Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds are the next technological frontiers. They will fundamentally affect the internet as we know it today and will require a forward-looking approach to governance that is both adaptive, future-proof and not dominated by a single stakeholder group.
The 2025 Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission are organising the first Global Multistakeholder High Level Conference on Governance for Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds to initiate a global discussion on this topic.
The goal of this conference is to define foundational principles for a global governance framework for Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds that addresses the dynamics of digital spaces, ensuring their governance is transparent, inclusive, and accountable.
The event will take place on the 31st of March and 1st of April 2025 at the Charlemagne building in Brussels.
The conference will bring together academics, policymakers, technologists, and community leaders. Together, they will propose solutions for the governance of virtual worlds, opening collaboration and knowledge-sharing between participants from different sectors.
It will focus in particular on policy dialogues for an ethical, value-driven shift to Web 4.0. as well as standardisation issues related to virtual worlds (including internet standards) and its technical management. It will also cover the need to align our approach with the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.
Registration and the conference website will be accessible shortly.
We look forward to your participation!