(15-18 November 2009, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt] The fourth annual Internet Governance Forum gathered over 1800 participants from 112 countries.

The discussions examined:

• ways to improve Internet access by all and promote local content and cultural diversity;
• ways to ensure the safety of the Internet and fight cybercrime;
• manage key Internet resources such as the root server system, technical standards, interconnection and telecommunications, the domain name system and Internet protocol addresses.

The meeting also discussed new issues related to the continued growth of social networks, and the ensuing governance issues that are emerging, in particular, the need for new approaches regarding privacy and data protection, rules applicable to user-generated content and copyrighted material, and issues of freedom of expression and illegal content.

Parallel to the main sessions on these issues, more than 100 workshops, best practice forums, dynamic coalition meetings and open forums were held around the broad themes of the main sessions and the overall mandate of the IGF.

For further information:

• CoE contribution to the IGF: "Internet - Creating opportunities for all"
• CoE press release
• Website of the IGF
• IGF site of the Council of Europe
• CoE special files on the IGF