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United Nations Establishes Working Group on Internet Governance
CIRCLEID ^

Posted on 11/13/2004 8:30:59 AM PST by wkdaysoff

United Nations Establishes Working Group on Internet Governance Nov 11, 2004 |

Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the members of the United Nations Working Group on Internet Governance, which is to prepare the ground for a decision on this contentious issue by the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005.

The establishment of the Working Group was requested by the first phase of the Summit, held in Geneva last December. At that time, countries agreed to continue the dialogue on the management of the Internet, at both the technical and policy levels. Many countries were happy with the current minimalist arrangements under the aegis of the U.S.-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). But others felt there was a need for some intergovernmental framework, as with telecommunications, preferably under a United Nations umbrella.

The Working Group will be chaired by Nitin Desai, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for the World Summit. It includes 40 members from governments, private sector and civil society, representing all regions (see below).

"The Working Group is not a negotiating forum," said Mr. Desai. "Its purpose is to facilitate the negotiations that will take place in Tunis. We come into this process as facilitators, and will strive to establish a dialogue of good faith among all participants."

The first meeting of the Working Group will take place in Geneva from 23 to 25 November. On 24 November, the meeting will be held in an open format, allowing all governments and other stakeholders to interact with the Working Group.

The two documents adopted by the Geneva Summit -- the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action -- ask the Working Group "to investigate and make proposals for action, as appropriate, on the governance of the Internet by 2005." The Working Group is to present the result of its work in a report "for consideration and appropriate action" by the Tunis phase of the Summit (16-18 November 2005). Among its task are to:

- Develop a working definition of Internet governance;

- Identify the public policy issues that are relevant to Internet governance;

- Develop a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, international organizations and other forums as well as the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries.

"There is a general convergence of views on the need to treat Internet governance from a broad perspective and to build on what has been done elsewhere," said Markus Kummer, the Swiss diplomat who heads the Geneva-based secretariat of the Working Group. "Issues that we expect to address include the management of Internet resources, network security, cyber-crime, spam and multilingualism."

The two Summit documents call for an "open and inclusive" process and "a mechanism for the full and active participation of governments, the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries, involving relevant intergovernmental and international organizations and forums". On the basis of these guidelines, the Working Group will carry out its work in an open, inclusive and transparent manner. It will hold regular consultations in an open format and will seek to make the best possible use of electronic working methods, including online consultations.

The report of the Working Group is expected to be submitted to the Secretary-General in July 2005.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: internetun
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To: wkdaysoff

Hands off my internet commies!!!


21 posted on 11/13/2004 9:07:37 AM PST by jayef
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To: weenie

True, it's undeniable that the UN, and most western media is biased towards Islam, which is an enemy of free speech. They're using Islam to control us, regulate our free speech and turn us into a socialist police state. Clearly Islam is at odds with free, open societies. You never hear Islam's apologists argue with this point.


22 posted on 11/13/2004 9:08:20 AM PST by eagle11 (It doesn't take a genius to notice the parallels between the behavior of liberals and terrorists.)
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To: InterceptPoint
IS THIS BIG ENOUGH!!! FRIGGIN ASSHOLES!!!


23 posted on 11/13/2004 9:09:27 AM PST by unixfox (Close the borders, problems solved!)
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To: wkdaysoff

Information wants to be free.

The United Nations wants a World of Slaves.

Let the games begin.


24 posted on 11/13/2004 9:10:05 AM PST by cgbg (UN out of US. US out of UN!)
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To: wkdaysoff
One of our biggest weapons now is to make sure the oil-of-food scandal involving UN, annan and his son, not get buried.

We need to keep on the powers that be...

see link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1277906/posts

(Two U.S. senators investigating the U.N. Oil-for-Food (search) program have told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (search) in a letter that they were "troubled...)

Contact these Senators enmasse to give them evidence that 'we the people" want this pursued...so it wont get dropped.

Perhaps the best way to go is emphasis on UN/Annan - as a single course of attack - not go after France and Germany directly...let those chips fall where they may, as they will...but if we spearhead the attract on UN and Kofi - we may stand a better chance at it not being swept under the rug.

25 posted on 11/13/2004 9:15:47 AM PST by maine-iac7 ( Pray without doubt..."Ask and you SHALL receive")
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To: eagle11
It doesn't take a genius to notice the parallels between the behavior of liberals and terrorists.

Very true...why do you suppose that is. Would the socialist media in the world so gladly take sides with the fascist Muslims.

Strange bedfellows.

26 posted on 11/13/2004 9:15:58 AM PST by weenie (Islam is as "dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog." -- Churchill)
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To: wkdaysoff

I didn't know the Internet was broken: it seems to be working fine to me.


27 posted on 11/13/2004 9:16:50 AM PST by Chief_Joe (From where the sun now sits, I will fight on -FOREVER!!!)
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To: wkdaysoff

I just added to the Key Words, internetUN. We HAVE to keep track of the socialist U.N. or we'll lose our freedom to communicate.

Thanks for this article.


28 posted on 11/13/2004 9:29:27 AM PST by kitkat
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To: wkdaysoff

1st Ammendment Alert! Because the internet has been so effective in stopping leftist initiatives it has big cross hairs on it now. Expect full support on this from the Democrats.


29 posted on 11/13/2004 9:37:40 AM PST by Natural Law
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To: wkdaysoff
i thought al gore invented the internet. maybe the un should convene a working group on him???!!!
30 posted on 11/13/2004 9:45:24 AM PST by eywmm0
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To: wkdaysoff


Anyone know who owns the internet? How does the UN get off
establishing rules to govern it?


31 posted on 11/13/2004 10:02:41 AM PST by Paperdoll (.........on the cutting edge)
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To: kitkat

"I just added to the Key Words, internetUN. We HAVE to keep track of the socialist U.N. or we'll lose our freedom to communicate."

You are absolutely correct! How does the UN think they will implement this? The internet is 'our' last bastion of communication freedom. We must protect at all costs. The Dems AND the MSM will be supporting this.


32 posted on 11/13/2004 2:32:28 PM PST by nuclady
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To: Paperdoll

***Anyone know who owns the internet? How does the UN get off
establishing rules to govern it?***

It's illegal to tax a newspaper or magazine because our constitution does NOT take free speech away from us.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH! FREEDOM OF SPEECH!


33 posted on 11/13/2004 3:40:22 PM PST by kitkat
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