysis for industry, regulators, and academia.

Digital News Report 2025Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

UNESCO

UNESCO : Building Peace through Education, Science and Culture, communication and informationen.unesco.org

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has multiple resources that pertain to Internet freedom, freedom of expression, and more. They include:

• Fostering Freedom Online: The Role of Internet Intermediaries

• Freedom of Connection, Freedom of Expression: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Ecology Shaping the Internet

• Internet Universality Indicators

• Media Development Indicators: A Framework for Assessing Media Development

• Steering AI and Advanced ICTs for Knowledge Societies: A Rights, Openness, Access, and Multi-stakeholder Perspective

• UNESCO Journalists’ Safety Indicators

• UNESCO Series on Internet Freedom

• World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development

Web Foundation

Established in 2009 by the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the World Wide Web Foundation seeks to advance the open web as a public good and a basic right.

World Wide Web Foundation - Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web, the World Wide Web Foundation empowers people to bring about positive change.World Wide Web Foundation - Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web, the World Wide Web Foundation empowers people to bring about positive change.

They offer multiple resources such as research, as well as initiatives and projects including:

• Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) – Working to make Internet access more affordable and inclusive. A key resource they public is the annual Affordability Report

• Contract for the Web

• Open Data Barometer – It measures the prevalence and impact of open data initiatives around the world

• Open Data Charter – Guides and supports governments as they implement shared open data principles, standards and best practices

• Open Data Labs – Employs a combination of research, incubation, training, and engagement to ensure that open data is used to address practical problems in developing and emerging economies

• Web Index – The first measure of the web’s contribution to social, economic, and political progress, studying 86 countries across the world

• Web We Want – a global coalition working to defend, claim, and change the future of the Web