WSIS: thus far - and needs to be so much further
Prepcom3 of the World Summit on the Information Society has now closed in Geneva. See the link above to official documents produced, together with the excellent updates and commentary from The Register (see eg http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/30/eu_net_governance/).
These reveal that, as might have been anticipated, much has been achieved at a political level - but when the detail of what is to be done and who is to pay is considered, it all gets that bit harder. Sections of documents which are agreed seem wildly promising, with recognition of the need for involvement from governments, civil society and the private sector, and for there to be equitable access to and sharing in the benefits of the information society.
However, the number of sections which have not been agreed, square brackets, the exclusion/inclusion on a random basis of civil society and the private sector, and the fact that it is highly unlikely that there will be a further Prepcom before Tunis in November mean that conflict between solutions and basic approaches is likely to continue.
The principles arising from Geneva 2003 were highly encouraging - but the reality of Prepcoms a reminder that while the very existence of the WSIS is a step in the right direction, the road ahead is long.
These reveal that, as might have been anticipated, much has been achieved at a political level - but when the detail of what is to be done and who is to pay is considered, it all gets that bit harder. Sections of documents which are agreed seem wildly promising, with recognition of the need for involvement from governments, civil society and the private sector, and for there to be equitable access to and sharing in the benefits of the information society.
However, the number of sections which have not been agreed, square brackets, the exclusion/inclusion on a random basis of civil society and the private sector, and the fact that it is highly unlikely that there will be a further Prepcom before Tunis in November mean that conflict between solutions and basic approaches is likely to continue.
The principles arising from Geneva 2003 were highly encouraging - but the reality of Prepcoms a reminder that while the very existence of the WSIS is a step in the right direction, the road ahead is long.
posted by Dr Abbe Brown at 9:55 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home