Information & Knowledge Sharing

The FOC facilitates information and knowledge sharing through a range of activities, including through learning opportunities on relevant processes, developments or events, conducting monitoring and research activities, exploring mechanisms for voluntary funding coordination, and sharing best-practices and guidelines on relevant policy issue areas. 

These activities are coordinated through the following FOC structures, meetings, and events:

Formal Meetings

Coalition Members regularly convene, either in-person or virtually, to share relevant information concerning issues related to Internet freedom and digital technologies to coordinate viewpoints, collaborate with non-governmental stakeholders, and discuss strategies to promote and protect human rights through the FOC in a variety of contexts. These include:

• Steering Committee Meetings, taking place monthly between capital representatives of the Steering Committee Member States;
• Strategy and Coordination Meetings, taking place quarterly to convene working-level representatives of FOC Member States and the FOC Advisory Network, and with external stakeholders, where appropriate; 
• Diplomatic Network Meetings, taking place between local representatives of FOC Member States ahead of or on the margins of relevant multilateral fora, processes and/or negotiations; and
• High-Level Meetings, including Ministerial convenings, often taking place on the margins of Freedom Online Conferences and key multilateral fora.

Minutes from FOC Steering Committee and Strategy & Coordination meetings can be found here.

Informal Meetings

Alongside formal meetings, Members of the Coalition meet informally on an ad-hoc basis, as well as with the FOC-AN and other stakeholders at numerous conferences and intergovernmental meetings relevant to Internet freedom and digital technologies.

Funding Coordination Group

The Funding Coordination Group (FCG) aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the Coalition and coordinate donor activity to support Coalition aims and objectives. The FCG allows its members to strategically plan, collaborate, enhance knowledge-sharing, and develop global norms related to international development funding and  programming in the Internet freedom and digital democracy space. 

In 2023, the United States co-Chairs the FOC’s FCG with Canada, via the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The FCG welcomes membership from all FOC Members, and participation from FOC Observers, the FOC Advisory Network and external stakeholders, as appropriate. 

FOC Sub-Entities

The FOC’s ad hoc Task Forces and Working Groups provide a mechanism for focused and issue-based engagement, supporting the implementation of FOC statements and recommendations. They are led by FOC Member States, often in collaboration with Advisory Network representatives, and facilitate capacity building, coordination on key policy issues, and a channel for regular communication with a variety of stakeholders. The sub-entities convene Members on a regular basis during their mandated period of work, and frequently engage in external events through participation in panel sessions, facilitating consultations, and leading workshop discussions. 

Freedom Online Conference

Periodically, the FOC holds a multistakeholder Conference that aims to deepen the discussion on Internet freedom and the effects of new and emerging technologies on human rights and fundamental freedoms. The multistakeholder Conferences provide a space for civil society to explore how these technologies can be used for positive change, and help promote human rights, as well as discuss issues of concern and share their perspectives on an equal footing. Since the launch conference in The Hague 2011, Freedom Online Conferences have been held in Nairobi 2012, Tunis 2013, Tallinn 2014, Ulaanbaatar 2015,  San Jose 2016, Berlin 2018, Accra 2020 and most recently through a virtual Conference hosted by Finland in 2021. Visit the following link to view summaries from past Freedom Online Conferences. 

External Events 

FOC Member States and representatives from the FOC’s Advisory Network participate in a variety of external events, including through panel sessions, to further raise awareness of the FOC’s goals and values, and to seek input on methods to address trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the promotion and protection of human rights. To view upcoming events, visit the following page.