[governance] the continuing NN debate

[Norbert Bollow]

Lee McKnight <LMcKnigh at syr.edu> wrote:

> You presuppose you know where a framework convention would go, and also
> that it would work like a typical un convention.  

No, actually I don't presuppose to know these things.

As I wrote, my position is that in the field of internet
governance, "the current structures of national policy-making and
international diplomacy cannot be trusted to create laws and
regulations that do more good than harm."

I have supported this position with a specific example (the EU
software patents issue documented at http://NoBananaUnion.com )
and I can easily provide more examples if that is desired.

To refute my view that this a valid argument against pursuing a
"framework convention" at the current stage, you will need to
present positive reasons why we should reasonably expect the
proposed "framework convention" to become a good thing.

> The first I don't know, while the second is highly dubious.

Even if it doesn't "work like a typical un convention", what
reason is there to assume that the text would be drafted by
means of a fair and transparent multistakeholder process?

> On the other hand specific regulatory intervention soon is Ok you
> say...so which path gets governments involved deeper and earlier? When
> we haven't yet agreed what the subject of the regulations is?

What I'm proposing is to work on whatever can be done by means
of transparent and accountable multistakeholder processes.

There's a specific proposal from Switzerland in this direction,
called "Internet Quality Labels".

See http://intgovforum.org/Substantive_1st_IGF/SwissInternetUserGroup.txt

I'll also support every other initiative that provides for genuine
multistakeholder decision-making processes with transparency and
accountability.

I have asked questions to determine whether this is the case for the
"framework convention" idea.  So far the answer seems to be: "No."

Greetings,
Norbert.


-- 
Norbert Bollow <nb at bollow.ch>                       http://Norbert.ch
President of the Swiss Internet User Group SIUG        http://SIUG.ch
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