An Inclusive, Lifelong Multistakeholder, Rights-Based Approach to Innovation in AI, the Metaverse, Web 4.0, and other Emerging Technologies

Executive Summary

This Dynamic Coalitions cluster session at the Internet Governance Forum was moderated by Jutta Croll, Chairwoman of the German Digital Opportunities Foundation and co-facilitator of the Dynamic Coalitions Coordination Group. The session brought together representatives from six different Dynamic Coalitions (out of 32 currently active). Together with the DC on Digital Economy, the DC on Evolving Technologies, the DC Journalism, The Digital Teen Coalition and the Internet Standards, Security and Safety Coalition the Dynamic Coalition on Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment were discussing human rights implications and potential risks of these technologies. In a dialogue with about 70 participants onsite and more online representatives of the above mentioned DCs discussed AI governance, Platforms’ and developers’ accountability, and policy pathways. The discussion focused on the need for more inclusive, ethical approaches to technology governance, while highlighting critical gaps in current frameworks that exclude key stakeholders, particularly teenagers and children.

Key Participants and Perspectives

Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, Co-lead of the Dynamic Coalition on Emerging Technologies and Chief Information Officer of the United Nations Pension Fund, emphasized implementing innovative technologies responsibly and ethically. He shared concrete examples from the UN Pension Fund’s work with digital identity solutions using biometrics and artificial intelligence, including serving diverse global populations with varying levels of digital access. Dell’Accio described implementing ISO 42001 standards for responsible use of AI and developing alternative solutions like kiosk modes for retirees without smartphones or data plans.

Surabhi Srivastava, representing the Dynamic Coalition on Sustainability of Journalism and News Media at RNW Media, presented concerns about how artificial intelligence is altering media landscapes. She highlighted the concentration of power in AI development and financial pressures forcing newsrooms to adopt AI tools despite potential ethical implications. Srivastava argued that AI tool costs create barriers for smaller media organizations, potentially exacerbating inequalities in information access and threatening freedom of expression through misinformation and content pollution.

Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, who leads the Dynamic Coalition on Digital Economy and runs the Global Think Tank Health Parliament, emphasized that 2.6 billion people still lack basic internet access. He described current technological changes as a civilizational transformation and advocated for treating certain technologies as digital public goods. Gupta introduced a framework of “three P’s” – people, profits, and purpose – where purpose should guide the relationship between the other two. He also mentioned “Gen Beta” – anyone born January 1, 2025 – as the next generation to consider in governance discussions.

Amrith Kumar explained that from the Dynamic Teen Coalition’s perspective the existing youth definitions (18-35) exclude teenagers from meaningful participation in internet governance discussions. He proposed a five-category age model encompassing child (0-12), teen (13-19), early career (18+), mid-career, and senior career participants. Kumar showed that even IGF programs like the 2025 Youth Mentorship Program maintain 18+ age requirements, thus hindering teen participation in governance processes that directly affect their digital experiences.

Torsten Krause, representing the Dynamic Coalition on Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment, pointed out that all technologies should serve people and respect their rights. To ensure this, he recommended focussing on the fact that one third of all users of the digital environment worldwide are under the age of 18 and are therefore considered children within the meaning of the UN CRC. He emphasized implementing child rights impact assessments for new technologies and services. Thus, the balance between the rights to protection, promotion and participation could be maintained and services could be designed to enable children and young people to participate safely. He also advocated for designing emerging technologies with children’s safety and meaningful participation in mind from the outset. Krause highlighted that biometric data collection from children requires higher protection standards and referenced General Comment 25 on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment.

Janice Richardson, representing the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Safety and Security Standards (IS3C) highlighted gaps in cybersecurity education and the need for improved collaboration between technology industries and educational sectors. Richardson emphasized that standards must be technically sound and accessible to all users, not just developers.

Digital Divides and Access Challenges

The discussion extensively examined how emerging technologies risk creating new forms of digital exclusion. Dr. Gupta’s emphasis on 2.6 billion people without internet access provided context for considering how AI and other advanced technologies might exacerbate existing inequalities. Dell’Accio supported this with practical examples, including work with Indigenous populations using remote sensing for health services and the need for alternative solutions for users without smartphones.

Inclusive Governance and Age-Based Participation

A central theme was the inadequacy of current participation mechanisms in internet governance. Kumar’s analysis of age-based exclusion challenged assumptions about inclusive governance, he stressed that teens are systematically excluded from IGF programs despite being active digital participants. Krause addressed these concerns from a children’s rights perspective, arguing for consideration of children’s rights and meaningful participation in technology development processes.

Ethical Frameworks and Standards

Panelists discussed balancing ethical guidelines with practical implementation. Gupta warned against over-regulation that could stifle innovation, advocating for ethical frameworks that prioritize human purposes. Dell’Accio emphasized the importance of explanation and transparency in AI systems. Richardson highlighted the gap between existing standards and their practical understanding and implementation.

Children’s Rights and Digital Protection

The discussion addressed protecting children’s rights while ensuring meaningful participation in governance processes. Krause emphasized that children who are usually the early adopters of emerging technologies face unique vulnerabilities but also possess rights to participate in decisions affecting their digital experiences according to the UN Convention on the rights of the child. The conversation explored tensions between protection and participation.

Key Areas of Agreement

Multiple speakers agreed that technology development must prioritize human needs and rights over pure profit motives. Gupta’s “people, profits, and purpose” framework resonated across different coalition perspectives. Despite representing different constituencies, speakers consistently agreed that current digital governance structures inadequately serve various age groups, particularly teens and children. Speakers across coalitions agreed that existing digital divides risk being amplified by emerging technologies, requiring proactive inclusion strategies.

Structural Recommendations

• Development of child rights impact assessments for new technologies
• Adoption of “inclusiveness by design” principles alongside existing “privacy by design” and “safety by design”approaches
• Discussion of Kumar’s five-category age model for inclusive participation and assessment whether it is fit for purpose
• Stronger partnerships between educational sectors and technology industries

Framework Development

• Development of multi-stakeholder ethical frameworks for AI governance
• Focus on making standards understandable and widely adopted
• Treatment of certain technologies as digital public goods

Conclusion

This Dynamic Coalitions cluster session demonstrated both consensus around human-centric technology development and significant challenges in current governance approaches. The discussion revealed strong agreement on the need for inclusive participation, ethical frameworks, and addressing digital divides, while highlighting structural barriers that prevent meaningful engagement. The session’s focus on practical solutions and concrete recommendations provides a foundation for continued work toward more inclusive and effective governance and toward the implementation of safety and security standards for emerging technologies.

The panelists’ emphasis on moving beyond purely technical approaches toward comprehensive frameworks addressing economic, social, and rights-based dimensions suggests that internet governance itself may need to evolve alongside the technologies it seeks to govern. The unresolved questions around implementation mechanisms and structural changes underscore the need for sustained engagement and innovative approaches to ensure that emerging technologies serve human purposes while respecting fundamental rights.

Key take-aways

• All technologies should serve people and respect their rights; new and emerging technologies need to be assessed in regard of human rights implications and potential risks in advance. 
• The digital divide is growing “digital and metaverse divide” impacting access and participation across age, region, and socio-economic status.
• Platform accountability, implementation of the principle safety-by-design, and transparency in digital infrastructures are assumed to be adequate strategies to address issues coming along with new and emerging technologies

Action Points

• Make use of the potential of the multistakeholder platform of IGF not only to discuss AI governance, platform providers’ and developers’ accountability and policy pathways but also to pave a human rights respecting way forward.
• Employ representative standards in regard of new and emerging technologies through inclusive, lifelong multistakeholder frameworks grounded in rights-based governance. 
• Promoting strategies and building movements for the development and deployment of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, especially in the Global South.