The NETmundial conference held in 2014 was a multi-stakeholder initiative seeking solutions based on collaboration for a distributed ecosystem of Internet governance.
Promoted by the Management Committee of the Internet in Brazil and ICANN, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, it sought to promote the Internet as a shared, neutral and global resource for human solidarity and economic progress.
It was not attempting to replace the current model of other organizations involved in the subject, but to complement the efforts of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and other existing organizations.
Among its principles, the recognition of human rights in the network (freedom of expression, freedom of association, privacy and accessibility), access to information and development are highlighted. It also sought the implementation of intermediary liability limitations, with the promotion of culture and linguistic diversity, in a unified and unfragmented space.
However, Netmundial also had its critics: ISOC (Internet Society) refused to participate in one meeting because it believed it was an attempt to concentrate the discussion on the management of the Internet, when ISOC was actively seeking the decentralization of this process. For ISOC, the time should have been spent concentrating efforts on the transition of the functions of IANA [the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority], and not creating another discussion platform about the governance of the network. We shall see what happens in the future and whether the plurality of discussion forums has the opposite effect to that desired (a free and secure Internet).
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
