The recent G8 summit in Deauville, France, resulted in signing by G8 of the Deauville Declaration. The document focused on development of the Internet, protection of users’ personal data, intellectual property issues, and security.
The Internet and issues of its development became a core motif of the G8 summit in Deauville, along with such global issues as catastrophe in Japan, democratic solution to political challenges and situation in Libya. This year, on the eve of the G8 summit a special e-G8 Forum was held, which got together all major Internet stakeholders. At the Forum, Russia was represented by SUP, Yota, Mail.Ru and Coordination Center for TLD RU. At the Forum, participants jointly developed a list of recommendations regarding critical issues of Internet’s development and subsequently submitted it for the G8 review.
The Deauville Declaration, which formed the G8 Summit outcome –– clearly evidences that the recommendations developed by the e-G8 Forum were an instrumental contribution to the G8 debates. “In Deauville in 2011, for the first time at Leaders' level, we agreed, in the presence of some leaders of Internet economy, on a number of key principles, including freedom, respect for privacy and intellectual property, multi-stakeholder governance, cyber-security, and protection from crime, that underpin a strong and flourishing Internet, » - states the Declaration.
It is paramount that the Summit supported current Internet policy: “Openness, transparency and freedom of the Internet have been key to its development and success. These principles, together with those of non-discrimination and fair competition, must continue to be an essential force behind its development, », states the document. It is worth noting that the G8 governments are against arbitrary or indiscriminate censorship of the Internet: «Arbitrary or indiscriminate censorship or restrictions on access to the Internet are inconsistent with States' international obligations and are clearly unacceptable. Furthermore, they impede economic and social growth, » - believe the Summit participants. Such approach will help protect the Internet from disintegration and maintain the integrity of the Internet.
According to the G8, the focus should be made on protection of intellectual property: “With regard to the protection of intellectual property, in particular copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and patents, we recognize the need to have national laws and frameworks for improved enforcement,» - states the Declaration.
The Summit participants also believe that users should be aware of consequences of posting confidential information, - for example, on social media and other similar services, - and call on all stakeholders, users to providers to services owners, to pay a special attention to personal data protection.
The issue of protection against cybercrime formed an important part of the debate. The G8 members specify in the Declaration that issues of national and global security may fall prey to cybercrime activities: “The fact that the Internet can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of peace and security, and may adversely affect the integrity of critical systems, remains a matter of concern.” In this regard, the Summit participants consider it necessary to develop some set of Internet rules: the Declaration maintains that, “Governments have a role to play, informed by a full range of stakeholders, in helping to develop norms of behaviour and common approaches in the use of cyberspace.»
The G8 members voiced their positive attitude towards the multi-stakeholder Internet governance model involving a broad participation of all the stakeholders. However, they believe governments have a key role to play in this model.
The unabridged text of the G8 Deauville Declaration in English is available on the G20-G8’s homepage.
