[governance] Inputs for synthesis paper

[Ian Peter]

Probably should work with your draft Michael as I am not a subject matter
expert here.

But I would make the point that it takes eight or so paragraphs to get to
the point of the submission and what you are trying to achieve. I think you
might be losing readers before you make your point. That could also account
for the very limited feedback on this list.

I think we need to be more succinct which was the basis of my suggestion.


Ian Peter
Ian Peter and Associates Pty Ltd
PO Box 10670 Adelaide St  Brisbane 4000
Australia
Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
www.ianpeter.com
 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gurstein [mailto:gurstein at gmail.com]
> Sent: 31 August 2008 16:55
> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; 'Ian Peter'
> Subject: RE: [governance] Inputs for synthesis paper
> 
> 
> Ian and all,
> 
> I've done an edit for clarity etc. of Parminder's original as attached.
> 
> I haven't included your changes.
> 
> (I think that we should be working with a wiki here...
> 
> MG
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Peter [mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com]
> Sent: August 30, 2008 11:39 PM
> To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
> Subject: RE: [governance] Inputs for synthesis paper
> 
> 
> Just some quick feedback here as it is important to keep this moving.
> 
> I think it is too long and takes too long to get to the point. I would
> drop
> the four paragraphs after the first one and get straight into the
> proposal.
> My amended text then would be as follows.
> 
> 
> >
> > 	Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) is a civil society
> > organization that seeks to "promote global public interest objectives
> > in Internet governance policy making", towards "realization of
> > internationally agreed human rights, social equity and
> > interdependence, cultural concerns, and both social and economic
> > development". The mission of the IGC "is to provide a forum for
> > discussion, advocacy, action, and for representation of civil society
> > contributions in Internet governance processes".
> >
> >
> > STUFF DELETED HERE RESUMES BELOW>
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGF will make an important contribution to global Internet policy
> > making if it picks up and drives a rights-based discourse regarding
> > the Internet and the information society.  The ideas and principles
> > emerging from such a discourse can then inform institutions that
> > actually make Internet policies, and the shaping of new institutional
> > frameworks, that may be required, the possible need of which was
> > identified by the Tunis Agenda.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	The Internet Governance Caucus therefore strongly recommends that
> > 'Rights and the Internet' be made as the overarching theme for IGF-4
> > in Egypt, and the IGF-4's program be dominated by the need for
> > developing a rights-based discourse in the area of Internet
> > Governance. The Caucus has already expressed support to the letter on
> > this subject which was sent by the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Bill
> > of Rights to the MAG.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGC offers IGF all assistance in helping shape such a
> people-centered
> > 'rights-based discourse' at the IGF meetings, and specifically to help
> > operationalise the proposal of making 'rights and the Internet' as the
> > overarching theme for IGF-4 in Egypt.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	A complex new emerging ecology of 'rights and the Internet'
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Freedom of expression and openness of the Internet are underpinned
> by
> > recognized basic human rights. Privacy in the digital space is
> > increasingly understood as a very important Internet right.
> > Conceptions of 'rights and the Internet' extend to the area of
> > positive rights - for instance in the area of access, where a 'right
> > to the Internet' is being articulated by some groups, and to
> > collective rights like cultural rights, which can underpin the
> > important IGF thematic area of cultural diversity.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Many important Internet policy areas, like network neutrality, are
> > being framed in terms of rights, like a right to know, access
> > information[2] and share information, including perhaps freedom of
> > expression itself. Right to public information takes a wholly new
> > context in a digital environment, where digital public information is
> > publicly sharable at little or no extra cost. One project looks at any
> > 'positive acts' of withholding digital public information from
> > citizens as a form of censorship. All these rights-based conception
> > covers the IGF theme area of 'openness'.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Many other rights like the right of association and the right of
> > political participation have important new implications in the
> > Internet age, including in terms of the kind of Internet policies that
> > best serve public interest.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	It is a widely held fear that while the Internet gives unprecedented
> 
> > new economic, social and political opportunities in many new areas, it
> > may further widen economic, social and political divides. It is for
> > this reason that 'development' has always been a central theme for all
> > IGF meetings. In this context, it may be useful to explore what does
> > the 'right to development' mean in this new, much more globalized,
> > context.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Consumers of digital products face new challenges and consumer's
> > right[3] to know and completely 'own' the products and services they
> > pay for is another important emerging area of rights. This has great
> > relevance in a context where corporates are able to extend their
> > digital arms of control inside people's houses and personal devices,
> > in a manner largely unsuspected by the ordinary consumers.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Right to property normally has been considered as an important
> right.
> > However its applicability and (remarkably quick and far-reaching)
> > mutations in the digital space, in form of IP rights is greatly
> > contested. In fact, this contestation is the primary political economy
> > contestation of the emerging information society. Is IP right a 'real'
> > right? Are corporate entities entitled to 'rights' as we understand
> > the term 'rights'? What public interest principles much underpin any
> > conception of IPR? In the new context, what is the significance of
> > further developing the concept of a right to access knowledge, in the
> > digital space?
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Internet governance till today has largely been based, initially, on
> 
> > technical principles of 'neutrality' and, increasingly, on Internet's
> > nature as a giant global marketplace. With Internet becoming much more
> > that just a technical platform or a marketplace, and central to many
> > or most social and political institutions, an alternative basis and
> > conceptual framework for IG needs to be explored. In the view of the
> > Caucus a right-based framework will be most appropriate to be so
> > explored and used. It is the also Caucus's view that the IGF is the
> > institution best placed to take up this task. This process should
> > start in IGF, Hyderabad, where some workshops on 'rights issues' are
> > being planned, and these issues will also hopefully figure prominently
> > in the main sessions. These discussions will help IGF work towards
> > developing 'rights and the Internet' as the over-arching theme of
> > IGF-4 in Egypt.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> > 	 -----Original Message-----
> > 	From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
> > 	Sent: August 27, 2008 8:15 PM
> > 	To: governance at lists.cpsr.org
> > 	Subject: [governance] Inputs for synthesis paper
> >
> > 	Dear All
> >
> >
> >
> > 	We had proposed IGC inputs to the synthesis paper for IGF Hyderabad
> > on two topics - 'rights and the Internet' and 'review of the IGF'.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Since no comments have come in, a draft is being proposed. We can
> > build in comments and suggestions into it. However if a very different
> > starting draft is found necessary we can do it through a working
> > group.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	The synthesis paper is a place to put in substantive ideas and
> > positions that we may want to present. Somewhat like putting forth
> > such ideas/ positions at the IGF meeting itself.  The paper is a good
> > 'space' through which we can try to reach the IGF participants. The
> > draft is done with this context in mind.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	The enclosed draft is on the issue of 'rights and the internet', and
> 
> > we acknowledge the work done, and being done, by the Dynamic Coalition
> > of Internet Bill of Rights in this regard. I will try another,
> > shorter, draft on the issue of 'review of the IGF' too.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	It is a very rough initial draft to trigger discussion and inputs.
> > There must be a lot of gaps/ inconsistencies especially in capturing
> > the rights ecology in relation to the Internet.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	The deadline for sending these in is 12th September. And if do agree
> 
> > on sending a contribution it has to be put through consensus process
> > after finalizing the text.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Thanks
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Parminder
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGC's input -1 to the synthesis paper for IGF, Hyderabad.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	 'Rights and the Internet' as the over-arching theme for IGF-4, at
> > Cairo
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Global internet policy making and Rights - Role of the IGF and its
> > constituent civil society
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) is a civil society
> > organization that seeks to "promote global public interest objectives
> > in Internet governance policy making", towards "realization of
> > internationally agreed human rights, social equity and
> > interdependence, cultural concerns, and both social and economic
> > development". The mission of the IGC "is to provide a forum for
> > discussion, advocacy, action, and for representation of civil society
> > contributions in Internet governance processes".
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGF has the principal mandate and challenge of contributing to
> global
> > Internet policy making, which is beset with a formidable problem. On
> > one hand, it is an important emerging policy area, with a strong
> > global mooring, as the Internet becomes central to more and more
> > social institutions, and on the other hand, global political
> > structures are, very often, either too weak or otherwise unsuitable to
> > be up to the challenge of effectively making democratic and
> > public-interest centered Internet policies.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	In times when there is uncertainly about appropriate institutions
> for
> > policy making, as in case of global Internet policies, it may help to
> > first focus on 'constitutional' principles that must underpin these
> > polices, and inform the activities of the institutions that are
> > engaged in this activity - both extant, and emerging.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Some of such 'constitutional' principles are related to process.
> > Council of Europe and Association of Progressive Communications have
> > been doing some important work in this regard on the issue of "a code
> > of conduct for public participation in IG". There are also some other
> > initiatives seeking to examine how (process related) 'WSIS principles'
> > of     mulitistakeholderism, transparency, participation and democratic
> > governance can be applied in the extant IG institutions.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	It is however equally important to evolve some substantive
> > 'constitutional' principles[1] that should inform global Internet
> > policies, and the concerned institutional framework. WSIS called for a
> > 'people-centric' information society, and the way to construct such an
> > information society is to proceed from placing people's rights at the
> > centre, in a manner that includes all people of the world in their
> > specific social contexts. Framing of such 'peoples rights in the
> > information society' will consist in contextualizing existing human
> > rights to the Internet age, as well identifying new rights-based
> > conceptualizations that are relevant to the new and emerging
> > situations.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	It is relevant to note here that much of the existing global polity,
> 
> > to the extend it does exist, is based on globally agreed human rights.
> > This provides a good precedent for basing a global Internet policy
> > institutional framework on 'rights in relation to the Internet'. The
> > WSIS Declaration of Principles also opens with a strong reaffirmation
> > of human rights as the basis of shaping the emerging information
> > society.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGF will make an important contribution to global Internet policy
> > making if it picks up and drives a rights-based discourse regarding
> > the Internet and the information society.  The ideas and principles
> > emerging from such a discourse can then inform institutions that
> > actually make Internet policies, and the shaping of new institutional
> > frameworks, that may be required, the possible need of which was
> > identified by the Tunis Agenda.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	The Internet Governance Caucus therefore strongly recommends that
> > 'Rights and the Internet' be made as the overarching theme for IGF-4
> > in Egypt, and the IGF-4's program be dominated by the need for
> > developing a rights-based discourse in the area of Internet
> > Governance. The Caucus has already expressed support to the letter on
> > this subject which was sent by the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Bill
> > of Rights to the MAG.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	IGC offers IGF all assistance in helping shape such a
> people-centered
> > 'rights-based discourse' at the IGF meetings, and specifically to help
> > operationalise the proposal of making 'rights and the Internet' as the
> > overarching theme for IGF-4 in Egypt.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	A complex new emerging ecology of 'rights and the Internet'
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Freedom of expression and openness of the Internet are underpinned
> by
> > recognized basic human rights. Privacy in the digital space is
> > increasingly understood as a very important Internet right.
> > Conceptions of 'rights and the Internet' extend to the area of
> > positive rights - for instance in the area of access, where a 'right
> > to the Internet' is being articulated by some groups, and to
> > collective rights like cultural rights, which can underpin the
> > important IGF thematic area of cultural diversity.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Many important Internet policy areas, like network neutrality, are
> > being framed in terms of rights, like a right to know, access
> > information[2] and share information, including perhaps freedom of
> > expression itself. Right to public information takes a wholly new
> > context in a digital environment, where digital public information is
> > publicly sharable at little or no extra cost. One project looks at any
> > 'positive acts' of withholding digital public information from
> > citizens as a form of censorship. All these rights-based conception
> > covers the IGF theme area of 'openness'.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Many other rights like the right of association and the right of
> > political participation have important new implications in the
> > Internet age, including in terms of the kind of Internet policies that
> > best serve public interest.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	It is a widely held fear that while the Internet gives unprecedented
> 
> > new economic, social and political opportunities in many new areas, it
> > may further widen economic, social and political divides. It is for
> > this reason that 'development' has always been a central theme for all
> > IGF meetings. In this context, it may be useful to explore what does
> > the 'right to development' mean in this new, much more globalized,
> > context.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Consumers of digital products face new challenges and consumer's
> > right[3] to know and completely 'own' the products and services they
> > pay for is another important emerging area of rights. This has great
> > relevance in a context where corporates are able to extend their
> > digital arms of control inside people's houses and personal devices,
> > in a manner largely unsuspected by the ordinary consumers.
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Right to property normally has been considered as an important
> right.
> > However its applicability and (remarkably quick and far-reaching)
> > mutations in the digital space, in form of IP rights is greatly
> > contested. In fact, this contestation is the primary political economy
> > contestation of the emerging information society. Is IP right a 'real'
> > right? Are corporate entities entitled to 'rights' as we understand
> > the term 'rights'? What public interest principles much underpin any
> > conception of IPR? In the new context, what is the significance of
> > further developing the concept of a right to access knowledge, in the
> > digital space?
> >
> >
> >
> > 	Internet governance till today has largely been based, initially, on
> 
> > technical principles of 'neutrality' and, increasingly, on Internet's
> > nature as a giant global marketplace. With Internet becoming much more
> > that just a technical platform or a marketplace, and central to many
> > or most social and political institutions, an alternative basis and
> > conceptual framework for IG needs to be explored. In the view of the
> > Caucus a right-based framework will be most appropriate to be so
> > explored and used. It is the also Caucus's view that the IGF is the
> > institution best placed to take up this task. This process should
> > start in IGF, Hyderabad, where some workshops on 'rights issues' are
> > being planned, and these issues will also hopefully figure prominently
> > in the main sessions. These discussions will help IGF work towards
> > developing 'rights and the Internet' as the over-arching theme of
> > IGF-4 in Egypt.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > [1] To quote some existing initiatives here
> >
> > [2] Mentioned in TA
> >
> > [3] Mentioned in TA
> >
> >
> > Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1602 - Release Date:
> > 8/9/2008 1:22 PM
> 
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> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1602 - Release Date: 8/9/2008
> 1:22 PM

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