The ROAM policy principles for an inclusive internet

Sebastian Greger

Molly Holzschlag called for more attention to the UNESCO’s ROAM principles, a United Nations policy framework for an internet for all: Rights, Openness, Accessibility to all, Multistakeholder participation.

Never once can I recall a discussion with any Web colleagues about The ROAM Principles. They are a framework for Internet (and #Web) universality and we need them. We're too fragmented and without unity and discourse, we will lose what's left of the idealism and hope born of Web.
— This Miss Molly

Finalized in 2018, they are the result of a five-year process to formalize “Internet Universality” (history). Currently, the process of voluntary national implementation at country-level is under way.

Infographic that summarizes the four core principles Rights, Openness, Accessibility to all, and Multistakeholder participation.
This visualization by Wikipedia user Sarah GM (licensed CC-BY-SA) highlights the four core principles of internet universality.

A summary leaflet and the full publication are available from the UNESCO's website.

I agree with Molly Holzschlag: this should really be wider known (and maybe the Wikipedia page brought up-to-date as well). And even more so, I’d hope this to be broadly adapted in policy-making around the globe.

I'm Sebastian, Sociologist and Interaction Designer. This journal is mostly about bringing toge­ther social science and design for inclusive, privacy-focused, and sustainable "human-first" digital strategies. I also tend to a "digital garden" with carefully curated resources.

My occasionally sent email newsletter has all of the above, and there is of course also an RSS feed or my Mastodon/Fediverse profile.