Thursday 30 Jan 2014 @ 11:56
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CIGI and Chatham House launch Global Commission on Internet Governance
Carl Bildt, Sweden's Minister of Foreign Affairs, will chair a new Global Commission on Internet Governance, launched by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).
Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, the Global Commission is a two-year initiative that will produce a comprehensive stand on the future of multi-stakeholder Internet governance.
'In most countries, increased attention is being given to all the issues of net freedom, net security and net governance. And they are, in my view, closely related to each other. The rapid evolution of the net has been made possible by the open and flexible model by which it has evolved and been governed. But increasingly this is coming under attack,' said Carl Bildt. 'And this is happening as issues of net freedom, net security and net surveillance are increasingly debated. Net freedom is as fundamental as freedom of information and freedom of speech in our societies.'
The commission will include about 25 members drawn from various fields and from around the world, including policy and government, academia and civil society.
The Global Commission on Internet Governance will encourage globally inclusive public discussions and debates on the future of Internet governance through a public consultation platform, and through other institutional, media, and academic channels. It will create and advance a strategic vision for the future of Internet governance that can act as a rallying point for states that are striving for a continued free and open Internet.
The commission will focus on four key themes:
Enhancing governance legitimacy
Stimulating innovation
Ensuring human rights online
Avoiding systemic risks
'The work of this vitally important undertaking will be supported by a highly innovative research program at both CIGI and Chatham House as well as widespread stakeholder consultations with civil society and the private sector. The Commission's work is also intended to build on a number of important strategic dialogues that are already underway and to feed into ongoing policy discussions at the global level,' said Fen Osler Hampson, Director of the Global Security & Politics Program at CIGI.
'The issue of Internet governance is set to become one of the most pressing global public policy issues of our time. The Commission will work to develop ideas and propose a policy framework that enhances the legitimacy of Internet governance whilst preserving innovation. Chatham House is honoured to partner with Foreign Minister Bildt and CIGI in the Global Commission on Internet Governance,' said Dr Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House.
Members of the commission currently include the following, with full biographies available at www.ourinternet.org:
Carl Bildt, Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance
Gordon Smith, Deputy Chair of the Global Commission on Internet Governance
Dominic Barton
Pablo Bello
Dae-Whan Chang
Moez Chatchouk
Michael Chertoff
Anriette Esterhuysen
Hartmut Glaser
Dorothy Gordon
Dame Wendy Hall
Fen Osler Hampson
Melissa Hathaway
Patricia Lewis
Mathias Müller von Blumencron
Beth Simone Noveck
Joseph S. Nye
Sir David Omand
Nii Quaynor
Latha Reddy
Marietje Schaake
Tobby Simon
Michael Spence
Paul Twomey
Pindar Wong
'For many people, Internet governance sounds technical and esoteric, but the reality is that the issues are 'high politics' and of consequences to all users of the Internet, present and future,' said CIGI Distinguished Fellow Gordon Smith, who is deputy chair of the new commission.
'Internet governance is too important to be left just to governments. The Internet is a fundamental part of the global economy and how we manage its future will be decisive in facilitating development for all. Finding a way through the issues of access, privacy, security, protection and surveillance requires in-depth consideration and the wisdom that the Global Commission will provide,' said Dr Patricia Lewis, Research Director, International Security Department, Chatham House.
Among those supporting the commission's work will be CIGI Senior Fellow Laura DeNardis, who will act as its Director of Research. Additional commission members will be confirmed over time.
For more information on the Global Commission on Internet Governance, please visit: www.ourinternet.org. Follow the commission on twitter @OurInternetGCIG.
