Friends, all of us LIS professionals use the Internet and help users of our libraries and information centres learn to use the Internet more efficiently. It will be good to keep up with developments in the way Internet itself is changing and administered. Here is a short report of a recent meeting of the recently held Internet Governance Forum by an Indian participant, Mr Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, Centre for Internet & Society, Bangalore. Arun
The 9th Internet Governance Forum (“IGF2014”) was hosted by Turkey in Istanbul between September 2-5. A BestBits pre-event, which saw robust discussions on renewal of the IGF mandate, the NETmundial Initiative and other live Internet governance processes, flagged off a week of many meetings and sessions. At IGF2014, the ICANN-led processes of IANA transition and ICANN accountability found strong presence. Human rights online, access and net neutrality were also widely discussed. Centre for Internet and Society, India participated in multiple workshops and panels.
*Workshops and Panel Discussions*
*WS206: An evidence-based framework for intermediary liability*
CIS organized a workshop on developing an evidence-based framework for intermediary liability in collaboration with the Stanford Center for Internet and Society. By connecting information producers and consumers, intermediaries serve as valuable tool for growth and innovation, and also a medium for realisation of human rights. The workshop looked to a concerted approach to understanding intermediaries’ impact on human rights demands our urgent attention. Jyoti Panday of CIS was contributed to the workshop’s background paper and organisation. Elonnai Hickok of CIS was a speaker. At this workshop, a zero-draft of international principles for intermediary liability was released. The zero-draft is the interim outcome of an ongoing, global intermediary liability project, undertaken by CIS in collaboration with Article 19 and Electronic Frontier Foundation. See video <http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5291&qid=414342> .
*WS112: Implications of post-Snowden Internet localization proposals*
Organised by ISOC and Center for Democracy and Technology, this panel questioned the distinctions between Internet-harmful and Internet-beneficial Internet and data localization. As a speaker at this workshop, Sunil Abraham of CIS identified state imperatives for Internet localization, such as taxation, network efficiency and security. See video <http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5292&qid=414342> .
*WS63: Preserving a universal Internet: Costs of fragmentation*
Internet and Jurisdiction Project organized this workshop to explore potential harms to Internet architecture, universality and openness as a result of Internet balkanisation. Sunil Abraham was one of the speakers.
*WS2: Mobile, trust and privacy*
Organised by GSMA, this panel discussed methods, benefits and harms of use of mobile transaction generated information and data. Sunil Abraham was a speaker. See video <http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5293&qid=414342> .
*WS188: Transparency reporting as a tool for Internet governance*
This GNI workshop examined transparency reporting by Internet intermediaries and companies, and sought to identify its strengths and shortcomings as a tool for Internet governance. Pranesh Prakash of CIS was a speaker. See video <http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5294&qid=414342> .
*WS149: Aligning ICANN policy with the privacy rights of users*
This Yale ISP panel examined ICANN’s obligations for data protection, in light of international standards and best practices. This discussion is particularly relevant as ICANN’s WHOIS policy, Registrar Accreditation Agreement, and other policies have attained the status of a global standard for the handling of personal data. Pranesh Prakash moderated this panel.
*Other Participation*
*Launch of the GISWatch Report*
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and the Humanist Institute for Cooperation with Developing Countries (Hivos) released the Global Information Society Watch Report (*GISWatch*) on national and global mass surveillance. The report “*explores the surveillance of citizens in today's digital age by governments with the complicity of institutions and corporations*”. Elonnai Hickok of CIS was one of the contributors to this report.
*Internet Ungovernance Forum*
Elonnai Hickok presented at the International Principles Steering Committee meeting at the Internet Ungovernance Forum <http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5295&qid=414342>
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