[governance] Public policy issues - questions...

[Robert Guerra]

On 23-Oct-05, at 9:10 AM, Jacqueline Morris wrote:

> Given that pornography is legal in many places, I would suggest that
> it fall under para 64 in general, and para 61 for places where it is
> illegal. Basically, we can't put something that is not a crime under
> cybercrime. Pornography is a complex public policy issue, and is very
> closely linked to cultural mores. Even the feminist world is divided
> on the issue. Similarly, the YC's para on internet gambling is a
> difficult thing to place, as it is legal in some places and illegal in
> others.

> My take on it is that with regard to cybercrime, we should aim for
> language that pushes coordination and joint activities, dealing with
> things that are officially crimes. If a country or a group has moral,
> ethical and cultural issues with something, then it is up to them to
> go through the relevant process to make it a crime, then it can fall
> under the cybercrime para. However, we shoudn't start listing issues
> as crimes - one person's crime is another's freedom of expression.

Jacqueline:

thanks for the comments

I wanted to point out that in the Political chapeau, as well as in  
the Introduction, Implementation and Follow-Up there are references  
to "ethics". They are listed below FYI.

Point being, let's be carefully watching the other documents too -  
sometimes the issues get moved from one document to another. A case  
is open source... It is now also in the political chapeau , and there  
is a call to kill/remove the text in all other places. No sure if  
people caught that ....

regards

Robert


PrepCom-3 (Geneva, 19-30 September 2005)
Chair's document: Political Chapeau
WSIS-II/PC-3/DT/12 (rev. 2)

...

10. We reaffirm our resolution in the quest to ensure that everyone  
can benefit from the opportunities that ICTs can offer, by recalling  
that governments, as well as private sector, civil society and the  
United Nations and other international organizations, should work  
together to: improve access to information and communication  
infrastructure and technologies as well as to information and  
knowledge; build capacity; increase confidence and security in the  
use of ICTs; create an enabling environment at all levels; develop  
and widen ICT applications; foster and respect cultural diversity;  
recognize the role of the media; address the ethical dimensions of  
the Information Society; and encourage international and regional  
cooperation. We confirm that these are the key principles for  
building an inclusive Information society, the elaboration of which  
is found in the Geneva Declaration of Principles. (AGREED)



PrepCom-3 (Geneva, 19-30 September 2005)
Chair of WSIS Negotiation Group
Introduction, Implementation and Follow-Up
WSIS-II/PC-3/DT/26
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc3/working/dt26.pdf

11. We reaffirm our commitment to providing equitable access to  
information and knowledge for all, recognizing the role of ICTs for  
economic growth and development. We are committed to working towards  
achieving the indicative targets, set out in the Geneva Plan of  
Action, that serve as global references for improving connectivity  
and universal, ubiquitous, equitable, non-discriminatory and  
affordable access in the use of ICTs, considering different national  
circumstances, to be achieved by 2015, and to using ICTs, as an  
additional tool to achieve the internationally-agreed development  
goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals, by:

(there are many sections - ethical is in - n -)

n) Encouraging the development of domestic legislation that  
guarantees the independence and plurality of media, as well as taking  
appropriate measures – consistent with freedom of expression under  
certain restrictions provided by law for respect of rights or  
reputations of others and the protection of national security, public  
order and public morality. Reaffirming the responsible use and  
treatment of information by media in accordance with the highest  
ethical and professional standards

ANNEX -

C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society -  UNESCO/ECOSOC




_______________________________________________
governance mailing list
governance at lists.cpsr.org
https://ssl.cpsr.org/mailman/listinfo/governance