<div dir="auto">The term “Modern Slavery” is primarily used in the UK, and to a lesser extent in the EU. The Modern Slavery Act is UK law. As such, the term will sound odd and unfamiliar to UK or US ears. The focus and intent of a Modern Slavery Statement is to describe an entity’s efforts to tackle issues of forced labor, servitude, trafficking of workers and other similar labor abuses in the entities business and its supply chain (I.e., its vendors’ labor practices of this nature), typically including due diligence of its supply chain, policies for its suppliers and its procurement department, etc. Thus, a Modern Slavery Statement is reflective of efforts taken by the entity relative to its supply chain and labor practices — a statement without a project behind it would be useless, or worse, misleading.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The Modern Slavery Act doesn’t really extend to other human rights issues and a Modern Slavery Statement is not intended to be a catch-all for issues that do not fall into its relatively narrow focus.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">As previously noted, I would be quite surprised if ISOC falls into the scope of the Act, e.g., ISOC would have to have revenue from selling goods and services in the UK in excess of 36 million pounds. Even a voluntary statement (and underlying efforts) would only make sense if ISOC believed it was at high risk for labor abuse in its supply chain (e.g., because it was manufacturing clothing in areas where such abuses were prevalent).</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Even if ISOC wanted to deal with the larger issues of labor abuse and the Internet, I don’t think a Modern Slavery Statement would be the place to document it.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">(Just my 2 cents, as I am not providing legal advice nor am I qualified in the UK. That said, I do run into issues relating to the Modern Slavery Act in the course of my “day job,” so I have some familiarity with it.)</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Greg</div><div dir="auto"><br clear="all"><div dir="auto"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><br></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Mar 18, 2024 at 21:46 Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond via Chapter-delegates <<a href="mailto:chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org">chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p>Dear Vint,</p>
<p>Certainly! The impact of the internet on modern slavery is
a complex and multifaceted issue. </p>
<p>Here are some sources that delve into this topic:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/findings/spotlights/modern-slavery-on-social-media/" target="_blank">Modern Slavery on
Social Media | Walk Free</a></strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li>This report explores how social media facilitates
modern slavery.</li>
<li>It discusses recruitment, exploitation, and risks
associated with online anonymity.</li>
<li>Examples include deceptive job advertisements and
the use of platforms like TikTok for trafficking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><a href="https://trilateralresearch.com/research-highlights/using-technology-in-the-fight-against-human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery-challenges-with-tech-mediated-interventions" target="_blank">Using Technology
in the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Modern
Slavery</a></strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li>Discusses how technology intersects with human
trafficking and modern slavery.</li>
<li>Highlights the role of the internet in enabling
traffickers to reach wider audiences and bypass
geographical distances.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><a href="https://antitraffickingreview.org/index.php/atrjournal/article/view/442/352" target="_blank">Freeing the Modern
Slaves, One Click at a Time: Theorizing Human
Trafficking and Modern Slavery</a></strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li>Examines how the internet and smartphones contribute
to trafficking.</li>
</ul>
<p><br>
</p>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.antislavery.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FINE-Tune-project-internet_and_labour_trafficking.pdf" target="_blank"><b>The
Role of the Internet in Trafficking for Labour</b></a></li>
<ul>
<li>An older report examining the use of online job
recruitment, looking at case studies from several EU
Member States<br>
</li>
</ul>
</ol>
<p><br>
</p>
</div>
<div aria-hidden="true"></div>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
And then it can go further into how online criminals
snare vulnerable individuals into working for them in online schemes
- for this, the EUROPOL IOCTA reports are particularly interesting.
<a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/main-reports/iocta-report" target="_blank">https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/main-reports/iocta-report</a><br>
<br>
I hope this helps.<br>
Kindest regards,<br>
<br>
Olivier</div><div><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>On 18/03/2024 12:23, vinton cerf wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small">"The Internet
has an enormous impact on modern slavery and trafficking"</span><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small"><br>
</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small">please explain</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small"><br>
</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small">v</span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:#000000"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:small"><br>
</span></div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Mar 18, 2024 at
8:11 AM Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond <<a href="mailto:ocl@gih.com" target="_blank">ocl@gih.com</a>> wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div> It is a Charity that funds projects all around the
world. <br>
Of course, unlikely to be fully concerned with this. As I
said it's a voluntary thing. The Internet has an enormous
impact on modern slavery and trafficking. An estimated 50
million people are living in situations of modern slavery.
Compare this to 5-10 million under Roman Times and a peak of
10 million slaves in US slavery -- this is not a small,
fringe problem.<br>
<br>
As I said, it's a voluntary thing. Just like some
organisations have an explicit non-discrimination policy in
relation to gender as well as disability issues.<br>
Kindest regards,<br>
<br>
Olivier<br>
<br>
<div>On 18/03/2024 11:53, vinton cerf wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Olivier, I am
at a loss to understand what purpose would be served
by Internet Society having a modern slavery statement?
How does any form of slavery have a connection to the
Internet Society? Slavery seems pretty far outside the
ambit of the Society - what's the connection?</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,0)">v</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Mar 18, 2024
at 7:46 AM Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond via
Chapter-delegates <<a href="mailto:chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org" target="_blank">chapter-delegates@elists.isoc.org</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div> Dear Andrew,<br>
<br>
please find my comments inline:<br>
<br>
<div>On 16/03/2024 14:51, Andrew Sullivan via
Chapter-delegates wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">On Sat, Mar 16, 2024 at
12:41:35PM +0000, Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond wrote:
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">note that the link on <a href="https://www.internetsociety.org/about-internet-society/governance-policies/" target="_blank">https://www.internetsociety.org/about-internet-society/governance-policies/</a>
is wrong as it points to the Board and Officer
Code of Ethics. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Hmm, that seems to be an error. It's weird since
that's the page I used to get to it, so there's
something inconsistent somewhere. We'll fix,
thanks for catching this. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Thanks - that's fixed now.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote type="cite">Are there plans to make
the strategic plan public? <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Yes; as I said in my previous message, there is a
communications plan, already shared with the
board, for how this will be rolled out. Look for
more details in the coming weeks. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I fail to understand how there should be a
difference between what is presented to the Board of
Trustees and what is communicated to the general
public, unless there is a significant difference
between the two, which makes me really nervous.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote type="cite">What are your plans for
transparency in the way the Board operates? <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I don't understand what this question is about. I
should note, first of all, that _my_ plans for how
the board operates aren't terribly interesting,
since I don't get to make those rules. The
operation of the board is governed by our bylaws
and by the board policies, and those are all
determined by the board itself. But our board
meets in the open except when certain items need
to be handled in execitive session, its meetings
are recorded and published on the web, and so
forth. I am not entirely sure what it is you are
asking for. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
You are right. This is a matter of the Board Chair
and not CEO. I shall take this topic up with the
Board.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote type="cite">Most of the documents you
are referring to appear to point in the other
direction. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Again, I don't understand this, but I also think
that you may be addressing the wrong person. If
your concern is board policies, you really need to
take that up with the board. I think I have
suggested this point to you already within the
last month. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
Yes my apologies - I shall ask the Board. The
discussion has drifted outside your scope.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"> <br>
<blockquote type="cite">Incidentally, does the
Internet Society have a Modern Slavery
Statement? <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I am at a loss as to why we might, but perhaps you
could elucidate. <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I realise this is a mandatory UK thing but the UK is
also trying to propose this as "good practice", a
statement that alerts the Charity's interlocutors
that it is sensitive to this important topic.<br>
For more information, see: <a href="https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/running-a-charity/legal-requirements/modern-slavery-statements/" target="_blank">https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/running-a-charity/legal-requirements/modern-slavery-statements/</a><br>
<br>
Many organisations do this on a voluntary basis. I
propose that the Board of Trustees looks into this
and decides whether they'd be interested in
promoting good practice, especially given the
international dimension of the Internet Society.<br>
<br>
Kindest regards,<br>
<br>
Olivier<br>
</div>
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</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre cols="72">--
Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhD
<a href="http://www.gih.com/ocl.html" target="_blank">http://www.gih.com/ocl.html</a></pre>
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