Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on ‘Internet Rights, Accessibility, Regulation & Ethics’

Right to Internet for Right to information

“Internet can be instrumental to curb the media sensation”

Stated by socio-political activist Aruna Roy in the half-day national consultation on ‘Internet Rights, Accessibility, Regulation & Ethics’ on May 3, 2012 at New Delhi. The consultation programme was organized by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) and Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and supported by the Department of Electronics And Information Technology and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), Govt. of India.

The core aim of the dedicated half-day consultation programme was to discuss, deliberate and debate over the internet related concerns, covering the larger theme of internet and outlining India’s progress towards ‘Internet Access for All’, and specific areas of concern – right to information, internet & information access, internet governance, Internet regulation, content specifications, cyber law, and appropriate policy framework.

The consultation was an effort to encourage stakeholders to adopt relevant, appropriate and time bound measures to accelerate the availability, affordability and accessibility of the internet and address issues around it.

Inaugurated by Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and Member of National Advisory Council (NAC), Aruna Roy, the national consultation focused on three major aspects – right to internet, right to information and human rights. In her statement, Aruna Roy, recommended internet as a prominent tool to access right to information and urged,

“Internet should be channelized in such a way that governance issues to be addressed and regulatory ethics of internet also be maintained and information should also flow freely.”

Subho Ray, President, Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), recommended self regulatory system and urged to put all data or information online to avoid complexities of process for seeking information under RTI Act.

Whereas Founder Member of Association for Democratic Reforms, Prof. Jagdeep Chokkar, stated,

“Let’s spread the usage of internet and increase its reachability.”

Internet Rights, Regulation & Ethics and Internet Right as a Human Right were two major working sessions of the consultation. The first session of the consultation discussed the issues related to internet ethics, regulation, accessibility, affordability, right to information, human rights, content management, standards, etc. The second session, Internet Right as a Human Right, raised the question whether internet should be addressed as human right or not.

On the same occasion, DEF also released its UPR (Universal Periodic Review) in a form of booklet “Internet, Information & Empowerment”. Around 100 participants, including private stakeholders, government officials, civil society groups, and individuals attended the national consultation.

Along with APC (Association for Progressive Communications) DEF has decided to take this national consultation at the next level with a momentum of making “internet as a prominent tool to access RTI and information” nationally.

Organisers

Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), a New Delhi based not-for-profit organization, is working at grassroots of India to create economic and commercial viability using means of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Since its inception in December 2002,  DEF has engaged itself into number of activities while pursuing its mission and objectives of ICT delivery and promotion in India. One of its focus areas of intervention had been development, promotion, spread and usage of content for grassroots use and consumption.

Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is an international network of organizations that was founded in 1990 to provide communication infrastructure, including Internet-based applications, to groups and individuals who work for peace, human rights, protection of the environment, and sustainability.