[governance] Inputs for synthesis paper
Jeffrey A. Williams
jwkckid1 at ix.netcom.com
Sat Aug 30 20:50:37 EDT 2008
Ian and all,
Very good start here... >:)
Ian Peter wrote:
> 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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