World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

The first WSIS+20 preparatory meeting with Member States and observers will be held on 30 May 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room 1 to discuss expectations and inform the intergovernmental process. In December 2003, the global community gathered in Geneva at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) , declaring a shared commitment to “build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society.” This milestone launched a sustained effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development , initially contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The resulting Geneva Plan of Action established 11 Action Lines to guide progress in key areas. The United Nations General Assembly recognized the outcomes of the Geneva phase in its resolution 59/2202 . The second phase of WSIS, held in Tunis in 2005, built upon the Geneva outcomes and adopted the Tunis Agenda, which addressed additional dimensions...

 The aim of the following recommendations is to operationalize the five principles into actionable steps for stakeholders across the information ecosystem. Intended as a holistic blueprint, these recommendations range from the legal obligations of States to the responsibilities of the technology sector to best practices for media and civil society. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAKEHOLDERS  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ACTORS  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVERTISERS   RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR ACTORS  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEWS MEDIA, RESEARCHERS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATES AND POLITICAL ACTORS  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE UNITED NATIONS

  Every time you turn on the radio or television, board a plane, call home, go online, use GPS, check the weather, or view satellite images, you use a vital service coordinated by ITU. Tune in to #ITU160 years of tech for humanity and how you are #ConnectedByITU via land, sea, and space! On  May 17th ,  World Telecommunication and Information Society Day , join us for a first-ever light show projected onto the iconic ITU Tower, opposite the United Nations Office at Geneva, as part of Geneva Museum Night . Sixteen slides projected on the 15-storey ITU Tower will show highlights of 160 years of technology for humanity , embodying innovation, countries, organizations and people working together, shared achievements and resilience. You will hear from inspiring speakers as to how they are #ConnectedByITU , from the sea to the sky. How to participate? If you’re in Geneva, come to the Esplanade adjacent to the ITU headquarters buildings , near the Place des Nations. If y...

  Large technology companies, many headquartered in locations where technology regulation is limited, wield immense power. They profit from vast troves of data harvested on user behaviour, allowing them to shape transnational information flows and control digital experiences on a global scale. To redress this power imbalance, a framework is needed that prioritizes both transparency and independent oversight. Users deserve control over their data and online experiences, with clear avenues for complaint and redress. Accountability mechanisms are needed to address the responsibility of technology companies for the consequences of the design and use of their products and services on human rights and social cohesion, including in crisis and conflict situations. This will require a critical and transparent assessment of platform architecture to identify features that erode information integrity and undermine human rights. Strategies to prevent and mitigate such erosion should be impleme...

  Government, private and public sector actors involved in at least one stage of the artificial intelligence system life cycle. As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies rapidly evolve, these capabilities are poised to reshape our world. From automating everyday tasks to aiding scientific discovery, the potential benefits are vast. However, alongside this progress lies a critical need to ensure safe, secure and trustworthy AI design , development, deployment and decommission. Bias and lack of diversity in training data can lead AI systems to generate misleading information and perpetuate unfairness. This ability to generate realistic content can be misused at scale to create risks to the integrity of the information ecosystem. Emerging risks can be mitigated by prioritizing transparency and fairness in the life cycle of AI technologies. A collaborative effort across government, technology companies and academic and research institutions is needed to ensure that AI is designe...

  Recommendations  Advertisers can exert singular influence on the integrity of the information ecosystem by helping to cut off financial incentives for those seeking to profit from disinformation and hate. In doing so, advertisers can better protect their brands and address material risk, boosting their bottom line while conducting business in line with their corporate values.  a. Establish human rights-responsible advertising . Establish safeguards to ensure that advertising does not drive risks to information spaces and upholds human rights, including the rights of children. Avoid discriminatory targeting practices based on sensitive data and perceived user traits. Advertise with media outlets and platforms that bolster information integrity, including public interest journalism, through methods such as inclusion and exclusion lists, ad verification tools and manual vetting. Require ad tech companies to publish criteria that a website or channel must adhere to before t...

May 17th marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

  The actions of a broader range of private sector entities not directly involved in the technology sector can impact information spaces, serving to both weaken and support information integrity. Businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and to information, and can form collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders to help achieve a healthier information ecosystem. Recommendations  Other Private Sector Actors  The actions of a broader range of private sector entities not directly involved in the technology sector can impact information spaces, serving to both weaken and support information integrity. Businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression and to information, and can form collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders to help achieve a healthier information ecosystem.  a. Uphold integrity . Uphold human rights, including the right to f...

  Independent, free and pluralistic media serve a critical role in informing the public on matters of public interest, fostering civic engagement and promoting accountability of those in power. Direct and indirect threats to media independence, freedom and diversity, and the decline of local and public interest journalism, however, can undermine these vital functions. Where professional standards are not rigorously maintained, news media can erode information integrity. Through ethical reporting and editorial practices and a commitment to transparency, bolstered by quality training and working conditions, journalists offer an indispensable service and can help restore balance in the face of risks to the integrity of the information ecosystem. Recommendations  News Media Independent, free and pluralistic media serve a critical role in informing the public on matters of public interest, fostering civic engagement and promoting accountability of those in power. Direct and indirec...

Recommendations  Researchers and civil society organizations are pivotal to efforts to understand and address the multifaceted impacts of risks to the integrity of the information ecosystem. Their efforts can help expose risks to information spaces, strengthen the evidence base for advocacy and foster resilience, in particular for groups in situations of vulnerability and marginalization. Collaborative partnerships and knowledge exchange are essential for bridging the gap between research insights and effective solutions.  a. Collaborate . Partner with stakeholders across geographies and contexts to share effective and ethical approaches to strengthening the integrity of the information ecosystem.  b . Uphold integrity and ethical standards . Uphold human rights and refrain from wilfully spreading or sponsoring risks to information integrity. Conduct all research in an ethical, transparent and privacy-conscious manner. c. Promote open access. Undertake open access initiat...

States shoulder an indispensable responsibility for fortifying the Global Principles for Information Integrity . This begins with State obligations to respect, protect and promote human rights, in particular the right to freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information. States play a central role in shaping information spaces owing to their legal and regulatory authority, control over public resources and ability to build domestic and international coalitions, among other factors. As part of their human rights obligations, States must protect against human rights abuses within their territory and/or jurisdiction by businesses, taking appropriate steps to prevent, investigate, punish and redress such abuse through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication. States have different technical and financial capacities when engaging with the information ecosystem. Gaps in infrastructure and in access to technology and financial resources ha...

  The Global Principles for Information Integrity apply to the United Nations and its international civil servants. By adhering to the Global Principles, the Organization sets a compelling example for responsible stewardship of information integrity within the global community. Scaling up its work to strengthen the integrity of the information ecosystem will contribute to advancing the Organization’s mission of securing peace, fostering sustainable development and promoting and protecting human rights for all. a. Scale up efforts. Intensify efforts to strengthen information integrity, including through context-specific research, monitoring, risk assessment, community engagement and coalition building across diverse contexts and languages. Integrate information integrity into programmes and operations to enhance prevention, mitigation and response and identify emerging opportunities and challenges.  b. Support capacity-building initiatives. Assist with capacity-building in Sta...

The urgency of strengthening information integrity cannot be overstated in the face of escalating risks to the integrity of the information ecosystem and the emergence of readily available advancements in AI technologies. The Global Principles offer a holistic and unified framework for action to protect and promote information integrity as the world navigates the complexities of the digital age and looks to find multilateral solutions at the Summit of the Future . By embracing the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity , stakeholders from all sectors can demonstrate solidarity and collaboratively forge a path towards a reinvigorated information ecosystem that fosters trust, knowledge and individual choice for all.   To this end, stakeholders are urged to:  Publicly commit to, adopt and actively publicize the United Nations Global Principles forInformation Integrity as a framework for immediate action.  Harness the Global Principles to form and acti...

The effects of digital exclusion are interconnected, limiting not just individual potential, but also the resilience of communities and the performance of economies. On individuals : When women and girls gain digital access and skills , they unlock educational, professional, and social opportunities, from becoming entrepreneurs to obtaining essential health, financial and government services. On communities : Inclusive digital participation fosters stronger, more resilient communities by ensuring diverse perspectives and locally relevant solutions. When women and girls benefit from and contribute to digital transformation , communities are strengthened by increased innovation and greater social cohesion. On economies : Equality for all women and girls fuels economic growth by driving diversity, innovation, and productivity. According to the IMF, narrowing gender gaps in labor markets could boost GDP by up to 8% in emerging and developing economies.

  10 young women are emerging leaders, advancing digital transformation and development in meaningful ways across diverse sectors and communities. Their work addresses real-world challenges — from digital literacy and online safety to broadband connectivity and responsible AI — bringing forward solutions that make technology more effective and accessible to al l. As part of the ITU160 Gender Champions initiative , they will travel to Geneva to participate in the WSIS+20 High-Level Event , the AI for Good Global Summit , and ITU’s 160th Anniversary commemorations from 7–11 July 2025 . Launched on the occasion of ITU’s 160th Anniversary, the ITU160 Gender Champions initiative aims to recognize and support young women who are contributing to digital development and transformation worldwide. With support from the Government of Canada, the initiative provides a platform for 10 young women leaders (ages 18–25) to share their work, engage with global stakeholders, and help shape the ...

  To help close the gender digital divide, we invite you to: Promote gender-responsive policies  that enable women’s active participation in the tech sector Ensure equal access to digital skills  and training for women and girls Foster global partnerships  across governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to  scale impact Check out the Advocacy toolkit to support the campaign Find resources and opportunities to mark WTISD-25 and help close the digital gender gap.  Get involved

  This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, a global blueprint for advancing women’s rights. The Beijing+30 Action Agenda includes targeted actions to close the digital gender gap — from expanding digital infrastructure to increasing representation in tech leadership. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The ITU strives to be a model organization for gender equality, utilizing ICTs to empower both women and men . Encouraging young women and girls to pursue STEM studies and careers is one way ITU advances gender equality and women's empowerment, while also highlighting the value that women bring to the tech sector​. ITU’s work aligns closely with these efforts through its initiatives, resolutions, and partnerships including: Resolution 70 and Gender Equality and Mainstreaming (GEM) policy and action plan The EQUALS Partnership , co-founded by ITU, the United Nations University (UNU), UN Women, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and GSMA in 2016 Girl...