Jochen Michels, Director Public Affairs, Europe, Kaspersky
As part of its commitment to enhancing global cybersecurity, Kaspersky actively participates in various initiatives and plays a key role in international institutional dialogues aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and resilience. In line with its long-standing support for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) of the United Nations, Kaspersky made significant contributions to the 2024 Annual Meeting.
The IGF brings together people from a multitude of stakeholder groups to discuss digital public policy. While it does not create formal agreements, it takes a pivotal part in promoting dialogue and exchange between governments, international organizations, private sector, academia, and civil society. It focuses on policy discussions, outreach efforts, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at fostering a shared understanding of digital opportunities and addressing associated risks. The forum is active throughout the year, with one central, high-profile event – the Annual Meeting. In late 2024, from 15 to 19 December, this latter took place in its 19th edition, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The 19th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) focused on “Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future”. The event hosted more than 300 sessions, covering a wide range of digital public policy topics, all organized under the following four key sub-themes:
- Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space
- Enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability
- Advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age
- Improving digital governance for the Internet We Want.
Kaspersky’s contribution
At first, Eugene Kaspersky, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company, took part in the IGF 2024 High-Level Leaders Track, co-organized by the host country as well as UN DESA/the IGF Secretariat, and attended as speaker in the high-level session panel “Protecting Children's Rights in the Digital World”, joining leading global experts.
Kaspersky also hosted three workshop sessions featuring dynamic and thought-provoking dialogue among renowned international panelists. Further information on the workshops can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
The workshop “Multistakeholder cooperation for online child protection” (IGF 2024 WS #25) discussed increasing concerns over online child protection, especially given the growing influence of AI. Experts highlighted risks such as data collection, cyberbullying, and the lack of parental awareness, calling for a multi-stakeholder approach and improved digital education. The discussion emphasized the need for transparent solutions at all levels, dedicated learning and awareness programs including stronger defense mechanisms, and active involvement from children in shaping the conversation.
The debate in workshop IGF 2024 WS #81 shed light on “Universal Standards for Digital Infrastructure Resiliency” – a multifaceted challenge, involving not just physical security, but also data protection, service continuity, and risk management. Regulations must be flexible enough to accommodate the specific needs and capabilities of different countries. Clear goals, definitions, and measurable metrics are essential for developing effective standards. Collaboration among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society is crucial to creating and enforcing these standards. The approach should remain adaptable, regularly reviewed, and responsive to emerging threats and technological developments.
Workshop IGF 2024 WS #31 focused on “Cybersecurity in AI: balancing innovation and risks” and addressed the increasing need for cybersecurity standards to protect AI systems, especially those utilizing third-party AI components. Key guidelines developed by Kaspersky and the workshop speakers were presented for the secure development and deployment of AI, focusing on areas such as cybersecurity training, threat modeling, infrastructure security, supply chain/data security, vulnerability reporting, and regular updates. Organizations were encouraged to implement strong security practices, while governments and international bodies were urged to collaborate on harmonizing AI security standards. The session underlined the importance of AI literacy, transparency, and cooperation in tackling emerging AI security challenges.
Additionally, Kaspersky has been actively involved in the Policy Network on Artificial Intelligence (PNAI), which addresses critical policy issues such as AI accountability, environmental sustainability in Generative AI, governance, interoperability, and labor issues throughout AI's lifecycle. At the Annual IGF Meeting, the PNAI presented its 2024 Policy Brief, which was then discussed during a workshop and online.
Riyadh IGF Messages
The Riyadh IGF Messages, the principal outcome of IGF Annual Meeting 2024, encapsulate the essential insights and key discussions from more than 300 sessions held throughout the event and also feature Kaspersky’s input. The messages are part of the final IGF 2024 Summary Report and can be downloaded via the link: Draft Riyadh IGF Messages.
Activities in 2025
Kaspersky is dedicated to continuing its support for the IGF and to also contributing its expertise and activities to this year's upcoming event. The 20th Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum will be held in Norway, from 23 to 27 June 2025.
