In exploring this theme, we will engage with four critical sub-themes:
1. Future of APrIGF& Multistakeholder Ecosystem
With the IGF now holding a permanent mandate, the Asia Pacific Regional IGF (APrIGF) must evolve and broaden its role to sustain inclusive dialogue and strengthen multistakeholder participation. Strengthening APrIGF’s contribution to the IGF, building stronger linkages and facilitating collaboration with National and Youth initiatives across APAC , advancing the 2030 SDG agenda, and supporting WSIS+20 Outcome implementation are critical priorities. This calls for enhancing structures, outputs, participation, and impact in an increasingly complex digital governance landscape. By amplifying diverse voices and bridging regional priorities with global processes, APrIGF will remain a vital enabler—reinforcing the legitimacy of the multistakeholder model and shaping a trusted, sustainable digital future.
2. AI Governance for Good
AI is emerging as a key enabler for sustainable development, yet its governance for the public good remains a critical challenge. This sub-theme invites contributions from the APAC region on advancing AI responsibly while addressing its societal, economic, cultural, and ethical implications. It explores how to bridge AI divides through improved capacity, skills, access, and digital foundations, and emphasizes the importance of safe, secure, and trustworthy systems. Central to this is embedding human rights, fairness, transparency, accountability, and human oversight to build public trust. It also examines AI’s role in sustainability, climate resilience, crisis response, and peacebuilding, alongside the need for robust data governance and regulatory readiness to support inclusive innovation.
3. Digital Resilience and Building of Trust
This sub-theme examines how to strengthen the Internet’s ability to withstand disruption while sustaining user confidence in an increasingly complex environment. Discussions will cover cybersecurity, infrastructure resilience, and responses to information disorder, alongside security and privacy by design. Relevant topics include child safety, cyberscams, surveillance, freedom of expression, platform governance and the roles of digital actors, and digital sovereignty, as well as resilience issues such as infrastructure and human capacity caused by fragmentation, natural disasters and geopolitical conflicts.
4. Universal and Meaningful Connectivity
The concept of Universal and Meaningful Connectivity is to ensure that everyone can access and use the internet in ways that are impactful, safe, and inclusive. This sub-theme emphasizes moving beyond basic access to address availability, quality, and affordability of connectivity. It also highlights access to appropriate devices, the importance of security and trust online, and the skills needed to use digital technologies effectively. Proposals could include discussions on policies and solutions that enable all individuals, especially underserved communities, to not just be connected, but to meaningfully participate and benefit from the digital ecosystem.
