The Role of the Commonwealth in Cyberspace 30 October 2013 Emancipating, Enriching, Equalising and Empowering through the use of ICTs
May 20, 2015
The Role of the Commonwealth in Cyberspace
30 October 2013
Emancipating, Enriching, Equalising and Empowering through the use of ICTs
The Commonwealth
• 54 Member Countries • Nearly a third of the World’s population • Combined GDP over £5 trillion • Mobile subscriptions ranging from 5% to 185%,
with an average of 84% • Fixed telephone lines ranging from 0.3% to
60%, with an average of 18% • Internet usage ranging from 1% to 85%, with
an average of 28% • A thriving hub of technology innovations and
possibly the largest ICT market in the world
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The CTO
• Set up in 1901 • The oldest and the largest Commonwealth organisation in the field
of ICTs • support members in using ICTs to deliver effective development
interventions that enrich, empower, equalise and emancipate all peoples within the Commonwealth and beyond
• Traditional core activities • Research & consultancy • Capacity development & training • Events & conferences
• Cybergovernance and Cybersecurity are focus areas under the strategic plan of 2012-16
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Context
• Cyberspace generates enormous social and economic benefits
• Cyber population is growing – Improving connectivity – national and international – Broadband Commission & A4AI on promoting Broadband
• Meeting place of different people & cultures, views & approaches
• Requires fostering entrepreneurship and innovation while protecting freedom and liberty
• Where to strike the balance? • Multi jurisdictional - Both national and international
aspects - interlinked
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Cybergovernance conceptualised
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e-Bay - Community Action in Cybergovernance
• Population exceeded 100 million by end 2011 • Commercially driven community • Multi jurisdictional • Operates on the basis of voluntary compliance • Motivation - Need to belong
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Divergence
• Multistakeholder approach Vs. State-driven • Voluntary norms Vs Treaty based • Brought to sharp contrast at the World Conference on
International Telecommunications (WCIT) in December 2012 in Dubai
• Some concerns about the role of the State in Governing the Cyberspace through International Telecommunications Regulations.
• Disagreement over “resolving to instruct the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary steps for ITU to play an active and constructive role”
• Apparently so far 89 signatories out of 190 signatories
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Commonwealth in Cybergovernance
• Commonwealth has a role to play • Based on the Commonwealth Values agreed at the Singapore
CHOGM in 1971 and reaffirmed in Harare in 1991 • Detailed in the Commonwealth Charter of 2013
(http://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/page/documents/CharteroftheCommonwealth.pdf), particularly – respect for the protection and promotion of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
– commitment to remove disparities and unequal living standards as guided by internationally agreed development goals
– recognise the importance of ICTs as instruments of development ......... as well as for ........... sharing of cultures, while enhancing security.
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CTO’s approach to Cybergovernance
• Develop a set of principles • Based on Commonwealth principles • Arrived through consensus • Involving consultations of a range of stakeholders -
policy makers, regulators, ICT implementing agencies, CERTs etc
• Leveraging the strengths of developed countries to assist developing countries
• That may eventually expand beyond the Commonwealth
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CTO’s Principles of Cybergovernance
• Foster innovation, freedom and understanding • Contribute to economic development • Enable social interactions • Recognise legitimate economic, cultural and security
concerns of members • Promote multistakeholder partnerships • Facilitate Pan-Commonwealth consultations and
international linkages
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Progress – so far
• The first consultation of ICT policy makers and regulators was held on 9th and 10th October 2013 in Abuja, Nigeria
• Delegates from over 20 Commonwealth countries – decided that the CTO should take the lead in
developing the Commonwealth Cybergovernance Model
– committed to support the initiative Issued the Abuja Declaration
http://www.cto.int/focus-themes/cybersecurity/
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Next Steps
• A series of regional consultations • Starting with a Caribbean Ministerial
Consultation on 5th December 2013 in Jamaica in the margins of the Caribbean Telecommunication Union’s Ministerial meeting
• Culminating in the Commonwealth ICT Minister’s meeting at the Marlborough House in London on 3 – 4 March 2014 where the principles will be debated and, if thought fit, adopted.
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Aims & Objectives
• Create a standard all can subscribe to, resulting in better international cooperation and coordination
• Act as a beacon for non-Commonwealth countries
• Provide an assurance to countries that extend assistance that their aid is properly used
In order to make the Cyberspace a thriving, innovative and rewarding place
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How to get involved
• Take part in the consultations – when invited
• Join related activities – Cybersecurity Forum 2014 in London (5 – 7 March 2014)
• Participate in capacity building in Cyber-related subjects through CTO
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Lasantha De Alwis Director/Head of Operations Department
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation 94-66, Glenthorne Road, Hammersmith, UK
+44(0)208 600 3814 [email protected]
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