Mirsad Capric - Group C

Article – Global Internet Governance Is Working But Needs To Be More Inclusive

March 31, 2004

            It was an extremely opportune time to have this article since the United Nations had recently held “The Global Forum on Internet Governance” on the 25^th and 26^th of May with many technology, business, and law experts on hand to discuss the possible futures of internet governance. Some may question, “Why do we need internet governance?” or “Couldn’t this lead to over governance of the internet, a public domain?” These questions seem to be the most commonly asked in society and at the forum that was held recently.

The questions of, “Why we need internet governance?” was addressed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his opening speech at the forum, “The medium had to be made accessible and responsive to the needs of the world's people. Its current reach was highly uneven, and the vast majority of the world's people had yet to benefit from it.”[1] This is certainly an admirable reason to have internet governance or is it? With any major issue concerning the government there will always be supporters and opposition. The opposition in this case comes primarily from private sectors who believe in the adage, “if it works don’t fix it.” Vinton Cerf, a man people consider one of the fathers of the internet, believes “the Internet had developed openly and freely, without much governmental or other oversight, because its technical rules had been developed openly and adopted voluntarily.”[2]

            Should there be internet governance? Many believe that there should be some internet governance; however, it must remain limited. The biggest concern about governance of the internet is the fact that it may stifle creativity and innovation, which is what the internet is built upon. Cerf adds, “I would caution, however, that one should strive not to stifle the innovation and freedom to create that the Internet offers”[3] It is a double-edged sword. We want to make the internet and how it is used fair and equal to for all; however, do we want to do it at this cost? This forum that was recently held was in preparation for the World Summit on the Information Society, which will take place in Tunis in November 2005.