Digital Affairs – Chancellery
of the Prime Minister

The Polish Internet Governance Forum, or IGF Poland for short, is an initiative aimed at promoting a multilateral, open and equal debate on issues of Internet governance – all legal, economic and social aspects of the development, operation and use of the Internet.

The Polish Internet Governance Forum (IGF Poland) is a part of the global UN initiative, which brings together similar forums operating in Europe and other parts of the world,

bringing together representatives of public administration, business, academia, NGOs and technical organisations. This Monday, they met in Warsaw.

“It is hard to imagine living without the Internet in today’s world. Thus, this debate about the Internet is a debate about our lives and ourselves,” said the Minister of Digital Affairs in his opening speech. “The Internet is not something that we only bring up today. We are constantly promoting an open debate on the legal, economic and social aspects of its development, functioning and use,” Minister Marek Zagórski added.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote a letter to the participants of IGF Poland, which was read by Paweł Szrot, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.  

“The ongoing process of building a secure, undivided and free Internet is crucial. The changes brought about by the implementation of digital technologies touch upon all areas of our lives. An effective digital transformation is a necessary condition for the development of both business and the society, and thus the entire Polish and global economy. The Internet drives these changes,” said the Prime Minister. “Guaranteeing digital freedom is also crucial. This concerns both Internet users’ freedom to express their own views, regardless of their political, ethical and moral stance, as well as freedom required by entrepreneurs running their on-line stores,” added Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in his letter.

This year’s IGF Poland started with the “Regulating the Internet - how far should we go?” debate, attended by Wanda Buk, Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs.

The Forum participants also talked about various other topics, including the skills and competencies for the future, preparing for the changes brought about by the technological progress and digital transformation, fair and just taxation of the digital economy, as well as the Digital Services Act. They also tried to answer the question whether technology is going to leave us all unemployed.

On the sidelines of IGF Poland, Minister Marek Zagórski met Roberto Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology of the European Commission (DG Connect), to talk about cybersecurity and the upcoming global Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in Poland.

“The eyes of the whole Internet community are now turned on Poland. Next year, we are going to host the global edition of the UN Internet Governance Forum, which will be held in Katowice (2-6 November 2020). It is a great honour and responsibility for us,” said Minister Marek Zagórski. “The main theme of the Forum is going to be Internet United. We want to talk about a free, open, secure and indivisible Internet without barriers,” the Minister added.

This year’s edition of IGF Poland was accompanied by the meeting of the D9+ Group. The moniker denotes a group of like-minded countries, characterised by a similar approach to digital issues: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Poland and the Czechia participate in the works of the Group as observers.  The Group’s meeting on Monday was devoted primarily to the work on the European Digital Services Act.

Find out more about IGF Poland on www.igf.nask.pl