[bestbits] Outcome of cyberspace conference in Seoul

[Pranesh Prakash]

A top note that the OECD principles are actually
OECD+Egypt+Business+Tech principles, which CISAC helped shape but didn't
sign on to.  Rest inline:

Jeremy Malcolm [2013-10-08 00:04]:
> On 08/10/13 09:21, Pranesh Prakash wrote:
>> Focussing on the policymaking principles outlined in the OECD communiqu:
>> apart from process related issues of lack of representation of
>> developing world governments, in terms of substance how would a
>> statement of principles that had developing world participation look
>> different?
> 
> There is only one way to find out, and that is to deal with the process
> related issues.  But for a rough idea, we can look at the Brazilian
> Principles for the Governance and Use of the Internet.  Notable
> additions compared to the OECD principles:
> 
>   * *Universality:* Internet access must be universal so that it becomes
>     a tool for human and social development, thereby contributing to the
>     formation of an inclusive and nondiscriminatory society, for the
>     benefit of all
>   * *Standardization and interoperability:* The Internet must be based
>     on open standards that facilitate interoperability and enable all to
>     participate in its development

On standards, the OECD principles (under "Promote the open, distributed
and interconnected nature of the Internet") states:

"The Internet’s openness also stems from globally accepted, consensus
driven technical standards that support global product markets and
communications. The roles, openness, and competencies of the global
multi-stakeholder institutions that govern standards for different
layers of Internet components should be recognised and their
contribution should be sought on the different technical elements of
public policy objectives."

>   * *Neutrality of the network:* Filtering or traffic privileges must
>     meet ethical and technical criteria only, excluding any political,
>     commercial, religious and cultural factors or any other form of
>     discrimination or preferential treatment

"Maintaining technology neutrality and appropriate quality for all
Internet services is also important to ensure an open and dynamic
Internet environment. Provision of open Internet access services is
critical for the Internet economy."

> and notable omissions:
> 
>   * Promote investment and competition in high speed networks and services;
>   * Promote and enable the cross-border delivery of services;
>   * Foster voluntarily developed codes of conduct;
>   * Maximise individual empowerment;
>   * Give appropriate priority to enforcement efforts.
> 
> 
> More could be written about this, but there is a very different emphasis
> with the OECD principles much more individualistic and biased towards
> trade, than the Brazilian principles.

OECD is primarily about economic/trade issues (though not solely about
such issues), so that bias is perhaps to be expected.  In the 2008 Seoul
Declaration for the Future of the Internet Economy, there were 10
developing countries (Chile, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Latvia,
Mexico, Poland, Senegal, Turkey) represented in the 39 individual
countries that signed the declaration. Sure, the developing countries
were outnumbered 3:1, but they still agreed to:

* Ensure respect for intellectual property rights.
* Create a market-friendly environment for convergence that encourages
infrastructure investment, higher levels of connectivity and innovative
services and applications.
* Promote Internet-based innovation, competition, and user choice.
* Acting as a key driver for the creation of enterprises and communities
and stimulating closer global co-operation.
* Promote the secure and responsible use of the Internet that respects
international social and ethical norms and that increases transparency
and accountability.
* Establish a regulatory environment that assures a level playing field
for competition.
* Stimulate investment and competition in the development of high
capacity information and communication infrastructures and the delivery
of Internet-enabled services within and across borders.
* Maintain an open environment that supports the free flow of
information, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and business
transformation.
* Combine efforts to combat digital piracy with innovative approaches
which provide creators and rights holders with incentives to create and
disseminate works in a manner that is beneficial to creators, users and
our economies as a whole.
* Increase cross-border co-operation of governments and enforcement
authorities in the areas of improving cyber-security, combating spam, as
well as protecting privacy, consumers and minors.
* Empowering consumers and users in online transactions and exchanges.

Most (all?) of the things that you'd think developing countries would
omit were accepted by 10 of them.  Just sayin'.

Cheers,
Pranesh

-- 
Pranesh Prakash
Policy Director
Centre for Internet and Society
T: +91 80 40926283 | W: http://cis-india.org
PGP ID: 0x1D5C5F07 | Twitter: @pranesh_prakash
-------------------+
Postgraduate Associate & Access to Knowledge Fellow
Information Society Project, Yale Law School
T: +1 520 314 7147 | W: http://yaleisp.org

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