S G Dickinson
@sgdickinson.bsky.social
Internet & digital policy, government use of ICTs, women in IT. I tweet live from relevant meetings.
Some quick takeaways from me after the #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting:
1. Negotiations were compressed more than they should have been because the UNSG's pet project, the Global Digital Compact, took everyone's attention for the last couple of years
1. Negotiations were compressed more than they should have been because the UNSG's pet project, the Global Digital Compact, took everyone's attention for the last couple of years
December 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Some quick takeaways from me after the #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting:
1. Negotiations were compressed more than they should have been because the UNSG's pet project, the Global Digital Compact, took everyone's attention for the last couple of years
1. Negotiations were compressed more than they should have been because the UNSG's pet project, the Global Digital Compact, took everyone's attention for the last couple of years
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting ends with resolution adopted by consensus & to be published shortly.
Expect the next year or more to be filled with States in various UN forums debating what the resolution txt *really* means & disagreeing, even tho they were all in these NYC negotiations together.
Expect the next year or more to be filled with States in various UN forums debating what the resolution txt *really* means & disagreeing, even tho they were all in these NYC negotiations together.
December 17, 2025 at 9:15 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting ends with resolution adopted by consensus & to be published shortly.
Expect the next year or more to be filled with States in various UN forums debating what the resolution txt *really* means & disagreeing, even tho they were all in these NYC negotiations together.
Expect the next year or more to be filled with States in various UN forums debating what the resolution txt *really* means & disagreeing, even tho they were all in these NYC negotiations together.
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: with so many Member States distancing themselves from various aspects of the WSIS+20 resolution, this is going to spill over into other processes like ITU Council WG on WSIS&SDGs, ITU Council, ITU Plenipotentiary & the CSTD meeting that drafts ECOSOC res on #WSIS.
December 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Russia pushes back on Ukraine's earlier speech. Notes Ukraine didn't participate in any negotiations for the resolution, showing they're not interested in WSIS. Basically, Russia's saying Ukraine (mis)used this meeting to attack Russia on issues unrelated to WSIS.
December 17, 2025 at 8:57 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Russia pushes back on Ukraine's earlier speech. Notes Ukraine didn't participate in any negotiations for the resolution, showing they're not interested in WSIS. Basically, Russia's saying Ukraine (mis)used this meeting to attack Russia on issues unrelated to WSIS.
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: time for some more expressions of concern by Member States after adoption of the resolution on WSIS+20. First up: G77, represented by Iraq. Concerned that issues of key concern to developing countries had related text diluted in resolution.
December 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: time for some more expressions of concern by Member States after adoption of the resolution on WSIS+20. First up: G77, represented by Iraq. Concerned that issues of key concern to developing countries had related text diluted in resolution.
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: despite some previous concerns expressed by a few Member States, and concerns that some States may have called for a formal vote on the text, the resolution is adopted by consensus. Applause in the Assembly Hall!
December 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: despite some previous concerns expressed by a few Member States, and concerns that some States may have called for a formal vote on the text, the resolution is adopted by consensus. Applause in the Assembly Hall!
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Israel is not happy. Describes final stage of the process in negotiating the resolution as "so biased, incompetent & lacking in transparency".
December 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Israel is not happy. Describes final stage of the process in negotiating the resolution as "so biased, incompetent & lacking in transparency".
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: After 1.5 days of high level speakers pretty much speaking from the same set of notes (digital divide still a big issue, gender disparity, etc), before adoption of the resolution, governments are now being more critical of the actual content of resolution.
December 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: After 1.5 days of high level speakers pretty much speaking from the same set of notes (digital divide still a big issue, gender disparity, etc), before adoption of the resolution, governments are now being more critical of the actual content of resolution.
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: USA, last speaker in the plenary, opposes resolution text's references to the Global Digital Compact, Summit of the Future & the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.
December 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: USA, last speaker in the plenary, opposes resolution text's references to the Global Digital Compact, Summit of the Future & the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.
The final UNGA #WSIS+20 session is beginning in New York. There aren't many speakers left so formal adoption of the WSIS+20 resolution should happen shortly. Webcast link:
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1l...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1l...
General Assembly: 68th Plenary meeting, 80th session
The High-level Meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit Information Society (WSIS+20) will take place at UN Headquarters in New York on 16–17 December 20...
webtv.un.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The final UNGA #WSIS+20 session is beginning in New York. There aren't many speakers left so formal adoption of the WSIS+20 resolution should happen shortly. Webcast link:
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1l...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1l...
Day 2 of the UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting is underway. Today, the text of the resolution is due to be adopted. Hopefully by consensus and not requiring a vote. Morning webcast available on UN Web TV:
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15...
General Assembly: 67th Plenary meeting, 80th session
The High-level Meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit Information Society (WSIS+20) will take place at UN Headquarters in New York on 16–17 December 20...
webtv.un.org
December 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Day 2 of the UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting is underway. Today, the text of the resolution is due to be adopted. Hopefully by consensus and not requiring a vote. Morning webcast available on UN Web TV:
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15...
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Germany announces it will contribute 1 million Euros to strengthen the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
December 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting: Germany announces it will contribute 1 million Euros to strengthen the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
Guy Ryder, on behalf of UNSG, thanks #WSIS+20 co-facilitators for extensive consultations with academia, the private sector & civil society in the development of the WSIS+20 resolution (no mention of technical community, which will upset that sector of stakeholders mentioned in original WSIS docs)
December 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Guy Ryder, on behalf of UNSG, thanks #WSIS+20 co-facilitators for extensive consultations with academia, the private sector & civil society in the development of the WSIS+20 resolution (no mention of technical community, which will upset that sector of stakeholders mentioned in original WSIS docs)
The UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting is underway in New York. You can follow the morning session today live, and later archived, at webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1o...
General Assembly: 65th Plenary meeting, 80th session
The High-level Meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit Information Society (WSIS+20) will take place at UN Headquarters in New York on 16–17 December 20...
webtv.un.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The UNGA #WSIS+20 High Level Meeting is underway in New York. You can follow the morning session today live, and later archived, at webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1o...
It could have been so much worse. They could have chosen the un-wokest font of all time: Comic Sans.
State Department brings back Times New Roman to fight the war on ‘woke’
Rubio’s memo said the move was an effort to “abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program.”
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
It could have been so much worse. They could have chosen the un-wokest font of all time: Comic Sans.
#ICANN84 "Geopolitical Forum: #WSIS+20 focus" is now underway in Dublin.
If you haven't registered for ICANN84, you can still follow the public live transcript:
www.streamtext.net/player/trans...
And archived Zoom will be linked later from agenda page:
icann84.sched.com/event/29QIK/...
If you haven't registered for ICANN84, you can still follow the public live transcript:
www.streamtext.net/player/trans...
And archived Zoom will be linked later from agenda page:
icann84.sched.com/event/29QIK/...
20251027-auditorium : Transcript
www.streamtext.net
October 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
#ICANN84 "Geopolitical Forum: #WSIS+20 focus" is now underway in Dublin.
If you haven't registered for ICANN84, you can still follow the public live transcript:
www.streamtext.net/player/trans...
And archived Zoom will be linked later from agenda page:
icann84.sched.com/event/29QIK/...
If you haven't registered for ICANN84, you can still follow the public live transcript:
www.streamtext.net/player/trans...
And archived Zoom will be linked later from agenda page:
icann84.sched.com/event/29QIK/...
#ICANN84: the churn of GAC reps continues - 32 new GAC reps joined GAC since #ICANN83 in June.
Note: constant turnover of GAC reps means there's always a need for capacity-building. It also means many newbie questions get asked in GAC sessions that otherwise would be deep dives on policy issues.
Note: constant turnover of GAC reps means there's always a need for capacity-building. It also means many newbie questions get asked in GAC sessions that otherwise would be deep dives on policy issues.
October 25, 2025 at 8:59 AM
And as #ICANN84 is now underway, it's time for my regular meeting reminder about how to get the live transcript back to the start of a session if you happen to come late into a session:
October 25, 2025 at 8:14 AM
And as #ICANN84 is now underway, it's time for my regular meeting reminder about how to get the live transcript back to the start of a session if you happen to come late into a session:
#ICANN84 is just getting underway in Dublin. As usual, I'll be concentrating on the GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee). Full ICANN84 schedule at:
ICANN84 | Annual General Meeting Schedule
Check out the schedule for ICANN84 | Annual General Meeting
icann84.sched.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:09 AM
#ICANN84 is just getting underway in Dublin. As usual, I'll be concentrating on the GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee). Full ICANN84 schedule at:
"Users of US TikTok won’t enjoy any more privacy than with Chinese TikTok, due to lack of meaningful regulation of social media companies. They'll still be pervasively surveilled as they use the Net, both to advertise at them & for intelligence services to profile them”
(Paraphrased to shorten)
(Paraphrased to shorten)
Australia may have to choose between a Chinese TikTok and one owned by Trump’s billionaire backers
Expert raises concerns about what US TikTok deal could mean for News Corp’s ‘worrying dominance’ in Australian media
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:17 AM
"Users of US TikTok won’t enjoy any more privacy than with Chinese TikTok, due to lack of meaningful regulation of social media companies. They'll still be pervasively surveilled as they use the Net, both to advertise at them & for intelligence services to profile them”
(Paraphrased to shorten)
(Paraphrased to shorten)
TikTok US to lease a copy of ByteDance's existing algorithm; Oracle to 'retrain' the copy.
Retraining it along lines of FB, Twitter & Truth Social? US must be reaching saturation point for social media w algorithms pushing anger/misinfo. At least this retraining shouldn't affect folks outside US.
Retraining it along lines of FB, Twitter & Truth Social? US must be reaching saturation point for social media w algorithms pushing anger/misinfo. At least this retraining shouldn't affect folks outside US.
TikTok’s algorithm set to move from Chinese control to Big Tech under Trump deal
White House says it has finally reached an agreement with China to secure the future of the popular social video app in the U.S., with software giant Oracle taking responsibility for users’ data
www.independent.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 5:09 AM
TikTok US to lease a copy of ByteDance's existing algorithm; Oracle to 'retrain' the copy.
Retraining it along lines of FB, Twitter & Truth Social? US must be reaching saturation point for social media w algorithms pushing anger/misinfo. At least this retraining shouldn't affect folks outside US.
Retraining it along lines of FB, Twitter & Truth Social? US must be reaching saturation point for social media w algorithms pushing anger/misinfo. At least this retraining shouldn't affect folks outside US.
'Clegg said the relationship between the UK and the US tech sector was “all one-way traffic” and that the announcements suited the companies.
He warned Britain was being “defanged” by simply fostering a greater reliance on the US tech sector, rather than building its own.'
He warned Britain was being “defanged” by simply fostering a greater reliance on the US tech sector, rather than building its own.'
Nick Clegg: US-UK tech deal is ‘sloppy seconds from Silicon Valley’
Meta’s former president of global affairs says agreement will leave UK more reliant on US tech firms
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:23 AM
'Clegg said the relationship between the UK and the US tech sector was “all one-way traffic” and that the announcements suited the companies.
He warned Britain was being “defanged” by simply fostering a greater reliance on the US tech sector, rather than building its own.'
He warned Britain was being “defanged” by simply fostering a greater reliance on the US tech sector, rather than building its own.'