Internet Governance

"Internet governance" is a broad term used in many different contexts, applying to activities as diverse as coordination of technical standards, operation of critical infrastructure, development, regulation, and legislation, among others. Internet governance is not restricted to the activities of governments. Many different types of stakeholders have a role in defining and carrying out Internet governance activities and ISOC has always been an active leader in such discussions.
World attention turned to the concepts of Internet governance with the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005, and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which the United Nations created to continue the work of WSIS. While WSIS was convened within formal international protocols, the IGF is intended to bring together stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society to discuss Internet governance issues. IGF will consist of annual meetings between 2006 and 2010, with discussions on a range of important issues in the areas of ICTs, the Internet, and economic development.
The Internet Society has been fully engaged in the Internet governance debate since the very first discussion, as a firm advocate of multi-stakeholder, democratic, and transparent participation.