The growing importance of communications and information technology in society during the twentieth century resulted in a fundamental shift in our society's lives, as well as enormous new opportunities for economic growth and social development. At the turn of the twentieth century, the entire world recognized the critical role that communications and information technology played in promoting development, and many countries failed to recognize this role. This has widened the digital divide between developed and developing countries, especially since communication and information technology is the primary means of obtaining information, which is the foundation for the future economy, and characterized by an increasing reliance on finding and converting information into know

As a result, countries, particularly developing ones, have made efforts to bridge the digital divide and make digital opportunities accessible to all. These efforts began in 1998 AD, when the International Telecommunication Union's highest authority (the Plenipotentiary Conference) convened, and the States adopted Resolution No. (73) calling on the United Nations to hold the highest model for decisions on a topic, which is to hold a summit with participation of world leaders and decision-makers. It was decided that the summit's name would be "the World Summit on the Information Society," and That the Secretary-General of the Union would be required by that decision to place the summits

In support of these efforts, the United Nations Economic and Social Council adopted the Ministerial Statement (Development and International Cooperation in the Twenty-First Century: The Role of Information Technology in the Context of a Knowledge-Based Global Economy) at its 55th session in the year 2000 CE, It advocated for making communications and information technology a top priority in the pursuit of universal development. The International Telecommunication Union's Secretary-General carried out the mandate of the aforementioned Plenipotentiary Conference by submitting to the United Nations Administrative Committee for Coordination a plan of action for holding a global summit on the information society in two phases: the first from 10 to 12 December 2003 in Geneva, and the second in Tunis during the year 2005. The United Nations General Assembly, in accordance with Resolution No. (183) adopted at its (56) session in 2002 AD, welcomed this plan and called for a world summit on the Information Society to be convened under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. with the International Telecommunication Union taking the lead in preparing for it, in collaboration with other organizations The United Nations and other international organizations that are interested

The first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society took place in Geneva from the 10th to the 12th of December 2003, with the adoption of the (Geneva Declaration of Principles) and the (Geneva Plan of Action). The summit's second phase took place in Tunis from November 16 to 18, 2005, during which the "Tunis Commitment" and "Tunis Program of Action for the Information Society" were adopted

The most prominent outcome of the World Summit in its first and second stages, World leaders adopted a number of basic principles and goals towards building an inclusive information society with a common goal, human development. Individuals and societies are able to reach their full potential as a result of it. To help them achieve long-term development and improve their quality of life

UNESCO's participation in the World Summit on the Information Society at various stages, from the conception of the summit to the conclusion of the second and final phase of the summit, has led to a shift in UNESCO's understanding of the reasons for behind the existence of the information gap between the North and the South. It became clear to UNESCO that bridging the digital divide would not only help to close the knowledge and information gap, but also contribute to poverty reduction and the eradication of digital illiteracy.

As a result, UNESCO established the Information for All Program, which focuses on a variety of communication-related programs.

The Kingdom has made significant efforts in preparing for and participating in the first and second stages of the World Summit on the Information Society. With a delegation led by His Royal Highness and the late Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal .the Kingdom also took part in the first phase of the summit. And, as a result of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's desire to participate effectively in international activities

a new name was approved for the committee, The National Committee for Information Society. Also approved the proposed action for the National Committee for Information Society's, as well as the guidelines and rules by which the committee will operate and the bodies represent from government agencies, private sector.​