The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has completed its 20-year review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Launched in the early 2000s, the multi-stakeholder WSIS process aims to address challenges in digital development driven by advancing technologies.

The HLM’s outcome document is part of UNGA resolution A/RES/80/173 and is rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Pact for the Future, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), among other processes. It builds on, inter alia, the 2025 20-year review report by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the outcomes of the 2025 Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and the WSIS+20 High-level Event held in July 2025.

Member States reaffirm their commitment to building a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented information society and to advancing the principles of multi-stakeholder cooperation. They recognize digital development and inclusion as critical instruments in enabling progress towards the SDGs and reaffirm the importance of cooperation to ensure the benefits are fairly distributed.

Member States express concern over the digital divides between and within countries, recognize the new possibilities and risks created by emerging technologies, and underscore the importance of applying a human-centric approach throughout the life cycle of digital technologies.

The 20-page outcome document spans the areas of information and communications technologies (ICT) for development, closing all digital divides, the digital economy, social and economic development, environmental impacts, and an enabling environment for digital development. It further addresses ways to build confidence and security in the use of ICT, capacity development, financial mechanisms, and human rights and ethical dimensions of the information society.

Data governance, artificial intelligence (AI), and internet governance are also covered. The document welcomes the establishment of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

The document provides for the development of a WSIS framework, monitoring and measurement, and follow-up and review.

Member States also:

• Request the Secretary-General to submit, through the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, a biennial report on progress in WSIS implementation and follow-up;
• Encourage the 2027 high-level meeting to review progress in the implementation of the Global Digital Compact to consider progress made in fostering coherence between WSIS outcomes and implementation of the Compact;
• Resolve to submit the WSIS+20 outcome document as an input to the high-level meeting to review the 2030 Agenda to be convened by the UNGA in 2030; and
• Request the UNGA to hold a high-level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of WSIS outcomes in 2035.

The UNGA adopted the WSIS+20 outcome document by consensus on 17 December 2025. [WSIS+20 Website] [UN News Story]