Governing the Internet for the Global Common Good: A Roadmap for the G20 and G7

Abstract

The internet is the backbone of our digital world. It creates the conditions for economic development and prosperity worldwide. Yet, this critical common good - the open, global, and trustworthy internet - is under threat. As digital connectivity penetrates every aspect of economic, political, and social life, it has become a central object of geopolitical maneuvering. Preserving an open, global, and trustworthy internet infrastructure must thus be a priority for global leaders. The technical bodies that govern the internet are currently ill-equipped to address the political fault lines that put the global internet at risk. The G20 and G7 should actively work to mitigate these political fault lines so that technical bodies can continue to effectively administrate and develop an internet that works for the global common good.