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Wednesday, September 3 • 11:00am - 12:30pm
WS31: Internet Governance: a case for variable geometry? [CB]

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The multi‐stakeholder model has been an important factor for the success of the Internet. However it is necessary to recognize that the Internet governance dynamics have changed. The new dynamics among stakeholders is associated with an overall increase of complexity and differentiation and suggests that it is increasingly difficult for one single governance regime to address the broad range of concerns associated with today’s Internet. What is needed is to allow for a better match between discrete governance issues and the suitable institutions available.
The panel addresses this situation by advancing an innovative model. It asks whether it is feasible to consider an evolution of the current system to allow for a better interplay among the different actors of the governance process towards a multi‐stakeholder model with variable geometry.

While all stakeholders need to participate in the multi-stakeholder model on equal footing when different governance issues and institutions are envisaged and discussed, then in the implementation of the governance process one stakeholder or a coalition of stakeholders (variable geometry) could take the lead according to the nature of the governance issue at stake: e.g. standards (the private sector), Internet issues relevant to particular communities (civil society), human rights (government).
The variable geometry approach has been discussed in the WTO negotiations to take into account differences among countries participating in the agreement (for instance developing countries) and to reduce the perennial tension between depth and width of the treaties.
The workshop will explore what can be learnt from these experiences for the Internet governance context.

Moderators
MR

Megan Richards

Principal Adviser in DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
Megan Richards is Principal Adviser in DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CONNECT) of the European Commission. She has a bachelor of science, bachelor of laws and master of public administration degrees. She has worked for the United Nations Development Programme... Read More →

Speakers
GB

Giovanni Battista Amendola

VP, Head of Relations with International Authorities, Telecom Italia
Giovanni Battista Amendola is Vice President, Head of Relations with International Authorities at Telecom Italia. He is responsible for Telecom Italia’s regulatory and competition policies at the European and international level. He is also responsible for the regulatory and antitrust... Read More →
MB

Mira Burri

Mira Burri is a senior research fellow at the World Trade Institute and a lecturer in law at the University of Bern. She convenes and teaches the course 'International Law of Contemporary Media', and co-teaches 'International Trade Regulation' and 'International Intellectual Property... Read More →
OC

Olga Cavalli

Adviser for technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Argentina
Olga Cavalli is an ICT and Internet specialist with large experience in project management, market research, competitive analysis, public policy and regulations. Since 2007 Ms. Cavalli is a member of the United Nations Secretary General´s Advisory group for the Internet Governance... Read More →
SC

Sally Costerton

Sr. Advisor to President, GSE, ICANN
Sally leads Stakeholder Engagement globally. She is one of Europe's most experienced communications consultants and has worked with large international companies for the past twenty years helping them to improve their relationships with their stakeholders. For the past six years she... Read More →
AP

Antonio Preto

Commissioner, AGCOM
Antonio Preto is Commissioner of AGCOM – the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority – since 2012. Prior to joining AGCOM, he  worked in the EU institutions for more than 20 years. He has been the Head of Cabinet of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Advisor for... Read More →
NQ

Nii Quaynor

Nii Quaynor pioneered Internet development and expansion throughout Africa for nearly two decades, establishing some of Africa's first Internet connections and helping set up key organizations, including the African Network Operators Group. He also was the founding chairman of AFRINIC... Read More →
CY

Christopher Yoo

Christopher S Yoo is the John H. Chestnut Professor of Law, Communication, and Computer & Information Science and the Founding Director of the Center for Technology, Innovation and Competition at the University of Pennsylvania. He has emerged as a leading authority on law and technology... Read More →

Remote Moderators

Wednesday September 3, 2014 11:00am - 12:30pm EEST
Workshop Room 06 (Rumeli Mezzanine / Hisar)

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