[At-Large] [governance] Fall ICANN meeting in Cairo - Rights discussion off the agenda ... ?

[Robert Guerra]

John:

well - my opinion differs. No need to forward the message, i'll so  
myself.

Correct me if i'm wrong, has anyone @ ALAC mentioned that  issues of  
freedom of  expression, censorship and internet freedom ARE of concern  
to ICANN.  All i have heard so far - is that the issue is best dealt  
with elsewhere, or that it is not "within the scope" or "mission" of  
ALAC and/or ICANN.



regards

Robert



On 26-May-08, at 6:14 PM, John Levine wrote:

>> Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) published a public statement
>> the other day in which he and other congressional representatives  
>> seem
>> to indicate that ICANN promotes free speech principles. However  
>> recent
>> comments by members of the ICANN at-large advisory committee as well
>> as members of  ICANN staff seem to indicate that issues of freedom of
>> expression, censorship and internet freedom is NOT of concern to  
>> ICANN.
>
> Hi, Robert.  Any objections if I forward this gross misrepresentation
> of the discussion on the ALAC list back to the ALAC?
>



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
>