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by Lasantha De Alwis Head of Corporate Services of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (the Commonwealth agency mandated in the field of ICTs) mail: [email protected]
Citation preview
The Role of the Commonwealth in Cyberspace
30 October 2013
Emancipating, Enriching, Equalising and Empowering through the use of ICTs
The Commonwealth
• 54 Member Countries • Nearly a third of the World’s population • Combined GDP over £5 trillion • Mobile subscriptions ranging from 5% to 185%,
with an average of 84% • Fixed telephone lines ranging from 0.3% to
60%, with an average of 18% • Internet usage ranging from 1% to 85%, with
an average of 28% • A thriving hub of technology innovations and
possibly the largest ICT market in the world
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The CTO
• Set up in 1901 • The oldest and the largest Commonwealth organisation in the field
of ICTs • support members in using ICTs to deliver effective development
interventions that enrich, empower, equalise and emancipate all peoples within the Commonwealth and beyond
• Traditional core activities • Research & consultancy • Capacity development & training • Events & conferences
• Cybergovernance and Cybersecurity are focus areas under the strategic plan of 2012-16
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Context
• Cyberspace generates enormous social and economic benefits
• Cyber population is growing – Improving connectivity – national and international – Broadband Commission & A4AI on promoting Broadband
• Meeting place of different people & cultures, views & approaches
• Requires fostering entrepreneurship and innovation while protecting freedom and liberty
• Where to strike the balance? • Multi jurisdictional - Both national and international
aspects - interlinked
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Cybergovernance conceptualised
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e-Bay - Community Action in Cybergovernance
• Population exceeded 100 million by end 2011 • Commercially driven community • Multi jurisdictional • Operates on the basis of voluntary compliance • Motivation - Need to belong
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Divergence
• Multistakeholder approach Vs. State-driven • Voluntary norms Vs Treaty based • Brought to sharp contrast at the World Conference on
International Telecommunications (WCIT) in December 2012 in Dubai
• Some concerns about the role of the State in Governing the Cyberspace through International Telecommunications Regulations.
• Disagreement over “resolving to instruct the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary steps for ITU to play an active and constructive role”
• Apparently so far 89 signatories out of 190 signatories
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Commonwealth in Cybergovernance
• Commonwealth has a role to play • Based on the Commonwealth Values agreed at the Singapore
CHOGM in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991 • Detailed in the Commonwealth Charter of 2013
(http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/documents/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf), particularly – respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
– commitment to remove disparities and unequal living standards as guided by internationally agreed development goals
– recognise the importance of ICTs as instruments of development ......... as well as for ........... sharing of cultures, while enhancing security.
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CTO’s approach to Cybergovernance
• Develop a set of principles • Based on Commonwealth principles • Arrived through consensus • Involving consultations of a range of stakeholders -
policy makers, regulators, ICT implementing agencies, CERTs etc
• Leveraging the strengths of developed countries to assist developing countries
• That may eventually expand beyond the Commonwealth
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CTO’s Principles of Cybergovernance
• Foster innovation, freedom and understanding • Contribute to economic development • Enable social interactions • Recognise legitimate economic, cultural and security
concerns of members • Promote multistakeholder partnerships • Facilitate Pan-Commonwealth consultations and
international linkages
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Progress – so far
• The first consultation of ICT policy makers and regulators was held on 9th and 10th October 2013 in Abuja, Nigeria
• Delegates from over 20 Commonwealth countries – decided that the CTO should take the lead in
developing the Commonwealth Cybergovernance Model
– committed to support the initiative Issued the Abuja Declaration
http://www.cto.int/focus-themes/cybersecurity/
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Next Steps
• A series of regional consultations • Starting with a Caribbean Ministerial
Consultation on 5th December 2013 in Jamaica in the margins of the Caribbean Telecommunication Union’s Ministerial meeting
• Culminating in the Commonwealth ICT Minister’s meeting at the Marlborough House in London on 3 – 4 March 2014 where the principles will be debated and, if thought fit, adopted.
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Aims & Objectives
• Create a standard all can subscribe to, resulting in better international cooperation and coordination
• Act as a beacon for non-Commonwealth countries
• Provide an assurance to countries that extend assistance that their aid is properly used
In order to make the Cyberspace a thriving, innovative and rewarding place
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How to get involved
• Take part in the consultations – when invited
• Join related activities – Cybersecurity Forum 2014 in London (5 – 7 March 2014)
• Participate in capacity building in Cyber-related subjects through CTO
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Lasantha De Alwis Director/Head of Operations Department
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation 94-66, Glenthorne Road, Hammersmith, UK
+44(0)208 600 3814 [email protected]
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