The Internet Governance Forum

It is held in Athens, from 30 October to 2 November, 2006.

The UN General Assembly, back in December 2001, endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Two phases were scheduled.

The objective of the first phase was to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and take concrete steps to establish the foundations for an Information Society for all, reflecting all the different interests at stake.

The objective of the second phase was to put Plan of Action, decided during the first phase, into motion as well as to find solutions and reach agreements in the fields of Internet governance, financing mechanisms, and follow-up and implementation of the produced documents.

In a suite with the World Summit on the Information Society came the The Internet Governance Forum (IGF). Its main purpose will be to discuss a wide range of issues related to Internet Governance, and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to the international community. The working and function of the Forum will be multilateral, multi-stakeholder democratic and transparent.

So, here we talk about Internet Governance. Governance! It's in the name of it. Does the Internet need a Governance? Has ever been such a matter of a discussion, some sort of meditation, before concluding there's need for Governance? Or it's just the automated way of figuring out things, that led reflect? As much I could search, I found nothing about such a prior discourse!

This is why, to me, when it comes to an Internet Governance Forum, it doesn't even make sense, such a Forum.

Internet has been born free and grows up less and less controlable. It is not surprising to see governments trying to take control over the Internet. It has always been this way with every expression media.

However, I'm confident that the freedom of speech cannot be banned. For the simple reason that technology works for it. Open networks are coming really fast. New wireless technologies will connect people with each other, letting out the need to pass through traditional ISPs. We're heading towards underground uncontrollable networks. Helped by the emerging technologies.

And, since these technologies mean money for the Big Companies, to stop them, one should have to stop capitalism, first!

Tags: phivos, Athens, internet, World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS, The Internet Governance Forum, IGF