by Bram Fudzulani
Internet,
and the technologies that enable it, allow people of every nationality, race,
faith, and point of view to communicate, cooperate, and prosper like never
before. Today, an Africa company can do business anywhere in the world with an
internet connection, supporting countless jobs and opportunities for the African
people. A mother in rural Africa can sell agro products to a family in America
through an internet connection, advancing broader economic development. Every
day, internet plays an increasingly important role in enhancing the lives of
people around the world.
All of
this has been possible because of the multistakeholder approach to the way in
which the Internet is governed. An
approach that includes contributions to the governance process from civil
society, private sector, governments and others. As the Internet continues to
grow and evolve, governments like other players in this multistakeholder
approach have an important role to play in helping facilitate access to the
Internet for their people. And if governments play their critical role in the internet
governance it can spearhead the sustainable development within communities,
citizens can be empowered to hold their governments responsible through the use
of the internet.
Government
can for example lobby for better prices on internet to allow more people
connected to the internet and it can also play its role in making sure that
internet is not taxed especially in poor countries where internet gets to be
taxed. It’s only when governments compliment such activities that allow its
citizens access to the internet by allowing a conducive business atmosphere
within countries. We cannot talk about internet empowering sustainable
development when citizens are being denied these very same basic services due
to bad laws and bad policies influenced by governments and these can only be
addressed at government level. Therefore it’s no longer a question of whether
internet can bring about economic change anymore but on how government can play
its role in the internet governance to empower sustainable development.
On the
other hand the internet was developed and deployed outside the sphere of
government influence, with the academic and technical communities playing the
leading role, and if these communities play their respective critical roles
which can also ensure sustainable development.
With the
technical community ensuring continued development of new standards and
protocols which are critical internet resources, these have functioned well
over the past years before governments did not interface with their core
functions and this must continue if we’re to truly have sustainable development
among nations.
But when
it comes to developing solutions to matters such as economic development, cyber
security, and the Internet’s technical management, these problems are most
effectively addressed by the multistakeholder community. Which brings together
all players and if there’s no monopoly in a true bottom up process on internet
governance without discrimination of the region or race but only taking into
consideration all voices can ensure and promote the development of sustainable
both socially and economically.
It is only
through a fair distribution of internet resources to everyone without
discrimination of gender, race, faith or nationality that can also ensure that
all citizens across the globe are empowered. In short internet governance which
upholds to these norms of ensuring a multistakeholder approach towards internet
and its resources can effectively empower sustainable development to everyone
and all.
In conclusion
empowering sustainable development through internet governance is possible when
all players in the internet governance process take play their leading roles
without interfering with others. And if only if everyone is treated equally
without bias of their region or continent.
