IGF 2026 WS #76 Protecting trust, securing AI and emerging technologies

    Description:

    Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping economies, societies, and critical infrastructure at unprecedented speed. While these technologies offer significant opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity, improve resilience, and support innovation, they also introduce new security challenges that policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders must address. Emerging risks include AI-enabled vulnerability discovery, sophisticated cyberattacks, deepfakes, fraud, disinformation, and the growing complexity of interconnected digital ecosystems. At the same time, AI is increasingly being used to enhance cyber defence through improved threat detection, monitoring, analysis, and response capabilities. This workshop will bring together representatives from government, industry and civil society, to examine how security can be integrated into policies that support the responsible adoption and deployment of AI and other emerging technologies. Rather than treating security as a separate consideration, the discussion will examine how governments and industry can promote innovation while embedding security across the AI lifecycle—from development and deployment to operation and governance. Participants will explore practical policy approaches, including secure-by-design principles, risk management, governance frameworks, transparency measures, and resilience of AI supply chains. Drawing on practical experiences and cross-sector perspectives, participants will discuss how governments and industry can work together to enable the adoption of AI in ways that strengthen economic growth, resilience, and public trust while effectively managing security risks. The workshop will highlight the importance of holistic policy frameworks that bring together innovation, cybersecurity, governance, and international cooperation, as well as the role of public-private collaboration in supporting secure and trusted AI ecosystems.
    Policy Question(s)
    1. How can policymakers support the adoption of AI and emerging technologies while ensuring that security is integrated throughout the policy, development, and deployment lifecycle? 2. What policy, governance, and technical measures can help organizations adopt AI securely while strengthening cyber resilience and maintaining public trust? 3. How can stakeholders work together to promote holistic and interoperable policy approaches to the security of AI and emerging technology ecosystems, including data, models, and supply chains?
    Expected Outcomes
    The session will identify practical approaches for strengthening the security and resilience of AI and emerging technologies through multistakeholder cooperation. Participants will exchange experiences on addressing AI-enabled threats, leveraging AI for cybersecurity, and implementing secure-by-design practices across the technology lifecycle. The discussion will help inform future policy and industry discussions on AI governance, cybersecurity, and digital trust. Participants will gain insights into emerging risks, effective governance approaches, public-private collaboration models, and practical measures that can support secure innovation while enhancing confidence in the deployment and use of AI and emerging technologies.
    Format
    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 60
    Format description: A Round Table format is best-placed for the type of cross-sector, collaborative session that we envisage. It will be optimal for establishing an atmosphere that ensures both participants and panellists can engage in fruitful discussion, and that they can do so on equal footing through a seating arrangement conducive to multi-person dialogue. To allow time for in-depth discussion and also accommodate a constructive Q&A section to address the questions, feedback and thoughts of the audience, 60 minutes is the most suitable timeframe for the session.
    Hybrid Format: o Prior to the session: to ensure speakers and attendees get the most out of the session, organizers will make use of the session’s page on the IGF website and social media channels to share preparatory material and kick-start a dialogue. A preparation call will be organised for all speakers, moderators and co-organisers so that everyone has the chance to meet and prepare for the session. o During the session: the moderators are experienced in animating multistakeholder discussions and will complement each other in merging onsite and online speakers and attendees to the optimum. Onsite participants will be encouraged to connect to the online platform to stay informed and engage with discussions in the chat. o Following the session: moderators will encourage participants to make use of the IGF website and social media channels to share further comments and contribute to the session’s report.
    Organizer 1: Suto Timea, International Chamber of Commerce
    Organizer 2: Chelsea ONYANGO, International Chamber of Commerce
    Speaker 1: Carl Gahnberg, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 2: Chadha Ashutosh, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
    Speaker 3: Joyce Hakmeh, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 4: Julia Rodriguez, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 5: Natasha Jackson, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Speaker 6: Suto Timea, Private Sector, Eastern European Group
    Moderator
    Timea Suto, Private Sector, Eastern European Group
    Online Moderator
    Chelsea ONYANGO, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
    Rapporteur
    Maria Clara Franca, Private Sector, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    What will participants gain from attending this session?