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WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/5-E
7.
For developing an understanding of governance issues, the WGIG found it
useful to review the different phases of the Internet’s development, from a
research project in the 1960s to a widespread commercial infrastructure with
close to 1 billion Internet users connected in 2004. This historical lens was useful
to identify guiding principles and factors that have enabled or contributed to the
Internet’s successful development, including the open and decentralized nature of
its architecture and the underlying technological development of its core
standards, as well as the management of names and numbers.
II.
Working definition of Internet governance
8.
While there is a common understanding of the Internet, there is not yet a
shared view of Internet governance, hence the mandate from the WSIS for the
WGIG to develop a working definition of Internet governance. During the 10
years in which the Internet evolved from a research and academic facility into “a
global facility available to the public”,
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very different points of view emerged
about the scope and mechanisms of Internet governance.
9.
The WGIG first considered five criteria, namely that the working definition
should be adequate, generalizable, descriptive, concise and process-oriented.
Second, the WGIG analysed a wide range of public-sector, private-sector and
multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms that currently exist with respect to
different Internet issues and functions. Finally, the WGIG assessed a number of
alternative definitions proposed by various parties in the course of the WSIS
process and related international discussions.
10.
Taking into account the criteria, analysis and proposals mentioned above, as
well as the larger debate among stakeholders involved in WSIS, WGIG and the
broader Internet community, the WGIG provides the following working
definition:
Internet governance is the development and application by Governments,
the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared
principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that
shape the evolution and use of the Internet.
11.
This working definition reinforces the concept of inclusiveness of
Governments, the private sector and civil society in the mechanisms of Internet
governance. This working definition also acknowledges that with respect to
specific issues of Internet governance each group will have different interests,
roles and participation, which in some cases will overlap.
12.
It should be made clear, however, that Internet governance includes more
than Internet names and addresses, issues dealt with by the Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN): it also includes other significant
public policy issues, such as critical Internet resources, the security and safety of
the Internet, and developmental aspects and issues pertaining to the use of the
Internet.
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WSIS Declaration of Principles, para. 48 (WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/0004).
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