Who really controls the Internet? It's tempting to think of the internet as a global resource managed by some distant, far-off authority. But in reality, keeping it accessible, free, open and secure is everyone’s collective responsibility. Making the internet “work” for society requires the active engagement of an intentionally distributed system where no one government, organization or company controls it.

The ability to offer an opinion, make a purchase, catch up on the news, or request a government service from just a smartphone is taken for granted in most Western democracies but is hardly the norm in the rest of the world. In some countries, simply having access to the internet is still a challenge. In other nations, the internet only exists in the hands of authoritarians who conduct digital surveillance, shutdowns and privacy abuses. It’s imperative that decisions about how the internet works not be left to companies and governments alone. Civil society must be at the center of the conversation. In this pivotal moment, NDI is helping to address this need. 

In São Paulo, Brazil, this year, a group of activists from around the world who work every day with these limitations took matters into their own hands. Just like to everyone with a phone or a laptop, the internet is personal to them. It means freedom for journalists in Nigeria, connecting young people to engage in global change in new ways and simply connecting with family and friends in Ethiopia and the Philippines. At a critical juncture for digital governance, these Open Internet Leaders took a week to make their voices heard. Their aim? To ensure democratic actors can retain access to essential digital tools and that the underlying technologies are used according to the democratic principles. Together with the support of NDI, the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) and the Center for Private Enterprise (CIPE), they weighed in on the Global Digital Compact (GDC)—an influential UN process that could change global connectivity's future for better or worse. 

In practice, any UN system can be daunting, confusing and inaccessible to even the most engaged activist. Through various mechanisms, the UN is charged with convening some of the bodies that set the rules for how the Internet is governed and maintained. It's an alphabet soup of international entities that decide everything from how websites are named to the industry standards for broadband access and wireless networks. Simply keeping up requires the full-time work of diplomats, corporations and non-profit organizations to preserve the promise of an internet that works for everyone. Like the internet itself, this system evolved over time, building upon existing structures to meet new needs. It has been a collaborative effort involving countries, companies and civil society groups. Now, as awareness of the far-reaching impact of digital governance grows, there is a heightened focus among global policymakers to address an increasingly diverse set of issues.

In response to rapidly evolving technology, the UN Secretary-General established a process for developing a Global Digital Compact (GDC) to ensure an internet that works for everyone. Throughout the year, the UN has been conducting consultations with the public, including the Open Internet Leaders. At this year’s UN General Assembly, this process moved into a stage of being discussed and debated among member countries. In September of next year, the Global Digital Compact will be unveiled and chart the course for the next 30 years on how we will decide the rules of the road for the structure and use of the Internet and the World Wide Web. 

With such a major decision at stake, NDI, CIPE and CIMA worked to empower the Leaders to demystify the system and answer the call to participate in this important process. As organizations at the forefront of democracy, we know that participation is just the beginning. How and when to ensure the voices of democracy activists on the front lines are heard is an ongoing priority. The importance of the GDC required special attention and the Open Internet Leaders delivered. Together, they developed a submission to the Global Digital Compact that reflected the views of democratic actors from the perspectives of civil society, media, and local businesses from the Global South. You can read their submission here and get to know their perspectives in the video we compiled. 

What happens at meetings like the one in São Paulo? Through a human-centered design approach, participants offer their ideas, hear from experts and co-create their submissions. More than this, they also have an opportunity to expand their connections and become stronger advocates among a cadre of leaders who have started their own nonprofit organizations or become leaders within regional global networks. The act of deliberating, exchanging ideas and offering feedback makes them stronger actors in the global arena and prepared to engage with decision-makers in a more effective way. They take back new ideas and an increased recognition of their brand of leadership to their everyday work. 

Acting in support of a democratic Internet could not come at a more critical time. Authoritarian actors have stated their intention to take control of the internet into the hands of governments with no oversight once and for all. Doing so would tip the scales in the favor of dictators around the world. It would be an alarming move for the United Nations and could eliminate global voices and civil society altogether. 

Over the next two years, decisions made in the context of the UN launch of the Global Digital Compact, the convening of civil society in the Internet Governance Forum and the World Summit on the Information Society could create another world of internet suppliers and consumers and “haves” and “have nots” that further polarize global North and South and undermine democracy. 

With programs like the Open Internet for Democracy Initiative supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, NDI, CIPE, CIMA and their partners will continue to raise the voices of those most impacted by these decisions and empower them to offer their perspectives on how an Internet that enables democracy should be run. 

Author: Moira Whelan, Director of Democracy and Technology

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NDI is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI envisions a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all.