Hyderabad|India|December'2008: As the main United Nations forum for
discussing Internet-related issues opens its third annual meeting in Hyderabad,
India this week, the head of one of the world’s leading Internet organisations
has called for ongoing commitment to multistakeholder processes for Internet
development.
Speaking on the opening panel session of the
Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Lynn St.Amour,
President and CEO of the Internet Society (ISOC)
reminded participants of the proven effectiveness
of the existing model of Internet development. The
“Internet model”, as it is known, is characterised
by distributed responsibility; collaborative
decision making processes open to interested
parties, in a framework of consensus-building
practices; and the ability for innovation and
evolution to take place at the user level.
“The Internet model underpins the incredible success of the Internet's
evolution to date,” said Ms St.Amour. “The Internet Society values the
opportunity created by the IGF. We are encouraged to see the pursuit of
issues in a multistakeholder engagement model. And we maintain that these
outcomes would not have been possible in any of the traditional
intergovernmental models.”
The IGF was formed as an outcome of the World Summit for the
Information Society (WSIS). But, as a series of more traditional UN
events, issues of accreditation, intergovernmental protocols, and other
formalities restricted the range of voices WSIS heard on crucial emerging
issues.
In response, the UN Secretary-General established the IGF to run
annually from 2006-2010 as a multistakeholder, non-duplicative,
non-decision-making forum for dialogue.
At this midpoint for the IGF, Ms St.Amour reflected upon the process so
far, saying that it has been “a learning experience for everyone.” While
the Internet community has always worked in open inclusive processes, this
has not been a familiar model for all.
“Governments and intergovernmental organisations should value the IGF
as an incredible opportunity,” said Ms St.Amour. “Nothing in the IGF
either binds governments to implementation in their sovereign territory,
nor prevents them from taking the actions they believe are in the
interests of their citizens. In fact, participating in IGF enriches their,
and their citizens’ decisions,”
There is evidence that understanding is building. In June this year,
the OECD held a ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet Economy,
in which ISOC played a leading role coordinating the inputs of many
participants of the technical community, together with representatives of
business and civil society.
While some critics have labeled the IGF a “talk-shop”, Ms. St.Amour
argued that such statements miss the point.
“Without the regular intergovernmental constraints, the IGF has emerged
as unique forum where ideas can be explored and tested by stakeholders, on
an equal footing, unburdened by the constraints of intergovernmental
procedures and negotiations.”
“Ideas can be explored and tested by stakeholders, on an equal footing,
unburdened by binding decision-making processes and intergovernmental
procedures and negotiations,” she said.
But Ms St.Amour also cautioned that the value of the IGF remains
dependent on the commitment and support of its participants.
“The value comes from those of us here, those who follow remotely, and
most importantly those who come away from this meeting and say ‘yes, I can
use that back home’ – that is what makes the IGF worthwhile,” she said.
The Third IGF meeting runs from 3-6 December at the Hyderabad
International Convention Centre.
•Thirteen 'ambassadors' of the Internet
Society
(ISOC) in Hyderabad for the third Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
Internet
Society President urges UN forum to maintain support for multistakeholder
dialogue