[ALAC] ALAC statement on eG8

Wed May 25 14:36:07 UTC 2011

Hi Marc,

IMO the best explanation of the flaws in the eG8, IMO, comes from Corey
Doctorow:

*I was invited to the EG8 and declined. I believe it's a whitewash, an
> attempt to get people who care about the Internet to lend credibility to
> regimes that are in all-out war with the free, open net. On the other hand,
> I now have a dandy handwriting sample from Sarkozy should I ever need to
> establish a graphological baseline for narcissistic sociopathy.*

(http://www.boingboing.net/2011/05/17/fight-back-against-s.html)

I've been finding http://g8internet.com/ to be of interest.
I'm not sure how the participation of At-Large, in itself, would correct the
fundamental flaws in the very mission of this conference.

- Evan

On 24 May 2011 07:35, Marc Rotenberg <rotenberg at epic.org> wrote:

> Yes, I see that now.
>
> Still, it is not generally a good strategy to object to
> exclusion from a process without providing some
> concrete example of how the process would be better
> if we had participated.
>
> The program of the eG8 is deeply flawed, but we
> have not explained how.
>
> Regards,
>
> Marc.
>
>
> On May 24, 2011, at 5:36 AM, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond wrote:
>
> > Dear Mark,
> >
> > thank you for your kind note and suggested message to President Sarkozy
> and the eG8 organizers.
> >
> > Unfortunately, it is way too late to be making such extensive changes to
> the document at this stage. The original document has been on-line since May
> 20th and a call for comments was made then:
> >
> http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/pipermail/alac-announce/2011q2/000861.html
> >
> > Prior to the document being online, there was an open discussion on the
> NARALO & ALAC lists.
> >
> > So I'm really sorry but this time round, with the statement due to be
> sent to the eG8 organizers in a few hours and a French version of the
> statement being drafted, it is too late.
> >
> > Warm regards,
> >
> > Olivier
> >
> > On 24/05/2011 03:41, Marc Rotenberg wrote :
> >>
> >>
> >> I was not aware that this process was underway. While I support
> >> the sentiment, I believe a much stronger, less cryptic, document
> >> could be submitted.
> >>
> >> A draft is attached.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Marc Rotenberg.
> >>
> >> -------------------------
> >>
> >> Dear President Sarkozy and the organizers of The eG8,
> >>
> >>             We are writing to you to express our concern regarding the
> upcoming e-G8 Forum, “The Internet: Accelerating Growth.” We are members of
> civil society organizations and others actively engaged in the promotion of
> civil society viewpoints on the future of the Internet.
> >>
> >>             While we commend you for drawing attention to the importance
> of the Internet for the world’s leading economic countries, we are concerned
> that the program and policies under consideration at the eG8 reflect a
> narrow view of the interests of Internet users.
> >>
> >>             Specifically, we note that many industry CEOs have been
> invited to participate in the conference, but few NGO leaders received
> similar invitations. The outcome is predictable: an emphasis on new economic
> models and investment opportunities for the benefit of business. But the
> word “consumer” appears no where on the program agenda, nor does the word
> “user”; the panel on “privacy” includes not a single NGO. A quick count
> indicates that about 80% of the speakers are business leaders.
> >>
> >>              The system of Internet governance is based on a commitment
> to multi-stakeholder participation that reflects the views of the Internet
> community. Unfortunately, the eG8 is a top-heavy program that has left out
> the essential constituency of the Internet economy: the Internet user.
> >>
> >>
> >>              This “corporatization” of the Internet policy process does
> not bode well for the future of the Internet. It will lead to dangerous
> concentrations of power and unaccountable decisionmaking.
> >>
> >>             We urge future organizers of similar events to adopt a
> principle of “participation parity” --to ensure that civil society
> representatives appear in equal numbers to those of business representatives
> at international meetings of governments when the future of the Internet is
> discussed.
> >>
> >>             Democratic societies, in particular, should demand no less.
> >>
> >>             Respectfully,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On May 23, 2011, at 8:18 PM, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond wrote:
> >>
> >>> Dear members,
> >>>
> >>> a final version of the text which was originally drafted by Cintra
> >>> Sooknanan, and supported by many, thus turning it into a proposed ALAC
> >>> Statement on the eG8 Summit can be found on:
> >>>
> https://community.icann.org/display/alacpolicydev/ALAC+Statement+on+the+eG8+Forum
> >>>
> >>> The comment period for amendments to this text is now closed, but prior
> >>> to sending it, I wanted to answer a few questions which I have
> received,
> >>> and also asked myself over the week-end.
> >>>
> >>> - Who is this Statement going to be sent to?
> >>>
> >>> There have been several proposals. It is clear that writing a statement
> >>> for the sake of writing a statement and not sending it to anyone, would
> >>> be a waste of time. In order to have the widest dissemination, and
> after
> >>> enquiring, copies of this statement in English and in French will go to
> >>> the following:
> >>>
> >>> - The person in charge of electronic communication at the Elysée Palace
> >>> (who are the organizers of the eG8)
> >>> - The French GAC representatives
> >>> - The ICANN Board
> >>> - The ICANN CEO
> >>> - Agence France Presse, Le Monde Newspaper, the eG8 Forum Organising
> >>> Office (via an indirect vector)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> - Is this statement going to be ratified?
> >>>
> >>> Yes, this will be either ratified at the ALAC call on 24 May 2011 or in
> >>> a 5-day vote after sending the statement out. We shall decide this as a
> >>> group during the ALAC call. PLEASE READ IT BEFORE THE ALAC CALL ON 24
> >>> MAY 2011.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> - Why has this statement been drafted?
> >>>
> >>> The eG8 Forum is a direct result of the renewed interests that
> >>> Governments have regarding the Internet. However, looking at the eG8
> >>> Forum Agenda ( http://www.eg8forum.com/en/documents/EG8_Program.pdf ),
> >>> it is clear that the speaker list is far from reflecting the worldwide
> >>> Internet community as it exists today. Indeed, the speaker list is a
> >>> world away from being multi-stakeholder.
> >>> Several members of At-Large have voiced their opinion that the ALAC
> >>> should send a statement to complain to the organisers of the eG8 Forum.
> >>> Many other organisations around the world have already also written
> >>> emails, letter and petitions to complain about the lack of
> >>> multi-stakeholder participation. Rather than signing another
> >>> organisation's petition or public letter, it was decided to write our
> >>> own, targeted statement.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> - Isn't this outside the ALAC's realm of activity?
> >>>
> >>> That's a good question. The current ICANN bylaws define the ALAC's
> >>> function in Article XI, Section 2.4.a:
> >>>
> >>> "a. The role of the At-Large Advisory Committee ("ALAC") shall be to
> >>> consider and provide advice on the activities of ICANN, insofar as they
> >>> relate to the interests of individual Internet users."
> >>>
> >>> The eG8 conference organisers have sent invitations to attend the
> >>> conference as a participant to several individuals at ICANN, including
> >>> both ICANN's current CEO and Chairman. Clearly, ICANN's functions
> >>> constitute an essential part of the Internet infrastructure. Yet, ICANN
> >>> has not been given a speaking slot in a long line-up which is not short
> >>> of private sector speakers:
> >>> http://www.eg8forum.com/en/documents/EG8_Program.pdf
> >>>
> >>> As grassroots members of a bottom-up organisation, it is up to us, the
> >>> Internet's users, to show our support of the ICANN multi-stakeholder
> >>> model which affords us and all other stakeholders to have an equal
> input
> >>> into the way the ICANN functions are developed. Our advice, as sent to
> >>> the organisers of the eG8 conference, goes no further than supporting
> >>> the multi-stakeholder model which is a core ICANN activity.
> >>> This is a model that we need to defend through education and outreach.
> >>> The statement is a clear attempt at doing just that.
> >>>
> >>> Kind regards,
> >>>
> >>> Olivier
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhD
> >>> http://www.gih.com/ocl.html
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> ALAC mailing list
> >>> ALAC at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> >>> https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
> >>>
> >>> At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org
> >>> ALAC Working Wiki:
> https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Advisory+Committee+(ALAC)
> >>
> >
> > --
> > Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhD
> > http://www.gih.com/ocl.html
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

-- 
Evan Leibovitch, Toronto Canada
Em: evan at telly dot org
Sk: evanleibovitch
Tw: el56