With the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of ICTs having concluded in 2025, UNIDIR is producing a report that will provide a detailed analysis of the OEWG process, highlighting major themes, trends and discussions that shaped the global ICT security landscape from 2021 to 2025.
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Assessing the impact of the Open-Ended Working Group on security of and in the use of ICTs
Global governance of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the context of international security is at a turning point.
The conclusion of the second Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICT in 2025 and the subsequent launch of the Global Mechanism on ICT security marked the transition from temporary, mandate-bound negotiations to a permanent global mechanism within the United Nations.
The second OEWG produced three annual progress reports and a final report. These outcomes strengthened the Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in the ICT environment and laid the foundation for the Global Mechanism. Beyond official reports, the OEWG discussions generated substantial insights on how UN Member States approached ICT-related security challenges.
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In this context, the forthcoming report from UNIDIR’s Security and Technology programme will provide a detailed analysis of this OEWG process, highlighting major themes, trends and discussions that shaped the global ICT security landscape from 2021 to 2025.
This report will offer:
- A comprehensive analysis of the OEWG process and its evolution.
- Detailed accounts of discussions not captured in official reports.
- Insights across the main pillars of the framework: threats, rules, norms and principles, international law, confidence-building measures, capacity-building and regular institutional dialogue.
The full report will be available soon.