FINAL VERSION TO BE SUBMITTED IF RATIFIED
The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote.
FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC
The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.
ALAC Statement on the ICANN Middle East and Adjoining Countries 2016-2019 Strategy
While we support ICANN’s Middle East and Adjoining Countries 2016-2019 Strategy, we feel that it does not address the existing political environment as it does not adequately account for the outsize role that national governments play in national life. Governments in the Middle East are concerned about the Internet as a matter of domestic order based on their perception of its catalytic role in the Arab Spring. Moreover, since the Arab Spring we are seeing states tightening controls across all Internet related industries and activities. There is also a sense that many if not most Middle Eastern governments prefer the multilateral forum of the ITU over multistakeholder venues such as ICANN where they can express their authority without the necessity of consulting with other sectors.
Therefore, while the strategy successfully identifies and proposes initiatives to involve all key stakeholders, it does not take the necessary preliminary step of a concerted diplomatic outreach campaign by ICANN to each and every national government in the region. Without their acceptance, the successful outcome of all of outreach strategies outlined within the report are in jeopardy and indeed are likely to fail as stakeholders may be unwilling and fearful of participating in activities which may draw official attention. The ALAC recommends that concrete steps be taken for ICANN to implement a concerted outreach campaign to each government in the region, with bilateral discussions to convince governments of ICANN's willingness to work in partnership. This should be carefully timed and coordinated to precede efforts involving other stakeholders.
Additionally, we suggest a greater emphasis on academia in the region. Cultivating credentialed local expertise is an important step towards building trust with governments which rely on them for advice on technical issues. Faculty at universities enjoy a level of trust and are frequently called upon to support policymakers’ decisions.
FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED
The first draft submitted will be placed here before the call for comments begins.
ALAC Statement on the ICANN Middle East and Adjoining Countries 2016-2019 Strategy
While we support ICANN’s Middle East and Adjoining Countries 2016-2019 Strategy, we feel that it does not address the existing political environment as it does not adequately account for the outsize role that national governments play in national life. Governments in the Middle East are concerned about the Internet as a matter of domestic order based on their perception of its catalytic role in the Arab Spring. Moreover, since the Arab Spring we are seeing states tightening controls across all Internet related industries and activities. There is also a sense that many if not most Middle Eastern governments prefer the multilateral forum of the ITU over multistakeholder venues such as ICANN where they can express their authority without the necessity of consulting with other sectors.
Therefore, while the strategy successfully identifies and proposes initiatives to involve all key stakeholders, it does not take the necessary preliminary step of a concerted diplomatic outreach campaign by ICANN to each and every national government in the region. Without their acceptance, the successful outcome of all of outreach strategies outlined within the report are in jeopardy and indeed are likely to fail as stakeholders may be unwilling and fearful of participating in activities which may draw official attention.
Additionally, we suggest a greater emphasis on academia in the region. Cultivating credentialed local expertise is an important step towards building trust with governments which rely on them for advice on technical issues. Faculty at universities enjoy a level of trust and are frequently called upon to support policymakers’ decisions.
9 Comments
Olivier Crepin-Leblond
I like the Statement but the paragraph about action that should be taken by ICANN is not explicit enough:
Therefore, while the strategy successfully identifies and proposes initiatives to involve all key stakeholders, it does not take the necessary preliminary step of a concerted diplomatic outreach campaign by ICANN to each and every national government in the region. Without their acceptance, the successful outcome of all of outreach strategies outlined within the report are in jeopardy and indeed are likely to fail as stakeholders may be unwilling and fearful of participating in activities which may draw official attention. The ALAC recommends that concrete steps be taken for ICANN to implement a concerted diplomatic outreach campaign to each government in the region, with bilateral discussions to convince governments of ICANN's willingness to work in partnership. This should be carefully timed and coordinated to coincide with efforts involving other stakeholders.
John Laprise
I like Olivier's addition but should replace "coincide with" with "precede".
Leon Sanchez
While I agree that outreach and engagement is of the essence in order to properly carry out the regional strategy, I would suggest we do not use the word "Diplomatic Outreach" as it could be interpreted as the ALAC suggesting that ICANN do something that's clearly out of its mission.
I suggest instead we say that the ALAC recommends that the GSE department doubles their efforts in reaching out and engaging with all stakeholders but mainly with governments in order to create awareness of the importance of their respective roles for the internet ecosystem.
John Laprise
I disagree. Engaging with and getting buy-in from governments in the region is a necessary precondition for the success of the outlined strategy. I did strike "diplomatic" from the text though as the point about scope is well taken.
Olivier Crepin-Leblond
Diplomatic work with governments is also carried out by ICANN's government engagement department, namely Tarek Kamel in this part of the world.
Harold Arcos
I think it's important to recognize that both are realities of ICANN's corporate life. The direct relationship with governments and at the same time no to be perceived as a coordinating entity for international political influence as in fact are other organisms of the ITU ecosystem.
I agree to be more explicit in the recommendation and at the same time use the keywords of our bylaws to emphasize consistency with ICANN purpose.
I propose the incorporation of our criteria as ALAC within our recommendation. In whose name do we give our advice? In search of which result that benefits the end user?
Then, e.g. "In the name of the interest of the Privacy of the Personal Data, another and another concept, of the End Users and in search of protecting the information considered as part of the private life, the ALACs recommends ,,,,," In this way we would always have opportunity to make clear the consistency with our bylaws and the political criteria, with capital P, for which we make the recommendation. At present we use a similar formula but can be diffuse or confused so I propose to strengthen the formula Criterion + Objective Expected + Recommendation.
John Laprise
The strategy itself already has much of that incorporated into it. These are merely comments upon the strategy.
Alan Greenberg
I must admit I am uneasy about the general statement about Arab Spring and "tightening controls". It could be implied that ICANN has something to do with content, as that is generally about what the tightened controls impact.
John Laprise
I empathize with your uneasiness but the impact of the Arab Spring on the thinking of MENA states is undeniable. The critique we are offering is about the focus of ICANN's outreach strategy which emphasizes that ICANN does not have content control. Getting reluctant governments to begin having a conversation is a required first step to enable broader outreach. If governments acknowledge ICANN positively or neutrally, it signals to civil society a certain degree of acceptance and enables the outreach strategy.
It's a pre-requisite.