<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">We do not figure out if anyone is ‘right’ – when the position taken is mudslinging.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We have prospect for such common views only when facts and logic, offered by differing views, can track along in civil exchange.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The disagreement here is as old as these discussions, back to the original WSIS events at least. One side promotes multi-stakeholder ‘innovations’ in governance. Others view democratic requirements for representation to be fundamental.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">This governance caucus, itself, is useful as a forum to the extent there is respectful exchange among the views.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">David Allen</div><div class=""><br class=""><div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Mar 21, 2021, at 7:49 PM, suresh <<a href="mailto:suresh@hserus.net" class="">suresh@hserus.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class="">
</div><div class=""><div class="">
<div class="">Milton has expressed his views strongly but he is in essence right. </div><div dir="ltr" class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">That letter advocates a dangerous point of view and has been endorsed by a clutch of organisations that have, in general, no internet governance background except for just net and it’s constituents.</div>
<div class=""><br class=""></div><div dir="ltr" class="">While claiming to be multistakeholder it denies “big tech” (the technical community at large) from having a stake. And then it asks for a place on what looks set to turn a multilateral body in short order. </div><div dir="ltr" class=""><br class=""></div>
<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" class=""><div style="direction: ltr" class="">--srs</div></div>
</div>
<div class=""> </div><hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex="-1" class=""><div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr" class=""><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" class=""><b class="">From:</b> Governance <<a href="mailto:governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org</a>> on behalf of david_allen_ab63--- via Governance <<a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>><br class=""><b class="">Sent:</b> Monday, March 22, 2021 4:36 AM<br class=""><b class="">To:</b> Governance<br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b> Re: [Governance] 170 orgs send an open letter to UN SG to stop plans for a new High Level Multistakeholder Body<div class=""> </div></font></div><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class="">Back in the history, two groups split off from the original governance list. These reflected two separate views on Internet governance. One of the groups continues today, the Just Net Coalition.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">When the other group eventually dissolved, <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">this</span> current incarnation of the governance list was effectively re-instituted, as a forum where <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">views</span> – sometimes quite differing – might find a civil ground. Where discussion could go forward to useful purpose.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The co-co moderators of this present list, please take note. The whole prospect for useful discussion, when views may differ radically, turns on avowedly civil exchange. Most certainly ad hominem attacks vitiate any possibility.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Personal attacks, with language</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class="">"just laughable"</div></div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""><div class="">“how anyone … can take it seriously"</div></div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""><div class="">"throwing red meat"</div></div></blockquote><div class=""><br class=""><div class="">destroy any real possibility for productive exchange.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We potentially can benefit and like to hear views, particularly when well informed, offered by those who see it differently from ourselves. No civil exchange can tolerate inflammatory, bullying, derogatory behavior.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Co-cos please take note.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">David Allen</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""><div class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Mar 21, 2021, at 4:45 PM, Mueller, Milton L via Governance <<a href="mailto:governance@listsigcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><meta charset="UTF-8" class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">I’ve looked over the letter and am not impressed; not with the argument it presents nor with the astroturfed list of 170 organizations.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">We at IGP have largely, and deliberately, ignored the UN’s initiatives around so-called High Level<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Digital Cooperation. Not because we think it is leading in a bad direction or is part of an evil capitalist plot, nor do we think the people promoting it are badly motivated. We just think it is mostly irrelevant. It is founded on model of governance that is unrealistic and unlikely to have any impact on the internet (or platforms, which is not the same as the internet).<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">The Internet consists of 70,000 autonomous systems using a common layer 3 and 4 protocol to communicate. Key elements of the internet infrastructure are governed by what we call the Organically Developed Internet institutions, such as IETF (standards), ICANN (domain names) the Regional Internet Registries (IP addressing) and cooperative action among network operators (routing, interconnection).<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Because the internet has created a globalized space for communication, many new problems and new forms of governance are evolving at the transnational layer that go well beyond critical internet resources. They affect issues areas such as cybersecurity, content moderation, and privacy. Some of these transnational initiatives are, in our opinion, praiseworthy; others are not. But it is both unlikely and undesirable for them to be consolidated or centralized in the hands of a single global body, whether it is called “multistakeholder” or “intergovernmental.” No such body is going to be able to have the power or the expertise or the widespread legitimacy and participation to address all these areas. Only a dialogue forum is possible at the IGF level. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Worse, increasingly, national governments are trying to interfere with or control usage of the internet at the application layer. This is leading to an increasingly fragmented, costly, and repressive environment. One could call this tech nationalism, jurisdictional alignment, fragmentation or a digital neo-mercantilism. IGP has published numerous critiques of these pathologies.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">In this context, for JustNet and its partners to portray “regulation of big tech” as the salvation of the internet, and the UN’s attempt to create a High Level MS Body as an entity with “</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class="">overweening power” that “would help Big Tech resist effective regulation” is just laughable. I do not see how anyone with any deep knowledge of IG can take it seriously. It has very little relevance to contemporary problems of IG.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class="">Insofar as it has any substance, it seems to call for more nation-state based regulation of internet operations and content. But this is something that, from Trump’s Great Firewall of America, to Russia’s “sovereign” Internet, to Europe’s NIS2, to India’s app blocking and censorship, to China’s insulated internet, we already have plenty of. And we are getting more and it seems to be making things worse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class="">By the way, has anyone at JustNet noticed that Facebook is joining them in their call for more internet regulation at the national level? Think about the implications of that for a moment:<a href="https://about.fb.com/regulations/" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 127);" class="">https://aboutfb.com/regulations/</span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class="">If you read the letter, you can see that they obtained the support of all these organization – very few of whom actually focus on Internet or ICT governance – by equating the UN HLDC with the World Economic Forum. This is factually wrong, but it does succeed at throwing red meat in front of the anti-globalization activists from two decades ago.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class="">Internet governance needs to be accomplished from the bottom up, and rely heavily on networked, non-hierarchical forms of governance. We need to protect and strengthen, not destroy or undermine, the organically developed internet institutions. When state-based, hierarchical interventions are necessary, they need to be carefully circumscribed and focused to address real problems that cannot be handled in any other way, such as crime, fraud, and coercion. The UN should stop trying to become a centerpoint of global internet governance and continue to serve as a place for dialogue and network building.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 78, 121);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Dr. Milton L Mueller<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">Georgia Institute of Technology<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class="">School of Public Policy<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><span id="cid:image001.png@01D71E71.AAC05C70" class=""><image001.png></span><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">On Mar 13, 2021, at 2:34 PM, suresh via Governance <<a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div class=""></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">How many of the signatory organisations other than IT for change and just net coalition are active in internet governance issues, by the way?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" class=""><div class="" style="direction: ltr;">--srs</div></div></div><div class=""> </div><hr tabindex="-1" class="" style="display: inline-block; width: 658.546875px;"><div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr" class=""><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" class=""><b class="">From:</b> Governance <<a href="mailto:governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org</a>> on behalf of sivasubramanian muthusamy via Governance <<a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a>><br class=""><b class="">Sent:</b> Sunday, March 14, 2021 12:01 AM<br class=""><b class="">To:</b> parminder<br class=""><b class="">Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a><br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b> Re: [Governance] 170 orgs send an open letter to UN SG to stop plans for a new High Level Multistakeholder Body<div class=""> </div></font></div>Dear Parminder,<br class=""><br class="">"It is in any case unacceptable that such an apex policy body will<br class="">have corporation [ various stakholders, not just Corporations } and<br class="">government nominees sitting as equals." -- Why? Isn't that what we<br class="">call the Multi-stakeholder process?<br class=""><br class="">If this campaign is signed by 170 Orgs, what were these signatories<br class="">told about the Secretary General's Initiative? Please be kind enough<br class="">to point me to the home page calling for signatures.<br class=""><br class="">Thank you.<br class=""><br class="">Sivasubramanian M<br class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div class=""><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-width: 1pt; border-top-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); padding: 3pt 0in 0in;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Governance <<a href="mailto:governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b class="">On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>parminder via Governance<br class=""><b class="">Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Saturday, March 13, 2021 12:30 AM<br class=""><b class="">To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a><br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[Governance] 170 orgs send an open letter to UN SG to stop plans for a new High Level Multistakeholder Body<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The open letter was sent to the official consultation process, signed by more than 170 organisations.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.1in; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">It was titled "“More than 170 Civil Society Groups Worldwide Oppose Plans for a Big Tech Dominated Body for Global Digital Governance” .<o:p class=""></o:p></p><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Please see the final statement and endorsements at</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923889975%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=LINRHD5T4MZBhJN75Fvb%2BJ04O4zUY1ErnSUWmDtofb8%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf</a> .</span> <o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">It was also translated into Spanish, French, German and Dutch. All versions are linked from the enclosed document <o:p class=""></o:p></span></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></span></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">We had just 3 days to get sign ons, out of which 2 were weekend days. In the circumstances, the number is quite good. It shows the groundswell to opposition to this move. Thanks to everyone who supported this.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">We will now get this letter also sent directly to the UN SG and his new Tech Envoy.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">We will like to keep this campaign open for some time to get additional support and build awareness ...</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">This ongoing campaign is just a start, much more needs to be done and will be done to stop this assault on democracy and on possibilities of effective regulation of Big Tech. We will be doing all it takes, including engaging with governments.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">We will follow a twin track: develop a powerful movement within civil society groups, and engage with governments and the UN.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Will keep you posted.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Best regards</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><pre style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Courier New";" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">parminder</span><o:p class=""></o:p></pre><div class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">On 05/03/21 2:15 pm, parminder via Governance wrote:<o:p class=""></o:p></div></div><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Dear All</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">This is an<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923899975%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=8fVH%2BEPgBnX09zXtQUFKFKI3BwIWjbxbqDqb3cSbIzI%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>open letter to the UN Secretary General</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>initiated by 16 global and national level civil society networks and organisations urging him to shelve plans for a High Level Multistakeholder Body which, if set up, can be expected to become the default apex global digital governance and policy body. This body is proposed to have a private funding model, with strong hints also at a 'pay to play' model. It is but obvious that Big Tech will come to dominate any such body.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Quoting from the letter:</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;" class=""><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i class=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Not only in developing countries but also in the US and EU, calls for stronger regulation of Big Tech are rising. At the precise point when we should be shaping global norms to regulate Big Tech, plans have emerged for an ‘empowered’ global digital governance body that will evidently be dominated by Big Tech. Adding vastly to its already overweening power, this new Body would help Big Tech resist effective regulation, globally and at national levels. Indeed, we face the unbelievable prospect of ‘<b class="">a Big Tech led body for Global Governance of Big Tech’</b>.</span></i><o:p class=""></o:p></p></blockquote><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class=""> Two technical annexes to the open letter explain the background of the matter in considerable detail.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></div><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b class=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">This letter is open for endorsements,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">which can be done by writing an email to</span><u class=""><span style="color: navy;" class=""><a href="mailto:secretariat@justnetcoalition.org" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">secretariat@justnetcoalition.org</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or filling<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u class=""><span style="color: navy;" class=""><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech-form&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923899975%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=NcSzxaUwS1s%2BHKfhkXlpStaqFwNiOKO283dmauSu7eA%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">this form</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>before midnight PST (GMT-8) of the 7<sup class="">th<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></sup></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" class="">of March</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Please also do circulate to other groups and networks where it may attract interest.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">The open letter may also be accessed at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923909974%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=sSgqsid1nkclqh%2Bg4AgHrX0Mx1%2BdqWbsa%2FKWavGwp50%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf</a></span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">French text is at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech-frenchpdf&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923909974%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=JOSC%2FHFG4omaj9tdxgm5%2FJ%2FF7Ft5jg0gNv%2FCL%2BiG970%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">: https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-french.pdf</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and Spanish version at -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech-spanish.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cmilton%40gatech.edu%7Cb4c8944001194bc7858208d8e5e11d64%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C0%7C0%7C637512102923919962%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=fADhoRYAeqkzZwCekvnWnl7hdc06MwbqMDnIaik%2BxWM%3D&reserved=0" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;" class="">https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-spanish.pdf</a></span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Please let us know if you have any questions or comments regarding the above.</span><o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="western" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 5.75pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif;" class="">Best, parminder</span><o:p class=""></o:p></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><br class=""><br class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></div></blockquote></div><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class="">--<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class="">Governance mailing list</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class=""><a href="mailto:Governance@lists.igcaucus.org" class="">Governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a></span><br style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" class=""><a href="https://lists.igcaucus.org/mailman/listinfo/governance" class="">https://lists.igcaucus.org/mailman/listinfo/governance</a></span></div></blockquote></div><br class=""></div></div></div></div></div>
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