Status:
IGF Theme(s) for workshop: Managing Critical Internet Resources
Main theme question address by workshop: Q5:What new developments pose specific new policy and tech challenges? Q1:What impact security+governance have on Internet & HR?
Concise description of the proposed workshop:
The recent years have proven that the openness of Internet is a fundamental feature for the empowerment of citizens and the strengthening of democracies. The framing of Internet policy should be oriented towards this goal and the policies governing the Domain Name System are not a stranger to this debate.
On one hand, a human rights assessment on new ICANN policies could provide the community with means to better understand the impacts of the introduction of new policies in the ICANN environment, in addition to economic analyses. On the other, new regulation is being proposed in numerous countries using the DNS system as a resource to prevent or stop illicit activities. The fine balance between law enforcement and the protection of human rights, such as free speech and privacy, among others, is crucial for a number of new Internet regulations that affects the DNS.
For example there are tensions between the potential benefits of aggregating specific forms of content for communities of people to support their right to information, and the ease of DNS filtering to further censor or narrow the spaces for expression and information of already marginalised/discriminated against sections of society, for example, the introduction of dotgay.
Especially at ICANN, free speech concerns over the implementation of new generic top level domains and the traditional debate over privacy and the WHOIS highlights the need for a more concrete analysis on the impact on human rights on ICANN activities.
However, ICANN is not a human rights standard setting body yet is responsible for public policy making, although in a very narrow sphere. The role and responsibility of ICANN in relation to human rights needs further exploration and multi- stakeholder dialogue to better understand how to give effect to human rights related issues within ICANN.
The proposed workshop will provide a comprehensive analysis of internet policy topics handled by ICANN that have human rights implications and examine how these implications are paramount to the fostering of the public interest in internet policy.
Background Paper:
Name of the organiser(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups:
Joy Liddicoat / Valeria Betancourt - Association for Progressive Communications (APC) - Civil Society - WEOG/GRULAC
Carlos Affonso Souza - Center for Technology and Society at Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School (CTS/FGV) - Academia - GRULAC
Robin Gross - Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) - Civil Society - WEOG
Have you, or any of your co-organisers, organised an IGF workshop before?: Yes
Please provide link(s) to workshop(s) or report(s):
Human rights: a unifying approach for access, development and
diversity: http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=Workshops2011View&wspid=155
Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite:
Anriette Esterhuysen - Association for Progressive Communications (APC) - Civil Society - Africa - Confirmed
Robin Gross - Non Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) - Civil Society - WEOG - Invited
Bertrand de la Chapelle - ICANN Board - Private Sector - WEOG - Invited
Romulo Neves - ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee - Govt - GRULAC - Invited
Avri Doria - DotGay Application Advisory Group (dAAG) - Civil Society - WEOG - Confirmed
Name of Remote Moderator(s):