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 l.dealwis@cto.int

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