‘We can shape a digital future that is both innovative and responsible’
‘Father of the Internet’ Vint Cerf and Vice-Chair of the GIZ Management Board Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven explain why protecting an open Internet and promoting just digital governance is crucial for sustainable development and global cooperation.
is an American computer scientist, considered one of the ‘fathers of the Internet’ for co-designing the Internet’s architecture. He has been a leading advocate for open, global Internet access. Among other commitments, he chairs the Leadership Panel of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
The Internet and sustainable development – two things people wouldn’t usually associate with each other. How are they connected?
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven (IGH): Much more closely than you might expect! A free and open Internet can help us achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. According to the United Nations, digital technologies could directly support more than two thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals. From mobile payments and climate-smart agriculture to remote education, digital technologies can catalyse human development significantly. Considering the complex global challenges we are facing – from poverty and climate change to health crises – these technologies offer an opportunity we cannot miss.
Vint Cerf (VC): Building on Ingrid’s point, digital technologies – especially those powered by the Internet – are already playing a transformative role in development. From mobile apps and search engines to entire web-based platforms, the Internet is the backbone of much of today’s innovation – and it doesn’t stop with smartphones. Of course, there are other devices like tablets and smart watches and Internet-enabled devices like security cameras, smart appliances, self-driving cars and myriad other things. These technologies offer new ways to do old things – and new things – many of which are more sustainable than previous incarnations. The Internet, with all its resources, together with artificial intelligence (AI) applications, may help us design a much more sustainable world.
In your experience, what are the most transformative impacts of digital technologies for societies?
VC: These technologies offer us access to the world’s knowledge, captured through search engines and AI applications. We have instant forms of communication – voice, video, text – around the world at little cost. They amplify and extend human capacity, for example, by giving us the ability to understand hundreds of languages through automatic translation. Tasks that once took hours or even days can now be completed in milliseconds. We can draw on the power of computing to speed up the planning, design and execution of countless processes.
IGH: Vint highlighted the role of digital technologies in enhancing human capacities – and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in challenging contexts like Ukraine. Digital technologies have the power to transform societies by promoting economic growth, enabling participation and inclusion and strengthening resilience. Despite the full-scale war, 21 million Ukrainians continue to access important government services via a Ukrainian e-government application, the Diia app, on their smartphones. They can change their address, register births or access their driver’s licence online. Through initiatives such as GovStack, we are supporting Ukraine in the development of this crucial digital public infrastructure. GovStack creates and shares ‘digital building blocks’ that allow government leaders to develop e-government services without starting from scratch each time.
‘The Internet operates across borders; its data packets don’t stop at national boundaries. Hence, we do need international cooperation.’
Ms Hoven, how can GIZ leverage the potential of digital technologies for sustainable development?
IGH: At GIZ, we integrate digital technologies into our project design from the outset. To ensure we ‘do no harm’, we developed a human rights assessment for digital projects – our Digital Rights Check.
We recognised the potential of AI early on – particularly open-source AI. The figures are compelling: the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) estimates that AI can boost Africa’s GDP by USD 1.5 trillion by 2030. Since 2019, our FAIR Forward initiative has been supporting open, inclusive and locally driven AI. In Rwanda, for instance, we’ve co-developed open voice datasets in Kinyarwanda, helping build AI that serves local language needs. At the same time, we work closely with our partners on the governance side, supporting the development of necessary regulatory frameworks, like Kenya’s AI Strategy. Launched in 2025, the document was the first on the continent to set out a government-led vision for ethical, inclusive and innovation-driven AI adoption.
Mr Cerf, as one of the founding fathers of the Internet, did you foresee its potential for development and inclusion when it was first designed? What are some of the reasons for its success?
VC: My colleagues and I saw some of the potential but certainly not all of it. A major reason for its success is that all the designs were made public; the architecture invited innovation. Its simplicity allowed us to adopt new technology, such as optical fibre and low Earth-orbiting satellites, without changing the basic protocols animating the system. There was a wide-open opportunity for the research community and private sector to invent new applications. Government and private sector investment has driven its expansion in absolute numbers and in functionality. It’s fascinating to see how open architecture led to inclusive innovation – a lesson we can still learn from today.
is Vice-Chair of the GIZ Management Board. As a development economist, she focuses on sustainability, climate action, digital development and global governance.
‘Young people are not just the future of just digital governance, they’re already driving it today.’
A total of 2.6 billion people, one third of the global population, are still offline. Internet shutdowns and geopolitical tensions are on the rise. Given these barriers, what do you see as the main obstacles to building inclusive and rights-based digital ecosystems?
VC: As the Internet expanded to include the general public and the private sector, it also opened the door to harmful and, in some cases, illegal behaviour. Our big challenge is determining what parties should be held accountable for their transgressions against society. The Internet operates across borders; its data packets don’t stop at national boundaries. Hence, we do need international cooperation to hold bad actors accountable.
IGH: Vint highlights the need for global cooperation. That’s because the Internet’s global nature also presents a dilemma. The Internet is a global good that is increasingly relevant to national and geopolitical interests. We need to navigate this tension in a way that includes everyone, prevents misuse and ensures meaningful, affordable access. But inclusion isn’t just about connectivity – it’s also about trust. People need to feel safe online, which means access to trustworthy media, and information integrity, solid cybersecurity and the protection of human rights and accountability must be at the core of our digital ecosystems. All of this requires cooperation across borders, sectors and stakeholder groups.
What can we do to address these challenges?
IGH: Reducing digital divides and connecting the unconnected is a crucial first step – but it’s not enough. We need just digital governance that puts people at the centre. That means tech regulation and digital infrastructure must reflect the perspectives of those affected, whether it’s local communities, researchers or municipalities. GIZ supports this through initiatives like DataCipation. The programme supports the African Union in advancing inclusive digital and data policies. Another example is the International Digital Dialogues. They foster technical and multistakeholder exchange on diverse digital policy topics with a number of countries, including India, Indonesia, Brazil and Mexico. Moreover, we strengthen civil society participation and human rights safeguards – for example, with our Responsible AI Assessments – so digital systems work for everyone.
VC: In addition to inclusive governance, we also need to empower individuals directly. We can teach people ‘safe networking’ behaviours. We need to equip people to use defensive technology to protect themselves; we need to establish new societal norms according to which harming others online is considered unacceptable (kind of like smoking these days).
Why are multistakeholder platforms, like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), so important for maintaining an open, free, inclusive and global Internet?
VC: The best policies take into account the perspectives of all relevant stakeholders. We need to understand how particular policies will affect various parts of our global society. We need valid data about the quality of Internet services, wherever they are offered. The IGF has provided deeply insightful information about how the Internet is experienced around the world.
IGH: Your point about data and representation is crucial, Vint. I could not agree more: multistakeholder platforms like the IGF are crucial. Why? Because a just digital transformation is only possible if those affected have a seat at the table. That’s why we actively support our partners in taking part in the global IGF.
Whether at a global, regional or national level, the IGF creates a space for governments, civil society, tech companies and academic and technical communities to meet as equals. Across many of our projects – in Africa, South-East Europe and Central Asia – and in addition to the global IGF, we’re helping strengthen national and regional IGFs through programmatic support, capacity building for youth and support for stakeholder participation.
Just digital governance means shaping the ongoing digital transformation in a human-centered and inclusive manner. From equitable digital policies that govern the internet, artificial intelligence, or data, to the development of meaningful internet connectivity and fair platform regulation approaches, it is about promoting clear rules and values for how we govern technologies and digitalisation. The goal is to protect human rights, ensure equal opportunities, and make sure that digital progress benefits everyone instead of only a few. Just digital governance focuses on how digital transformation can support political participation, economic development, health, and education, while addressing risks to democracy, inclusion, and rights-based societies at the same time.
At GIZ, we thus promote inclusive dialogue amongst all stakeholders – for example through the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) – to strengthen global cooperation and accountability. Together with diverse partners, GIZ is committed to advancing digital governance that puts people and rights at the centre.
Looking ahead, what gives you hope that a human-centred open digital future is possible?
IGH: Despite all the challenges, I see a lively, creative and committed Internet governance community working towards a human-centred digital future. Multistakeholder cooperation – like we see at the IGF – is key here! Across all levels, like-minded actors come together to harness the potential of digital technologies while addressing their risks. The Hamburg Declaration on Responsible AI for the SDGs is a great example here. Endorsed in June 2025 at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC), it sets out a new level of commitment to developing and using AI responsibly to reach the SDGs. The Declaration brings together a growing number of organisations – now totalling over 50 – including global leaders from government, international organisations, business, academia and civil society.
And what gives me even more hope is the incredible energy and engagement from young people! Whether it’s Youth IGFs around the globe or the International Digital Policy Fellows supported by our Digital Ministry, young people are not just the future of just digital governance, they’re already driving it today.
VC: There are indeed many reasons to remain hopeful. We’re already seeing how AI and digital tools support breakthroughs, for example, in improved disease diagnosis and the development of new medical treatments. AI is advancing our understanding of science and technology.
At the same time, we are more aware than ever about the potential hazards of unfettered use of the Internet and its applications. Those in positions of authority are increasingly recognising just how integral the Internet has become to our lives and are actively working to improve the way we use and govern it. It is this combination of technological progress and greater societal awareness that gives us reason to believe we can shape a digital future that is both innovative and responsible.
