The European Commission has unveiled plans for an online platform to improve knowledge and participation on issues related to global internet policymaking.

According to the Commission press release, the Global Internet Policy Observatory will “act as a clearinghouse for monitoring Internet policy, regulatory and technological developments across the world”.

GIPO will not replace existing mechanisms and fora where global Internet governance is discussed, such as the Internet Governance Forum. Rather, its objective is to be a tool-box for stakeholders and an instrument to strengthen existing Internet policy-making processes, making full use of modern technology.