Internet Governance

Recent developments

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a multi-stakeholder discussion on internet public policy issues, is a key outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The Forum is being held annually over a five year period from 2006.

Background

The working definition of internet governance developed by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 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 program that shape the evolution and use of the Internet'.

Internet governance encompasses a wide range of issues including enabling environments, technical standards, internet content, multi-lingualisation (ie. the use of non-Roman scripts in domain name system), intellectual propriety, e-commerce, spam, e-security, cybercrime as well as the management of critical internet resources such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, domain names, internet protocols and parameters, and the root server system.

Reflecting the multi-stakeholder involvement (e.g. industry, users, governments, academia and others) in the development and growth of the Internet, there are a range of organisations that have a role in international Internet governance. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering, plays a key role in oversight of the critical internet resources and acts as a forum for stakeholder discussion in this area.

The Department's International Branch handles the overarching issue of the international framework for internet governance. The Department handles international and domestic issues relating to the day-to-day governance of the internet, including Australia 's participation in the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) to the ICANN.

With the increasingly pervasive use of the internet, governments have become increasingly interested in internet governance which was a central issue during the 2001–05 WSIS process.

The Department closely monitors post-WSIS developments on internet governance, particularly the process of ‘enhanced cooperation' and the IGF, and participates where appropriate. If you would like further information or would like to provide your views on these matters, please contact us by email at international.mail@dcita.gov.au.

• Document ID: 25180 |
• Last modified: 5 February 2008, 7:09pm