Internet Universality Indicators
UNESCO’s concept of Internet Universality defines what the Internet should be in the digital age: a force for human rights, inclusion, development, and empowerment. It reflects UNESCO’s vision of harnessing the Internet to build inclusive knowledge societies, accelerate sustainable development, and bridge digital divides around the world.
At the heart of this vision are the ROAM-X principles, which call for an Internet that is:
- Rights-based
- Open
- Accessible to all
- Nurtured through Multistakeholder participation
The “X” stands for cross-cutting dimensions critical to digital development—such as gender equality, children's rights, sustainable development, environmental impact, trust, security, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
In 2024, UNESCO introduced the second-generation Internet Universality Indicators, titled "Internet Universality – Advancing Inclusive Digital Transformation with ROAM-X Indicators." This updated framework simplifies implementation and is more responsive to the evolving challenges of the digital age.
A Tool for Inclusive Digital Transformation
This tool supports countries in:
- Gaining a comprehensive understanding of their Internet environment and related policy landscape.
- Measuring progress through the lens of the ROAM-X principles.
- Producing evidence-based policy recommendations to improve national Internet governance.
- Facilitating inclusive, multistakeholder dialogue and cooperation throughout the process.
The ROAM-X framework is more than a measurement tool—it’s a catalyst for change. By guiding national assessments, it helps countries shape digital policies that are inclusive, evidence-based, and future-ready.
Facts and Figures
OLD - What is Artificial Intelligence?
Episode 1: This episode gives a general introduction to AI and UNESCO’s ROAM-X principles.
The animation series were created based on the UNESCO publication Steering AI and Advanced ICTs for Knowledge Societies – a Rights, Openness, Access, and Multi-stakeholder Perspective to promote a better understanding of guiding human-centred and ethical principles underpinning any development of AI. Each episode contains a key message illustrated from the publication.
Since the launch of the first generation Internet Universality Indicators in 2018, the IUIs have been implemented in over 40 countries across all continents.
AI and the ROAM-X pillars
This video is the first episode in UNESCO’s animated series exploring artificial intelligence through the lens of the ROAM-X framework. It provides a foundational introduction to AI and illustrates how it intersects with the four core ROAM-X principles—Human Rights, Openness, Accessibility, and Multi-stakeholder Participation—as well as key cross-cutting issues.
UNESCO has developed a dedicated video for each ROAM-X component, offering accessible and engaging explanations of how AI can and should be governed in line with universal digital rights, inclusion, and sustainability.
