[governance] Civil Society Declaration on Internet Governance [revised text]

Wed Nov 30 11:45:42 EST 2005

On the para 6 of Bill's draft....

To ensure that Internet governance and development take place in the public
interest, it is necessary for people who use the Internet understand how the
DNS is functioning, how IP addresses are allocated, what basic legal
instruments exist in fields like cyber-crime, Intellectual Property Rights,
eCommerce, e-government, and human rights.

  Therefore the ongoing creation of public awareness is the responsibility
of everyone involved in the governance and development of the Internet and
emerging information and communication platforms.

and Bill's discomfort with it...

>>> I still think para 6 is pretty orthogonal to the

issues on the table and, by extension, all the position statements we've

made (can imagine government people asking, what's your point here), and

that it would be better moved to a section on info society generally, but

whatever.>>>

It is my understanding that the intention of the drafters is to make the
connections between what is generally seen as core IG functions, and various
issues that people see as direclty connected to their lives. Creating
greater public awareness - or at least more widespread awareness among
various actors - of these connections will draw all constituencies and
interests in IG debates which can ensure that development of Internet and
its governance takes place in public interest.

I think that this is an important issue for the CS to stand for and
advocate.

However, I see scope for making the issues cleaer in the above text, and
propose the following langauge.

To ensure that development of the Internet and its governance takes place in
public interest, it is important for people in general, and various CS
groups and other social actors in specific, to understand better how core IG
functions - like DNS management, IP address allocation etc - are carried out
and their linkages with broader IG issues like cyber-crime, Intellectual
Property Rights, eCommerce, e-government, human rights and promoting
development. The responsibility of creating such awareness should be shared
by everyone, including those at present involved in the governance and
development of the Internet. 

Parminder 

-----Original Message-----
From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org
[mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf Of William Drake
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 1:42 PM
To: Governance 
Subject: Re: [governance] Civil Society Declaration on Internet Governance
[revised text]

Good morning Ralph,

> -----Original Message-----

> From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org

> [mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org]On Behalf Of Ralf Bendrath

> --> I will check back later tonight if there is an agreement on the IG

> part. Would be glad if I can just copy&paste and replace the text below.

As you know, the text has evolved and a bunch of people have weighed in,

so please don't use the old text you copyedited, which the caucus never

discussed and agreed.  We of course don't have clear and fixed procedures

in place to reach closure, but perhaps once the text seems stable Adam or

Jeanette can issue a 'last call' for objections from Vancouver.

> --> We also need a para from this caucus for the last part "IV. Where to

> go from here - our Tunis commitment":

> 

> "Element two:

> How CS is going to structure itself to engage with the IG forum [wait for

> outcome of IG caucus meeting - whether a specific WG would be setup to

> make recommendations on the modalities of functioning of the

> future IG forum]"

This will not be resolved in time to fit into the statement.  There's been

no follow-up discussion on Avri's proposal or any others with respect to

the caucus' constitution and procedures going forward.  It's anyway not

obvious that a statement of view on what governments agreed has to say how

exactly we will organize internally.

Below the current version with amendments reflecting input from Parminder

and Froomkin last night.  I still think para 6 is pretty orthogonal to the

issues on the table and, by extension, all the position statements we've

made (can imagine government people asking, what's your point here), and

that it would be better moved to a section on info society generally, but

whatever.

C. Internet Governance

1.  Civil society is pleased with the decision to create an Internet

governance Forum (IGF), which it has variously advocated since 2003.  We

also are pleased that the IGF will have sufficient scope to deal with the

Internet-related public policy issues that we believe must be addressed,

most notably the conformity of existing arrangements with the Geneva

Principles,

and other cross-cutting or multidimensional issues that cannot be

optimally dealt with within

those arrangements.  However, we reiterate our concerns expressed during

PrepCom-3 that the Forum must not be anchored in any existing specialized

international organization, meaning that its legal form, finances, and

professional staff should be independent.  In addition, we reiterate our

view that the forum should be more than a place for dialogue.  As was

recommended by the WGIG Report, it should also provide expert analysis,

trend monitoring, and capacity building, including in close collaboration

with external partners in the research community.

2. We insist that the modalities of the IGF be determined in full

cooperation with civil society. We emphasize that success in the forum, as

in most areas of Internet governance, will be impossible without the full

participation of civil society. By full participation we mean much more

than playing a mere advisory role.  Civil society must be able to

participate fully and equally in both plenary and any working group or

drafting group discussions, and must have the same opportunities as other

stakeholders to influence agendas and outcomes.

3.  The Tunis Agenda addressed the issue of political oversight of

critical Internet resources. This, in itself, is an achievement.  It is

also important that governments recognized the need for the development of

a set of public policy principles that would frame political oversight of

Internet resources. These public policy principles must protect and promote

the principles of international human rights treaties, ensure equitable

access to

information and online opportunities, and promote development.

4.  It is important that governments have established that developing

these principles should be a shared responsibility.  However, it is very

unfortunate that the Tunis Agenda suggests that governments are only

willing to share this role and responsibility among themselves, in

cooperation with international organisations.  Civil society remains

strongly of the view that the formulation of appropriate and legitimate

public policies pertaining to Internet governance requires the full and

meaningful involvement of nongovernmental stakeholders.

5.  With regard to Paragraph 40 we are disappointed that there is no

mention that efforts to combat cybercrime need to be exercised in the

context of checks and balances provided by fundamental human rights,

particularly freedom of expression and privacy.

6.  To ensure that Internet governance and development take place in the

public interest, it is necessary for people who use the Internet

understand how the DNS is functioning, how IP addresses are allocated,

what basic legal instruments exist in fields like cyber-crime,

Intellectual Property Rights, eCommerce, e-government, and human rights.

  Therefore the ongoing creation of public awareness is the

responsibility of everyone involved in the governance and development of

the Internet and emerging information and communication platforms.

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