Internet Governance Forum 2010

IGF
Internet Governance Forum
Cross Culture Assignment
ESLSCA

By: Abdulrhman Tantawy.

To: Dr. Yassin Shazly

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 Internet Governance Forum 2010

…Internet Governance Forum…

What is Internet Governance?

Definition: as the development and application by governments, private sector and the civil
society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making
procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet

The rapid growth in internet use poses challenges for existing policies on its administration and
regulation. ‘Internet governance’ covers a broad range of subjects, from technical
administration to wider public policy issues such as content regulation. Although the Internet is
a global network, many policies are set nationally. Some decisions require international co-
operation, and there are often difficulties in agreeing uniform rules.

What is Internet Governance Forum ?

is a multi-stakeholder forum for policy dialogue on issues pertaining to Internet Governance

Contributing to the overall theme 'Developing the future together' of this United Nations event -
the Council of Europe presented its most recent work to protect human rights online and to
provide an adequate legal framework for the Internet.

We can Explain it as:

Internet Government

The Internet Governance Forum Scope of work:

The first meeting of the IGF in October 2006 was attended by delegates from governments,
industry, charities and civil liberties organizations. The overall theme was ‘Internet Governance
for Development’, divided into four main discussion areas:

 Openness to consider free expression, and the free flow of ideas and information on the
Internet;
 Security to protect users and networks;

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 Cultural and linguistic diversity;

 Access issues, particularly on improving internet access in the developing world.

The IGF is not a decision making body, and did not make any declarations, although it did set up
several “dynamic coalitions” to work on key issues, such as privacy, open standards, and an
initiative on the rights and responsibilities of internet users. The ‘Stop Spam Alliance’ was
launched at the meeting.3 The IGF reconvenes in 2007.

IGF Objectives:

1. Discuss public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance in order to
foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet;

2. Facilitate discourse between bodies dealing with cross-cutting international public

policies regarding the Internet and discuss issues that do not fall within the scope of any
existing body;

3. Interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations and other institutions on

matters under their purview;

4. Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and in this regard make full
use of the expertise of the academic, scientific and technical communities;

5. Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability and
affordability of the Internet in the developing world;

6. Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future

Internet governance mechanisms, particularly those from developing countries;

7. Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of the relevant bodies and the
general public, and, where appropriate, make recommendations;

8. Contribute to capacity-building for Internet governance in developing countries,

drawing fully on local sources of knowledge and expertise;

9. Promote and assess, on an ongoing basis, the embodiment of WSIS principles in Internet
governance processes;

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Governance issues
1. Domain names and IP addresses

Until 1998, the DNS and IP address allocation was administered at the University of South
California on behalf of the US government. Subsequently ICANN was created to assume this
role. Its activities include:

 Delegating the running of top level domains to various organizations, who maintain
databases of second level domains. For example the US Company VeriSign maintains
‘.com’ and ‘.net.’ Its contract to operate ‘.com’ was recently renewed until 2012 by the
US Department of Commerce. Around 59 million domain names are registered under
‘.com’, so the ability to award such contracts has generated controversy, due to
competition concerns.
 Allocating blocks of IP addresses to five Regional Internet Registries. UK ISPs receive
their share from one of these, RIPE NCC. These addresses require management since
their number is limited.
 Authorizing the creation of top level domain names.

New Top Level Domains

The creation of new top level domains (TLDs) is authorized by ICANN. Some argue that new
TLDs provide greater choice, as well as enabling the development of new services. An example
of this is the creation of a ‘.mobi’ TLD to encourage internet services on mobile telephones.
Some argue that creating new TLDs increases the costs for businesses that must purchase
relevant new domain names to deter fraudulent usage. Furthermore, the demand for new TLDs
has been questioned. In 2000, ICANN allowed the creation of seven new TLDs, including ‘.biz’
and ‘.info’, although the take up of these new domain names has been significantly lower than
projected.4 The political nature of ICANN’s role was highlighted by ongoing debate over
allowing ‘.xxx’, a new TLD for adult material.

Point of Departure

The internet is rapidly becoming a utility.

 People and entities are basing economic plans, products and services, and, increasingly,
matters involving health and safety on the internet.

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 Many users consider predictability, stability, and assurances of adequate service to be of

paramount value.
o Innovation becomes a secondary value.
 Where does this leave the End-to-End principle?

National governments are finding that the

internet makes it increasingly difficult to protect their interests, their citizens, and their cultural
values.

 New institutions need to be formed.

 How should these institutions be shaped and controlled?
 It is time to re-apply the works of 18th Century writers regarding the
structure and limitations of such institutions.

This activity is interfering with The First Law of the Internet:

Every person shall be free to use the Internet in any way that is privately beneficial without
being publicly detrimental.

– The burden of demonstrating public detriment shall be on those who wish to

prevent the private use.
 Such a demonstration shall require clear and convincing evidence of
public detriment.
– The public detriment must be of such degree and extent as to justify the
suppression of the private activity.

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