[governance] GNI Policy Brief: Corporate Responsibility and Global Internet Governance

[David Sullivan]

I though this list may be interested in a new publication by the Global
Network Initiative (apologies for cross-posting)...


*Corporate Responsibility and Global Internet Governance *



*A Global Network Initiative Policy Brief*



This December in Dubai, world governments will gather to renegotiate a key
treaty under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU), a UN agency that specializes in global telecommunications. The
meeting, known as the World Conference on International Telecommunications
(WCIT), has been billed as a mortal threat to Internet freedom, a rare
opportunity to fix inequitable flaws in the existing global economic
framework for communications infrastructure, and all or none of the above.



Although there is a real risk that authoritarian states will use this
process to seek greater government control over the Internet, it would be a
mistake to turn the WCIT into a referendum on UN involvement in Internet
governance. The UN already plays a key role through the international human
rights system, and by supporting discussion venues like the Internet
Governance Forum. The problem is that the opaque ITU process, which is
largely closed to civil society participation, presents opportunities for
governments to pursue politically motivated policies at the expense of
users and innovators alike.  Although companies and governments have
legitimate reasons to cooperate on Internet policy, when this happens
behind closed doors without adequate safeguards the human rights of users
can be put at risk.



The Global Network Initiative (GNI) was formed to develop standards and an
accountability framework for information and communications technology
(ICT) companies faced with government requests impacting free expression
and privacy rights, and to strengthen efforts to work with governments to
advance these rights globally. Based on this experience, we offer the
following recommendations for governments and other stakeholders to
consider:



   1. Embrace international human rights standards. They provide an
   objective baseline that is universally acknowledged, even if governments do
   not always live up to them.
   2. Ensure multi-stakeholder collaboration. Pool the collective expertise
   of informed stakeholders and allow civil society to check company and
   government action that may infringe on rights.
   3. Enhance transparency. Committing to a system of transparency with the
   public provides credibility and accountability.



Internet governance and policy is a complex subject that is unsuited to
top-down, government-dominated structures. Taken together, human rights
standards, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and transparency are necessary
safeguards against increased government control of the Internet, and also
offer practical opportunities to improve the existing system.



Download the full policy brief
<http://globalnetworkinitiative.org/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Responsibility%20and%20Internet%20Governance.pdf>
(PDF).

* *

*GNI is a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations
(including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics,
who have created a collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of
expression and privacy in the ICT sector. GNI provides resources for ICT
companies to help them address difficult issues related to freedom of
expression and privacy that they may face anywhere in the world. GNI has
created a framework of principles and a confidential, collaborative
approach to working through challenges of corporate responsibility in the
ICT sector.*


-- 
David Sullivan
Policy and Communications Director
Global Network Initiative
Office: +1 202 407 8831
Cell: +1 646 595 5373
www.globalnetworkinitiative.org
@theGNI <http://twitter.com/theGNI>
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