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.

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