Just Net Coalition rejects unilateral preconditions on IANA transition

DigitalSENSE Business News:

As the Netmundial kicks off in Brazil, a coalition of stakeholders known as Just Net has responded  to the NetMundial outcome document, rejecting unilateral preconditions on the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) transition discussions, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

A public statement made available to DigitalSENSE Business News by the duo of Prabir Purkayastha  and Parminder Jeet Singh affirmed that with this commence, resonates the recent speech of President Dilma's at  the UN General Assembly last September, expressed the outrage of the people on the “grave violation of human rights and of civil liberties.

Dilma’s position underscores the threat of “cyberspace being used as a weapon of war” and violation sovereign rights of countries including Brazil. Noting the global discontent in the way the Internet is being currently governed calls for protection of data as it travels on the web and multilateral mechanisms (or UN mechanisms) for the Internet to ensure democratic governance, cultural diversity, inclusive and non discriminatory societies, and responsible regulation.

The coalition it was gathered says the document fails to mention the word ‘democracy’ at all - and instead talks only about the multistakeholder model and governance on the basis of consensus.

This, the group noted though such systems have failed in protecting the global citizens from drag-net surveillance, the threat of cyber war and the emergence of global monopolies. Such a model also completely ignores the concept of public interest in Internet governance.

The Just Net Coalition informed DigitalSENSE Business News it has submitted a detailed clause-by-clause amendment to the draft of the NetMundial document believed should be significantly revised to include its position.
Some of the coalition points include the insertion of the term 'democratic' before multistakeholder wherever the needed Internet governance mechanism or models are mentioned; restoring the reference to the necessary and proportionate principle and therefore countering the continuation of mass surveillance and restoring reference to the need for a global compact on prohibition of cyberwar and cyber weapons.

The group further sought addition of a clear reference to net neutrality principles (the current reference is too vague and ambiguous, permitting practices such as tiered access and differential pricing); restoring and strengthening clear references to the different roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, recognising that corporations and governments cannot not be placed on an equal footing in governing the Internet, especially with regard to public policy making; that would turn the concept of representative democracy on its head; Addressing emerging increased power of monopolies in the Internet space with respect to cultural and language diversity, and profiteering, and the need for regulating such monopolies

As well as addressing the issue of appropriation and monetisation of data of the people by corporations; recognizing the concept of global commons or public good in internet governance and rejecting unilateral preconditions on the IANA transition discussions, which they expect will form part of the final outcome document will explicitly foster a decentralized, free and open, non-hierarchical network of networks, and not implicitly favour the current trends of Internet governance which are leading us more and more towards monolithic, centralized walled gardens. NetMundial must dedicate itself to a roadmap to for an open, robust and resilient Internet -- acceptable to everyone including the 70 per cent unconnected majority.

Chuks Egbuna/GEE
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