This blog is a Q&A with answers from Mona Gaballa, Senior Advisor for Institutional Relations, and Israel Rosas, Director of Partnerships and Internet Development.
Q: Who gets to make decisions about how the Internet is regulated?
A: It’s important to clarify what’s defined as “regulation.” The Internet is a network of interconnected devices that follow a common set of technical instructions known as “protocols” and “standards” to function.
Most of these protocols and standards are discussed and agreed upon in open and collaborative processes where any interested person can participate. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) are good examples of organizations whose diverse communities drive the discussions on different technical aspects related to the operation of the Internet on a global scale.
In this context, we can say that “no one in particular” and “everyone in collaboration” are in charge of shaping the technical rules needed for the Internet to run.
On the other hand, there are several debates regarding how the Internet is “governed.” The term Internet governance originated between 2003 and 2005 as part of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). A working definition of it refers to the different decision-making mechanisms for the Internet to evolve involving all interested parties, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and the technical community (see paragraph 34, “Tunis Agenda for Information Society”).
The working definition of Internet governance was reaffirmed in 2015 during the WSIS+10 process—when the WSIS outcomes were reviewed after 10 years of implementation—and referenced as part of the Global Digital Compact. We expect to see a complex and fluid debate again next year in the context of the WSIS+20 process.
Q: What is the United Nations’ role in Internet governance?
A: The United Nations, a global organization that brings together all governments, has a wide network of specialized agencies that address various matters.
The United Nations brings together all nations to discuss global issues and the Internet Society observes the processes that pertain to digital cooperation and Internet governance.
WSIS was initiated in order to create an evolving multistakeholder platform aimed at addressing issues related to information and communication technologies (ICTs). WSIS’s goal is to achieve a common vision, desire, and commitment to build a people-centric, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society.
WSIS is made up of two agreements, the Geneva Declaration and the Tunis Agreement, which establishes Internet governance structures within the UN, including the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and defines action lines for multistakeholder implementation.
The WSIS action lines are reviewed annually during the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) and the WSIS Forum. The WSIS mandate is reviewed every 10 years, with the next review taking place in 2025.
The WSIS+20 review comes after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) during the Summit of the Future (September 2024), which reaffirms the mulitstakeholder platform derived from WSIS and placing multistakeholderism as one of the ambitious principles of the GDC. The WSIS+20 review offers an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm the Internet governance model and align its action lines with the GDC commitments.
Q: What is the Internet Society doing to defend the Internet in the United Nations and why is it important that we’re there?
A: The Internet Society observes numerous multilateral processes, specifically those that cover digital issues and pertain to Internet governance, to identify risks and opportunities.
This last year, the Internet Society has been particularly involved in the Global Digital Compact deliberations and the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), producing numerous versions of our analysis on the proposed text, flagging areas of concern, and proposing alternative language/approaches where possible.
It is important that we conduct this work because Member States may not understand how the policy/language they are considering can have a negative impact on the open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet as we know it.
Through a multistakeholder approach in which all stakeholders are able to collaborate and share their expertise, we are able to address these issues head on.
Q: What is the multistakeholder model, and why is it important?
A: The Internet was developed by the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society, harnessing the shared technical expertise of a global community of equals. Today, much of the Internet’s infrastructure is operated across borders and by a range of different stakeholders.
The multistakeholder model is a complex but robust ecosystem where each part of the Internet can rely on many other parts working together.
The multistakeholder governance framework is informed by three components: infrastructure, decentralized governance, and open and inclusive processes. This model allows for sustainable, effective, and accountable decision-making. With diverse and informed inputs, processes are more inclusive and produce better outputs for implementation.
Additionally, the Internet Society firmly believes that the expertise of the technical community is indispensable. The Internet technical community consists of individuals and organizations from around the world that understand the global Internet as a complex interaction of technology, standards, implementation, operation, and applications. They bring this expertise when working with governments, national and international organizations, academia, civil society organizations, and the private sector to maintain a technically viable Internet that responds to societal needs.
Q: What are some of the consequences of adopting misguided policies regarding the Internet?
A: The adoption of misguided policies at the United Nations can have an impact all across the world. Most resolutions are not legally binding in nature, unless it is a Security Council resolution or a consensus-driven treaty, such as the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime.
Whether or not a resolution is legally binding, these policies inform governments and allow them to justify their local legislation and policies.
If there’s a space in which we can defend the Internet and the multistakeholder model, you’ll see us advocating for lasting change based on collaborative consensus. That’s the best way to secure an Internet for everyone. Donate today to support more efforts like these.
Image © Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash