
01 Aug 2025 WSIS +20: No digital innovation without commitment to digital justice
How can a United Nations global policy summit become a more truly inclusive, multistakeholder platform? For Laine McCrory, a graduate student in communication and culture at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University, attending the recent World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event as part of WACC’s delegation on a WACC North America scholarship underlined that digital justice must be an avenue to digital innovation.
The WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union, tackled key questions regarding internet governance in the next twenty years and beyond. Throughout the event, we were routinely reminded about the advancements of the past 20 years – the proliferation of the Internet Governance Forum, WSIS’ success in establishing the multistakeholder model, and the rapid advancement of internet connectivity to nearly 5.5 billion people.
WSIS embodies a unique approach to decision making and collaboration. At any given session, a room was full of civil society representatives, youth advocates, regulators, and UN officials.
I had the pleasure of attending sessions that truly exemplified this variety including Developing capacities for bottom-up AI in the Global South, AI for All? Inclusion, bias, and opportunity for persons with disabilities, Youth building the digital future – WSIS+20 Review and Beyond, Communication is Humanitarian Aid and Between free market and public digital infrastructure.
As a graduate student working at the intersection of participatory justice, feminist rights, and digital police, engaging in the WSIS process revealed the inner workings of the policy events that I study on a day-to-day basis. It was an exceptional and unparalleled experience. Yet, I noticed three key areas that require action and that should be reflected upon as negotiations resume in the fall.
Intersectionality
First, gender is continuously referenced as an afterthought, as detailed in the joint statement from civil society organizations calling for “more explicit commitments to gender equality in the WSIS framework.”
Gender-based digital divides remain, not only with regards to connectivity but also with regards to industry access, and data representation. These divides are not only present on the basis of gender but encompass geography, class, race, and ability, reiterating the need for a distinct focus on eliminating digital divides from an intersectional perspective within the WSIS framework.
Incorporating a commitment to intersectionality will be essential as telecommunications and technology continue to progress at a rapid rate, to ensure that no one is left behind.
Civil society
Second, attending alongside a civil society organization illustrated both the challenges and strengths of contributing to the WSIS process outside of state-led channels. Civil society organizations were among those leading some of the most impactful sessions, as well as those who were having such significant impacts on the ground.
The opportunity to meet three colleagues from WACC partner projects – Patience Zirma (Gender and Media Connect), Xian Guevarra (Computer Professionals Union) and Kemly Camacho (Cooperativa Sulá Batsú) – was one of my most significant experiences at WSIS+20. Their impactful work demonstrates the importance of supporting civil society through funding and advocacy, as civil society organizations are often those who are feeling the real-time impacts of policy decisions.
While the multistakeholder formal is essential, in its current state it is far from equal as smaller civil society organizations risk losing funding and access to important decision-making arenas such as WSIS.
Youth
Finally, as a young person myself, I was empowered to see such a range of youth across the event. I had the opportunity to connect with fellow students and young professionals, as well as meet with organizations who reaffirmed their commitment to viewing young people as a key stakeholder in digital governance.
However, sessions focused on youth were often separated into a special track, reiterating the idea that young people cannot “play in the big leagues.” However, as we are now witnessing the first generation of individuals who have grown up with the internet reach maturity, we must value their opinions and perspectives as defined stakeholders.
Commitment to digital justice
My time at WSIS affirmed that if we are to work towards digital innovation, we need a commitment to digital justice. The juxtaposition of the WSIS +20 High-Level Event and the AI For Good Global Summit highlighted that amidst discussions of AI agents and quantum computing, we are still in a crisis of connectivity, funding, and access to basic communication rights.
I am continuously impressed by my colleagues and peers working to point out these discrepancies and am passionate about building a future that promotes digital justice as an avenue to ensure innovation benefits all.
The WACC delegation to WSIS+20 included project partners from Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe taking part through our Communication for All Program (CAP), with support from Bread for the World – Germany.
Communication researcher Laine McCrory, a WACC North American scholarship recipient, makes a point during the WSIS+20 side event with ecumenical partners organized by WACC and the World Council of Churches. Photo: WCC/Rhoda Mphande.
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