US Promotes Multilateral System Of Internet Governance In Geneva

Betty King, United States Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, has declared US support for a multilateral system of internet governance and an open internet.

The statement comes at a time when the US government is coming under international scrutiny for its unilateral actions online to take down websites found infringing intellectual property rights and other crimes.

King made the remarks at a 20 May event at the US mission. The press release and her remarks are available here.

For Intellectual Property Watch articles on this issue, please see here.

The programme of the mission event included:

Program

1400: Welcome Remarks

• Ambassador Betty King, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva

• Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google.

1415 – 1530: Panel 1 – Internet Governance and the Open Internet

• Moderator: Marilyn Cade, IGF USA

• How the Internet Works from a Policymakers Perspective
Patrik Falstrom, Distinguished Consulting Engineer, CISCO

• The Case for Multistakeholder Governance
Jovan Kurbalija, Founding Director, Diplo Foundation

• National ICT Strategy Development: A Developing Country Perspective
Alice Wanjira-Munyua, Chair of the Organizing Committee,
2011 Nairobi Internet Governance Forum

Question and Answer

1530 – 1600: Coffee Break

1600 – 1730: Panel II – The Link between Internet Innovation and Economic Competitiveness

• Moderator: Douglas Griffiths, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Mission Geneva

• The Economic Argument For An Open Internet
Stefan Krawczyk, Sr. Director and Counsel Government Relations Europe, eBay

• Snapshot of Networked Readiness In The World
Jennifer Blanke, Lead Economist, Director and Head of the Center for Global Competitiveness and Performance, World Economic Forum

• National ICT Policy and Regulation and Internet Sector Development.
Speaker To Be Determined

Question and Answer

1730: Closing Remarks