Blog

Lillestrøm – Norway

1. Introduction

The Libyan Technology Foundation participated in the 20th Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2025), held in Lillestrøm, Norway, from 23 to 27 June 2025, under the theme “Building Digital Governance Together.”
This participation comes within the Foundation’s commitment to keeping abreast of the latest global trends in digital governance policies and technologies, and to strengthening Libya’s presence in international platforms concerned with developing an inclusive and secure digital environment.

2. Nature of Participation

• The Foundation’s participation consisted of attending several main plenary sessions discussing key themes such as digital governance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and human rights online.
• The Foundation did not take part this year in organizing or presenting working papers, and the role was limited to on-site participation and documenting the key points that could be useful in the Libyan context.

3. Overview of the Forum

• Participants: More than 9,435 participants from 165 countries (3,435 in person – over 6,000 online).
• Sessions: 262 sessions across four thematic tracks:
  1. Digital Trust & Resilience
  2. Sustainable & Responsible Innovation
  3. Universal Access & Digital Rights
  4. Digital Cooperation
• The Forum coincided with the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) and was part of the preparatory process for the United Nations’ final review of its outcomes in December 2025.

4. Key Themes Followed by the Foundation

A. Collaborative Digital Governance

• Emphasis on the importance of multistakeholder approaches to finding comprehensive solutions to internet-related issues.
• Calls for public-private partnerships to ensure fair access to digital resources.

B. Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Frameworks

• Broad discussions on the risks of lacking transparent frameworks for AI governance.
• Focus on establishing “safeguards” to ensure responsible innovation and protection of rights.

C. Cybersecurity and Data Protection

• Presentation of international experiences in developing data protection legislation and combating cybercrime.
• Stress on the need to build specialized national capacities in cybersecurity.

D. Digital Rights and Universal Access

• Highlighting the digital divide and the need to expand internet access in developing countries.
• Advocacy for recognizing the internet as a “global public good” that should be open and secure.

5. Added Value for the Libyan Technology Foundation

Despite participation being limited to attendance, the Foundation:

• Gained exposure to successful international experiences that can inform the development of national digital policies.
• Developed a comprehensive understanding of global trends in AI and data protection.
• Strengthened Libya’s presence in international fora, opening the door to potential future partnerships.

6. Recommendations for Local Benefit

1. Launch national dialogues on AI ethics and cybersecurity.
2. Review Libyan legislation on data protection in line with international standards.
3. Strengthen youth participation in national and international digital forums.
4. Work on connecting Libya with digital cooperation initiatives presented at the forum.

7. Conclusion

The Libyan Technology Foundation reaffirms the importance of maintaining its presence in international platforms such as the IGF—not only as an observer, but also as an active contributor to global discussions—reflecting Libya’s aspirations for fair and inclusive digital governance.