[governance] Reconstituting MAG

[Jeremy Malcolm]

On 13/02/2008, at 4:31 PM, McTim wrote:

> I submit, (and not for the first time) that if anyone on this list
> would like to have any real decision-making ability on these issues,
> you MUST (and that is in the IETF usage of the word) join the
> bottom-up CS processes that are completely open, transparent and
> effective in promoting the public interest in Internet policy.

As for the IETF, firstly is is very difficult for non-engineers to  
gain any status within the organisation.  Whilst in theory it is open  
to all, by its own admission, the IETF is a meritocracy; and merit is  
judged on the basis of familiarity with Unix, C and TCP/IP  
networking.  Public policy experience counts for very little.

Secondly, it notoriously maintains the fiction that it is engaged in a  
purely technical exercise, and does not need to consult outside its  
membership for input on policy questions.  The example that I always  
roll out is RFC 2804, the IETF's Policy on Wiretapping (basically  
deciding that the IETF would not facilitate the interception of data  
by LEAs in the design of its protocols).

Whilst I agree with the outcome in that case, the process by which it  
was reached, which excluded governmental and broader civil society  
input, cannot stand in the post-WSIS era because governments will  
(understandably) regard it as having zero legitimacy.  One purpose of  
the IGF (as I see it) is to assess the IETF's deficit of multi- 
stakeholder legitimacy, and to help to redress it through its own  
recommendations.  This also ties back into the IGP's vision of the  
IGF's role vis-a-vis ICANN.

-- 
Jeremy Malcolm LLB (Hons) B Com
Internet and Open Source lawyer, IT consultant, actor
host -t NAPTR 1.0.8.0.3.1.2.9.8.1.6.e164.org|awk -F! '{print $3}'


____________________________________________________________
You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
     governance at lists.cpsr.org
To be removed from the list, send any message to:
     governance-unsubscribe at lists.cpsr.org

For all list information and functions, see:
     http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/governance