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Hi, everyone! <br>
<br>
As a chapter leader (ISOC-Bulgaria chair of the Board) I read the
2022 ISOC <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.internetsociety.org/action-plan/2022/">Action
Plan</a> (also attached to this message), and I saw some
interesting topics covered, but was surprised to see a lot of
important, at least for our chapter, issues missing. <br>
<br>
To start with what <b>is</b> mentioned: the Plan recognizes that
the we, the chapter leaders are "a key to building local
communities that thrive", and states that ISOC will support them
"with training, networking opportunities, and fundamental knowledge
about Internet Society projects to ensure they have the tools they
need to build local solutions to global Internet challenges." ISOC
also promises that in 2022 it will "train 500 chapter members on
topics fundamental" to its mission. <br>
<br>
I am not sure what ISOC means by the assumption that we are
"building local communities", but it's a good thing that ISOC plans
to train our members, though 500 is not that much (ISOC Bulgaria
alone has 121 members), so I hope the training will reach many more
chapter members! <br>
<br>
What is <b>not</b> in the Action Plan are some items, which are
quite important for ISOC - Bulgaria, and I believe as well as for
other chapters, which are engaged in making sure that the
multistakeholder model of Internet governance is preserved and
improved, including by providing experts and expertise in the
national dialogues, discussing how to keep the Internet open,
democratic, interoperable, etc. <br>
<br>
One would expect to see some ISOC concrete plans in the section
about Strengthening the Internet (page 7), but there's nothing about
the possibilities for ISOC to engage either directly with the United
Nations, the ITU and other UN agencies, where member states are
discussing different ways of changing the multistakeholder model of
Internet governance (MSM) to a multilateral one, or indirectly -
with the help of the chapters through the governmental delegations
to these intergovernmental organizations. <br>
<br>
However, there is a section called "Shaping Legal Precedent in
Alignment with Our Mission", where ISOC states that "As an expert
voice for a bigger, stronger Internet, the Internet Society is
positioned to offer subject-matter and technical expertise to
courts." Further ISOC tell us that "In 2022, the initiative will
start by identifying up to six important, precedential cases and
controversies, then we will pursue two by filing briefs at
appropriate U.S. courts of law." <br>
<br>
It is not a surprise that ISOC, which is based in the US, would
engage in such actions, but there's not a word about engaging with
issues, relating to actions (including court cases) at the European
Union level. As we all know from the GDPR experience, some of the
decisions, taken at the EU level have the potential to touch upon
the Internet around the world. ISOC has changed the level of
engagement with the EU in the last year*, and the lack of any
mentioning of the EU in such an important document says a lot. <br>
<br>
In 2022 there will be a number of major intergovernmental
conferences, which will be discussing, among other issues, topics,
directly related to the Internet. <br>
<br>
There is nothing about them in the Action Plan. <br>
<br>
One can wonder why there are some unnamed "six court cases" in the
USA, but not a single mentioning of the ITU World Telecommunication
Standardization Assembly, or the ITU Plenipotentiary conference, for
example. Both of these conferences will be discussing issues that
are quite close to ISOC's mission. At the United Nations there will
be several processes, discussing cybersecurity and drafting of a
new, UN Cybercrime Convention, but the Action Plan doesn't mention
anything about ISOC engaging, although it's an ITU Sector Member,
and has a consultative status to ECOSOC. All these conferences have
the potential to cause changes in the Internet for decades to come,
and we have seen statements by member states in that respect.<br>
<br>
We have raised these issues in the past; we have seen publications
in the mainstream media** about the potential threat to the MSM, and
given what is coming in 2022, it's strange that the Action Plan
doesn't mention any planned actions by ISOC with regards to this. <br>
<br>
Strengthening the Internet does not happen only in the US court
rooms, but weakening it might happen at many intergovernmental
organizations and EU courts, and would have been good to see that
ISOC Action Plan recognizes that. <br>
<br>
Now, if ISOC has any plans to do that, but they are not listed in
the Action Plan, does that mean they are not important enough? I
doubt it, given that the intention to engage in concrete number of
legal cases in the USA made it into the Action Plan, but would be
quite happy if that's just an omission, and we are informed about
possible actions, which are not there. <br>
<br>
And finally, in the beginning of the document ISOC states:<br>
<br>
"The actions we take now are critical.<br>
<br>
The Internet Society’s Action Plan 2022 provides a roadmap to keep
the Internet a resource for everyone, everywhere.<br>
<br>
For decades to come."<br>
<br>
Does it?<br>
<br>
<br>
______<br>
* - Currently the head of EU relations at ISOC is with a title of
"director for European Government and Regulatory Affairs", but
before David took that job, the position was "regional
vice-president"; currently there are such regional VPs for North
America, Middle East, Africa, LAC, Asia-Pacific, but not for Europe.
<br>
<br>
** - If folks are interested, send me an email and I will gladly
share a list of some of these publications. <br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Best regards,
Veni
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.veni.com">https://www.veni.com</a>
pgp:5BA1366E <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:veni@veni.com">veni@veni.com</a>
The opinions expressed above are those of the
author, not of any organizations, associated
with or related to him in any given way. </pre>
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