[bestbits] Whether to participate in NETmundial Initiative - RFC

[Grace Githaiga]

I would go for CS to participate if the request to conduct own nominations for representation is accepted. It is easier to shape/influence processes if we are part of them.
RgdsGrace

From: ian.peter at ianpeter.com
To: jmalcolm at eff.org; bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:31:17 +1100
Subject: Re: [bestbits] Whether to participate in NETmundial Initiative - RFC






At this point of time discussions are going on in a number of forums as 
regards participation, not just here; and it would be helpful if the debate was 
about whether to participate or not, not about who said what when. 
 
As an aid to this, and perhaps to focus discussion a little, here is a 
brief summary of some of the arguments for and against that I have seen 
advanced. Not a complete list, but perhaps this might help some people to 
understand that other people have perspectives that differ from their own. i 
would urge people to add their own perspectives to these so that an informed 
decision is made.
 
 
 
FOR INVOLVEMENT
With ITU a governments only forum 
and no real will to change, and IGF as a forum with no power to make 
recommendations or take decisions and again no will to change, there is no 
credible venue to initiate action on non technical issues or issues not within 
the remit of Istar organisations These would include surveillance issues, human 
rights issues, net neutrality issues, to name a few.
The solid commitment to 
NetMundial principles promised, if carried out in practice, would create a 
credible and open initiative 
There is a need for a representative forum capable of moving us 
forward on a range of issues not covered by existing 
institutions
Participation is strongly 
supported by some sections of civil society
 
AGAINST 
INVOLVEMENT
The last thing we need is a 
corporate takeover of internet governance and this could become 
that
ISOC has withdrawn 

Participation is strongly opposed 
by some sections of civil society
This initiative has a track 
record of poor communication
 
Ian Peter


 

From: Jeremy Malcolm 
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 2:53 PM
To: Best Bits 
Subject: [bestbits] Whether to participate in NETmundial Initiative 
- RFC
 

By now everyone will have read from previous threads that ISOC and the Just 
Net Coalition (JNC) have both decided not to participate in the NETmundial 
Initiative, and you may have also have read some false information that Best 
Bits and other networks represented on the Civil Society Coordination Group 
(CSCG) *have* decided to participate.  As Ian Peter's clarifying message 
setting out the truth of the matter should have made clear, that is *not* the 
case.  All that has happened is that the we have obtained as much assurance 
as we can that *if* we decide to participate, then the Secretariat (ICANN, WEF 
and CGI.br) will accept our self-nomination process 
rather than choosing civil society representatives independently.
 
Now we turn to you, our communities, to provide us with guidance about 
whether to proceed further or not.  Some views have already been expressed 
pro and con.  I have been (and remain) publicly critical about the 
NETmundial Initiative, but on the other hand the reasoning ISOC and JNC give for 
boycotting it is rather specious, because they characterise the initiative as 
being something that it doesn't purport to be - ie. a single central 
policy-making body for Internet governance. This is an alarmist critique that 
turns the NETmundial Initiative into an exaggerated ITU-style bogeyman.
 
So whilst there is certainly room for disagreement about whether we should 
bestow the benefit of our participation on the Initiative (I remain deeply 
conflicted about this), let's decide on the basis of factual pro and con 
arguments rather than oversimplifications about the 1% taking over the 
Internet.  Also note that a few civil society representatives, including 
Human Rights Watch, have endorsed it already and are featured on the carousel 
message on the front page of netmundial.org.
 
So what do people think?  If you haven't already shared your views, 
please do so on this thread, within the next few days if possible.
 



-- 
Jeremy Malcolm
Senior Global Policy Analyst
Electronic Frontier Foundationhttps://eff.org
jmalcolm at eff.org 
 
Tel: 415.436.9333 ext 161
 
:: Defending Your Rights in the Digital World 
::




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