DECEMBER 2011
The FOC is established at the inaugural Freedom Online Conference in The Hague, on December 8-9, 2011, where it is launched by the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, with keynote remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Thirteen countries pledge to abide by the commitments set out in the Founding Declaration.
SEPTEMBER 2012
In 2012, the Coalition is chaired by the government of Kenya, which hosts the second Freedom Online Conference in Nairobi, September 6-7, 2012. During the conference, FOC members agree to the Nairobi Terms of Reference and the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) fund is launched.
JUNE 2013
From 2012 to 2013, the government of Tunisia holds the Chairship, and hosts the third Freedom Online Conference in Tunis, June 17-18, 2013. Discussions at the Conference result in the establishment of the three FOC multistakeholder Working Groups: An Internet Free and Secure, Digital Development and Openness, and Privacy and Transparency Online.
JANUARY 2014
The FOC Secretariat is established to provide administrative support to the Coalition, maximise coordination efforts among members, and facilitate internal and external communications.
APRIL 2014
The Chairship of the Coalition returns to Europe, with the government of Estonia taking up the mantle from 2013 to 2014. The fourth Freedom Online Conference is held in Tallinn, April 28-29, 2014. At the Conference, FOC members adopt the Tallinn Recommendations for Freedom Online, and the official FOC website is launched.
JULY 2014
FOC Working Groups ‘An Internet Free and Secure’ and ‘Privacy and Transparency Online’ are formally set up through an open call for members.
AUGUST 2014
The ‘Friends of the Chair’ group is established to provide support to the FOC chair in the run-up to the Conference and ensure year to year continuity of the Coalition’s diplomatic efforts.
MAY 2015
From 2014 to 2015, the Coalition is chaired by the government of Mongolia, marking the first time the torch is carried by an Asian country. The fifth Freedom Online Conference is held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on May 4-5, 2015. The FOC decides to renew the mandates of the FOC Working Groups and to undergo a 5-year strategic review.
JUNE 2015
The government of Costa Rica assumes the Chairship, with plans to host the Freedom Online Conference in San José in October 2016, bringing the Coalition’s core activities to the Western Hemisphere for the first time. FOC launches its newsletter.
OCTOBER 2016
On October 17-18, 2016, the sixth Freedom Online Conference takes place in San José, Costa Rica. During the conference the San José Statement, the culmination of a 16-month long strategic review, is presented to the international community.
MAY 2017
On May 16, 2017, at the FOC Strategy and Coordination Meeting held adjacent to the Stockholm Internet Forum 2017, the FOC officially adopts the “Stockholm Terms of Reference”.
MARCH 2018
Following an open call for members and the subsequent selection process, the FOC announces the membership of the Coalition’s new multistakeholder body, the FOC Advisory Network, consisting of 30 non-governmental representatives.
NOVEMBER 2018
On November 28-30, 2018, the seventh Freedom Online Conference takes place in Berlin, under the German Chairship. The Conference is opened by Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Heiko Maas.
MARCH 2019
In 2019-2020, the Chairship of the Coalition returns to the African continent. Ghana assumes the Chairship and is the third African country to Chair the FOC.
FEBRUARY 2020
On February 6-7 2020, the eighth Freedom Online Conference takes place in Accra, under the theme “Achieving a Common Vision for Internet Freedom”.
JANUARY 2021
On January 1, Finland assumes the Chairship of the Coalition for the year 2021 with plans to mark the 10-year anniversary of the FOC at the Freedom Online Conference in Helsinki on December 2-3.
