IGF Best Practice Forum 2025
Securing Internet Access & Core Resources in Conflicts and Crises
A multistakeholder effort to safeguard civilian connectivity and protect core Internet resources when they’re most at risk—during conflict and crisis.
What is this work about?
The IGF Best Practice Forum (BPF) on Securing Access to the Internet and Protecting Core Internet Resources in Contexts of Conflict and Crises (“BPF Cybersecurity”) brings together all stakeholders - governments, the technical community, private sector, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations - to ensure people can connect - and stay connected - when it matters most. The main focus areas of the BPF are:
- Protect civilian Internet access during conflicts and crises.
- Strengthen resilience of core Internet infrastructure and operations.
- Align practice with human rights and humanitarian law considerations.
- Advance effective, inclusive multistakeholder responses.
Why it matters and What we do
Connectivity underpins access to life-saving information, coordination of aid, freedom of expression, and economic activity. Shutdowns, throttling, and infrastructure damage can compound harm.
The community-driven process is open to everyone to join and participate. The BPF network of stakeholders focuses on unpacking the three main streams of the BPF through regular multistakeholder consultations open to everyone. All streams will feed into one unique BPF output document to be published towards the end of the IGF 2025 cycle.
Emergency Connectivity Mechanism
Exploring a rapid-response, multistakeholder mechanism to secure or restore connectivity in crisis settings.
Legal & Normative Framework
Clarifying how shutdowns and disruptions during armed conflict should be treated under international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Governance & Multistakeholder Practice
Understanding how the multistakeholder model performs in crises—and how to improve it.
How to join
Join a work stream
All stakeholders are most welcome to participate in the BPF work. Continuous consultations are conducted through the BPF mailing list. You can also reach out to the IGF Secretariat to explore ways of engagement.
Express your interest by emailing us at [email protected] and we will guide you through the engagement opportunities.
Receive updates
All BPF-related updates are made available through its open mailing list.
They are also part of the IGF's monthly newsletter.
Subscribe here to the BPF mailing list. You are encouraged to also subscribe here to the IGF Newsletter mailing list.
Contribute inputs
The BPF invites written inputs on its draft problem statement that "there is a clear and pressing need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the multistakeholder Internet community - and the institutions within it - in securing core Internet resources and ensuring civilian access to the Internet during conflicts and crises.
See more: Questions and instructions for providing feedback
See here who has already contributed?
Roadmap & Activities
|
BPF Kick off Meeting I - 6 May 2025 |
Summary Report |
| BPF Meeting II - 17 June 2025 | Summary Report |
| BPF Main Session at the 20th IGF in Norway 26 June 2025 Recording & Summary Report |
|
| BPF Meeting IV - 3 September 2025 | Summary Report |
| Next meeting: TBC October 2025 | Focus: review received contributions |
| Final output document expected in November 2025 | |
