The closing of the WSIS+20 review at the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025 marked a milestone: twenty years since the World Summit on the Information Society first set out a vision for a people‑centered, inclusive information society. The outcome reaffirmed the importance of digital technologies for sustainable development and, most notably, extended the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) — this time on a permanent basis.
This decision is not just symbolic. By giving IGF a lasting mandate, the UN has recognized that the multistakeholder model of internet governance is here to stay. The IGF has always been unique: it does not legislate, but it creates space for dialogue, trust‑building, education, and collective problem‑solving. In a world where digital policy is increasingly contested, continuity matters. And let’s be honest: in times of digital geopolitics, a “talk shop” is often more powerful than a closed‑door deal.
The IGF has often been dismissed as an experiment, a forum without teeth. But twenty years later, the so‑called experiment has become a permanent fixture of the UN ecosystem. That permanence is a political statement: the world needs a space where governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the technical community can meet as equals. If you think dialogue is cheap, try living without it — the cost of silence is far higher.
With or Without You (U2)
The IGF now stands as a stable institution, no longer a temporary experiment but a permanent part of the UN landscape. Its inclusivity has been validated: governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the technical community all have a seat at the table. And crucially, national and regional IGFs (NRIs) are recognized as essential to its success, proving that global governance cannot exist without local voices. Without them, the IGF would be an echo chamber; with them, it becomes a chorus.
Love Ain’t Enough (Southgang)
For SEEDIG (South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance), the IGF extension carries direct implications. SEEDIG’s work is now anchored in a global process that has institutional permanence, giving it legitimacy and continuity. Its Messages — the distilled outcomes of annual meetings — gain more weight in shaping global debates. The SEEDIG Youth School, traditionally held as “Day Zero,” can align more closely with IGF’s global youth initiatives, ensuring that young voices from South Eastern Europe are heard. And the region’s specific challenges — bridging digital divides, strengthening cybersecurity, ensuring equitable access to digital opportunities — can now be projected more effectively into global discussions. In other words: SEEDIG is no longer just playing local gigs; it’s plugged into the global stage.
Don’t Go (Hothouse Flowers)
The WSIS+20 outcome is a reminder that internet governance is a long game. It evolves with technology, politics, and society. By extending IGF’s mandate, the UN has chosen continuity over fragmentation, inclusivity over exclusivity. For SEEDIG, this is both an opportunity and a responsibility: an opportunity to shape global debates from a regional perspective, and a responsibility to ensure that the diverse voices of South Eastern Europe are represented.
In short, WSIS+20 has secured the IGF’s future. For SEEDIG, it has opened the door to a stronger role in shaping the digital future of the region — and contributing to the global governance of the internet. The message is clear: the experiment is over, the stage lights are on, and it’s time to keep on rockin’.
Dušan Stojičević