introduction
internet governance is one of the most high profile issues to emerge from the wsis
process.
the common vision for the ‘information society’ developed during wsis was of a
"people-centred inclusive and development-oriented information society" its
creation would require new forms of partnerships and cooperation among
governments and all other stakeholders.1
yet these essential commonly agreed
principles jarred with the view that northern-led processes dominated the
governance of the internet and that developing nations were largely absent from
those processes. such concerns were accentuated by the perception that critical
internet governance functions were controlled by the united states.
the "rules of the game" for the ‘information society’ are being made in many
different global policymaking frameworks and developing nations and civil society
have not participated to the extent they must. the global discussion starting now
about internet governance is an opportunity to redress this situation and in
discussions since the summit the need to ensure that developing nation
stakeholders have the capacity and opportunity to contribute effectively and
meaningfully to ict policymaking has been recognised.
the purpose of this report is to describe our current understanding of the debate
about internet governance in wsis and to examine the main policy issues that are
being considered in that discussion. the report will also suggest opportunities for
developing nation stakeholders to contribute to the processes that are defining the
internet governance landscape.