High-level meeting on the overall review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society
Statement delivered by Mr Rasmus Lumi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
16 December 2025, New York
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement by the European Union and adds the following in its national capacity.
Let me begin by thanking the President of the General Assembly for convening this High-Level Meeting, and the co-facilitators for their efforts and steady leadership throughout this important process.
This year’s WSIS+20 review is a defining moment for the future of our digital world. Twenty years ago, the Geneva Declaration and the Tunis Agenda set out a shared vision of an inclusive and human-centred information society. They also established the multistakeholder approach that has guided digital cooperation for the past two decades.
That vision remains as vital today as it was then. The internet has become the backbone of our economies, our democracies, and our daily lives. Its success depends on remaining open, global, secure, and decentralized. No single country or actor should control it. Attempts to introduce centralized or state-led control would threaten the openness and integrity of the internet and risk its fragmentation.
The multistakeholder model, reaffirmed in the Global Digital Compact, has proven its value. Governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community must continue to work together in transparent, inclusive, and consensus-based ways. This approach ensures that the internet remains resilient and that digital policy reflects the interests of all.
Estonia believes that digital transformation must stay human-centred and rooted in human rights. The same rights that apply offline must also apply online, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information. As Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition, Estonia has worked to promote and advance this vision of the internet.
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, bring both new opportunities and new responsibilities. We must ensure that AI is developed and used in ways that respect human dignity, the rule of law, and ethical principles. Our policies should remain adaptable and technology-neutral so that innovation continues to serve people and societies.
We see a practical way forward for addressing artificial intelligence within existing United Nations frameworks. The focus should be on building capacity, sharing knowledge, and improving coordination rather than creating new institutions. This approach allows us to respond swiftly to emerging technologies while keeping discussions inclusive and coherent.
Estonia supports the continued role of the Internet Governance Forum as inclusive global platform for digital dialogue. We support renewing and strengthening its mandate, ensuring sustainable funding, and expanding its scope to cover digital governance more broadly. We also welcome a stronger link between the WSIS process, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Global Digital Compact to ensure coherence and reinforce the shared vision of an open, secure, and human-centred digital future.
Excellencies,
As we look ahead to the next twenty years, Estonia calls on all partners to uphold the principles agreed in Geneva and Tunis: openness, inclusion, human rights, and multistakeholder cooperation. Together, we can preserve a free, secure, and trusted internet and shape a digital future that truly empowers people everywhere.
Thank you.