Poland to organise the 2020 IGF
29.11.2019
The 14th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which took place this year in Berlin, has come to an end. During the closing ceremony, it was officially announced that Poland is to organise the next year’s conference. We can already announce that the debates and talks about World Wide Web will take place in Katowice.
“This nomination is important not only for Poland, but also for the entire Central and Eastern Europe, which historically fought for freedom, and which today takes an active part in the debate on the fundamental principles governing the Internet,” said Vice-Minister of Digital Affairs Wanda Buk in Berlin. “The future development of both companies and societies, and thus of the entire global economy, will hinge on effective digital transition. However, having that in mind, we must get ready for the challenges that these changes will bring along,” she added.
In Silesia
Next year brings us the 15th edition of the IGF, taking place at the International Congress Centre in Katowice on 2-6 November 2020.
“A historic city located at the border of Lesser Poland and Silesia, in the basin of the two largest rivers in Poland - the Vistula and the Oder, which hosted the COP Climate Summit last year. I am convinced that this is the perfect place to continue the debates started in Berlin, experience the famous Polish hospitality," said the Vice-Minister.
On Friday, we launched the website for the event.
Internet United
The headline of the upcoming IGF is “Internet United.” An open, free and undivided Internet, where users can enjoy their rights without compromising their privacy. We support this idea.
“We are facing a new global debate on the shape of the future Internet, and we can already see some clashing views and beliefs. Should we strive to maintain a single, common Internet, or rather allow it to become fragmented and divided into local and national internets? Should it be regulated? Who should have the right to impose controls and restrictions? Where is the boundary between security regulations and censorship? How far should freedom on the Internet extend? These are some questions which we are trying to answer during the subsequent editions of the IGF,” said Vice-Minister Wanda Buk.
Under the auspices of the UN
The IGF is a United Nations initiative, a place for exchanging thoughts and experiences in the field of Internet governance, bringing together representatives of administration, academia, business, as well as non-governmental and technical organisations.