Page History

...

FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE ENDORSED BY THE ATLAS II PARTICIPANTS

This is the final draft:

Thematic Group 3: The User Perspective

Three key issues were discussed by Thematic Group 3.

Issue 1: The place of Internet End-users in Internet Governance

Recommendation

The end-user is distinct from civil society and should be considered a distinct component of the multistakeholder model as referred to in the NETmundial Multistakeholder Statement.

We consider that using the term ‘end-user’ implies a more active role than consumer. For example, an end-user may be a producer as well as a user of content but is usually at the end of the business chain. Importantly, human rights principles inherent to end-users (for example, Council of Europe Guide to Internet Rights and Principles) must be included.

Issue 2: Growth of Internet end-users in both Emerged and Emerging Economies

Recognition that end-user growth depends on a range of needs to a greater or lesser extent in all Economies.

Recommendations:

• Support universal Internet access
  • availability
  • affordability
  • improved bandwidth
  • accessibility for disadvantaged people (including people with disabilities)
  • metrics for measuring access and infrastructure to ensure high service quality
•  Increased focus on education - digital literacy and empowerment
  • Support programs that teach digital literacy to all sectors of the end-user community and where relevant, how to build, maintain, and operate computers and other hardware
  • Public campaign to enhance knowledge of using the Internet as a tool for education, information and creativity
• Establishment of end-user digital rights
  • Advocate these rights with local governments
  • Use current best practice and existing legislative models (e.g. Council of Europe Guide to Internet User Rights) to implement relevant legislation
  • Contribute to and encourage awareness and empowerment for citizens of their rights
• Re-establish trust in the Internet
• Ensure that individuals or organizations use secure, efficient, easy to use interoperable identity credentials
• Creation of local substantial content beyond infotainment
• Ensure access to valid information and knowledge to everyone
• Empower and support end-users to take part in policy development
• Strive for compatibility between user rights and the terms of service of private companies serving the Internet community
• Demand the effective implementation throughout the world of user rights to privacy and truthful information including the right for private information about an individual to be removed from servers or database
• In full respect to human rights, communications must be protected from arbitrary and unlawful surveillance activities, collection, treatment, handling and use of personal data in full respect.

All these aspects are linked for end-users to benefit from the Internet.

Issue 3: Methods for Internet end-users to collaborate in the development of regulatory frameworks and policies so that our interests are included

Recommendations

• Make known at all levels the demands, expectations, and rights of all Internet users
• Promote digital inclusion
• Demand openness and transparency of each country’s ccTLD operator
• Increase support for the end-user in ICANN policy development and within the broader Internet community
• Ensure minimal barriers to participation and engagement with ICANN processes and practices
• Input the user perspective wherever necessary, in matters advancing accountability, transparency and policy development within ICANN
• Require web standards such as XML and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for use on websites with the active participation of the impacted community

End-user representatives worldwide have a duty to inform, engage with, and seek to influence decision-makers at all levels (elected  representatives, national and regional authority, influential organisations, NGOs, individuals, media...)

 The final draft version to be endorsed by the ATLAS II participants will be placed here.

FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED

...

 The first draft submitted will be placed here.