[governance] Inputs for synthesis paper

[Jeffrey A. Williams]

Parminder and all,

"A complex new emerging ecology of rights and the internet", should
read "A complex new emerging ecology of rights OF the internet"

  Otherwise, so far so good, but seemingly a bit too lengthy for my
taste, yet accurate and explanitory.

Parminder wrote:

> Hanane
>
> > If you agree we can adjust the following paragraph ( the last two
> > sentences).
>
> I have included the changes suggested by you in the document on google docs.
> Thanks. Parminder
>
> The current form of the doc is as below ......
>
> IGC's input -1 to the synthesis paper for IGF, Hyderabad.
>
> 'Rights and the Internet' as the over-arching theme for IGF-4 in Egypt
>
> The Internet Governance Caucus strongly recommends that 'Rights and the
> Internet' be made the overarching theme for IGF-4 in Egypt, and that the
> IGF-4's program be framed by the desire for developing a rights-based
> discourse in the area of Internet Governance. The Caucus has already
> expressed support for the letter on this subject which was sent to the MAG
> by the Dynamic Coalition on an Internet Bill of Rights.
>
> The IGC offers the IGF assistance in helping to shape such a discourse at
> the IGF meetings, and specifically to help make 'Rights and the Internet' an
> 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 also extend to the area of positive rights - for instance in the
> area of access, where a possible right to the internet is being articulated
> by some, and to collective rights such as those of cultural expression -
> including the right to have an Internet in ones own language, which can
> inform the important IGF thematic area of cultural diversity.
>
> Many important internet policy areas, like network neutrality, are being
> framed in terms of rights, such as a right to know, access to information
> and the right to share information, including perhaps freedom of expression
> itself. The right to public information presents itself in a wholly new
> manner in a digital environment, where digitized information is publicly
> sharable at little or no extra cost. Positive acts of withholding digital
> public information from citizens in fact can be looked upon as a form of
> censorship. All of these rights-based conceptions may be included in the IGF
> openness theme area.
>
> Many other rights such as the right of association and the right to
> political participation may have important new implications in the internet
> age, including the shaping of internet policies that best serve public
> interests in these areas.
>
> 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 been a central theme for the IGF meetings to date. In
> this context, it might be useful to explore what the term "right to
> development" means in this new, much more globalized and digitized, context.
>
> Consumers of digital products face new challenges and the consumer's right
> to know and completely 'own' the products and services they pay for is
> another emerging area of importance. This has great relevance in a context
> where corporations are able to extend their digital tentacles of control
> into people's houses and their personal devices, in a manner as yet
> unsuspected by consumers.
>
> The 'right to property' has conventionally been considered of considerable
> importance. However its applicability and mutations in the the digital
> environment, particularly in the form of Intellectual Property rights, is
> current being widely contested. In fact, this issue is emerging as a primary
> area of socio-economic conflict in the information society.  The IGF can
> explore issues surounding the public interest principles which underpin IPR
> and the development of the concept of a right to access knowledge in the
> digital space.
>
> Internet governance has up to this time largely been founded in technical
> principles of neutrality and, increasingly, on the internet's functionality
> as a giant global marketplace. With the internet becoming  increasingly
> central to many social and political institutions, an alternative foundation
> and conceptual framework for IG can be explored. It is the view of the IG
> Caucus that a right-based framework will be may be appropriate for this
> purpose.
>
> It is the also the Caucus' view that the IGF is the forum best suited to
> take up this task. This process should start at the IGF, Hyderabad, where
> workshops on rights issues are being planned.  These issues will also
> hopefully figure prominently in the main sessions. The IGC fully expects
> that these discussions will help the IGF work towards developing 'Rights and
> the Internet' as the over-arching theme of the IGF-4 in Egypt.
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> 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

Regards,

Spokesman for INEGroup LLA. - (Over 281k members/stakeholders strong!)
"Obedience of the law is the greatest freedom" -
   Abraham Lincoln

"Credit should go with the performance of duty and not with what is
very often the accident of glory" - Theodore Roosevelt

"If the probability be called P; the injury, L; and the burden, B;
liability depends upon whether B is less than L multiplied by
P: i.e., whether B is less than PL."
United States v. Carroll Towing  (159 F.2d 169 [2d Cir. 1947]
===============================================================
Updated 1/26/04
CSO/DIR. Internet Network Eng. SR. Eng. Network data security IDNS.
div. of Information Network Eng.  INEG. INC.
ABA member in good standing member ID 01257402 E-Mail
jwkckid1 at ix.netcom.com
My Phone: 214-244-4827

____________________________________________________________
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