An overview of the four main principles of the cybergovernance model adopted by Commonwealth ICT Ministers in early March 2014, and a brief discussion of some of the commitments associated with each of the principles.
On 3—4 March, ICT Ministers from 35 Commonwealth countries adopted a “cybergovernance model” that should guide national policy development on the Internet in the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations. The model, which was drafted by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Union, comprises the following four principles:
- Principle One: “We contribute to a safe and an effective global Cyberspace”
- Principle Two: “Our actions in Cyberspace support broader economic and social development”
- Principle Three: “We act individually and collectively to tackle cybercrime”
- Principle Four: “We each exercise our rights and meet our responsibilities in Cyberspace”
In this post, we provide an overview of the four principles and discuss some issues, specific to Caribbean, emerging from the commitments made that may be of concern or merit further consideration.
Contributing to a safer and effective cyberspace
This principle emphasises multi-stakeholder collaboration across both the public and private sectors, along with facilitating transparency, investment as needed, standardisation, and universal access to the Internety. Interestingly, network (net) neutrality has also been included, “by providing sufficient neutrality of the network as a provider of information services” (Source: CTO). However, based on our article, Why should you be concerned about the new net neutrality ruling, the United States might be moving towards abandoning net neutrality, which would affect how this requirement will still be fostered in an interoperable and cohesive network that is the Internet.
Using cyberspace to support broader economic and social development
As this principle suggests, Commonwealth countries will seek to use the Internet to foster their countries’ own economic and social development. Ways in which it will be implemented include the following:
- enabling innovation and sustainable development…
- respecting cultural and linguistic diversity…
- promoting cross-border delivery of services and free flow of labour in a multi-lateral trading system
- providing everyone with information that promotes and protects their rights and is relevant to their interests, for example to support transparent and accountable government.
(Source: CTO)
To varying degrees most countries around the world, and in the Caribbean specifically, have come to appreciate the importance of the Internet as a crucial driver of economic and social development. However, whilst much of the focus in the region has been on innovation, technology and the availability of telecoms services, limited attention is being paid to transparency and access to information.
To be fair, some Caribbean governments have established access to information legislation, which for the most part permits information to be released, barring confidentiality and national security exceptions, when requested. However, the concept of Open Data, for example – which could be considered a more proactive approach in making information public available – has not yet been truly adopted.
Tackling cybercrime both individually and collectively
The Commonwealth’s posture on cybercrime is topical and expected in light of current pervasiveness of such incidents and the devastating consequences when they are successful. The types of commitments given under this principle focus on three key areas: cooperation and collaboration; laws and standards; and national security.
Hence in principle, the commitments support the establishment of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) or CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) – two elements that are being encouraged in the Caribbean. IXPs are generally considered a fundamental component in protecting critical national infrastructure, whilst CERTs/CSIRTs foster collaboration and information sharing on network security threats and incidents among the individuals and agencies involved.
It is also important to highlight that effective tackling of cybercrime nationally will require some degree of transparency and accountability by governments in order to share pertinent information and to establish effective structures for collaboration, as per some of the stated commitments. Currently and in the Caribbean, there are few published reports on cybercrimes and network security breaches that have been experienced by government ministries and agencies. Hence governments’ traditional attitude and approach would need to be adjusted in order to position their countries to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experience that is available.
Exercising our rights and meeting our responsibilities in cyberspace
This final principle appears to underpin all of the previous principles, as it speaks to (among other things):
- the fact that the Internet is a shared environment for which responsible behaviour is required, and protection for the vulnerable is necessary
- human rights, freedom of expression and privacy must be defended, and
- intellectual property and user ownership of information, and ability to generate commercial value from that ownership, must be protected.
Though the commitments stated under this principle are welcomed, it will be interesting how exactly they might be implemented or realised in the Caribbean. Currently, the region truly has not made Internet Governance (IG) a priority. Yes, the Caribbean IG Framework is managed and regularly updated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, and a draft Regional Digital Development Strategy was prepared by CARICOM, but the extent to which they are used by the countries is unclear. Additionally, there are a number of international organisations addressing various elements of IG, of which Caribbean countries are members, but few participate on a regular and consistent basis.
Now that the meeting has been adjourned, what happens next?
In summary, the cybergovernance model has captured many of the general principles that are shaping the Internet and how countries use the medium. However, as a model that will guide national policy development in Commonwealth member countries, it is unclear how effective it will be, or the extent to which it will actually influence the policies that are implemented. Moreover, the meeting of ICT Ministers is a biennial event, i.e. occurring every two years, hence the grouping might be limited in the degree to which it can monitor and support policy development among its members.
Finally, in the Caribbean, March signals the end of the financial year in many countries. However, it also means that budgets and initiatives for the 2014/15 financial year would be close to confirmation, and may include already-approved Internet or IG-related initiatives. It therefore means that the influence of the Commonwealth model might not be evident until the 2015/16 financial year, as countries might be more inclined to use 2014/15 to conceptualise and prepare new projects based on the principles and commitments agreed.
Image credit: flagdatabase
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