Coming back to the Internet Governance Forum that took place in Athens, I am checking out the workshop reports (not much time to observe the actual transcripts) and I am sensing a couple of patterns emerging. The first one is the not the only the awareness of the problems arising and their gravity, but also a generally nervous approach at tackling them. Surely the documents are conservative and general in nature without imposing any urgency on the issues covered. What is most striking however is the fact that organizations, companies and other policy making bodies, strive to achieve changes in the way the internet operates and self-regulates itself, neglecting however the novelties it has introduced in our lifestyles and how these could be used to that goal.
For example in the proposals made there is no mention of direct public domain participation in the decision making process; of course popularism is a double-edged sword whose effectiveness is clearly determined by the level of knowledge and the equilibrium of opinions, but still. Communication and expression mechanisms such as discussion groups, mailing lists, blogs, web, p2p networks, offer direct and fast response of opinion exchange and discussion where the internet users, ranging from novice to professionals, can testify their experiences, beliefs and even wishes for the way 'things should be done around here'. Of course there is an obvious obstacle to such a (direct and romantic) approach, since no one will be around to speak on behalf of the vast majority of the world, who guess what, will not have the opportunity to participate.
Many will argue that loitering our time over as to how accessible the internet is to the physically challenged or as to which extent pornography should be allowed, is ridiculous and even provoking compared to the most frustrating problem of them all: internet accessibility and provision to the international masses. Let's not kid ourselves. So far, the average internet user is in his 30's or something like that, highly educated and possibly highly paid, and he is most definitely white Caucasian or Asian(1). Although the numbers are promising with respect to the increases, the gap between the developed and developing countries as well as the income and education bias in accessibility is still huge and illustrative of the unfortunate reality: the digital revolution failed. Or at least is still not leaving up to its potential. In let's say 10 years of existence (in fact it is more) the internet has drawn in approximately 1 billion users, frequent or infrequent, and many feel that is a satisfactory figure especially keeping in mind that it increases. Yet if we were to pose the question, 'Which is more powerful, the phone or the internet?'' the vast majority would agree on the latter, but vastly more people use the first (2). Nonetheless, both the social and national gaps are terrifying, even more if we contemplate the 'head start' effect.
Of course the internet is not everything nor the world, just a part of it, albeit useful; it is rightfully argued that there are more important issues concerning the developing countries ranging from access to potable water, AIDS, poverty and child labour. And here is where we come full circle. One of the rhetorical questions posed in the IGF, was whether a telephone line (and consequently the internet) can deliver water to a village. Well, I believe it can.
Instead of using the internet as yet another barrier and obstacle between people, further increasing our distances and inequalities, we, the users, frequent or less frequent should take advantage of the opportunities thrown at us towards creating bridges and social interventions. We can increase awareness towards the issues that matter to us (whether it may be Brittney's new boyfriend or drug regulation), discuss, ask, monitor and even intervene, but always demanding our need for further expansion of netwrok and participation from parties that are yet unknown to us. If the internet is great with 1 billion people, imagine how it can be with 6 billion. I know all this sound (or reads...) pompous and political, but it is in reality a matter of opinion and choice. Do we care? Do I care? Do you care? Do we really care? Then let's participate (3).
1.The problem (thankfully) is not racial at all; I am just trying to make a point.
2. Here I should commend Greece's prime minister encouragement for more initiatives like that of the 100$ computer at his inaugural speech at IGF.
3.You do not have to be an activist in order to be critical or creative.
P.S. 1 Being rubbish is something I excel at.
P.S. 2 A final notice: In the same way that illegal download of music boosts interest and awareness and effectively increases profits, the new internet is going to be the world itself; forget chat rooms, welcome cafés, forget online games, welcome football pitches, forget blogs, welcome (back) notepads, forget Skype, welcome cheap airline tickets (I wish...).
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