[Governance] 170 orgs send an open letter to UN SG to stop plans for a new High Level Multistakeholder Body

[sivasubramanian muthusamy]

Dear Parminder,

"It is in any case unacceptable that such an apex policy body will
have corporation [ various stakholders, not just Corporations } and
government nominees sitting as equals."  -- Why?  Isn't that what we
call the Multi-stakeholder process?

If this campaign is signed by 170 Orgs, what were these signatories
told about the Secretary General's Initiative?  Please be kind enough
to point me to the home page calling for signatures.

Thank you.

Sivasubramanian M

On Sat, Mar 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM parminder via Governance
<governance at lists.igcaucus.org> wrote:
>
> The open letter was sent to the official consultation process, signed by more than 170 organisations.
>
> It was titled "“More than 170 Civil Society Groups Worldwide Oppose Plans for a Big Tech Dominated Body for Global Digital Governance” .
>
> Please see the final statement and endorsements at
> https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf  .
>
> It was also translated into Spanish, French, German and Dutch. All versions are linked from the enclosed document
>
> We had just 3 days to get sign ons, out of which 2 were weekend days. In the circumstances, the number is quite good. It shows the groundswell to opposition to this move. Thanks to everyone who supported this.
>
> We will now get this letter also sent directly to the UN SG and his new Tech Envoy.
>
> We will like to keep this campaign open for some time to get additional support and build awareness ...
>
> This ongoing campaign is just a start, much more needs to be done and will be done to stop this assault on democracy and on possibilities of effective regulation of Big Tech. We will be doing all it takes, including engaging with governments.
>
> We will follow a twin track: develop a powerful movement within civil society groups, and engage with governments and the UN.
>
> Will keep you posted.
>
> Best regards
> parminder
>
> On 05/03/21 2:15 pm, parminder via Governance wrote:
>
> Dear All
>
> This is an open letter to the UN Secretary General initiated by 16 global and national level civil society networks and organisations urging him to shelve plans for a High Level Multistakeholder Body which, if set up, can be expected to become the default apex global digital governance and policy body. This body is proposed to have a private funding model, with strong hints also at a 'pay to play' model. It is but obvious that Big Tech will come to dominate any such body.
>
> Quoting from the letter:
>
> Not only in developing countries but also in the US and EU, calls for stronger regulation of Big Tech are rising. At the precise point when we should be shaping global norms to regulate Big Tech, plans have emerged for an ‘empowered’ global digital governance body that will evidently be dominated by Big Tech. Adding vastly to its already overweening power, this new Body would help Big Tech resist effective regulation, globally and at national levels. Indeed, we face the unbelievable prospect of ‘a Big Tech led body for Global Governance of Big Tech’.
>
>  Two technical annexes to the open letter explain the background of the matter in considerable detail.
>
> This letter is open for endorsements, which can be done by writing an email to secretariat at justnetcoalition.org or filling this form before midnight PST (GMT-8) of the 7th of March.
>
>
> Please also do circulate to other groups and networks where it may attract interest.
>
>
> The open letter may also be accessed at https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech.pdf
>
>
> French text is at : https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-french.pdf and Spanish version at - https://justnetcoalition.org/big-tech-governing-big-tech-spanish.pdf
>
>
> Please let us know if you have any questions or comments regarding the above.
>
>
> Best, parminder
>
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