<div dir="ltr">Dear All,<div><br></div><div><div>You may have seen that Wikileaks released the first draft of the NetMundial outcome document earlier today.</div><div><br></div><div>Please find appended below, a response from Knowledge Commons which can also be viewed on our website at <a href="http://www.knowledgecommons.in/brasil/?page_id=214">http://www.knowledgecommons.in/brasil/?page_id=214</a>.</div>
</div><div style><br></div><div style>Regards,</div><div style>Rishab</div><div style><br></div><div style>--------</div><div style><br></div><div style><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white">Knowledge Commons Statement on Draft NetMundial
document leaked by Wikileaks</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white">8 April 2014</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white">Knowledge Commons has carefully examined the </span><a href="https://wikileaks.org/netmundial-outcome/#efmEr-E0c"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white">text
on the Wikileaks website</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white"> that purports to be the
first iteration of the outcome document for NetMundial.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';background-color:white"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'">Given
we have read and analyzed all of the 187 submissions to NetMundial,<b> </b>we
believe that the leaked document generally reflects the inputs received.</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'">Further, Knowledge Commons makes the following observations and
recommendations:</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'">First, the document
recognises the Internet as a ‘universal global resource’ [in Section 1.
Internet Infrastructure]. Knowledge Commons believes that the Internet
has become more than a resource, it is a public good and global commons
upon which trade, media, education, health and government systems rely.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype';color:rgb(80,0,80)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times;color:rgb(80,0,80)"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'">Second,
the document appropriately emphasizes the need for reform to democratize the
multistakeholder system, acknowledging that decisions are taken without
meaningful participation and in the absence of geographic and gender balance
[in Section 2. Roadmap for the future evolution of Internet Governance].
Knowledge Commons believes there would be greater utility in clearly defining the roles and
responsibilities of various stakeholders and specifying the elements of a
minimum standard set of guidelines, operating procedures, or the identification
of an entity to elaborate these modalities for multistakeholder fora.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color:white"></p><div style="text-align:left"><span style="font-family:Arial"><br></span></div><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'"><div style="text-align:left">
<span style="font-size:11pt">Third, Knowledge Commons strongly
welcomes the call for new international agreements on cyber weapons development and deployment [in
Section 2. Issues dealing with specific Internet governance topics]. As
more and more critical infrastructure resources around the world are maintained
and operated through digital mechanisms, ensuring the security of these
installations from targeted attacks is critical. Such an agreement is the
core business of governments. </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial">. </span><span style="font-size:11pt">A
multilateral agreement ensuring cyber peace and de-militarising the Internet is
essential if we are not to see the Balkanisation of the Internet.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'"> </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'">Fourth,
the document acknowledges that changes to the IANA function need to take place
through discussion rather than announcement and that such discussion is still to take place [in Section 2.
Issues dealing with Institutional Improvements]. Knowledge Commons notes
that ICANN, which should be an
independent entity immune from any jurisdiction, will be charged with
the process, but given the document also acknowledges the current flaws in
participation and decision making processes, believes that improved modalities
and minimum standards should be applied in this discussion and decision making
process. </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;background-color:white"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'"> </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Palatino Linotype'"><div style="text-align:left"><span style="font-size:11pt">Fifth, the document condemns mass surveillance for undermining trust in
the Internet. [in Section 2. Issues dealing with Institutional Improvements].
Knowledge Commons believes that democracy itself has been damaged and so too
has diplomacy. The NetMundial should be calling for the cessation of the
practices of the 5 Eyes countries that violate sovereignty of states and the human rights
of citizens. While some countries may unilaterally declare such practices
and the operation of secret courts lawful, the NetMundial meeting should more
strongly resist the wholesale disregard for human rights including by ensuring that permissible
derogation is proportionate and necessary. </span> </div></span><p></p></div><div style><br></div><div style><br></div></div>