Internet governance didn’t appear overnight. It began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the internet expanded rapidly, and the world realized that a global, decentralized network needed shared rules. As more people and institutions went online, questions emerged: Who manages domain names? Who sets technical standards? Who protects users’ rights? This led to the creation of international forums and bodies, made up of governments, engineers, companies, civil society groups, and human rights advocates, to coordinate how the internet operates. From these early efforts, the modern system of internet governance was born, shaping everything from access and privacy to freedom of expression.

What Is Internet Governance?

There is no single definition of Internet Governance (IG). Internet governance refers to the rules, policies, standards, and practices that govern how the Internet operates and how people utilize it.
It involves many actors, governments, private companies, civil society, and technical experts working together to decide how the Internet is structured and managed.

The way the Internet is governed impacts fundamental rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, access to information, and equality. Here’s how:

• Privacy: Decisions about data collection, surveillance, and encryption shape whether users can keep their personal data safe.
  • Example:
    In China, the government has broad access to users’ online data through surveillance systems and platform regulations. As a result, many internet users are hesitant to share personal information or express themselves freely online, knowing their data and activity can be monitored.
• Free Expression: The rules that determine content moderation, platform access, and shutdowns influence whether people can speak freely online.
  • Example:
    During protests in Iran, authorities have repeatedly restricted access to social media platforms and shut down the internet. This prevents people from sharing information, organizing peacefully, or documenting human rights violations online.
• Access & Equality: Internet governance also covers whether individuals and communities, especially marginalized ones, can access the Internet and participate fully.
  • Example:
    In many rural areas, limited infrastructure and high internet costs prevent communities from accessing online education, digital health services, or job opportunities. This deepens social and economic inequality, especially for young people and women.

Key Principles of Good Internet Governance

To protect rights and support a healthy digital society, governance should include:

• Openness and transparency: Decisions about the Internet should be clear and accessible.
• Participation by all stakeholders: Not just governments and big tech, but civil society, local communities, and users should have a role.
• Accountability: Those who make the rules must be answerable for the effects on people’s rights and lives.
• Human rights-based: The Internet should be governed in a way that respects and enhances human rights, not undermines them.

When the systems that control the internet are weak, unfair, or controlled by only a few powerful groups, the online world can become less safe and less open. In these situations, people might lose their ability to speak freely, find information, or access education and job opportunities. Some communities may fall further behind because they don’t have equal access to technology, and personal information can be put at risk through surveillance or poor security.

This is why it is important to understand who makes the rules of the internet and how those rules affect our rights. Every person can play a role by learning about digital policies, supporting fair and inclusive decision-making, protecting their privacy, and speaking up when online freedom is threatened. Internet governance is not only about technology; it has a direct impact on human rights and equality.

Why It Matters for You

You don’t need to be a policymaker or a tech expert to influence how the internet is shaped. Internet governance depends on public participation, and that includes young people, students, activists, and everyday internet users. You can make a difference by learning how your country manages the internet, staying aware of new laws or rules that affect privacy and freedom of expression, and raising your voice when digital rights are at risk.

Your participation matters. By staying informed, taking part in digital-rights conversations, supporting safe and open online spaces, and joining global platforms like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), you can help shape a future where the internet is fair, open, and accessible to everyone. The future of the web should be built by all of us, not just a few.