You may be an expert in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) but with rapid growth and changing technology you never know what you would be lacking when it comes to Internet and THIS IS A REALITY!
As things are rapidly changing and ICT is taking its leap towards the next billion, technology and internet has changed so much that keeping it within one form or idea is completely illogical. From the daily commodity to human rights, people have their own definitions and interpretations.
“Technology and internet with better innovation, INTERNET is CHANGING lives and societies which is a reality.”
Though technology is taking its leap but still there are variations of internet laws, policies and standards. There is a huge gap and definitions in terms of adaption and adjustment of open standards which is creating problems of digital divide and net neutrality. In most of the developing countries, at individual level there is a lack of awareness of internet rights and principles whereas on the same people use the latest and smartest technology which is pushing them towards exploitation and manipulation. These manipulation characterizes in various ways of standard of quality, limitation in use, access, cost, frauds, crimes, bullying, discrimination etc.
Apart from this the current threat of Cyber terrorism and warfare is yet another problem that has created a bigger problem in context of understanding the new technology. On one hand there are people who have limitation of use and standards whereas on the other side of the world people have no barriers in context of use and values. This difference in perspective and concept has created a new ideology of how can technology be more controlled in creating a better management system. Though it may sound very facilitating but on the other side it also invites threats of privacy and surveillance which is unavoidable.
In a global perspective, if you look at the internet management and mechanism, in most developing and least developed countries there are problems of access and infrastructure and in some countries there are issues of awareness and concepts. These differences at individual level may not look big but at global level it creates huge gaps of technological barriers in terms of management and discrimination of rights.
As dynamic and collaborative as the internet, it functions in networks that integrate various fields and sectors. With such vast majority of applications and uses, the overall industry cannot be characterized in specific topics or issues as each region and nation has its own complexity in term of internet and its governance. Today’s internet is all about collaboration. If there are any gaps in between the internet ecosystem there would be problems of communication and management. The world of internet has accepted the concept of MULTISTAKHOLDERISM where every voice and stakeholder counts. In such scenario the gaps in between nation and at regional level creates greater problems of communication and governance.
Reality of today, Internet has been passed on to most of the developing countries and least developed countries without preparation where externalities are manipulating the situation. In most of these countries they lack the basic concept of internet core values which results in failing to create better picture in the large internet hemisphere.
Technological adaptation is happening so randomly where lack of standardization and open standards is creating barriers of digital divide and net neutrality and creating digital fragmentation at regional and national level.
From Internet of Things (IoT) to the smart technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the expectation and the growth of the new age technology has taken its toll over the limitation of policy and control mechanism. Technology has driven over the expectation of the definition and interpretation where it’s exceeding the expectation of its own growth and popularity. This overwhelming outburst of knowledge and development cannot be controlled with limitations, where policy, rules and regulation can be a factor to facilitate but not a factor to control or to regulate.
Internet of todays is not popular or famous because it was developed for development or developed within developed country but it is popular and famous because it lobbies the main idea of openness and freedom. It spreads within the vast majority of people who thrive among the great distance crossing borders, culture and religion. Its acceptance to the human world is the great example of human evolution process that has never stopped and always moved on with the quest of building and find the new innovation for the best.
With the growth in information technology there is a great need to spread the awareness about the internet governance process. The way technology is adopting people is the way how technology should be applied and adapted in terms of policy and other mechanism. Technology is for the people and people should use it for development process for the benefit of humanity
In such course of action, spreading the awareness of open standards and internet core values there are various school of internet governance established.
In such aspiration of creating a better Internet in Asia Pacific, the Asian School of Internet Governance has been established. The school is the brain child of Prof. Dr Kilnam Chon who is called the father of internet in Asia. The APSIG2016 was held in Asian institute of Technology in Thailand from September 11 to 14. It had 38 participants from 20 countries including 3 guests. The school also offers 10 classes including Role Play Class and Hot Topic Session.
I participated as a civil society candidate and contributed to the brainstorming session and collaborated in creating a better understanding of internet governance perspective of the Asia Pacific region. Coming down from a least developed country and voicing issues of internet rights and principle is not just very overwhelming but at times it tests your skills and endurance. I think School of Internet Governance (SIG) is not just an eye opener for refreshing the knowledge buds to update with the new development but is good platform to share your knowledge and capacity.
The main objective of the APSIG is to train new generation leaders and to create a collaborative platform of knowledge sharing and networking of opinions in all aspects related with Internet Governance from an Asia Pacific perspective
Importance of SIG
- Awareness of internet governance and collaborative issues
- Creating global platform of knowledge sharing
- Developing effective communication of issues and problems
- Promoting open standards
The APSIG 2016 was a support by various technology organization like Google, Internet society, ICANN and APTLD
I personally believe that capacity building and awareness program like these should be a priority of every nation and should have a national school of internet governance in every country. I think the time has come when people have to be given the basic core values of internet where people should have the right to tell the world what they want. Democracy of today doesn’t give the right to forecast control and surveillance but it focuses in growth and development listening and catering the voice of the public.
One world internet, one value humanity and one voice equality
