Written by Katrina Cassar for JEF on internet governance
Ah, the internet: the invention that changed our lives, revolutionised communication and gave us access to mountains of data at our very fingertips.
What is Internet Governance?
Although you’re probably familiar with the internet, the term ‘Internet Governance’ might not necessarily ring a bell. Internet Governance is the development and application of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programs that shape the evolution and use of the internet.
There are various approaches to Internet Governance. One such approach is that of multistakeholderism. Complex problems could be more efficiently tackled by drawing on diverse expertise and involving different stakeholders in the decision-making process. A multistakeholder framework allows for the involvement of governments, the private sector, civil society, and citizens in said process. This approach is one that aligns with JEF’s values as it promotes subsidiarity and participation.
Goal of Internet Governance
An important underlying goal of Internet Governance is that of protecting fundamental rights online. One such right is online freedom of expression. Nowadays, various parts of the internet can be considered a public forum. Today, someone without access to the internet will have little to no idea of the current events and goings-on of the world around us. Nor would they be able to reach out and make their voices heard to the voters and constituents of society. And so, an important question is put forward: is barring access to such sites a violation of freedom of expression?
Case Study
One particularly interesting case study is that of Knight v. Trump. This was a lawsuit brought forward by a group of Twitter users blocked by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal @realDonaldTrump account. They alleged that this account constituted a public forum, and that blocking access to it is a violation of their First Amendment rights. The court ruled that the Twitter account was a presidential account as opposed to a personal account, and that blocking people from it violates their rights to participate in a designated public forum. After this ruling, the 7 Twitter users that were a part of the lawsuit were unblocked.
The right to information
Furthermore, the right to information is one worth mentioning. This right is being challenged by a principle known as content curation. Content curation algorithms gather information relevant to a particular internet user, and show them the content that the algorithm considers to be of interest to that user. This is a particularly dangerous practice as it creates an echo-chamber of content. It harms democratic principles such as pluralism and diversity, and narrows the access to information.
There are a number of digital rights that have been challenged mostly in the past year and a half due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The right to disconnect is a proposed human right regarding the ability of people to disconnect from work and not to engage in work-related electronic communications such as e-mails or messages during non-work hours. The concept of working from home has blurred the lines regarding when work “ends”. In fact, Portugal has recently brought in new laws which ban employers from contacting their employees outside of working hours.
Personal Experience
As a student myself, I remember that in the early stages of Covid when both students and teachers were struggling with the transition to online learning, I was receiving school-related e-mails all day every day, even as late as 10 o’clock at night. When the new scholastic year began, administration made it a point to inform lecturers not to send us any e-mails past 5pm, which is the end of the school day.
In order to disconnect, one must be able to connect in the first place. Some might argue that internet access should be categorized as a privilege rather than a right, however, accessing the internet has become integral to human life in this day and age. Moving classes online has increased inequalities for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have limited or no access to a stable internet connection or to a computer. Even before Covid, the United Nations declared access to the internet a human right, and condemned any efforts to hinder people from getting online.
Of course, with rights come responsibilities, and sometimes that means regulation. Several proposals have been announced by the European Commission in order to regulate digital giants and companies. For example, the Digital Services Act will enact new legislation regarding illegal content, transparent advertising and disinformation. Furthermore, the Digital Markets Act intends to ensure a higher degree of competition in the European digital markets by preventing large companies from abusing their market power and allowing new players to enter the market.
In short, there are various approaches to Internet Governance, and some approaches benefit certain parties more than others. It is for this reason that we must find a compromise that works for everyone, respecting the rights of users and regulating tech giants accordingly.
Event Details
Join us on Saturday the 27th November at AX The Palace Hotel to discuss Internet Governance and its importance in the ever-changing digital sphere we are living in. Explore what youths’ role is in Internet Governance as well as the relationship between internet governance and democracy. Don’t forget to register using this link: https://forms.gle/L5nkcHHVyksxejxv6
This event is funded by the Council of Europe, the European Youth Foundation, and co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union.
For further article published by JEF click Here!
