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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">This is just a quick update on the NetMundial Initiative
(NMI). Please feel free to copy to other lists.</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">As many of you will already know, NMI Coordination
Council (CC) has just held its first working meeting at Stanford University in
Palo Alto on March 31. A list of those who attended can be found at the end of
the draft Communique at <A
style='href: "https://www.netmundial.org/blog/secretariat/netmundial-initiative-stanford-communiqu%C3%A9"'><FONT
color=#0000ff>https://www.netmundial.org/blog/secretariat/netmundial-initiative-stanford-communiqu%C3%A9</FONT></A>.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">In addition to those attending, Bill Drake and
Anriette Esterhuysen (CC members) were able to participate remotely for at least
part of the day-long meeting, on sometimes shaky remote connections. Many other
people took advantage of the opportunity to listen in on
deliberations.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The main formal output of the meeting is a Draft Terms
of Reference, which is now open for public comments at <A
style='href: "http://comments.netmundial.org/"'><FONT
color=#0000ff>http://comments.netmundial.org/</FONT></A>. The platform used for
comments is that used for the original NetMundial event last year in
Brazil.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I would encourage people to comment on the document and
help make it better. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">A few personal observations; I am pleased that we were
able to maintain in the opening paragraph references to human rights and to
managing the internet in the public interest, despite some suggestions that
these references might be removed. However; I was personally disappointed that
in the process of arriving at mutually agreeable text in a short period of time
references to cybersecurity and mass surveillance were taken out of the text; I
expected some opposition to the latter, but I think the cybersecurity references
are vitally important and I am sure some well crafted words can make their way
into the final text. There are many ways in which the text (and more importantly
the initiative itself) can be strengthened, and I would particularly draw your
attention also to the section on Scope, where further clarity and suggestions
could assist substantial improvements. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The current plan is for the document to be finally
adopted at a first meeting of the full Council (the meeting above was described
as a “working meeting”). Current planning suggests this might be in Costa Rica
in June. But that might change given availability of some of the governmental
and corporate people involved.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The meeting also got to talk about some operational
issues. Since the formation of the Coordination Council progress has been fairly
slow, perhaps largely because of the lack of structure and leadership, as well
as a lack of trust. Some small working groups were set up and most likely some
other operational structural issues will be addressed as a result of this.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I should also mention that to date the progress has been
very co-operative across all sectors involved, and indeed on most discussions
you would not have unanimity of opinion within any stakeholder group; but rather
a variety of opinions. I expect the same to be the case during the public
consultations, but I also expect that the process of hearing many voices and
gaining wider input will substantially clarify and improve the document. Many
people are undecided about NMI at this stage, which is to be expected; and
whatever it might be should appropriately derive from public inputs. So I urge
you to follow the link above and help to shape this initiative to take an
appropriate role moving forward.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt">One more
thing I should add is the role that Marilia Maciel has played to date, chairing
the series of online meetings which developed the Draft Terms of Reference.
Marilia had to manage a diverse and overly large group, many differing opinions
as to what NMI is or should be, poor connections and dropouts on all calls,
language issues, geopolitical game playing, and unruly participants. She did a
great job! </P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt">Ian Peter</P>
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