Funded by the European Union, the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet invited scholars and researchers working at the intersection of the open Internet, economic growth, and digital governance to participate and present their research at a roundtable at the EUI
Rationale
The free and open Internet has long been a driving force behind global innovation and inclusive economic growth. Over decades, seamless cross-border flows of data, ideas, and digital services have transformed trade, productivity, and employment. The Internet’s openness not only fuels GDP growth and higher incomes but also supports the rapid expansion of digitally delivered services—the fastest-growing segment of international trade. However, this economic potential is challenged by trends toward fragmentation and state-imposed restrictions. Measures such as Internet shutdowns, data localisation mandates, and barriers to digital trade threaten the core principles of openness, interoperability, and security. These restrictions undermine the global digital economy and cost billions in lost growth, investment, and innovation. Yet, the economic debate around Internet openness remains fragmented across disciplines—economics, law, technology, and public policy—while comprehensive empirical evidence remains scarce. This expert roundtable aims to address these gaps by fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue about the open Internet as a cornerstone of competitiveness and sustainable growth.
This expert roundtable convened researchers and experts with the aim to:
- Map the benefits and economic impact of Internet openness on growth, competitiveness, and innovation, drawing on empirical evidence from diverse regions and sectors.
- Assess the effects of restrictive measures—including data localisation, censorship, and shutdowns—on digital trade, productivity, and inclusive development.
- Identify governance strategies and best practices that promote a globally open Internet while addressing legitimate policy concerns, such as data protection, security, and fair competition.
The roundtable was attended by 40+ experts from academia, international organisations, civil society, think tanks, and the private sector, with participants representing Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. This group included perspectives from economics, law, political science, international relations, computer science, human rights advocacy, and technical standard-setting.
Outcomes and Key Takeaways
The roundtable underscored that the open internet remains foundational to global growth and innovation, lowering barriers to entry and enabling knowledge diffusion. However, participants emphasised that openness is not a binary concept but a spectrum that requires strategic calibration. In today's shifting geopolitical landscape, openness must be balanced with considerations for security, resilience and strategic autonomy—particularly given the fragility often inherent in closed or authoritarian models.
A recurring theme was the tension between market openness and digital concentration, especially in cloud and AI infrastructure where a few dominant firms prevail. Discussions highlighted that while initiatives for European strategic autonomy are necessary to address these dependencies, they must avoid undermining the cross-border collaboration and interoperability that drive innovation. Furthermore, speakers noted that the benefits of openness are unevenly distributed, with persistent digital divides affecting rural areas and smaller enterprises. To address this, regulatory frameworks like the DSA must be designed carefully to prevent high compliance costs from inadvertently entrenching large incumbents.
Finally, the event reaffirmed that meaningful multistakeholder governance is essential but currently strained by power imbalances. Participants called for structural changes and sustained investment to ensure that civil society and users have a genuine voice in shaping digital rules. The consensus was that openness is not an end in itself but a means to broader economic and social goals, requiring continuous negotiation to ensure it serves inclusive development rather than just concentrated power.
This event is part of the Global initiative on the future of the internet, a project funded by the European Union under the service contract no. NDICI/2023/447-807