[Ecommerce] FYI: Governments'role in Internet

[Manon Ress]

Re: Preparatory process for second phase for WSIS.  The * second phase*
will take place in Tunis hosted by the Government of Tunisia, from * 16
to 18 November 2005*.
Consultations on the setting up of the Working Group on Internet
Governance (WGIG) were held at the United Nations in * Geneva on 20 and
21 September 2004*. The establishment of the WGIG was requested last
December by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Aim of
the consultations was to develop a common understanding of structure and
functioning of the Working Group. Discussions focused on the scope and
working methods of the Working Group, as well as the profile, qualities
and characteristics of its members. See:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/wgig/index.html

On ICANNWatch.org
Milton Mueller wrote:
"The United Nations consultation exercise on the WGIG attracted a
surprisingly large number of governments. About 250 people attended the
event, including delegations from most of the world's governments. The
consultation was held in Geneva's Palais des Nations. Nitin Desai of
India, the Under-Secretary-General for economic and social affairs who
presided over the meeting, announced at the end that it "has been more
constructive than expected."

"South Africa either was absent or completely silent but Brazil, one of
the key critics of ICANN and a driver of the creation of the WGIG,
clarified the rationale underlying its push for a UN working group (see
story inside)."

SNIP

Brazil's more provocative Monday intervention assailed what it called
"five myths" of Internet governance:

1. It is a myth that there really is such a thing as independent,
private sector management of the internet addressing system. In fact,
ICANN's MoU with the U.S. Department of Commerce reveals that it is
closer to a government.
2. It is a myth that governments have a say in ICANN's activities via
the GAC. GAC is advisory, the influence of governments is comparable to
the influence of nonshareholders in a private company.
3. It is a myth that an intergovernmetnal approach will jeopardize the
free speech on the internet. Free speech is endangered when one
government controls the system, not when all do.
4. It is a myth that any attempt to regulate management of the internet
might stall innovation. The premise is false - there is already
regulation, what is lacking is an approach to it grounded in the public
sector
5. There is no well organized "international conspiracy" to control
management of the Internet. Brazil favors a democratic, transparent and
multilateral system, including the private sector, civil society, and
international organizations.

More at:
http://www.icannwatch.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/21/1812238&mode=thread

--
Manon Anne Ress
Consumer Project on Technology
www.cptech.org
PO Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
manon.ress@cptech.org, voice: 1.202.387.8030, fax: 1.202.234.5176