Multistakeholder Collaboration
Our work
The Coalition’s Member States are committed to inclusive and open multistakeholder governance of digital technologies, including the Internet, and to foster sustained dialogue with external stakeholders to share knowledge and expertise.
To facilitate engagement with external stakeholders, the Coalition identified the development of a strong mechanism for ongoing multistakeholder engagement as a priority during the 6th Freedom Online Conference in Costa Rica. In 2018, the FOC Advisory Network (FOC-AN) was established to play that role through regular engagement with FOC governments.
In addition to engaging with the FOC-AN, the Coalition has welcomed input from external stakeholders including those from civil society, academia, industry, media, and the technical community through various activities and events. These include the periodic Freedom Online Conference, and through regional consultations, which were most recently held with stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Middle East and North Africa regions during 2022 to support the development of the FOC Ottawa Agenda.
FOC Advisory Network
The FOC Advisory Network (FOC-AN) is an independent multistakeholder group composed of civil society, academia and private sector representatives who provide advice on aims, objectives and activities, as well as support the FOC’s mission of advancing Internet freedom and human rights online through its working methods.
FOC Sub-Entities
The FOC’s Task Forces & Working Groups provide a mechanism for focused and issue-based engagement, supporting the implementation of FOC statements, other outputs, and recommendations. Task Forces and Working Groups are led by FOC Member States, often in collaboration with Advisory Network Members, and facilitate capacity building, coordination on key policy issues, and are a channel for regular communication, enabling tangible outcomes.
Current FOC Sub-Entities
Within its mandate, the Task Force on AI and Human Rights (TFAIR) held the pen in drafting the FOC Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in 2020. Building on the Joint Statement and the previous work of the FOC, TFAIR brings together a network of diverse stakeholders representing states, academia, civil society, and industry. TFAIR aims to increase the capacity of members to collaborate on relevant policy issues and contribute to a common understanding of international norms on human rights respecting AI. In 2025, the Task Force is co-Chaired by the Netherlands, Germany, and FOC-AN Member ICNL.
For more details on TFAIR and its work, please click here.
Previous FOC Sub-Entities
Established in 2023, the FOC Task Force on Information Integrity Online (TFIIO) was co-Chaired by the Government of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and FOC Advisory Network Member Wikimedia Foundation.
The Task Force continued the work of the Action Coalition on Trustworthy Information Online as established under the Danish Tech for Democracy initiative. Since its outset in the fall of 2021, the Action Coalition’s intention has been to identify solutions to support trustworthy information online.
For more information on the Task Force on Information Integrity Online, click here.
Launched in December of 2021, the Task Force on Internet Shutdowns (TFIS) is chaired by the United States, alongside FOC Advisory Network members Access Now and the Global Network Initiative (GNI). The Task Force will build on the work of the FOC’s 2017 Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Governments on State Sponsored Network Disruptions as well as the 2021 G7 Leaders’ Communique and Foreign and Development Ministers Communique to improve coordination, among likeminded countries, civil society and the private sector, to anticipate, address and respond to Internet shutdowns.
For more information on the Task Force on Internet Shutdowns, please click here.
The Task Force on Digital Equality builds on the Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion, aiming to translate the Statement’s recommendations into concrete action that has tangible, positive outcomes for promoting digital equality in the global North and global South alike. The Task Force on Digital Equality serves as an invaluable opportunity for the AN and FOC to actively promote diversity and inclusiveness, including in its communication tools, language, and venues. In particular, the Task Force encourages and fortifies global South participation and perspectives, and is committed to a cross-cutting, normative human rights-based approach (including fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion).
For more information on the Task Force on Digital Equality, please click here.
The Silicon Valley Working Group was launched in 2021 with the aim to build new forms of cooperation between the FOC and the global technology sector whose products or services potentially impact human rights, many of which are headquartered in Silicon Valley and the US West. By providing an avenue for continuous private sector engagement with FOC governments, the working group strengthens opportunities for collaboration on the protection of internet freedom and enables tangible outcomes.
For more information on the Silicon Valley Working Group, please click here.
Digital Defenders Partnership
Through the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP), several Coalition countries support efforts to respond to digital threats and to create resilient and sustainable networks of support to human rights defenders. DDP is managed by the Dutch NGO Hivos. Further information can be found by visiting: www.digitaldefenders.org
