It’s almost impossible to give a comprehensive overview of all the civil society actors and activities; too much is happening and going on. A few good starting points for globally active civil society organisations, groups and initiatives are:

• the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), defending freedoms in the networked world. The foundation works on issues such as free spech, intellectual property, privacy and transparency;
• the Internet Society (ISOC), one of the leading nonprofit organisation on internet related standards, education and policy;
• the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the main international standards organisation for the web;
• the Internet Governance Caucus of Civil Society Organizations (IGC), striving for internet governance to become inclusive, people centered and development oriented;
• the Internet Rights and Principles Coalition (IRP), an initiative formed to establish an Internet Governance regime founded upon human rights that has developed a Charter of Human Rights and Principles for the Internet;
• La Quadrature du Net, a collective and advocacy group promoting the rights and freedoms of citizens on the Internet that starts from the assumption that net neutrality means that the internet has no gatekeeper;
• Reporters Without Borders (RWB), advocating and fighting for the freedom of the press, on- and offline;
• the Open Rights Group (ORG), striving to preserve and promote citizens’ rights in the digital age;
• the combined effort of the pirate party movement to bring the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) out into the open at www.stopp-acta.info;
• the Creative Commons Network, working towards the vision of universal access to research and education and full participation;
• the European Digital Rights Initiative (EDRI), founded to defend civil rights in the information society and working, among other issues, on privacy, governance and freedom of speech;
• the International Modern Media Institute (IMMI), a foundation working to reopen the discussion about how free speech is defined and how it is to be protected for and in the digital age.
• and, last but not least, and of course, WikiLeaks.

Feel free to add organisations, groups and initiatives in the comments!

The work of the United Nations on internet governance spans across several agencies and bodies within the UN work, most notably the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the United Nations Conference on Trade amd Development (UNCTAD) and UNESCO.

Much of the United Nations’ engagement relates back to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005) conferences aiming to bridge the digital divide and take concrete steps to establish foundations for an information society for all. In Geneva, a common vision of the information society was agreed upon and underpinned with a plan of action, setting out to bring 50 percent of the world’s population online by 2015. This was followed up with the Tunis Commitment and an agenda for the information society in 2005. The World Summit established May 17 as World Information Society Day.

The 11 WSIS Action Lines

The main follow-up process to the World Summit is the WSIS Stocktaking Process, which provides a register of activities carried out by governments, international organisations, the business sector, civil society and other stakeholders with reference to the eleven action lines defined by the World Summit’s Plan of Action. In 2010, the World ICT Development Report (pdf) by ITU focused on monitoring the targets set by the summit. Regular WSIS Fora and a WSIS Community further contribute to connecting, recording and coordinating stakeholder initiatives to implement the action plan.

The World Summit on the Information Society also called—following a recommendation of the Working Group on Internet Governance—for the establishment of the Internet Governance Forum, which convened for the first time in 2006 as a multi-stakeholder forum for policy dialogue on internet governance. The IGF intends to bring together all stakeholders in the internet governance discourse on an equal basis, from governments and the private sector to civil society and the academic community.

The Internet Governance Forum has met in

2006 in Athens – Report (pdf) | 2007 in Rio de Janeiro – Report (pdf) | 2008 in Hyderabad – Report (pdf) | 2009 in Sharm El Sheikh – Report (pdf) | 2010 in Vilnius – Report (pdf)

and will next meet in Nairobi in September 2011. (Its mandate has been extended by the United Nations’ General Assembly (resolution, pdf) for another five years – from 2011 to 2015).

In May 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, published a report on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (pdf), exploring “key trends and challenges to the right of all individuals to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through the Internet.” In its introduction, the report

“underscores the unique and transformative nature of the Internet not only to enable individuals to exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression, but also a range of other human rights, and to promote the progress of society as a whole. Chapter III of the report underlines the applicability of international human rights norms and standards on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the Internet as a commu­nication medium (…)”,

La Rue, Frank (2011): report on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Page 1.

and the conclusion stresses that

“the full guarantee of the right to freedom of expression must be the norm, and any limitation [prescribed by international human rights law] considered as an exception, and that this principle should never be reversed.”

La Rue, Frank (2011): report on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Page 19.

Further publications of the United Nations on digital governance include:

• Implementing WSIS Outcomes: Experience to Date and Prospects for the Future (2011, pdf)
• Measuring the WSIS targets: A statistical framework (2011, pdf)
• Report on the WSIS Stocktaking 2010: Tracking Progress (2010, pdf)
• Measuring the Information Society (2010, pdf)
• Towards inclusive knowledge societies: implementing the WSIS outcomes (2010, pdf)

The United Nation’s work on internet governance is coordinated by the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) together with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on internet governance is based on UNESCO’s basic approach of creating the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, a dialogue that aims to achieve sustainable development encompassing human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty.

UNESCO runs two programmes related to internet governance, namely the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Information for All Programme (IFAP).

UNESCO’s work on communication and information centres on six thematic areas:

Access to Information | Capacity Building | Content Development |
Freedom of Expression | Media Development | Memory of the World

Publications of UNESCO on digital governance include:

• Freedom of Connection – Freedom of Expression: The Changing Legal and Regulatory Ecology Shaping the Internet (2011, pdf)
• Professional journalism and self-regulation: new media, old dilemmas (2011, pdf)
• The Importance of Self Regulation of the Media in Upholding Freedom of Expression (2011, pdf)

UNESCO published the World Report “Towards Knowledge Societies” (2010, pdf).

Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information are two core areas of UNESCO’s work. Additionally, UNESCO has a strong focus on information and communication technology in education, starting from the belief that technology can contribute to universal access to and equity in education as well as efficient education management, governance and administration. The organisation maintains a Portal on Open Educational Resources and an OER-Wiki.

UNESCO’s work on internet governance is coordinated by the organisation’s Communication and Information Sector, headed by Jānis Kārkliņš.

The work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on internet governance is rooted in the mission of OECD to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

The organisation has developed key indicators on information and communication technologies, which are updated annually, to provide a knowledge-base for digital governance policies. The fifteen indicators mostly cover availability, accessibility, affordability and usage of landline, mobile, broadband and internet connections.

The Information Technology Outlook is a complementary regularly OECD updated publication.

The OECD’s work on internet governance spans across several themes, including information economy, information security and privacy, broadband and telecom and e-government.

The OECD has published a number of Digital Economy Papers, among them

• The Protection of Children Online (May 2011, pdf)
• The Evolving Privacy Landscape: 30 Years After the OECD Privacy Guidelines (April 2011, pdf)
• National Strategies and Policies for Digital Identity Management in OECD Countries (March 2011, pdf)
• More OECD Digital Economy Papers

The OECD has developed a privacy statement generator, building on the OECD guidelines on the protection of privacy. They regularly publish policy guidelines on internet economy issues, reviews of good governance in information society, reports — including “Reducing Systemic Cybersecurity Risks” (January 2011, pdf), a report outlining what types of cyberattacks and large scale disruptions hold potential for causing a global shock, and “The Economic and Social Role of Internet Intermediaries” (April 2010, pdf) — and OECD Outlooks including the OECD Communications Outlook and the OECD Information Technology Outlook. Additionally, the OECD releases regular statistical updates on the future of the internet economy (June 2011, pdf).

At the occasion of a High Level Meeting entitled “The Internet Economy: Generating Innovation and Growth” in June 2011, the OECD developed an Issues Paper (June 2011, pdf) outlining some background to the issues discussed at the sessions of the High-Level Meeting, including broadband access, the role of broadband in developing the internet economy, the balance of policy goals to strengthen growth, and policy making principles for an open internet.

Prior to the High Level Meeting, the OECD worked on developing a “Communiqué on Internet Policy-Making Principles” through a multistakeholder discussion. On June 28, the Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) announced that it has declined to support the Communiqué, stating that it could undermine “online freedom of expression, freedom of information, the right to privacy, and innovation across the world.” More information is available on the website of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) — EFF Declines to Endorse OECD Draft Communiqué on Principles for Internet Policy-Making — the website of the Internet Governance Project (IGP) — Civil Society defects from OECD Internet Policy Principles — and the website of CSISAC — CSISAC Declines to Support OECD Principles on Internet Policy-Making.

The OECD’s work on internet governance is coordinated by the Department of Information and Communications Technologies.

The work of the European Union on internet governance is strongly related by the overarching themes and policy initiatives around economic integration, the single market and the four freedoms of the Union –- the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people.

The Digital Agenda is one of the key documents of the EU and is described as “Europe’s strategy for a flourishing digital economy by 2020.” Starting from the assumption that the free flow of online services is still blocked by too many barriers, the Digital Agenda aims to update the single market rules of the European Union for the digital era. It sets out and defines in total 100 actions for eight pillars:

Digital Single Market | Interoperability and Standards | Trust and Security | Very Fast Internet | Research and Innovation | Enhancing E-Skills | ICT for Social Challenges | International Dimensions

The Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the European Commission have adopted a number of declarations, directives, recommendations and frameworks related to internet governance, among them:

Communications

• Communication (2011) 287 (pdf) on a single market for intellectual property rights
• Communication (2011) 222 (pdf) on the open internet and net neutrality in Europe
• Communication (2010) 609 (pdf) on a comprehensive strategy on data protection in the European Union
• Communication (2010) 472 (pdf) on European broadband – investing in digitally driven growth
• Communication (2010) 245 (pdf) on a digital agenda for Europe
• Communication (2009) 532 (pdf) on copyright in the knowledge economy
• Communication (2009) 277 (pdf) on internet governance: the next steps

Directives

• Directive 2010/13 (pdf) on the provision of audiovisual media services
• Directive 2006/24 (pdf) on the retention of communications traffic data
• Directive 2002/58 (pdf) on privacy and electronic communications
• Directive 2002/22 (pdf) on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services
• Directive 2002/21 (pdf) on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services
• Directive 2002/20 (pdf) on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services
• Directive 2002/19 (pdf) on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks

Resolutions

• European Parliament Resolution 2010/66 on a new digital agenda for Europe: 2015.eu

Recommendations

• Recommendation 2006/952 (pdf) on the Protection of Minors and Human Dignity

Reports

• European Digital Competitiveness report (2010): Volume 1 – Main report (pdf) and Volume 2 – Country profiles (pdf)
• Background reports on the economic impact of ICT (pdf) and the social impact of ICT (pdf)

The legislative and political work of the EU on digital governance is complemented by initiatives on media literacy, user rights, e-safety, e-health, e-government, e-inclusion as well as a wide range of research projects that are organised in four different strands.

The European Union’s work on internet governance is coordinated by the EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes and her team.

The work of the Council of Europe on internet governance centres on human rights issues, most notably freedom of expression, data protection, accessibility and cybercrime.

With the Convention on Cybercrime, the Council of Europe created the first (and so far only) binding international treaty on the subject. The convention outlines guidelines for governments wishing to develop legislation against cybercrime. It entered into force in July 2004, has been signed by 43 states and ratified by 20 countries.

Other relevant treaties are the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which entered into force in July 2010, has been signed by 42 states and ratified by 12 countries, the Convention on Cybercrime, which entered into force in July 2004, has been signed by 47 states and ratified by 31 countries, and the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing, which entered into force in October 1985, has been signed by 46 states and ratified by 43 countries.

The judgements of the European Court of Human Rights related to new technologies constitute another main pillar of the Council of Europe’s work on digital governance. The Court maintains a fact sheet (pdf) on all rulings on Articles 8 (Right to respect for private and family life) and 10 (Freedom of expression) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly have adopted a number of declarations and recommendations related to internet governance, among them:

• Declarations by the Committee of Ministers
• Declaration, September 2010 on the Digital Agenda for Europe
• Declaration, May 2005 on human rights and the rule of law in the information society
• Declaration, May 2003, pdf on freedom of communication on the internet
• Recommendations by the Committee of Ministers
• Recommendation (2010) 13 on profiling and data protection
• Recommendation (2009) 1 on electronic democracy
• Recommendation (2008) 6 on measures to promote the respect for freedom of expression and information
• Recommendation (2007) 16 on measures to promote the public service value of the internet
• Recommendation (2004) 15 on electronic governance
• Recommendation (2004) 11 on legal, operational and technical standards for e-voting
• Recommendation (2001) 7 on measures to protect copyright and combat piracy
• Recommendations by the Parliamentary Assembly
• Recommendation 1950 (2011) on the protection of journalists’ sources
• Recommendation 1906 (2010) on rethinking creative rights for the internet age
• Recommendation 1860 (2009) on electronic democracy
• Recommendation 1670 (2004) on internet and the law

The Council of Europe is publishing an “Internet Literacy Handbook”, a guide intended to explain how to get the most out of the Internet and, at the same time, how to protect and maintain privacy. It has developed “Human Rights Guidelines for Internet Service Providers (pdf)” and “Human Rights Guidelines for Online Game Providers (pdf)”. The organisation also co-hosts the European dialogue on Internet Governance, “an open platform for informal and inclusive discussion and exchange on public policy issues related to Internet governance between stakeholders from all over Europe.”

Internet Freedom Conference

In May 2009, the Council of Europe organised a conference of ministers responsible for media and new communication services in Reykjavik, for which a background document on internet governance (pdf) was prepared and which led to a declaration by the ministers (pdf).

In April 2011, an Internet Freedom Conference – From Principles to Global Treaty Law? took place in Strasbourg to discuss internet governance principles and to “explore viable options for creating an architecture for multi-stakeholder participation in international Internet-related public policy-making” (Source). A draft document on internet governance principles (pdf) and a draft document on the protection and promotion of the internet’s universality, integrity and openness (pdf) were prepared for debate at the conference.

An information document entitled Internet Governance — Developing the Future Together (pdf) is regularly updated, last in May 2011.

The Council of Europe’s work on internet governance is coordinated by Lee Hibbard and his team on information society and internet governance.

I am currently in Belgrade to facilitate the «New Media Summer School» together with Ivana Davidovska. The New Media Summer School is organised by the European Students’ Forum – AEGEE, the Young European Federalists – JEF, Youth for Exchange and Understanding – YEU and the European Youth Press – EYP.

It precedes the European Dialogue on Internet Governance 2011 Conference, where various stakeholders from governments, civil society and the private sector will try to answer questions such as

• What should tomorrow’s internet look, feel and be like?
• Who will decide which content you’ll be able to find online?
• How can the web strengthen democracy and human rights?

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance was created in 2008 and understands itself as

“an open platform for informal and inclusive discussion and exchange on public policy issues related to internet governance between stakeholders from all over Europe.” (Source)

The New Media Summer School orchestrates the youth input to the European Dialogue and wants to:

• take stock of the status quo of policies and identify the needs for young people in terms of future policy action in the fields of youth participation, human rights and education related to new media developments
• explore various ways of youth participation in the online world and how to use them effectively for the benefit of society as a whole
• identify the specific needs and channels for education through online media for young people
• bring together young people from various intercultural and social backgrounds to exchange experience, perspectives, roles and needs of participation, human rights and education related to new media
• weave a multicultural European network of young people with an understanding of human rights, education and participation perspectives on new media empowering young people to actively contribute to new media policies and debates

We will be covering the event extensively on newmediasummerschool.eu and here on nonformality.org, on Twitter with the hashtags #nmss11 and #eurodig.

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