Annual UN Internet forum to be held in Geneva

World
Europe

The 2017 Internet Governance Forum sponsored by the United Nations (UN) will be held at the UN's European headquarters, the Palais des Nations in Geneva, from December 18 to 21.

High-level government officials, civil society leaders, private sector representatives and academic and technical experts will attend the annual meeting, the 12th of its kind, to discuss the impact and influence of digitalization on the economy, the media landscape and the political system, the UN information office at Geneva said Wednesday.

New technologies and emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, block chain technologies, big data, virtual reality and fake news and their impact on public trust and democracy will be the focus of this year's forum.

Participants at the 11th annual United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Jalisco, Mexico in 2016. /UN Photo

There will be a record 45 sessions, or open forums, organized by governments and inter-governmental organizations, including several UN agencies and regional bodies.

Swiss President Doris Leuthard and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin will deliver the welcome address.

The forum, initiated by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2006, aims to facilitate discussion and dialogue about public policy issues pertaining to Internet governance.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency