Resource Library

Everyone should have access to an open and trusted Internet.
Read our reports, papers, and other documents for insight and vision on how we can get there.

Action Plan 2022

Our roadmap for tackling the threats and challenges for today’s Internet as we look to grow and strengthen it for future generations.

Impact Report 2020

Some of our important work in 2020, highlighting how our community has worked together to to build, promote and defend the Internet.

Global Internet Report (GIR)

From trust to consolidation, access to sustainability, a deep look at the forces shaping our digital future.

Policy Briefs

Our perspective on critical Internet issues, including community networks, encryption, open Internet standards, Internet Exchange Points, and more.

ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2020 Issues Matrix

The chart available in the PDF version of the document summarizes the proposed changes to Internet related WTSA-16 resolutions (including new resolutions) in an effort to identify issues, areas ...

Internet Impact Brief: End-to-end Encryption under the UK’s Draft Online Safety Bill
This brief uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the limitations placed on the use of end-to-end encryption under the UK’s Online Safety Bill may affect the ...
2021 Indigenous Connectivity Summit Policy Recommendations

Indigenous Peoples in North America are pursuing innovative and independent ways to connect to the Internet. They face unique challenges to connectivity and, when it comes to policymaking, they ...

Enablers of an Open, Globally Connected, Secure and Trustworthy Internet
The Enablers of an Open, Globally Connected, Secure and Trustworthy Internet are what help us get closer to the Internet we all want – now and in the future ...
How to Conduct an Internet Impact Brief
Find simple explanations of the goals, critical properties and enablers of the Internet, and a step-by-step guide to conducting and writing your own Internet impact brief ...
Internet Impact Brief: Mandated Browser Root Certificates in the European Union’s eIDAS Regulation on the Internet
This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the EU’s proposal may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an ...
Internet Impact Brief: 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines and the Internet Experience in India
This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit to assess how the 2021 Indian Intermediary Guidelines may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as ...
Internet Impact Brief: Canada’s Proposed Online Harms Legislation and the Internet
This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the Canada’s proposed online harms bill may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to ...
Internet Impact Brief: Technical Architecture of the GAIA-X Project
This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the GAIA-X concepts may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet needs to thrive as an ...
Measuring the Impact of Local IXPs

How do local Internet exchanges affect Asia-Pacific? Internet exchange point hubs are increasingly playing a critical role in making local Internet faster and more affordable. So how does the ...

Factsheet: How Encryption Can Protect Advocacy Groups and Social Change Movements

Encryption is a tool designed to help Internet users keep their online data and communications private and secure. It plays a critical role in protecting day-to-day digital activities like ...

Internet Impact Brief: Revised Directive on Security of Network and Information (NIS2) – Presidency Compromise Proposal September 2021
This report uses the Internet Impact Assessment Toolkit (IIAT) to assess how the Presidency compromise proposal from 21 September 2021 may affect the global Internet by impacting what the Internet ...

Archives

Security Factsheet: Why Should Municipalities Make Network and Data Security a Priority?
Communities can minimize risk by being intentional about how and by whom networks and devices are used. These are eight best practices for municipal governments to optimize security ...
Encryption: Essential for the LGBTQ+ Community
For some communities, like LGBTQ+ communities, encryption is especially crucial in keeping people safe both online and in real life ...
Online Trust Audit – 2020 U.S. Presidential Campaigns
Given increased concerns about security and privacy in the political realm and the continuing drumbeat of high-profile data breaches, we conducted an Audit of the websites and email practices of ...
2019 Online Trust Audit Methodology 

The 2019 Online Trust Audit will represent the 11th independent analysis and benchmark report of the adoption of security standards and responsible privacy practices. This methodology reflects comments received in response to the Internet Society’s ...

Policy Brief: IoT Privacy for Policymakers

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is the latest wave of integration of technology into our lives and surroundings. This rapidly-spreading new generation of devices brings cameras, microphones, sensors, computing, ...

Are Organizations Ready for New Privacy Regulations?
Based on 1,200 privacy statements, many are not prepared for coming regulations ...
2019 Online Trust Audit and Honor Roll

The 2019 Online Trust Audit & Honor Roll will represent the 11th independent analysis and benchmark report of the adoption of security standards and responsible privacy practices. 

Sites  are eligible to ...

2018 Cyber Incident & Breach Trends Report
This year’s report includes ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, connected device vulnerability, and more ...
Policy Brief: Principles for Responsible Data Handling
More and more of our activities generate data which is collected and used in ways we don't see and can't control. While the data is used for analytics and targeted ...
The State of User Privacy and Trust Online
In the 2019 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust, Internet users point to cybercriminals, Internet companies, other Internet users, and governments as major sources of their distrust in ...
Net Neutrality Experts’ Roundtable Series Process Report
The United States needs an approach that upholds the core principles of an open Internet and provides market stability; it also needs a solution that puts consumer rights at the ...
Net Neutrality Legislation: A Framework for Consensus

Note: The Net Neutrality Principles do not represent the views of the Internet Society, nor any of its Chapters, members, partners or any of the participating organizations. Rather, they ...

Organization Reports

On annual basis, we publish annual reports (an Action Plan and Impact Report), as well as financial reports, annual financial statements, and Form 990s.

See the Reports