IGF 2025 BPF Cybersecurity
Securing Internet Access & Core Resources in Conflict and Crises Contexts
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 the resilience and protection of core Internet infrastructure and operations.
- Align practice with human rights and humanitarian law considerations.
- Advance effective, inclusive multistakeholder responses.
The community-driven process is open to everyone to join and participate. The BPF network of stakeholders started with defining a draft problem statement that was shared for community feedback. Further exchanges, including at the IGF annual meeting in Lillestrøm, led to the identification of three work areas which the BPF elaborates and refines for further multistakeholder work. All streams will feed into one unique BPF output document to be published towards the end of the IGF 2025 cycle.
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. There is a need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the multistakeholder Internet community and the institutions that are part of it, with regard to securing access to the Internet for civilians and protecting core Internet resources in contexts of conflict and crisis.
Learn more about the three streams:
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.
Review draft output
In the coming days, the first draft of the BPF Cybersecurity output report will be published for open public consultations.
BPF output: BPF 2025 output report
Running draft: the running draft document is closed for comments. The final report will soon be available.
Roadmap & Activities
|
BPF Kick off Meeting I, 6 May 2025 |
Summary |
| Call for feedback on the draft problem statement | Call for feedback |
| BPF Meeting II, 17 June 2025 | Summary |
| BPF Main Session at the 20th IGF in Norway 26 June 2025 |
Recording & Summary |
| BPF Meeting IV, 3 September 2025 | Summary |
| BPF Meeting V, 29 October, 15:00-16:00 UTC | Summary |
| BPF Meeting VI, 27 November, 13:00 UTC | Summary |
| Final output document | BPF 2025 Output report |
Facilitators
- Ms. Valeria Betancourt - MAG member, BPF co-facilitator
- Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen - BPF co-facilitator
- Mr. Wim Degezelle - BPF consultant, IGF Secretariat
Resources
Previous work of the IGF BPF Cybersecurity focused on cyber norms agreements:
- Lessons from cybersecurity events to inform cybersecurity policy and norms deliberations - Summary (IGF 2023)
- Consolidated output IGF 2022 Best Practice Forum Cybersecurity -- Summary (IGF 2022)
- ad hoc paper "Mythbusting: cybercrime versus cybersecurity" (IGF 2022)
- The Use of Norms to foster Trust and Security (IGF 2021)
- Exploring Best Practices in Relation to International Cybersecurity Initiatives (IGF 2020)
- BPF Cybersecurity on International Cybersecurity Agreements (IGF 2019)
- Cybersecurity Culture, Norms and Values (IGF 2018)
