Internet Governance: The Digital Community Sets the Agenda
The Swiss Internet Governance Forum (Swiss IGF) set another attendance record on June 16, 2026, in Bern. This growing interest underscores just how urgent issues of digital regulation and policy (digital governance) have become—and how unique the Swiss IGF’s role is as an open, community-driven platform.
Unlike traditional conferences, the program is not dictated by the organizers but is determined by the community through a «Call for Issues» in a bottom-up process. In this way, the Swiss IGF reflects the most pressing digital policy issues of the day and the key positions on them—this year ranging from digital sovereignty to the governance of artificial intelligence to child protection on platforms.
«Messages from Bern» Adopted
At the conclusion of the event, the «Messages from Bern» were adopted. They call for, among other things, better labeling of problematic content through warning notices on social media and the teaching of digital literacy to students, with a special focus on AI. Governments and the private sector must do more to promote educational AI «by design,» the document states. Cybersecurity is also an issue addressed in the «Messages from Bern»: it should not be viewed too narrowly from a technical perspective. There needs to be greater dialogue between the digital community and policymakers. Responsibility for cybersecurity should not be placed on end users. And regarding artificial intelligence, the “Messages from Bern” call for international standards and global cooperation to prevent fragmentation of regulations.
International Integration
Its unique selling point lies in the exchange that transcends the boundaries of the various stakeholder groups: government, politics, business, academia, and civil society engage in discussions on an equal footing and build networks—which lends the outcomes their particular political relevance. Through the «Messages from Bern,» the forum is also integrated into the international process: these messages feed into the European dialogue EuroDIG and the UN Internet Governance Forum.
The Swiss IGF was held for the second time under the new institutional framework, organized by the Swiss Internet & Digital Governance (SIDG) association.
Taking Concerns Seriously
«The added value of the Swiss IGF lies in its openness, its bottom-up approach, and the equal involvement of all stakeholders. OFCOM launched the Swiss IGF over 10 years ago together with other committed stakeholders and has served as its patron ever since,» says Livia Walpen, Senior Policy Advisor for International Relations at the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM).
«The Swiss IGF and the Swiss Youth IGF, as the Swiss offshoots of the United Nations» global IGF process, both ensure—through their nationwide calls for discussion topics (Call for Issues)—that anyone with concerns about digitalization can have their say; this makes them ideal projects under the umbrella of the SIDG,” says Jacques Beglinger, President of the Swiss Internet & Digital Governance Association (SIDG).
Source: Swiss IGF
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/internet-governance-die-digitale-community-setzt-die-agenda/
