The Meta-Layer SIG: Competing for a Place in ISOC’s Future

The Internet Society (ISOC) has announced the next round of Special Interest Group (SIG) selections for the 2026–2027 cycle. Only five SIGs will be approved - and the Meta-Layer Infrastructure SIG is in the running.

This is a pivotal moment. Out of ten contenders (five new proposals and five renewals), only the top five will survive. That means our Meta-Layer Infrastructure SIG is competing not just against new ideas, but also against established SIGs like Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Online Safety.

Why the Meta-Layer Matters

Existing SIGs tackle vital vertical issues—AI, education, access, safety. But the Meta-Layer is different. We focus on the interface layer: the civic substrate above the webpage where trust signals, overlays, and presence indicators live. This is the space where:

• AI transparency becomes visible,

• community trust signals travel,

• and people, not platforms, govern context.

It’s not an alternative to other SIGs—it’s the missing layer that empowers all of them.

Our Edge

• First interface-focused SIG: We are defining public digital infrastructure at the browser layer.

• Youth-led governance: At least three of six board positions will always be held by people under 25.

• Regenerative practices: Inspired by the IETF, we are adopting transparent, inclusive, and decentralized governance patterns.

• Two-year roadmap: We are running as a SIG with a planned transition into the Meta-Layer Task Force, carrying forward a body of RFCs (Requests for Comment) as constitutional building blocks.

A Preview: ML-Draft-001

We are working on our first draft: ML-Draft-001: Foundational Practices for the Meta-Layer SIG. It sets the table for our governance, RFC process, and long-term vision. Read the draft here →

How You Can Support

1. Join ISOC (it’s free) so you can vote in October. Join here →

2. Show up at the Q&A sessions: 25 Sept and 16 Oct. Ask about the Meta-Layer and why interface-level governance matters.

3. Come to Office Hours on Tuesdays: https://luma.com/calendar/cal-UrG10qx9wsywd8Z

4. Fill in our Onboarding form: https://forms.gle/mLapoPWoT9c325Cm8

5. Share this with your networks: We need to build momentum and awareness now.

This is more than a SIG. It’s a chance to make the Internet’s civic layer visible, trusted, and people-centered.