The international, inter-governmental, and non-governmental organizations described below play an active role in the ongoing debate over Internet governance. They also publish credible research and commentary on these issues, much of which is freely accessible from their respective website.
International & Inter-Governmental Organizations
- Freedom Online Coalition
This partnership of 39 national governments was established in 2011 to protect fundamental human rights online, including freedom of expression, association, assembly, and privacy. Visit the Documents Page of the coalition’s website to download background papers, joint statements, and other materials.
- International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
The ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the harmonization of technical standards for information and telecommunications technologies.
- Visit the ITU's Internet Policy and Governance Page for more information about ITU's work on technical standards and related public policy issues.
- The ITU convened the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which met in two stages: in Geneva in 2003, and in Tunis in 2005. Since then, annual WSIS forums have been held. Click on the links below for information about the summits and forums, including agendas, policy proposals, and outcomes:
- Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Established by the UN Secretary-General in 2006, the IGF is a forum for multi-stakeholder dialog on public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance, including sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development. Its annual meeting emphasizes the exchange of ideas, the sharing of best practices, and the identification of emerging issues.
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)
The OECD provides a forum in which its 38 member countries can share data and develop solutions to common problems on matters of public policy.
- OECD iLibrary Members of the Georgetown Law community may access this subscription database, which includes publications that are not freely available on the OECD's public web site. Browse the collection of Digital Economy Papers for OECD publications on Internet governance and related topics. To search for publications, use the advanced search template (linked below the basic search box at the top of the homepage).
Non-Governmental Organizations
- Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in London and Brussels, this NGO works to preserve the user-controlled nature of the Internet and champions freedom of expression online. Visit the CDT's Open Internet page and scroll down for recent content and related topics (competition, digital copyright, and net neutrality). Alternatively, visit the CDT's page on the Future Structures of the Internet.
- Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
The CIGI is an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Canada that conducts peer-reviewed research on a wide range of subjects, including internet governance and online platform governance. In partnership with the London-based think tank Chatham House, CIGI established the Global Commission on Internet Governance (2014-2016). It produced a final report entitled One Internet, which outlined policy proposals to ensure that the Internet remains inclusive, trustworthy, safe, and open to everyone.
- Internet & Jurisdiction
This Paris-based think tank seeks to redress the tensions that arise between traditional modes of interstate legal cooperation, based on territorial sovereignty, and the digital realities of the 21st century, in which online interactions routinely involve people and platforms in multiple jurisdictions. In particular, the think tank facilitates cooperation among stakeholders to develop transnational legal frameworks and shared policy standards to address jurisdictional challenges with respect to cross-border data flows and the management of online content and domain names.
