The 18th annual meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto this year and had an overarching theme of: The Internet We Want and empowering all people.

Many discussions took place around AI and emerging technology, Internet Fragmentation and Data Governance.

Emily Taylor moderated the recently reinvigorated Dynamic Coalition on DNS Issues; “IGF 2023 DC-DNSI Closing the Governance Gaps: New Paradigms for a Safer DNS”. This successful session discussed issues around fragmentation and risks with an objective to be action-oriented to address the governance gaps.

The DNSRF hosted another workshop: “IGF 2023 WS #109 The Internet in 20 Years Time: Avoiding Fragmentation,” which explored the future of the Internet we might be facing and how we might meet the challenges. This session was highly interactive and encouraged the panel as well as participants to participate with personal anecdotes, fears and ideas as well as addressing the potential for fragmentation.

The team also had the opportunity of chatting with Vint Cerf, an American Internet pioneer and one of ‘the fathers of the Internet’.

The team snatched some precious downtime and managed to experience some Japanese culture too – having their photos taken with some ladies dressed in their beautiful traditional kimonos and encountered Japanese Taiko drummers.