QuickLinks - Information society and Internet policy

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Issue no. 349 - 27 November 2005

• WSIS - Analysis: Net control debate rumbles on (BBC)
  Internet professor Michael Geist explains why the arguments over who runs the internet are far from over. After two years of frequently acrimonious debate, delegates to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis reached a last minute agreement that, at first glance, appears to resolve the debate over the regulation of the internet's domain name system. The one significant change to the current framework is the creation of a new Internet Governance Forum. The forum, to be established by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, will feature representatives from government, business, and civil society. It will first meet this spring in Greece with a mandate to address a broad range of internet issues including governance, spam, cyber crime, and privacy.

• WSIS - Controversy blights UN net summit (BBC)
  A crucial UN summit on expanding net access around the world has ended in Tunis marred by controversy over censorship and who runs the internet. The World Summit on the Information Society ended with talk about narrowing the technology gap between rich and poor nations but little in funding. It was overshadowed by a lingering resentment about who should oversee the management of the net. The summit was also marked by stark differences over freedom of speech.

• WSIS - EU brokers deal at Tunis World Summit (RAPID)
  A worldwide political agreement providing for further internationalisation of Internet governance, and enhanced intergovernmental cooperation to this end, was brokered at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis. The compromise text agreed was based largely on EU proposals presented in the discussions since June. As a first important element of the agreement, a new international Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be created to deliberate among governments, the private sector and civil society at large in a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue related to Internet Governance. A first meeting of this Forum will be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations by the second quarter of 2006 and take place in Greece. The texts agreed in Tunis also include language that will allow for enhanced cooperation among governments, on an equal footing, on public policy issues.

• WSIS - Facing The Facts on Internet Governance (Michael Geist)
  This week the regulation of the Internet takes centre stage at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia. Initially intended to address the growing digital divide, the WSIS has instead been dominated by politicking over Internet governance concerns. A deep split has emerged, pitting the United States (which favours the current system) on one side and the European Union (which prefers a multilateral approach) on the other.

• WSIS - Tunis Agenda and Tunis Commitment (ITU)
  World Summit on the Information Society. Second Phase of the WSIS (16-18 November 2005, Tunis) Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (rev. 1). See also Geneva Declaration of Principles WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/0004. see also Tunis Commitment WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/7.

• WSIS - Tunis: Robert Ménard (RSF) refoulé à Tunis (France 2)
  Robert Ménard, secrétaire général de Reporters sans frontières, a été refoulé à l'aéroport de Tunis. Arrivé à bord d'un vol d'Air France, Robert Ménard s'est vu demander de rester à bord de l'appareil, avec lequel il a regagné la France en début d'après-midi. Le secrétaire général de RSF accuse depuis des années la Tunisie du président Ben Ali de violations répétées de la liberté d'expression. Dès l'atterissage, a précisé Robert Ménard à l'AFP, une annonce avait été faite au haut-parleur de bord lui demandant de rester à sa place. Pendant que les autres passagers débarquaient, "plusieurs Tunisiens en civil" lui ont indiqué qu'il "ne pouvait pas descendre car il n'était pas accrédité au SMSI". Le commandant de bord lui a ensuite confirmé qu'il ne pouvait pas quitter son siège.

• WSIS / EU - La société de l'information que nous voulons (RAPID)
  La société de l'information que nous voulons : le chemin est ouvert pour une approche multilatérale et transparente à la gouvernance d'Internet. Discours de Viviane Reding, Membre de la Commission européenne responsable de la Société de l'information et des médias, Sommet mondial sur la Société de l'information, Tunis, le 16 novembre 2005.

Issue no. 348 - 13 November 2005

• WSIS / US / EU - Bush challenges EC over Internet governance (CNET News.com)
  George W Bush personally raised the arguments over Internet governance with the EC president in a meeting this week. In a sign that traditionally obscure discussions about Internet control have taken on new prominence, President Bush broached the topic in a meeting this week with European Commission President José Barroso.

• WSIS: Der Kampf um die Macht im Netz (Heise)
  Auf dem zweiten UN-Weltgipfel der Informationsgesellschaft steht nach fünf Jahren der Diskussion das Thema internationale Netzverwaltung ganz oben auf der Agenda und verdrängt andere Themen – angesichts des Streits um die Macht im Internet scheint ein Scheitern des WSIS möglich. Am 13. November startet der zweite UN-Weltgipfel zur Informationsgesellschaft in Tunis (WSIS) mit der Wiederaufnahme der Vorbereitungskonferenz 3, um dann nahtlos in die eigentliche WSIS-Tagung ab Mittwoch, den 16. November überzugehen.

Issue no. 347 - 19 October 2005

• EU - Multi-Media World : the need for a 'Light Touch' (RAPID)
  Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, IIC and Chatham House 36th annual conference. London, 10 October 2005.

• UK - Ofcom chief sees self-regulation as the answer to internet worries (Times)
  Stephen Carter talks about the prickly issues he faces now that the BT quesiton has been resolved. Surveying his "to do" box, it is hardly surprising Carter wants to close the lid on the telecoms review. The switch over from analogue to digital television, a review of advertising and an upcoming auction of new third-generation licences, with all the potential frictions, are just some of the issues he and his team must address. One prickly issue already firmly on the agenda is that of Europe wanting to begin to regulate the internet, monitoring issues such as decency, accuracy and impartiality.

• UK - Safety & security in a networked world: Balancing cyber-rights & responsibilities (CommsWatch)
  A set of conference papers available on-line.

Issue no. 346 - 2 October 2005

• WSIS - EU proposal rocks "status-quo" camp (WSIS)
  The European Union signaled a radical shift of position on its support for maintaining the Internet governance status quo, tabling a bold new document that proposed a new public-private governance model, including an international multi-stakeholder forum. Taking the floor half-way through Wednesday evenin's meeting of Sub-Committee A, the UK delegate's placid delivery belied the ground-shaking import of the proposal, which represented a clear departure from the "status quo" camp led by the US. As proposed, the new model would foster development of public policy principles, and include provision for equitable global IP number block allocation, procedures for changing the root zone file system to provide for insertion of new top-level domains and for changes of ccTLD managers. It also includes open support for a new public policy forum that would work with existing institutions and organizations to address multi-dimensional and interrelated public policy issues without trying to "dominate issues already dealt with elsewhere" or performing oversight functions. see also Tunis 'Summit of Solutions' Now in Sight (WSIS Press Release), Second Phase, Tunis : Preparatory Process : Prepcom-3. Report of the Work of Sub-Committee A (Internet Governance): [WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/11] Chair's paper (after fourth reading): Chapter three [WSIS-II/PC-3/DT/10(Rev.4)]. Report from the Working Group on Internet Governance.

• WSIS - EU wants international control of Internet (Associated Press)
  The European Union has insisted the job of Internet traffic cop must be shared by governments and the private sector. The U.S. wants to remain the Internet's ultimate authority, rejecting calls in a United Nations meeting in Geneva for a U.N. body to take over. EU spokesman Martin Selmayr rejected American claims the EU had changed direction. 'We are looking for a new cooperation model, a model that allows Internet governance and the laying down of public policy principles in coordination by all countries which are interested in the governance of the Internet because the Internet is a global resource', he said, 'The EU is very firm on this position'.

• WSIS - Internet users say debate over control misses point (International Herald Tribune)
  The European Union has joined calls from other nations for giving supervisory power to an intergovernmental body, but the idea was rejected by Washington as leading to unnecessary bureaucratization. The uncompromising U.S. stance has led to a deadlock in the talks, called the World Summit on the Information Society, which started in 2003 and are set to conclude in Tunisia next month. Groups representing Web surfers at the talks complained that the dispute between the United States and the rest of the world over administration is overshadowing more important issues, such as cleaning up spam from e-mail systems and combating cyber crime and identity theft, areas where they say governments should play a more active role.

• WSIS - The 'root zone' of a Web dispute (International Herald Tribune)
  The U.S. government, which currently oversees the Internet addressing system, this past week clashed with the European Union and other governments over who should retain control over the master address list. Whoever controls the root zone files in essence controls access to Web sites, and one fear is that the United States could arbitrarily decide to deny requests by other countries for changes in the files. The United States has never denied such requests, but many involved in Internet governance do not like even the possibility that such a denial could take place.

• WSIS - US rejects changes to net control (BBC)
  The US has rejected calls by European Union (EU) officials to give control of the net over to a more representative United Nations (UN) body. The matter is supposed to be discussed at November's World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia. But at a pre-Summit meeting this week, the US said it would resist the plans. In the meeting, the European Union (EU) backed proposals that control of the net should be under a more representative body. "We will not agree to the UN taking over the management of the internet," said Ambassador David Gross, the US coordinator for international communications and information policy at the State Department.

Issue no. 345 - 25 September 2005

• CoE - Human rights in the information society on agenda (EDRI)
  On 12 and 13 September the Council of Europe convened a Pan-European Forum on 'Human Rights in the Information Society: Responsible Behaviour by Key Actors' with representatives from state, industry and civil society. The Forum was a follow-up to the recent Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the Information Society, plus general Council of Europe priorities regarding the protection of children and internet content. The Forum aimed at identifying and discussing 'responsible' and 'irresponsible' behaviour by key actors and how states, industry and civil society can work together (inter alia through partnerships, policy making, greater awareness and education) to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights in the Information Society.

• EU - ITV boss calls for relaxation of product placement rules (Guardian)
  ITV chief executive Charles Allen has called for a 'radical rethink' of European media regulation, including the sweeping away of rules preventing product placement. Talking to broadcasters and policy makers at the i2010 European Broadcast convention in Liverpool, Mr Allen said commercial broadcasters had to be given the freedom to look beyond traditional advertising revenues, and his call was backed by the European Union's commissioner for media, Viviane Reding.

• EU - Better regulation for Europe's media industry: the Commission's approach (RAPID)
  Speech by Mrs Reding. Audiovisual Conference - Between Culture and Commerce, Liverpool, 22 September 2005. I am determined to find the best possible, future-proof balance between a light burden on industry, in order to boost Europe's competitiveness and to encourage successful cross border services on the one hand, and on the other hand the pursuit of undisputed public policy objectives, such as protection of minors or the fight against racial hatred. I have heard and read here and there, that Brussels intends to regulate the Internet, to introduce new red tape. Frankly, this is nonsense! Never ever has the Commission had such a foolish idea! But let me ask you some questions: who in this room is in favour of child-pornography on the new media? Who stands for the freedom to spread incitement to racial hatred on the new media? If one of the service providers present here in this room considers that these abuses are just business-as-usual, he should stand up and take the floor. It is the duty of the Commission to propose a framework under which these shared European values are protected. But I have no intention to "regulate the Internet"! On the scope of the future legal framework for audiovisual services, nearly everyone agrees that ensuring a level playing field among platforms delivering similar audiovisual content falls into the remit of the European lawmaker. In any case, technological change and convergence lead to a multiplication of services. It is necessary to have a technologically neutral regulatory approach, taking into account the degree of choice and control of the consumer. That is why we make a clear distinction between linear and non-linear services.

• EU - Hi-tech firms fear EU regulation (Guardian)
  New European Union proposals to further deregulate the television market could have a negative impact on the internet industry, lobbying groups for UK hi-tech companies warned. As the EU commission met politicians and industry groups at the i2010 European Broadcast convention in Liverpool, trade groups warned that plans to update the TV Without Frontiers directive could usher in regulation of the internet 'via the back door'. See also EC regulation 'could stifle' net BBC.

• EU - Murdoch calls for 'bonfire' of media regulations (Guardian)
  BSkyB chief executive James Murdoch has called for the scrapping of European media regulations in a 'bonfire of controls'. 'This is not a plea for freedom without restraint. I take as my starting point the requirement that broadcasters, like anyone else, should be bound by laws on decency, the protection of minors, human dignity and so on,' he told broadcasters and politicians at the European Broadcast convention. 'Beyond that, however, broadcasting should no longer be regarded as a special case. The purpose of broadcasting regulation should be to ensure competition through freedom in pricing, through secure and transferable property rights, and through the removal of genuine barriers to market entry. Full stop. In broadcasting, it is clear that the great advances that have been made have all occurred, sometimes alongside, sometimes in spite of, but never because of regulation. They are the result of technological progress, allied with free enterprise and open markets.' He said attempts to preserve a distinction between broadcasting and new media, and on-demand services and traditional TV channels, were 'doomed to failure'. see also Rein in the BBC, says Murdoch. See also Speech by Tessa Jowell, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Speech by Mark Thompson, Director General BBC, Speech by James Purnell, UK Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism.

• WSIS - Prepcom-3 Documents (WSIS)
  The third meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-3 of the Tunis phase) takes place in Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland) from 19-30 September 2005. Recent documents include Sub-Committee A Chair releases Chair's Draft on Internet Governance and Highlights: 19-21 September 2005.

Issue no. 344 - 18 September 2005

• EU - i2010 : a new start for Lisbon and for European Information Society and Media policies (RAPID)
  Speech by Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, The i2010 Conference London, 6 September 2005.

Issue no. 343 - 4 September 2005

• EU - Captains of Europe's ICT and Media Industry Sign Up to Commission Roadmap (RAPID)
  Ten business leaders of Europe's major telecom, Internet, TV and music companies met in London with the European Commission, the UK Presidency and representatives of the forthcoming Austrian and Finish presidencies to discuss how to give a spur to Europe's emerging "Digital Economy". Technological and market developments are bringing about third generation mobile phones, digital TV broadcasts, online music, Voice over IP and interactive Internet services. At their summit in London, the ten European business leaders agreed to work together with Member States and the Commission on the basis of an "Agenda for Unlocking Europe's Digital Economy", in particular on the following points: * Promotion of media content markets through effective rights protection, licensing arrangements and encouraging legitimate use of content. For this, industry will seek to agree a European Charter Content Online & IPR by May 2006. * An appropriate and proportionate modernisation of single market rules on audio visual content. * Stimulation of investments in new broadband networks (fixed and mobile), advanced applications and content-rich services and promotion of competition through a full and effective implementation of the EU electronic communications regulatory framework. * Greater efficiency and policy coordination on the use of and trade with radio spectrum in Europe. * Easy access for users to content and services through secure and interoperable software and services. * Investing in private and prioritising public research and development on ICT.

• EU / UK - Here is the debate on Internet regulation (CommsWatch)
  At a seminar in Hong Kong on the theme "Regulation in a convergent environment". Richard Hooper, Deputy Chairman of Ofcom and Chairman of Ofcom's Content Board made a presentation entitled Content regulation in the multiplatform multichannel digital age. He provides is the nearest we have so far had to a coherent and credible alternative to Commissioner Viviane Reding's interventionist appoach and the straightforward, do nothing approach, although he understatingly calls his line "the modified do nothing strategy". He makes crucial distinctions between illegal, harmful and offensive content and, in essence, he proposes: "So the modified do nothing strategy would enforce the blocking of illegal material beyond just child abuse sites; would encourage a self-regulatory approach to material that was legal but harmful; would encourage classification/filtering systems for material that was legal but offensive; and would use the general law (as it stands, or with necessary revisions) to stop other problems such as phishing, hacking and other fraudulent uses of the technology. see also Where is the debate on Internet regulation?

Issue no. 342 - 31 July 2005

• WSIS - UN at odds over internet's future (BBC)
  The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) charged with deciding how the net should be run has failed to reach a decision. The group's report suggests four possible futures for net governance that range from no change to complete overhaul. The proposals will go forward to a key UN net and society conference due to take place in November. The report comes as the US says it plans to keep its role as overseer of the net's core administrative body. see also Background report .

Issue no. 340 - 23 June 2005

• EU - Commission launches i2010 initiative (RAPID)
  The Commission has adopted the initiative i2010: European Information Society 2010 to foster growth and jobs in the information society and media industries. i2010 is a comprehensive strategy for modernising and deploying all EU policy instruments to encourage the development of the digital economy: regulatory instruments, research and partnerships with industry. The Commission will in particular promote high-speed and secure broadband networks offering rich and diverse content in Europe.

• EU - Commission outlines EU negotiation principles for WSIS (RAPID)
  Preparations for the second World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis (16-18 November 2005) have entered a crucial phase. This summit should reach an international consensus on two key unresolved issues from the first phase: Internet governance and financial mechanisms for bridging the digital divide between developed and developing countries. The European Commission has now adopted a communication outlining the EU?s priorities for the Tunis meeting. To promote an Information Society for all, respectful of human rights and of freedom of expression and cultural and linguistic diversity, the EU wishes to preserve and strengthen the sound foundations laid during the first summit in Geneva.

• OSCE - Guaranteeing media freedom on the internet (Reporters sans frontières)
  This declaration by Reporters Without Borders and the representative of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) on Freedom of the Media aims to deal with the main issues facing countries seeking to regulate online activity. Should the Web be filtered ? Can online publications be forced to register with the authorities ? What should the responsibility of service providers (ISPs) be ? How far does a national jurisdiction extend ?

Issue no. 339 - 29 May 2005

• WSIS - Working Group on Internet Governance Questionnaire Posted for Comment (ITU)
  The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) is discussing how to improve current Internet governance arrangements in order to bring them more in line with the WSIS principles. In the light of these discussions, this questionnaire has been developed to allow for a structured feed-back.

Issue no. 338 - 7 May 2005

• OECD - Digital Broadband Content (OECD)
  Working Party on the Information Economy. Digital Broadband Content. Panel And Government Session, 3 June 2004. Summary and conclusions. DSTI/ICCP/IE(2004)15/FINAL

Issue no. 337 - 13 April 2005

• EU - Call for rules on media concentration and pluralism (Euractiv)
  MEPs and media stakeholders are petitioning for new EU rules on media concentration. Lack of specific competence on the issue has so far prevented the EU from taking action.

• VA - Pope a champion of new technology (CNN)
  Pope John Paul II will be remembered as a great communicator not only for his language skills, but also for his use of modern technologies to reach his followers. John Paul is credited with bringing the Vatican into the Information Age. He used the Vatican's official Web site, launched in 1995, to publish his sermons and speeches. see Ethics in Internet and The Church and the Internet (Pontifical Council for Social Communications).

Issue no. 334 - 13 March 2005

• EU - Stimulating innovation and enterprise in Europe's ICT sector (RAPID)
  Speech by Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, Technology Industry Summit at CeBit, Hannover, 9 March 2005.

Issue no. 333 - 2 March 2005

• EU- I2010: How to make Europe's Information Society competitive (RAPID)
  Speech by Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, eEurope Advisory Group, Brussels, 22 February 2005.

• UK - Europe crowned as Internet Villain (ZDNet UK)
  Europe was crowned as the Internet Villain for 2005 at the 7th Annual UK Internet Industry Awards, the ISPAs. Facing stiff competition from BT, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Lycos and Carol Vordermann, the EU took the award for work that, said the ISPA judges, 'has threatened the 'Country of Origin' principle, which has encouraged e-commerce across the EU, and for the Draft Framework on Data Retention'.

• WSIS - PrepCom-2 (WSIS)
  The second meeting of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2 of the Tunis phase) took place in Geneva (Switzerland) from 17-25 February 2005. Documents online include Draft Decision of PrepCom-2, Final Report, Report on the Work of the Sub-Committee, Political Chapeau and Operational Part, Compilations of comments.

• WSIS - Streit um zukünftige Rolle der ICANN bei der Internetverwaltung (Heise)
  Für das Internet gibt es keine völkerrechtlichen Verträge, es funktioniere vielmehr in einem totalen rechtlichen Vakuum -- das beklagten bei der zweiten Vorbereitungskonferenz für den Weltgipfel der Informationsgesellschaft (WSIS) in Genf Vertreter mehrerer internationaler Regierungen. Brasilien erklärte, man sei bereit, beim kommenden Gipfel in Tunis Verhandlungen über einen völkerrechtlichen Vertrag zur Frage der Verwaltung des Internet zu starten. Zumindest in einem Punkt des Reizthemas globale Netzverwaltung herrscht inzwischen Einigkeit bei den in Genf versammelten Regierungsvertretern.

Issue no. 332 - 22 February 2005

• AU - Broad backing for study of ethics (Australian IT)
  The Australian Computer Society is backing a $900,000 research project on ethics and regulation in the technology sector with a view to creating an international model. The three-year study will be funded by the society, the federal government's Australian Research Council and the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics. ACS Foundation executive director John Ridge said the study was the first to explore ethics and regulations in the technology sector around the world.

Issue no. 331 - 13 February 2005

• US - Virtual worlds wind up in real world's courts (MSNBC)
  A multiplayer online game is sued for allowing its players to dress up like comic book heroes. An upstart company winds up in court for creating a Tijuana sweatshop to manufacture digital weaponry. A funny thing is happening in these sprawling online multiplayer arenas. The ultimate in digital escapism, virtual worlds keep ending up in the ultimate in depressing reality: the courts. To get a handle on the boundaries between virtual worlds and real-world law, MSNBC.com asked Beth Simone Noveck, an associate professor of law at the New York Law School and director of the Institute for Information Law and Policy, to highlight several legal hot buttons as they apply to virtual worlds.

Issue no. 330 - 30 January 2005

• EU - i2010: Internet-Inhalte und -Infrastruktur für Europa unter einem Dach (Heise)
  von Monika Ermert. Mit einer Neuauflage des EU-Programms eEurope allein sei es nicht getan, Europa brauche eine neue Initiative, meinte Viviane Reding. Die neue Kommissarin für Informationsgesellschaft und Medien in der EU-Kommission unter José Manuel Barroso sprach beim Empfang der European Internet Foundation (EIF) für die neuen Mitglieder des Europäischen Parlaments. Reding schlägt ein Nachfolgeprogramm unter dem Motto i2010 vor. Sie bezeichnete es als Glücksfall, dass durch den neuen Zuschnitt des Ressorts erstmals Infrastruktur und Inhalt in eine Generaldirektion fielen. Den Markt für "europäische Inhalte" weiter zu beleben betrachtet sie als eine der anstehenden Aufgaben.

Issue no. 329 - 23 January 2005

• ITU - Council Working Group on WSIS & Internet Governance (ITU)
  The ITU Council Working Group on WSIS held a meeting on 13-14 December 2004 discussing ITU activities relevant to the World Summit on the Information Society. see input documents.

Issue no. 328 - 4 January 2005

• CoE - New committee on human rights and internet (EDRI-gram)
  The Council of Europe has set up an ad-hoc committee of experts on the information society to work on a new declaration or recommendation on human rights and internet.The long list of topics to be covered by the committee ranges from freedom of expression to privacy, mandatory retention of traffic data, e-voting, the prohibition of racism and xenophobic speech on the internet and "the protection of intellectual property in cyberspace." See Terms of reference.

• OSCE - Media Freedom Internet Cookbook (OSCE)
  The Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has published the Media Freedom Internet Cookbook (PDF 646 K). Edited by Christian Möller and Arnaud Amouroux. Results of the 2nd Amsterdam Internet Conference in August 2004. The book combines concrete recommendations - the Recipes - with background papers, grouped in six different chapters: Legislation & Jurisdiction; Self-regulation, Co-regulation, State Regulation; Hate Speech on the Internet; Education & Developing Internet Literacy; Access to Networks and to Information; Future Challenges of the Information Society.

Issue no. 325 - 28 November 2004

• WSIS - Repressive countries members of WGIG (Reporters sans frontières)
  Several countries that harshly crack down on use of the Internet are members of a working group on Internet governance (WGIG) that met in Geneva from 23 to 25 November in the run-up to next year's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis. The group is supposed to recommend to the Tunis summit a draft Internet regulation proposal defined as a shared notion of the roles and responsibilities of governments, intergovernmental and international organisations, the private sector and civil society. The group's work will affect the free flow of material on the Internet. Cuba, China, Iran, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, which are some of the world's most repressive countries of freedom of expression and Pakistan, Russia and Egypt, which also crack down on Internet activity, belong to the group.

Issue no. 324 - 21 November 2004

• EU - Challenges for Europe's Information Society beyond 2005 (RAPID)
  The European Commission's view of the challenges that a European Information Society strategy up to 2010 needs to address are set out in a Commission communication. This communication highlights the need to step up research and investment in information and communication technologies (ICT), and to promote their take-up throughout the economy. ICT should be more closely tailored to citizens' needs and expectations, to enable them to participate more readily in socially fulfilling and culturally creative virtual communities. The challenges include electronic inclusion and citizenship, content and services, public services, skills and work, ICT as a key industry sector, interoperability of ICT networks and applications, trust and dependability and ICT for business processes. This communication is the starting point of a reflection process that will lead to the adoption of a new strategy during 2005.

Issue no. 322 - 17 October 2004

• ITU debattiert über Internet-Regulierung und Spam (Heise)
  Beim World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA 04), der alle vier Jahre veranstalteten Konferenz zur Fortschreibung der Standardisierungsarbeit der International Telecommunication Union (ITU), stehen "Internet-Themen" prominent auf der Agenda. Beobachter berichten von Vorschlägen, der ITU eine gewichtigere Rolle bei der Aufsicht über die Länderdomain-Registries (ccTLDs) zu geben. Beim Thema Spam wird offenbar erwogen, mit der Konkurrenz Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) zu kooperieren und bilaterale Abkommen im Anti-Spam-Kampf zu einem Modell für einen multilateralen Vertrag für die ITU-Mitgliedsstaaten zu machen.

Issue no. 321 - 10 October 2004

• CA - Ottawa conference examines problems of regulating Internet (Ottawa Citizen)
  The Internet's Wild West days are over. What once was a bastion of free-thinking bloggers and mavericks who gave us downloadable music, is now becoming one of the most heavily regulated, and litigated, spaces on Earth, experts at an Ottawa conference on Internet law said.

• EU and US display unity on information society issues (EurActiv)
  At the annual EU-US information society meeting on September 17, both delegations stressed similar positions on most issues, including internet telephony (VoIP) and Digital Rights Management (DRM). The information society dialogue between the US and the European Commission has been ongoing for the past ten years. It allows exchange of information on regulatory issues and on respective positions adopted in the wider international context (World Trade Organisation, International Telecommunication Union).

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