📋 Tender Overview
Minister of Local Government and Rural Affairs Sigbjørn Gjelsvik rents the Norwegian delegation to the UN conference Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto.
Norway is active in Internet management and cooperates closely with other states. The goal is for the Internet to remain an open and free arena where a person can freely give and receive information, and where fundamental human rights are protected.
"We must prevent state regulation of the internet from slowing down development, innovation and communication, or misuse for censorship or propaganda. At a time when one would like to see countries like to limit freedom on the Internet, there is an increasing need for liberal democracies to be able to contribute to the important work in international forums where Internet management is discussed and negotiated, says Minister Gjelsvik.
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is an annual UN conference that gives the world community a moglegheit to discuss, share ideas and exchange experiences for shaping the future of the internet. This year hosts the IGF hosted by Japan in Kyoto.
Norwegian candidacy for hosting
Norway will host a large delegation from Minister of Local Government and Rural Affairs Sigbjørn Gjelsvik to promote Norwegian priorities and the Norwegian candidacy for hosting the IGF in 2025.
In this work, Norway wishes to draw attention to a number of issues that support the so-called multistakeholder model, so that everyone can give input to the management of the Internet also in the future. This includes efforts to strengthen freedom of expression in cyberspace, initiatives to strengthen access to the Internet in developing countries, measures against digital disinformation and promotion of ethical development, as well as the introduction and use of artificial intelligence.
"The internet is today one of the world's most important infrastructures. In order for the internet to be useful for everyone, we need the right balance between openheit, security, robustheit and freedom, says Minister of Local Government and Rural Affairs Gjelsvik.
The Norwegian delegation to this year's IGF includes representatives from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Culture, the Norwegian Communications Authority and the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency, academia, technical environments and the private sector. They will participate in discussions on a range of topics related to artificial intelligence, the multistakeholder model and online human rights.
The minister also likes to challenge the social actors in Norway today to contribute towards the Norwegian IGF candidacy and further work with Internet management.
"The vast majority of people who use the internet today are not aware of the discussions that are not going on. The Internet did not become the way it is today by itself, and it was not automatic that it will become so. It's about val like a man's spoon. We need good forces to contribute to these discussions, from civil society, academia, the private sector, the technical community – to the individual, concludes Minister Gjelsvik.
