e G8 Forum➤

Internet Regulation or Net Freedom?

Background

24th – 25th May 2011 Paris, France

Hosted by French Republic President, Nicolas Sarkozy

Delegates included members of the digital ecosystem

The importance of the role that the Internet now plays in our personal as well as our professional lives, and the opportunities but also the challenges that the network represents for our societies, our economies and our cultures, have led me to propose that the topic be included on the agenda of the summit of Heads of State and governments that will take place in Deauville on May 26 and 27.

- Nicolas SarkozyPresident, The French Republic

In case you missed it...

e-G8 was Sarkozy's initiative to bring together major Internet stakeholders and members of the digital ecosystem to discuss issues pertaining to the Internet

The conclusion to these discussions would be presented to the G8 by a delegation from the conference

President Sarkozy had asked that the Internet be discussed as an agenda at the G8

Forum Agenda

The Internet and Economic Growth

The Internet and Society

Future Net: What’s Next?

Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

Fostering Innovation

Digital Transformation

How will the Internet contribute to the creation of more wealth, more jobs, more freedom? How can we go further? How, too, can we be even more respectful of the rights of others – their intellectual creations and their private lives? How can we ensure a proper balance in value sharing? How can we be both free of constraint and responsible?

- Maurice LévyChairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe

Sarkozy's Remarks

He extolled the virtues of the Internet – Open, Participative and Free

He cautioned against its excesses

His case to the world: The dynamism of the online world should be civilized to respect privacy, security and intellectual property rights.

“The universe you represent is not a parallel universe. Nobody should forget that governments are the only legitimate representatives of the will of the people in our democracies. To forget this is to risk democratic chaos and anarchy.”

- Nicolas SarkozyPresident, The French Republic

“The Internet is the new frontier, a territory to conquer.” - Sarkozy. And I am in Paris to stop him. #eG8

- John Perry Barlow (@JPBarlow)Founder, Electronic Frontier Foundation

"Technology will move faster than governments, so don't legislate before you understand the consequences...nobody who is a delegate here would want Internet growth to be slowed by some stupid rule."

- Eric SchmidtExecutive Chairman, Google

At #eG8, government acts as if it should protect us from the Internet. Instead, the Internet needs protection from government.

- Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis)Associate Professor, City University of New York

#eG8 Value of Internet is not just efficiency but transparency – a much better regulator than government could ever be.

- Esther Dyson (@edyson)Digital Technology Journalist

So what does e-commerce have to do with it?

“Given the amount of e-commerce taking place online, some degree of regulation makes sense.”

- Christine LagardeFrench Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry

“To gain the full economic benefits of the Internet, governments must allow some degree of openness.”

- Hillary ClintonUS Secretary of State

Civil Society Response

Expanding Internet access for all

Combating digital censorship and surveillance

Limiting online intermediary liability

Upholding principles of net neutrality

Civil Society Response

“All action taken against illicit activity on the network must be aimed at those directly responsible for such activities, and not at the means of access and transport, always upholding the fundamental principles of freedom, privacy and the respect for human rights.”

- Principles forthe Governance and Use of the Internet

Brazilian Government

Internet Bill of Rights

“The very architecture of the Internet is its best protection”

- Jeff JarvisAssociate Professor, City University of New York

Right to connect

Protection of free speech

Right to act

Right to assemble

e-G8 delegation to the G8

Maurice Lévy, the Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe and Chairman of the e-G8

Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten

Yuri Milner, CEO of Digital Sky Technologies

Stéphane Richard, CEO of France Telecom-Orange

Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook.

e-G8 delegation emphasis

Internet is a powerful vector of individual fulfillment, free expression and personal development

Internet is a positive force for change, capable of renewing the way in which groups and organizations cooperate and act

The Internet is also a strong economic locomotive, creating wealth and jobs

e-G8 delegation emphasis

Invited the G8 leaders to ensure proactive policies regarding investment in order to guarantee all citizens access to an Internet that is free, rapid and safe.

The exponential growth in the flow of information, and the increasing interconnection of networks

Called for action by public authorities to ensure the stability, security and development of the physical infrastructure without which the Internet could not exist.

G8 Response

The openness, transparency and freedom of the Internet have been key to its development and success. These principles, together with those of non-discrimination and fair competition, must continue to be an essential force behind its development.

Freedom of opinion, expression, information, assembly and association must be safeguarded on the Internet as elsewhere. Arbitrary or indiscriminate censorship or restrictions on access to the Internet are inconsistent with States’ international obligations and are clearly unacceptable. Furthermore, they impede economic and social growth

References

http://www.eg8forum.com/en/http://www.businessinsider.com/eg8-francehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576343023926886188.html http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/05/eg8-2011-internet-freedom-ip-copyright.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/technology/25tech.html?_r=1 http://gov20.govfresh.com/g8-the-internet-has-become-the-public-arena-for-our-time/ http://www.g20-g8.com/g8-g20/g8/english/live/news/renewed-commitment-for-freedom-and-democracy.1314.html http://mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl/2011/06/14/e-g8-governments-acknowledge-importance-of-open-internet/