WSIS: Internet Governance

1. WSIS:Internet Governance President of the WSIS Phase II Preparatory Committee Ambassador Janis Karklins April 2005 world summit on the information society

2. Internet Governance • Following the Geneva Summit, the UN Secretary General set up a working group to investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate, on the governance of the Internet • an open and inclusive process • ensures a mechanism for the full and active participation of governments, the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries • involves relevant intergovernmental and international organizations and forums world summit on the information society

3. Working Group of Internet Governence • Set up on 11 November 2004 • Chaired by Mr. Nitin Desai, Special Adviser to the Secretary General on WSIS, former Under-Secretary General of the UN • Secretariat is based in Geneva • Consists of 40 members • 1/2 from Governments • 1/2 from industry, Internet community, academia world summit on the information society

4. WGIG mandate is, inter alia, to deal with the following issues: • Develop a working definition of Internet Governance • Identify the public policy issues that are relevant to Internet Governance • Develop a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, existing international organizations and other forums as well as the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries • Prepare a report for consideration and appropriate action for the Tunis Summit world summit on the information society

5. Main challenges • To engage all stakeholders in open and transparent discussion and ensure that the recommendations would be based on broadest possible information • Time constraints • Insure stability and efficiency of the Internet • Further develop system of international law world summit on the information society

6. Methods of work of the WGIG • Regular on-site meetings • November 2004, February 2005, April 2005, June 2005 • Regular on-line consultations (www.wgig.org) • December 2004 – January 2005, March 2005, May 2005 • Regular consultations with all stakeholders on various topics • In conjunction with meetings of the WGIG • Official launch of the report – 18 July 2005 in Geneva world summit on the information society

7. List of issues WGIG may look into: • Equitable distribution of resources • Access for all • Stable and secure functioning of the Internet • Multilingualism and content • Other issues for consideration world summit on the information society

8. Equitable distribution of Resources • Administration of Internet names and IP addresses • Administration of root server system • Telecom infrastructure, broadband access, convergence with NGN • Dispute resolution • Affordable and universal access • Internet leased line costs • Peering and interconnection • Competition policies and regulations world summit on the information society

9. Access for all • Telecom infrastructure, broadband access, convergence with NGN • Affordable and universal access • Social dimensions and inclusion • Internet leased line costs • Peering and interconnection • Competition policy, liberalization, privatization and regulations • Consumer, user protection, privacy • VoIP • Spectrum policy • Education, human capacity building • Multilingualism of Internet naming systems, content • National infrastructure development • Spam • Cibersecurity, cybercrime world summit on the information society

10. Stable and secure functioning of the Internet • Telecom infrastructure, broadband access • Administration of Internet names and IP addresses • Administration of root server system • Dispute resolution • Technical standards, technical peering and interconnection • Spam, Cibersecurity, cybercrime • Competition policy, liberalization, privatization and regulations • Security of network and information systems • Electronic authentication • Critical infrastructure protection world summit on the information society

11. Multilingualism and Content • Multilingualization of Internet naming systems • Cultural and linguistic diversity • Unlawful content and access protection • National policies and regulations • Intelectual property rights world summit on the information society

12. Other issues for consideration • Applicable jurisdiction, cross border cooperation • E-commerce • Freedom of information and media • Privacy • Open source and free software world summit on the information society

13. Little insight in the Draft Working Definition of Internet Governance • First descriptive sentence • Internet governance means the collective rules, procedures, and related programs intended to shape social actors’ expectations, practices, and inteactions concerning Internet infrastructure and transactions and content. • Second prescriptive sentence • Internet governance should be multilateral, transparent and democratic, with the full and balanced involvement of governmnets, the private sector, civil society and international organizations. It should encompass both technical and public policy aspects, ensure an equitable distribution of resources, facilitate access for all, and maintain the stable and secure functioning of the Internet, taking into account multilingualism. world summit on the information society

14. After Tunis Summit • Continue stakeholder dialogue in the framework set by the WSIS world summit on the information society

15. websites: www.itu.int/wsis www.wgig.org Thank you world summit on the information society