The Internet ecosystem is defined by interdependence and interconnection. APNIC 40 in Jakarta saw the second meeting of the Cooperation SIG , which offers a forum for the APNIC community to explore these broader Internet issues that cross-cut stakeholder groups and communities.
The APNIC 40 Cooperation SIG, chaired by Dr Govind and co-chaired by Billy MH Cheon, covered the WSIS+10 review process, universal acceptance, and frameworks to help registrars, registries, and ISPs in dealing with the tricky space of liability, takedowns, and abusive content.
While the breadth of topics was wide, at the core, each topic looked to the Internet community to collaborate in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant ecosystem.
Update on the WSIS+10 Review Process
Inclusivity is central to a bottom-up, community driven Internet. WSIS and related processes such as the Internet Governance Forum, have been a coup for this ideal. WSIS brought governments, the technical community, private sector, civil society, and the wider Internet community together to discuss the most pressing issues impacting the information society.
Akinori Maemura presented on the ongoing WSIS+10 review process that is looking back on the last ten years of the information society and will shape the agenda moving forward.
Watch Akinori’s presentation
The Asia-Pacific and technical communities have already gotten involved in the process including a multistakeholder Asian Regional Consultation held in Thailand and submissions to the non-paper from the NRO and other technical community members.
The WSIS+10 process will conclude in December this year and Akinori called on the community to stay engaged, saying
“your participation should influence the outcome of this process and that is why I would like to invite and encourage you to this process.”
Universal Acceptance
As the World information society has grown the development of Internationalized Domain Names, internationalized email addresses, and new top level domains are increasingly important to be inclusive of more communities and languages. However, they do pose some technical challenges across many platforms and systems, a topic addressed by Edmon Chung and Byron Ellacott.
Edmon explored how the community can work to ensure that domains and scripts operate equally in acceptance, validation, storage, processing and display. Looking at how to move forward, Edmon looked at what organizations can do internally, low hanging fruit to get things started, the role of ISPs, engaging communities, and efforts by the Universal Acceptance Steering Group and at ICANN.
Byron presented on APNIC’s own work on universal acceptance, a useful case study for the practical challenges to implementation.
Coordinated Framework for Rapid Takedown/ Suspension Processes Against Abusive Activities
Sustainability of the Internet ecosystem also requires community collaboration. On this issue, Edmon posed the question whether a coordinated, consistent framework for engaging broader Internet and security community to help address abuses can and should be created.
Watch Edmon’s presentation
Edmon suggested the development of a coordinated framework and process on how parties can alert registries or registars and ISPs of abusive or illegal content, how to vet the alerts, and how to engage experts to determine whether takedown or suspension should occur.
He explored how a collaborative approach, including technologies, policies, education, awareness, and youth engagement and development can be leveraged to build a more sustainable Internet. A collaborative approach that can be applied online as well as to offline challenges like that of endangered Tiger populations.
Whether it is in creating a healthier Internet ecosystem or working to protect the endangered Tiger, it is a holistic effort that looks at the entire ecosystem that is required and Edmon invited the community to ‘join forces’ on both counts.
Introduction to the Manila Principles
Approaching a similar problem from a different perspective, Jyoti Panday discussed the Manila Principles on Intermediary Liability as a possible common framework for ISPs and governments on content restriction practices.
Watch Jyoti’s presentation
Mirroring Edmon’s presentation on rapid takedown and suspensions, Jyoti observed that as the amount of potentially unlawful, harmful, or abusive content that is being transmitted through the Internet increases, ISPs and other intermediaries are increasingly under pressure from governments and other groups to act as gatekeepers.
The Manila Principles approaches the challenge with the aim of protecting freedom of expression and innovation and to encourage interoperability and harmonizing liability regimes. The principles act as a set of baseline best practices that could be considered by policy makers and intermediaries when adopting and reviewing intermediary liability legislation, policies, and practices.
The WSIS+10 review process, universal acceptance, and frameworks to address the challenge of abusive activities and content are but a few of the topics where a holistic, community driven approach can make a big difference.
While the Cooperation SIG is a great venue to get the conversation started, carrying the ideas into collaborative action is what it will take to make a more inclusive, sustainable Internet a reality.
The Cooperation SIG is a great venue for the community to discuss broader Internet issues like public policy and Internet governance. As the charter of the Cooperation SIG says:
focusing on information sharing, outreach, capacity building, and other activities can help advance APNIC’s vision for a global, open, stable, and secure Internet.
Join the Cooperation SIG mailing list today to add your voice to the discussion.
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