This past June, ISOC-IL’s VP of Research and Policy, Dr. Asaf Wiener, participated in two strategic international engagements: the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) in Brussels, and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held in Lillestrøm, Norway. Both conferences served as impactful platforms through which ISOC-IL actively deepened its international partnerships and expanded its knowledge base in key policy areas such as misinformation, digital innovation, and internet governance.
EUVP: Building Bridges with Europe (June 12-18)
The European Union Visitors Programme, jointly organized by the European Parliament and the European Commission, invites emerging leaders from non-EU countries to engage directly with EU institutions. Dr. Wiener’s participation included detailed meetings with senior EU officials across various sectors.
Notably, engagements with the European External Action Service (EEAS) provided insights into EU digital diplomacy in the Middle East, particularly Israel, offering ISOC-IL a strategic diplomatic channel. Further discussions with the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) centered on misinformation and information integrity, providing ISOC-IL valuable models to address similar challenges in Israel.
Meetings with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) highlighted opportunities for Israeli researchers and innovators under Europe’s flagship research initiative, Horizon Europe, specifically in the development of secure and trustworthy internet technologies. Additionally, exchanges with the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) opened doors for future EU-Israel collaborations, including potential funding for civil society initiatives promoting digital innovation and digital rights.
Conversations at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) emphasized the potential of civil society collaborations in combating misinformation and advancing digital literacy, aligning closely with ISOC-IL’s mission.
These interactions not only expanded ISOC-IL’s network but also provided actionable insights on EU policy initiatives, funding mechanisms, and best practices in digital governance.
IGF 2025: A Global Dialogue on Digital Governance (June 24-26)
The IGF (Internet Governance Forum), hosted annually by the United Nations since 2005, represents the primary global multistakeholder platform for Internet policy dialogue. The 2025 IGF in Lillestrøm marked the forum’s 20th anniversary under the theme, “Building Digital Governance Together.” With the UN’s upcoming WSIS+20 review in December 2025 evaluating global digital policy frameworks, this IGF had special strategic significance.
Dr. Wiener participated actively across several key sessions, including the Parliamentary Track, discussing legislative approaches to online harms and digital rights—insights directly relevant to ISOC-IL’s advocacy in the Israeli Knesset.
Further, the Open Forum led by the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) presented robust methodologies on measuring Internet use, offering ISOC-IL new tools for domestic research. Sessions by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) also fostered enhanced understanding of bridging technical expertise with policy frameworks, an area in which ISOC-IL consistently seeks to innovate.
Additionally, the ISOC@IGF community gathering, organized by the global Internet Society, strengthened ISOC-IL’s connections with ISOC chapters from around the world, laying the groundwork for future collaborative projects, particularly on digital literacy and inclusive connectivity.
The valuable insights and relationships developed through these two events position ISOC-IL uniquely to further influence Israel’s Internet policy landscape. Moving forward, ISOC-IL will:
- Leverage EU partnerships for research funding and policy collaboration in the fight against misinformation.
- Incorporate global best practices from IGF sessions into national internet governance advocacy.
- Strengthen domestic multistakeholder cooperation to prepare Israel’s policy positions ahead of the WSIS+20 outcomes.
ISOC-IL’s participation in these strategic international engagements reflect our continued commitment to promoting an open, secure, and inclusive Internet—both in Israel and worldwide.