International Conference on Digital Platform Governance 2026 to Gather Global Experts in Pretoria

From 11 to 13 February 2026, the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus will host the International Conference on Digital Platform Governance 2026, a major global gathering focused on shaping the future of digital governance and online information integrity.

The event builds on UNESCO’s ongoing Internet for Trust initiative and follows the first edition held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in 2024. This second installment will bring together an extensive mix of participants: media and communication regulators, government representatives, electoral bodies, digital platforms, civil society groups, academics, and international organizations.

Co-hosted by the Information, Communication, Technologies and Media Regulators Forum of South Africa and the Coalition of Organisations for the Promotion of the Digital Public Space (through the Social Media 4 Peace project), the conference is organized with support from UNESCO, the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (ACRAN), the Francophone Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM), the I4T Knowledge Network, and the European Union.

Across public plenaries and side events, participants will explore regional experiences, thematic challenges, and collaborative approaches to ensure human rights–based governance of the digital environment. A key focus will be assessing global progress in implementing UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, a framework aimed at strengthening freedom of expression and safeguarding information integrity online.

The Pretoria meeting will also host the second annual gathering of the Global Forum of Networks (GFN)—a consortium launched during the inaugural 2024 conference—continuing efforts to coordinate regulatory bodies and stakeholders worldwide.

More information: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/international-conference-digital-platform-governance-2026