The United Nations fourth annual ‘Internet Governance Forum’ will take place from 16-19 November 2009 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt. Internet is an ever more important part of EBU member’s services, and hence the EBU has played an active role in the IGF since its inception by the UN World Summit on the Information Society, five year’s ago. The IGF website will carry video coverage of the main sessions and audio coverage of some workshops. You may also want to check out David Wood's IGF blog.
| Internet regulation
The IGF was established to discuss the options, technologies, and needs for world-wide regulation of the Internet. The Internet has a world-wide structure, and thus needs worldwide regulation. This is very difficult to achieve – in fact the only world-wide regulation today is maritime law. Will it ever be possible for nations to agree regulations covering content, technology, or domain names? Though after four years there is a firm understanding of issues, so far progress to concrete proposals has not been rapid. Internet is such an important part of society and the media that efforts must be continued. |  |
Access services and child protection
This year the EBU is focussing on two specific issues – David Wood concentrates on access services for persons with disabilities (rules for web sites that can help those with disabilities) and Giacomo Mazzone concentrates on content protection for children. They will be working with BBC News Journalist, Jonathan Charles. These subjects will be the subject of a number of workshops in Sharm el Sheik.
Less US influence?
To learn the conclusions, follow the IGF blog here. One of the other hottest issues is likely to be the way ICANN, the 'central sorting office' for all Internet traffic based in California, is managed. There are calls for a worldwide management board, and for less influence by the US.