The UK is likely to lead discussions on internet
security as part of an international debate on the future of the
internet.
However, UK delegates will also address access, diversity,
openness, and critical internet resources at the
Internet Governance Forum
meeting in
Rio de
Janeiro this week.
Emily Taylor, director of legal and policy matters for Nominet,
the domain registry for .uk internet addresses and an advisory
board member for the IGF, said the talks are aimed at developing
consensus about the future direction of the internet as it becomes
more and more part of everyday life.
She said the very design of the net means that no one is in
control of it. That meant partnerships and consensus are needed to
address issues such as cross-border legal jurisdiction and user
profiling based on their use of the internet. "It would be wrong to
manage it centrally," she said.
A preparatory meeting last month attracted more than 100
delegates from all sectors, including parliament and government.
Government representatives included the Department for Business,
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which has nominal jurisdiction
for internet matters in the UK.
Top of their agenda were security and best practices. Taylor
said the security discussion was in two parts one is how to protect
consumers online in terms of identity and safety, the other is how
to work with law enforcement.
"Privacy is a cross-cutting issue," she said. "It does not have
its own space (at the Rio discussions) but I expect it will be part
of most of the talks."
Taylor said Nominet had helped sponsor
a
competition of best practices on the net for security, access,
openness, diversity. She planned to take these forward to Rio for
discussion and possible adoption by others. The winners were
announced last month.
Bath-based Netcraft won the security prize for a free,
downloadable anti-phishing toolbar. Computer Aid International won
the access award for its work to distribute refurbished computers
to developing countries.
Child-Net took the diversity award for its Know IT All (KIA), a
multi-media interactive learning resource for parents to equip them
in getting the most out of the Internet and keeping their children
safe online. mySociety, which builds websites that aim to improve
communications between citizens and the public sector, took the
openness award.