
24 Jul 2025 WSIS+20: Digital justice must mean power, access, and dignity for all
Who is a United Nations global policy summit designed for and whose voices have priority? Xian Guevarra from the Computer Professionals’ Union, a WACC partner in the Philippines, brought a grassroots voice for digital justice as a member of WACC’s delegation at the recent World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-Level Event.
Global conversations on AI and internet governance are happening – often without us.
Recently, I had the opportunity to represent the Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU) as part of the WACC delegation at two important global events held in Geneva: the WSIS+20 High-Level Event and the AI for Good Global Summit. There I saw both the promise of ethical tech and the persistence of exclusion.
As someone working at the intersection of science, technology, and social justice, I’d like to share some thoughts and reflections, particularly for those in the Global South, where tech governance conversations often feel distant or out of reach.
I speak from the margins, for the majority. Because digital justice must mean more than good intentions – it must mean power, access, and dignity for all.
📚 What I Learned
1. WSIS+20 is important – but widely unknown
For those unfamiliar, WSIS is to internet governance what COP is to climate change. Yet in the Philippines and many other countries, awareness of WSIS remains low, even among tech professionals. That needs to change.
We must talk about Action Lines, the Global Digital Compact, and the Elements Paper not just in policy rooms but also at the community level.
2. AI can be for good – when grounded in reality
At the AI for Good Summit, I discovered projects that weren’t just innovative but also socially meaningful:
- GeoGPT & OneAstronomy (Zhejiang Lab): Open-source AI tools for geologists, astronomers, and educators
- MamaMate (Ele-vate AI Africa): A solar-charged, multilingual smart device for postnatal care in rural areas. No internet required.
- PARO (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology – AIST): A seal-shaped therapeutic robot for elder care and mental health, offering real psychophysiological benefits
It was a reminder that ethical, accessible tech is possible – when built with people, not profit, in mind.
👁 Observations and Critique
1. Two-tier access: A tale of lanyards
At WSIS+20, participants wore blue lanyards; VIPs wore yellow with gold pins. The difference? Access.
VIPs had private lounges, front row seats, and unlimited coffee. Regular participants? 5 CHF for a tiny cup. The symbolism wasn’t lost on us.
2. AI for Good overshadowed WSIS
The production value, venue space, and attention given to the AI Summit far exceeded WSIS despite the latter being focused on digital inclusion. It felt like the main event had become a backdrop.
3. Civil society was present – but marginalized
Governments, corporations, and academia dominated discussions. Civil society voices were few and often relegated to brief Q&A moments – if time allowed. We need more than token participation.
⚠️ Structural Challenges
At 45 minutes, sessions were too short for meaningful engagement. Often, speakers read prepared remarks with no open forum. Overpacked schedules left participants sprinting between rooms, attending 10–12 sessions a day.
No free refreshments for regular participants – a detail, perhaps, but telling of a broader resource gap compared to other global fora like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
✅ What We’ll Do Next
At CPU, we believe that governance of technology must be people centered and community driven. Here’s what we’re doing post-Geneva:
1. Raise awareness in the Philippines
We’re preparing educational materials and modules to demystify WSIS, the Global Digital Compact, and other frameworks for our communities.
2. Collaborate with global allies
We’ll continue building with partners like WACC and others who advocate for:
- Digital sovereignty
- Community-centered innovation
- Decolonized approaches to AI and tech governance
🌏 Final Thoughts
Digital justice is not just about infrastructure – it’s about power, access, and dignity. Until these are in the hands of the people, digital justice is just rhetoric.
We must challenge the narratives and systems that exclude the very people most affected by tech decisions. Whether it’s AI, internet governance, or global digital frameworks, people – not platforms – must come first.
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.
Xian Guevarra from the Computer Professionals’ Union, a WACC partner in the Philippines, listens to discussion in the WSIS+20 Youth Knowledge Café about the young adult vision for the next 20 years of the WSIS process. Photo: ITU/Anne-Laure Lechat, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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