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Internet civil society is the civic sector—especially nonprofit organizations, communities, and people—that work on internet-related public interests, rights, access, policy, and governance. It is not the internet industry as a whole. The term most often describes organized groups, but it can also be used more broadly for people affected by internet decisions.
What does “Internet civil society” mean?
There is no single universally agreed legal definition. As a practical definition, Internet Society describes civil society as a diverse community of not-for-profit organizations that serve individual, group, or community interests. When those groups engage with internet-related concerns, they are part of internet civil society. Internet Society’s overview of the internet ecosystem uses this organizational framing.
The defining feature is the connection to internet-related public interests. Civil society in general includes civic organizations working on many subjects; internet civil society refers specifically to participation in matters such as internet access, rights, policy, and governance.
Who is included?
Internet civil society is not one organization or a single constituency. Its participants can include:
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- Grassroots movements and community groups
- Media organizations
- Youth, gender, and Indigenous groups
- Think tanks, educational institutions, and research organizations
- Consumer advocates and community networking groups
These examples come from Internet Society’s description and ICANN’s guidance on groups that may apply to become At-Large Structures. They are examples, not a complete membership list. Internet Society’s 2025 explainer also describes civil society’s role in representing people and creating ways for everyday users to participate in internet governance.
Does the term include individual internet users?
It depends on the context. In formal policy settings, “civil society” commonly means organized groups. In broader discussions of internet governance, it may also include individual users and others whose lives are affected by internet policy, even if they do not belong to an organization.
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One useful way to keep the distinction clear is to separate three layers: the general public affected by internet decisions; organizations that represent particular interests; and the organizations or individuals who actively take part in governance forums. These layers overlap, but they are not interchangeable. A user affected by a policy is part of the wider public; that does not automatically make the person a representative of an organized civil-society group.
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Internet civil society brings public and community perspectives into discussions about how the internet is governed. Organizations can represent people whose interests might otherwise be less visible, while participation routes can give users a way to contribute directly.
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The United Nations’ account of the 2003 World Summit on the Information Society recognized a continuing role for civil society in internet-related public policy, particularly at the community level. That role sits alongside the roles of governments, businesses, and technical organizations; civil society does not replace them. The UN summit summary describes these stakeholder roles.
Internet Society wrote in 2025 that “Civil society is a crucial part of the Internet ecosystem, as it represents the people and builds avenues for everyday users to get involved in the Internet governance community.” This is the organization’s stated view, not a universal definition or a claim that every group represents every user. The article notes that its viewpoints may not reflect official Internet Society positions.
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How can a group or individual participate?
There is no single participation process for all internet governance. The route depends on the institution, its eligibility rules, and whether it accepts individuals, organizations, or both. One documented example is ICANN’s At-Large community.
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ICANN’s At-Large Structures
ICANN says groups such as professional societies, academic and research organizations, community networking groups, consumer advocacy groups, Internet Society chapters, computer-user organizations, and internet civil society groups may apply to become At-Large Structures. ICANN’s guidance says there is no application or membership fee. Read ICANN’s current participation guidance for the application route and current requirements.
This is an ICANN-specific option, not a universal civil-society membership or representative structure. Individuals should check the relevant institution’s own guidance to find out whether they can participate directly or need to join an eligible organization.
What the term does not tell you
- It does not mean the internet industry as a whole; companies and civil-society groups have distinct roles.
- It does not guarantee that a group represents all internet users. Representation depends on the group’s purpose and constituency.
- It does not identify one formal authority or universal route for joining internet governance.
- There is no reliable sector-wide count established here for the number of internet civil-society organizations or participants.
Internet Society reported that more than 140,000 learners had been trained in its 2025 article. That is the organization’s training total, not a count of internet civil-society members or a measure of participation across the sector.
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