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Civil Society Statement To the E-G8 and G8
jrepin writes "The signatories of this statement are representatives of civil society from around the world working towards the promotion of Internet freedom, digital rights, and open communication. The French Presidency of the G8 is holding a G8 internet meeting -- the eG8 Forum -- immediately before the G8 Summit in Deauville, with a view to shaping the agenda of the G8 Summit regarding key global internet policy. This meeting is significant because this is the first year that the internet's role in society and the economy is explicitly on the G8 agenda. We believe that G8 Member States should use the e-G8 meeting as an opportunity to publicly commit to expanding internet access for all, combating digital censorship and surveillance, limiting online intermediary liability, and upholding principles of net neutrality."
Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing thinks this conference is an attempt to push Sarkozy's agenda to control the Internet.
What does the first sentence have to do with the story about eG8? Is there a direct cause/effect, is the G8 recognizing it in some sort of way, or is this story exploiting the eG8 story for self-promotion?
The eG8 story is significant, but let's not all sing Kumbaya just yet. The context is "freedom", but the content is money. The Internet is the new economic revolution. While the context of the industrial revolution may have been unions and labor law, the content for them would be how to cash in.
What is even more significant is the idea of moving the entire G8 to an Internet meeting through an undisclosed service. And before you cheer that Anonymous would take the place of the physical protesters, it would more than likely be hosted through a private VPN service to locations around the world.
What I would like to see, though, is a good portion of the meeting transmitted online. If they truly believe in access and against censorship, then they can at least post portions online and allow for responses.
I8-D
>>>Contrary to current best practices in policymaking, the invite list has been limited primarily to representatives of government and corporate leaders, who already enjoy disproportionately large influence over Internet regulation.
The signatories of this statement represent most of the groups that wade waist-deep into politics to promote the free and open web. They keep banging on the door, but they don't get a seat at the table. Many of these are the same groups that tried to change the ACTA treaty. As civil society members, they will always be pushing for greater transparency, better access, a more ethical approach. That's their role.
They're right of course that if business leaders (Around 1,500 guests in all says the Guardian article) get access, the third leg of society, civic leaders, should also have a place. However, no one will just open the door and let them in. They need clout to earn a seat, and they're having trouble building it up. They need charismatic leaders, or need to be able to influence blocks of voters. Right now, they have no standing on any political stage, let alone in a summit meeting like this.
He's constantly poking his nose into different things which are none of his business. With abysmal results as well.
Just couple months ago he dragged us into this Libya thing. Before that was global banking regs (did not go well either.) Even before that he "negotiated" with Russia during Georgian war - and Putin basically had him to fuck off.
Could French finally have this clown stop?
The bankers have all been rounded up and put in jail? The 2.5 wars are over? The Japanese nuclear genie is back in the bottle? Bankruptcy has been averted in the EU? The Global Elite have stopped raping women?
No. But my ability to point this out is going to be taken away.
Nothing good will come out of this. G8 meetings aren't about consumer rights. Or if they are ... enjoy them while you still have them.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
You don't get it.
The G8 are not there to accept your discussion about internet freedom, they are there specifically to destroy it.
They are extremely freaked out about what happened when a single man lit himself on fire and the social networks ended up focusing an entire regional uprising, that continues till this day in Libya, Egypt..etc.
They want the internet stopped, they want it destroyed, they want it controlled.
If your document has any suggestions on how to do this, they will listen.
If not, you are a terrorist.
-Hack
Got Geometrodynamics? Awe, too hard to figure out? Too bad.