WSIS rifts over ICANN, digital divide & free speech issues linger

[Chris Chiu]

Various groups that are planning to participate in the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society remain deeply split over several key issues. One flashpoint is whether the Internet domain name system should be managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers rather than the United Nations. There are also serious disagreements over whether to create a "digital solidarity fund" (rather than a mere "digital solidarity agenda") to help bridge the digital divide, and whether the right to free speech should be incorporated in the summit declaration. The first phase of the WSIS will take place in Geneva on December 10-12 2003. 

See
http://www.internetdemocracyproject.org/#highlights

Sincerely,
Christopher Chiu
Technology Policy Analyst
American Civil Liberties Union