[governance] FW: Our internet is at risk

Thu May 31 10:46:04 EDT 2012

From my standpoint. this approach widely misses the point.

The ITU should be told to back off because Internet users don't want or need oversight by a UN agency controlled by its member governments.

Telling ITU that we want to be part of its negotiation process concedes beforehand the idea that the ITU's bid to become the global Interent oversight body is legitimate.

Asking to attend the ITU review meeting is a different matter, but asking to be included in the negotiating process -- even implicitly -- is a recognition that such a negotiation is acceptable. 

The phrase in this text,  "Civil society needs a voice in the ITU negotiations," in effect concedes the point beforehand. It means the game would be over before it even got started.

Bests, Rony Koven, European Representative, World Press Freedom Committee

-----Original Message-----
From: michael gurstein <gurstein at gmail.com>
To: governance <governance at lists.igcaucus.org>
Sent: Thu, May 31, 2012 4:13 pm
Subject: [governance] FW: Our internet is at risk

-----Original Message-----
From: Access Now [mailto:access at accessnow.org] 
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:26 AM
To: Michael Gurstein
Subject: Our internet is at risk

Countries             like China and Russia are trying to expand the power of a closed UN             body to give governments more control over the internet. Tell the             ITU we don't want it deciding the future of the internet and to make             its plans public!

Michael,

The internet we’ve come to know and love -- one that's open,       decentralized, and governed by many stakeholders -- is       threatened.

Right now, several countries, including China       and Russia, are proposing to expand the powers of a non-transparent global       institution, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),       allowing it to change the rules on how our internet is used and       governed. And what's worse, the ITU won't even release their       negotiating documents to the public or give internet users a seat at the       table.

The ITU isn't used to public accountability, but together we       can change that. Let's tell the ITU that we don't want a       secretive body where only governments have a vote deciding the future of       our internet!

Click here to sign the petition demanding the ITU       makes its plans public and we'll work on delivering the petition at their       next planning meeting.

The ITU gives every country one vote -- that's why it’s crucial       we call upon our individual governments to support our cause.       Multi-stakeholder governance of the internet is one of the reasons we can       so easily access sites around the world, share with our friends on social       networks, and participate in a global community. 

Now, with the ITU renegotiating a new treaty this year, China, Russia,       and others are pushing proposals that would give governments greater       control over how you access the internet. Imagine how that might       impact your privacy, security, and freedom of speech online.

The ITU has played an important role in telecommunications and spectrum       management and its use for development, but this is not cause for       expanding its mandate. While an evolution of internet governance       is needed (including an examination of the role of the US), it should       evolve in the same way that it was originally designed -- in an open,       decentralized, and inclusive manner. 

Civil society needs       a voice in the ITU negotiations. We've cosigned a letter with other       organizations including the CDT (USA), CIS (India), FGV (Brazil), EFF       (USA), and EIPR (Egypt) urging all stakeholders to be a part of this       process and for the ITU to be transparent in their negotiations.

Click here to join us in our call to keep the ITU from       regulating the internet, publicly release its plans, and respect our role       in the internet's future by signing the petition       below. 

In solidarity,
The Access Team  

For more information:
Civil Society urges openness, multi-stakeholder process for       WCIT
ITU Move to Expand Powers Threatens the Internet
Hey ITU Member States: No More Secrecy, Release the Treaty       Proposals

Access is an international NGO that promotes open access to the internet as a means to free, full and safe participation in society and the realization of human rights. To help protect the internet around the world, you can donate to Access. To reply, please email info at accessnow.org. To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.accessnow.org/unsubscribe

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