Leading think tanks and research centers on digital and data policy from all over the world launched today an “Internet for Trust Global Knowledge Network”, with the support of UNESCO. This network aims to serve as a trusted interface between knowledge producers and public-decision makers. It will notably address online disinformation and hate speech and help better regulate digital platforms governance in order to protect freedom of expression and other human rights. 

This launch comes exactly one year to the day after UNESCO’s “Internet for Trust” (I4T) international conference that brought together over 4,000 participants to discuss digital platform governance and led to the publication of UNESCO’s “Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms” in November 2023. To help monitor the impact of these guidelines and keep them continuously applicable, UNESCO supported the establishment of different stakeholder networks including for regulatory authorities and think tanks and research centers.

The network, “I4T Global Knowledge Network”, gathers leading think tanks and research centers in areas of digital and data policy from both the Global North and Global South. 

The Network will inform digital platform governance policy and practice by fostering rigorous research on initiatives for the better governance of digital platforms, digital cooperation and AI-powered digital infrastructure and overall digital information and communication using generative AI.

The I4T Global Knowledge Network has chosen to act as a network of knowledge producers only, leaving out the membership of governments or corporations. It is supported by UNESCO, but independent in its deliberations and decisions.

Thanks to its members, the I4T Global Knowledge Network is in a unique position to offer region-by-region analyses of the impact of digital regulations on public debate, elections and emerging interdependent issues. It will interact regularly with the two other global I4T networks of regulators and election management bodies.

The I4T Global Knowledge Network will notably provide high-end independent research, assessment, observations and proposals on digital platforms relevant to UNESCO and regulators in UN member states to help better shape and enforce their digital platforms governance systems via multi stakeholder practice.

The seminar held from 21 to 22 February at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris provided an opportunity to validate the network’s operating model and its 2024 roadmap of events and publications. It also served as a Brazil T20 side-event, for the inclusive digital transformation task force.

In the first year, the I4T Global Knowledge Network will focus on identifying key regulatory and related governance issues at two interrelated levels. At a general level, it will identify regulatory and governance issues around digital networks and platforms. More specifically, it will focus on issues of internet- and platform regulation tied to elections taking place in 2024, a year during which 81 countries will hold nationwide elections.

It already mapped over 200 research centers and think tanks from all over the world working on digital and data policy issues.

The I4T Global Knowledge Network has over 35 research centers and think tanks as founding members, coming from all over the world.

They include notably institutions from Argentina (Cele – University Palermo), Australia (International Digital Policy Lab – University of Melbourne), Brazil (Aláfia Lab, Data Privacy Br, *desinformante, Faculdade de Ciência da Informação, Ibict, InternetLab, UnB), France (#Leplusimportant, TESaCo), India (Institute of Knowledge Societies, IT for change), Indonesia (Koalisi Damai and LP3ES), Pakistan (Digital Rights Foundation), the Philippines (Ideacorp Inc), Sri Lanka (LIRNEasia), the United Kingdom (SCOTlin), the United States (the Ambivium Institute, Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University, Global Freedom of Expression from Columbia University,  Portulans Institute, Voices for Peace). They also include several regional organizations, from Africa (Innovation 4 Policy Foundation, People Interest Technology Africa, Research ICT Africa), Asia (Asian Media Information and Communication Centre), South America (Observacom) as well as global organizations (Council on Tech and Social Cohesion, Global Partners Digital, I4ADA, IAMCR, IIEGA, RadicalxChange). They work together in an ongoing dialogue with UNESCO.

Press contact

Christophe Gauthier, christophe.gauthier@I4Tknowledge.net

Website, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Mastodon

Supported by UNESCO Internet For Trust Initiative

Endorsed as a side-event for T20 Brasil / G20 Brasil