High Level Session 1: Losing the Information Space? Ensuring Human Rights and Resilient Societies in the Age of Big Tech, IGF 2025.


The 20th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum is hosted by the Government of the Norway in Lillestrøm from 23 to 27 June 2025. The Forum's overarching theme is: Building Digital Governance Together.

The influence of global tech companies is growing across the political, social and economic realms. The business model of tech companies is underpinned by data, particularly data collected on their platforms' users. Platform economics, which optimize the capture of users' attention, leave open considerable risks for manipulation of the information space by mis- and disinformation campaigns. How can we safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms at stake?

While the actions of big tech shape our information ecosystems, transparency is often lacking, including on how the platforms' priorities and interests shape algorithms. Societies enjoy immense benefits from their participation on platforms but also threats, as ethics, safety and negative societal impacts may be neglected for leverage in the global AI race.

Disinformation represents an imminent threat to fundamental freedoms. It can induce societal polarization, distrust, and instability. Fighting disinformation requires measures to ensure media and information freedom and literacy, and transparency and accountability on the part of online platforms to mitigate risks of misuse of platform power. At the same time, the fight against disinformation must protect freedom of expression. This requires a delicate balancing act between security and fundamental freedoms.

As big tech assumes an even greater role in our communication infrastructures, are we - as citizens and as nations - losing the information space?

How can we ensure a transparent and responsible information ecosystem, with an informed public conversation, protection of human rights, free editorial media, and resilient citizenries?

Panellists:
  • Ms. Lubna Jaffery, Minister of Culture and Equality, Norway
  • Ms. Kjersti Stenseng, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norway
  • Ms. Lisa A. Hayes, Head of Safety Public Policy and Senior Counsel for Americas
  • Mr. Thibaut Bruttin, Secretary-General, Reporters Without Borders
  • Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General for Digital & Emerging Technolgies
  • Mr. Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary-General, Council of Europe
  • Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz, Secretary, Dicastery of Communication, Holy See



Moderator:

Ms. Natalia Becker-Aakervik, Founder, Thought Leader Global.
Related  Documents IGF 2025 schedule and More info about the session.

Watch the high Level Session 1: Losing the Information Space? Ensuring Human Rights and Resilient Societies in the Age of Big Tech, IGF 2025!


Losing the Information Space? Ensuring Human Rights and Resilient Societies in the Age of Big Tech, IGF 2025

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