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Resource Library

Everyone should have access to an open and trusted Internet.
Read our reports, papers, and other documents for insight and vision on how we can get there.

Action Plan 2024

Our roadmap for tackling the threats and challenges for today’s Internet as we look to grow and defend it for future generations.

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2023 Year in Review

The Year in Review shows the steps we took in 2023 to ensure the Internet is for everyone. Learn about the positive difference we made for the Internet.

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Internet Impact Briefs

Shorter reports that analyze how different policies or new technologies may affect what the Internet needs to exist and thrive.

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Global Internet Report (GIR)

From trust to consolidation, access to sustainability, a deep look at the forces shaping our digital future.

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Policy Briefs

Our perspective on critical Internet issues, including community networks, encryption, open Internet standards, Internet Exchange Points, and more.

2021 Indigenous Connectivity Summit Policy Recommendations

Indigenous Peoples in North America are pursuing innovative and independent ways to connect to the Internet. They face unique challenges to connectivity and, when it comes to policymaking, they ...

Enablers of an Open, Globally Connected, Secure and Trustworthy Internet

The Enablers of an Open, Globally Connected, Secure and Trustworthy Internet are what help us get closer to the Internet we all want – now and in the future ...

How to Conduct an Internet Impact Brief

Find simple explanations of the goals, critical properties and enablers of the Internet, and a step-by-step guide to conducting and writing your own Internet impact brief ...

Internet Impact Brief: Mandated Browser Root Certificates in the European Union’s eIDAS Regulation on the Internet

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the EU’s proposal may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an ...

Internet Impact Brief: 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines and the Internet Experience in India

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit to assess how the 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as ...

Internet Impact Brief: Canada’s Proposed Online Harms Legislation and the Internet

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the Canada’s proposed online harms bill may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to ...

Internet Impact Brief: Technical Architecture of the GAIA-X Project

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the GAIA-X concepts may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an ...

Measuring the Impact of Local IXPs

How do local Internet exchanges affect Asia-Pacific? Internet exchange point hubs are increasingly playing a critical role in making local Internet faster and more affordable. So how does the ...

Factsheet: How Encryption Can Protect Advocacy Groups and Social Change Movements

For some communities, like human rights defenders, advocacy groups, community organizers, and humanitarian actors, encryption is especially crucial and should be used with other more conventional privacy protection tools to keep people safe ...

Internet Impact Brief: Revised Directive on Security of Network and Information (NIS2) – Presidency Compromise Proposal September 2021

This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the Presidency compromise proposal from 21 September 2021 may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet ...

Reimagining the Summit on Community Networks in Africa during the COVID-19 Pandemic

With almost half the world’s population offline and left out, there has been one clear lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to affordable Internet connectivity and digital ...

Security Through Encryption and Despite Encryption: An (un)Achievable Outcome?

On 16 June 2021 we organised a roundtable to explore in greater detail how to apply the European Council’s position on encryption, following its November 2020 Resolution; “Security through encryption ...

Archives

ITU Plenipotentiary 2018 – Issues Matrix

This chart identifies issues, areas of concern, organizations impacted, etc., on a best-effort basis. Suggestions to improve this work are welcome. The Internet Society has analysed outcomes of the 2018 ...

Top Tips for Consumers: Internet of Things Security and Privacy

1. Learn how to “shop smart” for connected devices. You don’t want to have to return a connected device because it is spying on you. Returning things is a pain ...

Internet Crossing Borders: Boosting the Internet in Landlocked Developing Countries

Please note that this is NOT the full report, but the Executive Summary with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Case Studies. The full report will be ready soon, stay tuned for the ...

State of IPv6 Deployment 2018

IPv6 deployment continues to increase around the world. In the six years since World IPv6 Launch[*] levels of IPv6 deployment in networks and service providers all over the globe have ...

Policy Development Process at the Internet Society

The Internet Society advocates for policies that enhance security and privacy, enable the growth of Internet access, and promote the ecosystem of transparent, multistakeholder Internet governance ...

IoT Trust by Design

IoT Trust Framework identifies the core requirements manufacturers, service providers, distributors/purchasers and policymakers need to understand, assess and embrace for effective security and privacy as part of the Internet of ...

Internet of Things (IoT) Trust Framework v2.5

The IoT Trust Framework® includes a set of strategic principles necessary to help secure IoT devices and their data when shipped and throughout their entire life-cycle ...

Personal Data Protection Guidelines for Africa

A joint initiative of the Internet Society and the Commission of the African Union ...

Internet Society Background Paper on ITU Plenipotentiary 2018

This background paper provides a general overview of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and our perspectives on some of the main issues which may be discussed ...

IoT Security for Policymakers

“Cybersecurity will be the most pressing challenge of the next decade, and IoT will play a critical role in it.” Internet Society 2017 Global Internet Report
The open ...

Best Practices: Enterprise IoT Security Checklist

The Internet of Things (IoT) has found its way into all aspects of our lives. In particular, consumer IoT devices such as smart TVs, thermostats, smart speakers, fitness trackers and ...

Our Former CEO’s Opinion Piece in The Hill Times: Canada’s Unique Opportunity to Lead the Future of the Internet

Now is the time, with Canada’s leadership on the global stage, to reinforce the internet’s bottom-up development so it can continue to innovate and expand as humanity’s promise for opportunity ...

Organization Reports

On annual basis, we publish annual reports (an Action Plan and Impact Report), as well as financial reports, annual financial statements, and Form 990s.