The Internet has become an indispensable tool for life and work. But who safeguards that it evolves sustainably, according to values such as accessibility, privacy, security, and inclusivity? The NGI - The Next Generation Internet is an initiative launched in 2018 by the European Commission to do just that: to make the Internet develop based on human-centered values.
I’m a numbers person, so let me state a few facts about the initiative’s impact along the last 5 years:
💼 32 launched Programs/Actions - out of which 10 are now live.
💸 312M€ invested
🚀 Funded over 1000 innovator projects
Our mission at Gataca is to combat identity fraud and safeguard privacy in the Internet, so we found in NGI a community with shared values. Over the last 3 years, we’ve been grantees in 2 programs (NGI Essif-Lab and NGI Enrichers), speakers at NGI Forum, Impact Stories protagonists, and more recently NGI Influencers (although I prefer the adjective ambassador).
Over a series of articles, I’ll disseminate NGIs initiatives hoping its impacts gets a ripple effect on a broader community and ultimately achieves its objetive; that is, building an Internet of Humans.
Today I’ll focus on NGI Forum, its annual flagship event where innovators and policymakers join to present the work done and discuss the future of the Internet.
Held on Nov 15-16 in Brussels, I witnessed firsthand the quite impressive machinery that fuels the organization behind the scenes, and the concerns, principles, and strategies floating in the minds of people that stop to think about the future of the Internet.
The central theme in this 5th anniversary edition was “Digital Commons”, an ambiguous word for most of us. I’d define it as an approach in which valuable resources and components are accesible, open, and built by and for the community. As such, I observed a strong will on fostering open source development - and also heated conversations about the actual use of open source code and its security.
Within the theme, several topics were addressed, including Quantum computing, LLMs, Web search challenges, decentralized social media, and digital identity. I personally participated in the preparation and delivery of this last topic, in a panel titled “Shaping Digital Identity and Credentials in the Web 4.0 Era: Empowering and Safeguarding Individuals in the Online World”.
Alongside Alex Grech , Maya Madrid, Paul Jackson and Hennie Bulstra we delved into what’s happening in Europe. My take-aways of this panel in 4 bullet points:
Looking back
The Forum was also a time for celebration. NGI Impact Stories were tales told by NGI innovators that showcased achievements and highlighted the pivotal role of community members in shaping an Internet that prioritizes people.
Looking ahead
AI was of course not left behind. The Keynote speaker Roberto Viola shared his point of view about a world in which humans will strongly interact with intelligent machines. His vision for NGI, he said, was “to become the whistle blowers in AI, to help with spotting issues and to develop standards”.
In closing
The Next Generation Internet (NGI) isn't merely an initiative—it's a dynamic force shaping a digital future grounded in human values. As I remember the NGI Forum and its discussions, it became evident to me that there is a large and devoted community embarked in a collaborative journey to build a sustainable and ethical digital evolution. Gataca is proud to be part of this movement, working towards combating identity fraud and championing online privacy.
If you want to know more about NGI and its work, visit their news website, or follow me and keep an eye out for upcoming summary articles.
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