INTERNET INTERNET GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AFRICA?FOR AFRICA?

ASHOK.B.RADHAKISSOOASHOK.B.RADHAKISSOONN

PUBLIC POLICY ISSUESPUBLIC POLICY ISSUES

Emergence of a new Emergence of a new economyeconomy

Empowering the citizenEmpowering the citizen

BASIC QUESTION???BASIC QUESTION???

Governance mechanism Governance mechanism for the ICT Sectorfor the ICT Sector

Different and Differing Different and Differing viewpointsviewpoints

Harmonized ApproachHarmonized Approach

Allocation of Internet names and Allocation of Internet names and numbersnumbers

Cyber securityCyber security Standards Standards Intellectual Property RightsIntellectual Property Rights Support to e-health, e-education, e-Support to e-health, e-education, e-

govgov

Legal regulatory policyLegal regulatory policy

TrustworthyTrustworthy TransparentTransparent Non-discriminatoryNon-discriminatory EnforceableEnforceable Effective separation-Policy Effective separation-Policy

Maker/regulatorMaker/regulator

Defining the contoursDefining the contours

ICT GOVERNANCEICT GOVERNANCE

V/SV/S

INTERNET GOVERNANCEINTERNET GOVERNANCE

PRECONDITIONSPRECONDITIONS

Institutional ReadinessInstitutional Readiness Local CapacityLocal Capacity ICT UseICT Use AffordabilityAffordability Cultural dimensionCultural dimension

How best can How best can Africa benefit from Africa benefit from

Internet Internet Governance?Governance?

Major ClarificationMajor Clarification

Internet Governance issue not Internet Governance issue not limited to ICANNlimited to ICANN

ICANN-Private Law EntityICANN-Private Law Entity

Under the Jurisdiction of the State of Under the Jurisdiction of the State of CaliforniaCalifornia

Legal Relationship-US Legal Relationship-US &ICANN&ICANN

Memorandum of Understanding.Memorandum of Understanding.

Two private parties-Nobody elseTwo private parties-Nobody else

US Dept of Commerce and US Dept of Commerce and ICANNICANN

Other aspects of Internet Other aspects of Internet GovernanceGovernance

Infrastructure Infrastructure

CopyrightCopyright Content Content

Trade MarksTrade Marks Standards Standards

Cyber crimeCyber crime Security Security

Digital DivideDigital Divide

Encryption Encryption Data and Consumer Data and Consumer

ProtectionProtection Interconnection Interconnection

Transfer of Transfer of

technologytechnology Interoperability Interoperability

Moral and Cultural Moral and Cultural

valuesvalues

FOCUSSING ON THE FOCUSSING ON THE GLOBAL ASPECTGLOBAL ASPECT

Need for:Need for:

(1)(1) Information sharingInformation sharing

From basic to technical From basic to technical

(2) Reflection(2) Reflection

On the African context-drawbacks On the African context-drawbacks and specificitiesand specificities

(3) Structured and Coordinated (3) Structured and Coordinated approachapproach

From WSIS to IGFFrom WSIS to IGF

Change in the status of the Change in the status of the ForumForum

WSISWSIS

Negotiating Forum-Declaration & Action Negotiating Forum-Declaration & Action PlanPlan

““… … unanimous agreement in WSIS, as per unanimous agreement in WSIS, as per the “Declaration of Principles” and the “Declaration of Principles” and

“Plan of Action”, that Internet “Plan of Action”, that Internet Governance should be “multilateral, Governance should be “multilateral, transparent and democratic, with the transparent and democratic, with the full involvement of governments, the full involvement of governments, the

private sector, civil society and private sector, civil society and international organizations”.international organizations”.

WGIGWGIGThe WGIG has been asked, inter alia, The WGIG has been asked, inter alia,

to “investigate and make proposals for action, as to “investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate, on the governance of the Internet by appropriate, on the governance of the Internet by

2005” dealing with the following issues2005” dealing with the following issuesDevelop a working definition of Internet governanceDevelop a working definition of Internet governanceIdentify the public policy issues that are relevant to Identify the public policy issues that are relevant to

Internet governanceInternet governanceDevelop a common understanding of the respective Develop a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of Governments, existing roles and responsibilities of Governments, existing international organizations and other forums, as international organizations and other forums, as well as the private sector and civil society in both well as the private sector and civil society in both

developing and developed countriesdeveloping and developed countries

Internet Governance Internet Governance ForumForum

Where are we (Africa) in the Where are we (Africa) in the process?process?

Basic MisunderstandingsBasic Misunderstandings Narrow-ICANN perspective onlyNarrow-ICANN perspective only Neglect of the broader internet Neglect of the broader internet

issuesissues Summary appraisal of the present Summary appraisal of the present

status of Internet Governancestatus of Internet Governance

Need for change in Need for change in perspectiveperspective

Moving from a bilateral context onto Moving from a bilateral context onto a multilateral platforma multilateral platform

Need to do a balancing act-Need to do a balancing act-

Preservation of what we have and use Preservation of what we have and use

v/sv/s

Constructive and adaptable changesConstructive and adaptable changes

How do we proceed?How do we proceed?

Being honest about our Being honest about our shortcomingsshortcomings

Identifying our needsIdentifying our needs Seeking help from specialized Seeking help from specialized

entities-AfriNic, ISOC, ICANN, IANA entities-AfriNic, ISOC, ICANN, IANA ( there are others)( there are others)

Develop a specialized pedagogyDevelop a specialized pedagogy

The PedagogyThe Pedagogy

Group recipients into thoseGroup recipients into those needing basic training in the first needing basic training in the first

placeplace (b) specialized training for internet (b) specialized training for internet

regular usersregular users (c) higher reflection group-strategy(c) higher reflection group-strategy (d) Use regulators as focal points(d) Use regulators as focal points

StructuringStructuring

1.National Initiatives1.National Initiatives

2.Sub regional level2.Sub regional level

3.Regional Level-May be inter-3.Regional Level-May be inter-regulator(Continuity)regulator(Continuity)

4.Political strata4.Political strata

5.African Common Position5.African Common Position

Getting StartedGetting Started

Setting up of a coordinating bodySetting up of a coordinating body

(1)(1) OrganizationOrganization

(2)(2) Production of materialsProduction of materials

(3)(3) FundingFunding

(4)(4) Appraisal Appraisal

(5)(5) CommunicationCommunication

Thank YouThank YouFor Your Attention.For Your Attention.