Fall ICANN meeting - Censorship issues..

[Robert Guerra]

Dear NCUC colleagues:

I am forwarding a message (see below) I posted earlier this week to
the At-large (ALAC) list regarding the fall ICANN meeting in Egypt.
Specifically, questions to ICANN staff regarding what - if any efforts
will be undertaken to ensure 1. that the meeting will be open to those
who wish to attend and 2. that the internet at the meeting will be
open and uncensored.

As some of you might know - countries in the MENA region.. including
Egypt ... actively censor the internet and arrest those who have even
the minor disagreement with govt authorities. An open internet, one
that makes it possible for people to communicate and share ideas in an
uncensored fashion - is  a  KEY concern to "internet users" in the
region.

With a well known and active blogging community, i believe that it
will would in the interest of both at-large and NCUC to make sure that
the key issue of "freedom of the internet" be highlighted at the fall
egypt meeting.  To not do so, in my opinion - is to not take seriously
what it means to engage, consult and promote "regional user input".

Though in theory at-large is supposed to represent "users", I don't
think they will care enough to raise the issue. Perhaps i'm mistaken,
but i highly doubt it.. I would - thus, like to add this issue to the
items to discuss at the NCUC meeting in paris.

Should there be an interest for NCUC to organize one or more
activities on "internet freedom" before or during the iCANN fall
meeting - then please, count me in.



regards

Robert


Begin forwarded message:

> From: Robert Guerra <lists at privaterra.info>
> Date: May 13, 2008 8:51:39 AM GMT-04:00
> To: Khaled KOUBAA <khaled.koubaa at gmail.com>
> Cc: At-Large Worldwide <alac at atlarge-lists.icann.org>, NA Discuss <na-discuss at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> >, icann-list at sorehands.com, aheineman at ntia.doc.gov,
> mike at palage.com, Paul Twomey <twomey at icann.org>, carlton.samuels at uwimona.edu.jm
> , Jeff Neuman <Jeff.Neuman at neustar.us>, Beau Brendler <Brenbe at consumer.org
> >, CWallace at cygnacom.com
> Subject: Re: [At-Large] Middle East & North Africa Outreach
>
> Khaled:
>
> First, thanks for your comments.
>
> My original email was to assess, if ICANN/At-Large staff had
> undertaken any efforts or is planning any such efforts to involve
> and engage internet users from the middle east and/or north african
> region for the upcoming fall public meeting in Egypt. I am well
> aware of the geopolitical issues of the region - indeed they are
> complex. However, it is a region with a growing and vibrant online
> community of bloggers and internet governance specialists.
>
> Through my involvement and engagement with Diplo Foundation, Global
> Voices, and many other organizations that I advise - I have a great
> deal of contact with people in the region who are  active  on the
> internet . They are experts in internet governance, journalists,
> bloggers and yes, even user groups. In essence, they are active
> internet users that happy to know the fall ICANN meeting will be in
> their part of the world and seem to be keen to learn more, be active
> in the meeting and share their perspective on key issues that affect
> the region such as IDN, Multi-lingual internet, DNS security, etc.
>
> As you may know, one of the big issues discussed  among bloggers and
> other users from the region is - of course - internet censorship and
> other restrictions imposed by governments such as Tunisia, Egypt,
> Syria and others. Reports from the Open Net Initiative, Global
> Voices Online and others speak in dire terms about how internet
> users are censored, blocked, arrested or worse.
>
> http://del.icio.us/internetfreedom/egypt
> http://del.icio.us/internetfreedom/syria
> http://opennet.net/
> http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/
>
> As such - a question to ICANN staff and upper management - who do
> seem to be cc'd on the message... Can the organization guarantee
> that the meeting will have open and unfiltered access to the
> internet, and be open to  all internet users from the region who
> wish to attend.
>
>
> regards
>
> Robert Guerra
>