8th CRO-IGF Held in Opatija

The Forum addressed the topics of online disinformation and fact-checking, as well as the increasingly important issue of satellite communications development.

ZAGREB, 5 June 2025 - The 8th Croatian Internet Governance Forum (CRO-IGF) was held in Opatija on Wednesday, 4 June. Organised annually in Croatia since 2015, this year’s Forum was thematically divided into two sessions. In the first session, participants took part in a panel discussion titled “Media and Content: Fact-Checking in the Online and Media Space”, where they explored methods of verifying the truthfulness of information and discussed the challenges of combating fake news. The discussion also addressed the impacts on algorithms and regulations affect the accessibility and credibility of online content. The panellists included Ankica Šunjić Matković, project leader of CroFact (at the Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography), Goran Vojković from the Department of Communication Studies, Media and Journalism at the University North, and Robert Tomljenović, Vice President of the Electronic Media Council. The panel was moderated by Associate Professor Hrvoje Lisičar, PhD, from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.

The second session featured interactive presentations on satellite communications, focusing on their potential, development, and challenges. Following the opening remarks by Marin Ante Pivčević from the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, presentations were delivered by Marijan Globan (HAKOM), Hrvoje Hadžić (Ericsson Nikola Tesla), and Bojan Schmidt (CARNET, CroQCI project). With rapid technological progress, satellite infrastructure is becoming crucial for secure and efficient communication. These presentations provided insight into the latest European satellite network projects and developments.

In addition to the global Internet Governance Forum IGF, which brings together participants from around the world, a number of regional and national IGF initiatives have been established to address issues while considering specific national, regional, and cultural interests. To be recognised by the global IGF in Geneva, an initiative must meet criteria of openness and allow participation from all interested stakeholders. The Croatian national IGF was established in 2015 and is officially recognised by the global IGF. Croatia is among the first countries in the broader region to have successfully founded a national IGF, thereby firmly aligning itself with countries supporting the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance.