auIGF Position paper

The auIGF is pleased to release the updated draft of the 2025 Position Paper for discussion at the auIGF.

It has also updated the 2024 Position Paper, to test consensus on an auIGF response to the WSIS+20 Review's Zero Draft. 

Developing a Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing in Australia

Building on the success of our inaugural 2024 paper, the 2025 Position Paper explores how Australia can create a shared framework of principles, rights and responsibilities to ensure that technology serves people, communities, and the public interest.

Why this matters

Digital technologies have transformed our society, but they’ve also created profound challenges—cybersecurity risks, misuse of personal data, harmful content, mis/disinformation, and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, Australia’s fragmented regulatory environment and the growing market power of major technology companies risk leaving individuals, small businesses and communities behind.

This outlines a possible Social Contract that could cover the following:

• Can we develop a shared set of principles, rights and responsibilities to guide digital governance in Australia?
• What would it look like to ensure that technology serves people, rather than the other way around?
• How can we build a digital environment that supports democracy, competition, privacy, and wellbeing?

The 2025 Position Paper draws inspiration from international examples, such as Brazil’s Marco Civil da Internet and the European Commission’s Digital Principles, while aiming to develop an Australian framework rooted in collaboration across government, industry, civil society and the technical community.

Post-Consultation Updates

Feedback indicated strong support for the concept of a Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing, and for a multistakeholder drafting group to undertake further work and public consultation. The following amendments to the paper have been made in response to feedback:

• The Introduction has been amended to better reflect technology’s potential enhancing our lives. 
  • One comment suggested the paper could have a more optimistic tone.
• The second hypothesis has been amended to clarify that relevant expertise will be necessary.
• The What do we mean by a Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing? section has been amended to indicate our intention that the Contract becomes a tool for driving      change. 
• A new section called What happens next? has been added to clarify that the auIGF will launch a conversation but that people/organisations with relevant expertise will be invited to help carry this work forward. It notes the 2026 auIGF is a drafting target, not the end point. It also acknowledges the paper doesn’t seek to find solutions or address implementation – addressing these and other issues will come later – and reiterates that the goal is to effect change.
  • Some comments expressed concern about the auIGF community’s capacity to undertake this work, while another thought the auIGF is the appropriate community for       collaboration on this issue. 
  • One comment expressed concern that reporting back to the auIGF does not effect change, and to avoid the project being simply and “opinion piece” suggested instead that it be shared Australian governments and with the global IGF. Another noted that even non-binding documents can influence behavioral change. 
  • One comment noted that consideration will need to be given to issues such as       implementation, how to achieve collective commitment, and how the perspectives of First Peoples are included.
• Several suggestions for other initiatives to consider have been included in under Where can we draw inspiration?  

Consultation process - August 2025

auIGF called for input on the First Draft of the paper 6–29 August 2025. 

The key questions on which input was sought (through a structured form) were:

1. Do you support this statement: “A Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing would help to cultivate a digital future in which technology serves humanity, rather than the other way around.”
2. Do you support this statement: “A representative group from the  auIGF community should develop an overarching, principles-based Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing in Australia to be presented at the 2026 auIGF.”
3. Is there anything else that needs to be considered as part of the discussion on the feasibility of exploring a Social Contract for Digital Wellbeing?
4. Please list any other initiatives you’re aware of that Australia could look to for inspiration.
5. If there is consensus to proceed, what sort of people should be included on the drafting group?

Next steps

The paper will be presented for discussion and consensus testing at the auIGF 2025 Townhall on 24 September in Adelaide. This is your opportunity to influence the future of digital governance in Australia and help shape a shared commitment to digital wellbeing.

Read the Updated 2025 Position Paper. 

Read the First Draft 2025 Position Paper.