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<p>In my response to Milton I did not discuss the fully multilateral
and intergovernmental nature of digital policy making by the below
mentioned OCED's Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP), This
is because, for the sake of this particular argument, Milton was
neutral about such a body being inter-gov or multistakeholder...
He simply did not see the need for such an apex, cross-sectoral,
body.</p>
<p>But for those who helped shape and support the proposed new
Multistakeholder High Level Body, which will evidently take a
central and apex digital policy role in the UN system, I have a
further and different question. <br>
</p>
<p>When they find ok and acceptable the completely
inter-governmental process of digital norms, principles and policy
making at the OECD (which actually becomes the default for the
world), and indeed participate enthusiastically in its processes
even if only as consulting entities, why -- and on what basis --
do they oppose at the global / UN level shaping of norms,
principles and policy done in a similar inter-gov manner, which
could have similar consultative processes as the OECD? Is this not
a colonial approach? How can they do such a thing, in this age and
time? And worse, how do even developing country entities and
actors join in such a hypocrisy of the North? <br>
</p>
<p>None of these questions are rhetorical.. So please do answer
them, even if to explain how anything here may be wrongly stated,
framed, etc...</p>
<p>Any actual work on norms, principles and policies development in
OECD's Committees, including the CDEP for digital policy, is
undertaken only among governments, although there exist civil
society, business and trade union advisory groups that can give
comments. But that happens in most UN processes as well. Remember
WSIS? We had such an exemplary inclusive process with huge
multi-stakeholder rights of participation, more than provided in
the CDEP. <br>
</p>
<p>To concretely illustrate CDEP's inter-governmentalism; see
enclosed the ToR for an 'informal drafting group on government
access to data held by private sector'. It is to only have
governmental members. So indeed, not only do other stakeholders
not participate in final decision making, they are not to be part
of even an informal drafting group! I have seen much better
drafting processes at national levels; in India, for instance for
its draft data protection bill.<br>
</p>
<p>And you know what, this beats it all -- the OECD passes this as
their multistakholder processes for digital policy development.
See, for instance, Box 1.1 of this document
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.oecd.org/going-digital/C-MIN-2018-6-EN.pdf">https://www.oecd.org/going-digital/C-MIN-2018-6-EN.pdf</a></p>
<p>One wonders then, why the multistakeholder model for OECD's
digital policy making is different, and that for the rest or whole
of world is different, which is centred on this proposed
Multistakeholder High Level Body. I am indeed happy to adopt the
exact OECD multistakeholder model for digital policy making in
the UN as well. Actually India proposed a UN committee for digital
policies in 2011 to the UN GA with similar role and similar
'multistakeholder' processes as OECD's CDEP. It was rejected out
of hand as an attempt to foist multilateralism and governmental
control over the Internet. Such unabashed hypocrisy! <br>
</p>
<p>Why when OECD makes its digital policies in a certain democratic
manner, at the global level corporations are to sit at an equal
level with governments for policy development, as would happen
with this proposed Multistakeholder High Level Body. . If they
find this model so good, why do they not adopt it for OECD's
digital policy making. Why those civil society groups that are
pushing the MS High Level Body model at the UN level not also push
it for the OECD ?<br>
</p>
<p>The proposed Multi stakeholder High Level Body for digital
policies, therefore, represents not just a corporate capture of
policy making, but it is also a body for digital colonialism. Even
as the promoters of this initiative from the North, including
governments, themselves make digital policies in a democratic
inter-gov manner, including at inter-country level, for the
developing world they want the process to be controlled by their
tech majors, which, unlike the Northern governments themselves,
have vast presence in developing countries too. If this is not
digital colonialism, what would be!<br>
</p>
<p>But I might be missing or misrepresenting something, and would be
happy to be corrected.</p>
<p>parminder <br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 22/03/21 5:20 pm, parminder via
Governance wrote:<br>
</div>
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cite="mid:1559bbe8-369e-e603-066d-128368f15b3e@itforchange.net">
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<p><tt>Second: But if in any case you still remain absolutely
opposed to a cross-sectoral, apex, digital policy and
governance body, and I have been raising this same issue for
at least 12-13 years now, why you never oppose the OECD's
Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP)? </tt><tt>In the
name of the body, </tt><tt>'Economy' is there only for forms
sake. This committee shapes digital policy in all areas, from
principles for tech architecture, to platforms and content, to
data and AI. Why do OECD needs a transnational, single digital
governance body, when you so strongly oppose such a body at
the global level. I have raised this issue often, and at one
time when you could not avoid responding, you dismissed this
body as a capacity building body, which is of course an
untruth. OECD committees do go as far as developing <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0347">legal
instruments</a>. <br>
</tt></p>
<p><tt>The latest initiative of the CDEP is on <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.oecd.org/sti/ieconomy/trusted-government-access-personal-data-private-sector.htm">government
access to data held by the private sector</a>. The likely
outcomes could be a document of policy principles but it could
even be a legal instrument. Since digital policy making is a
cross-sectoral work, CDEP often works in collaboration with
other OECD Committees towards different ends. For instance, it
worked with the Committee on Health to develop <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://one.oecd.org/document/COM/DELSA/DSTI(2016)1/en/pdf">Health
Data Principles</a>. A very appropriate kind of output, and
done in the right way too. Similarly a UN body on digital
governance -- while all countries and not just the richest
ones are represented -- should work with the WHO to develop
global Health Data Principles. In default of an UN Internet/
digital governance body, OECD's norms, principles and policies
become the default global one. </tt><br>
</p>
<p><tt>But here you develop cold feet... OECD committees should
keep functioning and rolling out global governance norms,
principles and policies, but not any UN body. That is not
needed, any such thing is completely relevant. This is plainly
a colonial attitude. It is a pity that in the global Internet/
digital governance space one can openly do such a thing. It
normally does not happen elsewhere, in global civil society
spaces. </tt><br>
</p>
<p><tt>You are from the US, why dont you advocate to the OECD,
where your gov sits, to cede its one-point cross-sectoral
digital norms/ policy work, and abolish the body specifically
made for this purpose? What right do you have to tell the rest
of the world to not do it? I repeat, it is plain and simple
colonialism. </tt><br>
</p>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:BN7PR07MB4689B638CAF83BCFECA191D7A1669@BN7PR07MB4689.namprd07.prod.outlook.com">
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style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
Governance <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E"
href="mailto:governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org"
moz-do-not-send="true"><governance-bounces@lists.igcaucus.org></a>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>parminder via Governance<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, March 13, 2021 12:30 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:governance@lists.igcaucus.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">governance@lists.igcaucus.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Governance] 170 orgs send an open
letter to UN SG to stop plans for a new High Level
Multistakeholder Body<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p>The open letter was sent to the official consultation
process, signed by more than 170 organisations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>It was titled "“More than 170 Civil Society Groups
Worldwide Oppose Plans for a Big Tech Dominated Body for
Global Digital Governance” .<o:p></o:p></p>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Please see the final statement and endorsements at</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><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" moz-do-not-send="true">https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf</a> .</span> <o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It was also translated into Spanish, French, German and Dutch. All versions are linked from the enclosed document <o:p></o:p></span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">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></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We will now get this letter also sent directly to the UN SG and his new Tech Envoy.</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We will like to keep this campaign open for some time to get additional support and build awareness ...</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">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></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We will follow a twin track: develop a powerful movement within civil society groups, and engage with governments and the UN.</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Will keep you posted.</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Best regards</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<pre><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">parminder</span><o:p></o:p></pre>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 05/03/21 2:15 pm, parminder via
Governance wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">Dear All</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">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"
moz-do-not-send="true"> open letter to the UN
Secretary General</a> 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></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">Quoting from the letter:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote
style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><i><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">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>a Big
Tech led body for Global Governance of Big
Tech’</b>.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif"> Two technical annexes to
the open letter explain the background of the
matter in considerable detail. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><b><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">This letter is open for
endorsements, </span></b><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">which can be done by
writing an email to </span><u><span
style="color:navy"><a
href="mailto:secretariat@justnetcoalition.org"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB">secretariat@justnetcoalition.org</span></a></span></u><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif"> or filling </span><u><span
style="color:navy"><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"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB">this
form</span></a></span></u><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif"> before midnight PST
(GMT-8) of the 7<sup>th </sup></span><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">of
March.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">Please also do circulate
to other groups and networks where it may attract
interest. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">The open letter may also
be accessed at <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"
moz-do-not-send="true">
https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">French text is at <a
href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjustnetcoalition.org%2Fbig-tech-governing-big-tech-french.pdf&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"
moz-do-not-send="true"> :
https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-french.pdf</a>
and Spanish version at - <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"
moz-do-not-send="true">
https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-spanish.pdf</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">Please let us know if you
have any questions or comments regarding the
above.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="western"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:5.75pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.75pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Calibri
Light",sans-serif">Best, parminder </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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