This December, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) marked the transition of its Chairship from Estonia to Switzerland through two handover events. The first event, Advancing Human Rights Online: FOC Chairship Handover, was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva on 8 December 2025. This was followed by an evening reception hosted by H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations in New York on 15 December 2025. Together, these two events provided an opportunity for FOC Members, the FOC Advisory Network, and representatives of international organisations to reflect on the achievements of the Estonian Chairship, and to look ahead to the priorities for the 2026 Chairship of Switzerland.
Advancing Human Rights Online: FOC Chairship Handover
The Geneva event was opened by H.E. Mr Peter Dougall, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada and H.E. Ms. Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Estonia. The opening remarks reaffirmed strong commitment to the FOC as an enduring platform for promoting an open, free, and secure digital environment. Emphasis was placed on the continued importance of multistakeholder, human rights–based approaches to digital governance in the context of rapid technological change and an increasingly complex global landscape. As the Coalition approaches its 15th anniversary, its role was underscored as more relevant than ever.
FOC 2025 Chairship: Reflections and Lessons Learned
Rasmus Lumi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and Chairperson for the Estonian FOC Chairship and Elonnai Hickok, Managing Director of the Global Network Initiative and Co-Chair of the FOC Advisory Network, reflected on the 2025 FOC Chairship of Estonia.
Despite a challenging operational environment, significant progress was achieved during the 2025 Chairship. The year was characterised by strong collaboration and collective action, alongside a renewed commitment to advancing human rights and democratic values online. Key achievements included the adoption of the Rights-Respecting Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Principles, strengthened cooperation on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and continued efforts to address internet shutdowns and digital repression.
The interventions also underscored the importance of close collaboration between governments and civil society, highlighting the role of the FOC Advisory Network in shaping policy positions. Sustained and coordinated input into multilateral processes such as the WSIS+20 review, alongside regional dialogues and public consultations, helped establish a strong foundation for continuity and impact during the upcoming 2026 Chairship of Switzerland.
Panel Discussion: FOC in Geneva – Achievements, Gaps, and Emerging Opportunities
The panel examined the FOC’s engagement within Geneva’s international ecosystem and how the Coalition can strengthen its contribution to human rights–based digital governance across multilateral processes, particularly as global digital policy frameworks move from negotiation to implementation.
The discussion highlighted the central role of the FOC’s Geneva diplomatic network in maintaining coordination, visibility, and policy engagement throughout the 2025 Chairship. This included sustained engagement with Human Rights Council (HRC) processes, collaboration with key partners, and high-level discussions on issues such as internet shutdowns. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the HRC was underscored as a key accountability mechanism for advancing online freedoms. Participants also noted the opportunity and importance of using the ecosystem in Geneva to break down silos between digital governance, human rights, and security policy.
The discussion further underscored the need to use the FOC as a platform to strengthen accountability, coordination, and capacity-building in response to growing risks to human rights online. Key concerns included surveillance, online violence, the misuse of cybercrime frameworks to criminalise expression, information integrity challenges, transnational repression, and emerging risks linked to AI governance.
Looking ahead, the vision for the 2026 Chairship of Switzerland emphasises continuity with previous Chairships. Priorities include supporting the implementation of key global digital governance frameworks, deepening work on digital public infrastructure (DPI), artificial intelligence, and information integrity, and strengthening meaningful multistakeholder participation. Geneva’s international ecosystem was reaffirmed as a strategic platform for bridging policy silos and anchoring digital governance firmly in international human rights frameworks.
The panel was moderated by Konstantinos Komaitis, Resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab and FOC Advisory Network Member
Panel speakers:
- Rasmus Lumi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and Chairperson for the Estonian FOC Chairship
- Jorge Cancio, Co-Director of International Relations, Federal Office of Communications of Switzerland
- Elonnai Hickok, Managing Director, Global Network Initiative (GNI) and Co-Chair of the FOC Advisory Network
- Birgit Kainz-Labbé, Coordinator of the Civic Space Unit, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
New York Evening Reception
Following a side event at the WSIS High-Level Week, H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations in New York hosted an evening reception on 15 December to mark the Chairship handover from Estonia to Switzerland. Remarks were also provided by Rasmus Lumi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and Bernard Maissen, Secretary of State, Director of the Federal Office of Communications, Switzerland.
