World Summit on the Information Society

World Summit on the Information Society was a pair of United Nations sponsored conferences held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2003 and in Tunis, Tunisia in 2005. The conferences were attended by representatives of Kofi Annan, International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and World Bank. The main goal of the summit was to address the issues related to the digital divide and to promote the use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development as envisioned by Millennium Development Goals. The summit was also supported by European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

● Introduction

The World Summit on the Information Society was a unique event that brought together representatives from United Nations Member States, International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and United Nations Children's Fund to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the information society. The summit was also attended by representatives from Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Intel Corporation, as well as by Nobel Prize winners such as Joseph Stiglitz and Amartya Sen. The summit was an initiative of the United Nations General Assembly and was supported by Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and Director-General of the International Telecommunication Union Yoshio Utsumi. The summit was also endorsed by European Commission, African Development Bank, and Asian Development Bank.

● History

The idea of holding a world summit on the information society was first proposed by the International Telecommunication Union in 1998, during the Ministerial Conference held in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The proposal was later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, and the Preparatory Committee was established to prepare for the summit. The Preparatory Committee was chaired by Janis Karklins of Latvia and included representatives from United States, China, India, Brazil, and European Union. The committee also received input from Civil Society, Private Sector, and Academia, including representatives from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Oxford.

● Objectives

The main objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society were to promote the use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development and to address the issues related to the digital divide. The summit also aimed to promote e-government, e-commerce, and e-education as well as to improve access to information and freedom of expression. The summit was also expected to promote cybersecurity and to address the issues related to intellectual property rights and privacy protection. The objectives of the summit were supported by World Intellectual Property Organization, International Chamber of Commerce, and Internet Society.

● Outcomes

The World Summit on the Information Society resulted in the adoption of the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action, which outlined the commitments of the United Nations Member States to promote the use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development. The summit also resulted in the establishment of the Internet Governance Forum and the United Nations Group on the Information Society. The outcomes of the summit were also endorsed by G8, G20, and OECD. The summit also led to the establishment of the Digital Solidarity Fund and the Information and Communication Technologies for Development program.

● Follow-up_and_Review

The follow-up and review of the World Summit on the Information Society was carried out by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the Internet Governance Forum. The review process also involved the participation of Civil Society, Private Sector, and Academia, including representatives from Stanford University, Columbia University, and University of Cambridge. The review process was also supported by European Parliament, African Union Commission, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat. The follow-up and review process led to the adoption of the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society and the Tunis Commitment, which outlined the further commitments of the United Nations Member States to promote the use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development.

● Criticisms_and_Challenges

The World Summit on the Information Society faced several criticisms and challenges, including the lack of representation from Civil Society and the Private Sector. The summit was also criticized for its failure to address the issues related to intellectual property rights and privacy protection. The summit was also challenged by the digital divide and the lack of access to information in some parts of the world. The criticisms and challenges were raised by representatives from Electronic Frontier Foundation, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International. The summit was also criticized by Richard Stallman and Lawrence Lessig, who argued that the summit did not do enough to promote free and open-source software and creative commons licenses. Despite these criticisms and challenges, the World Summit on the Information Society was considered a success by many, including Kofi Annan and Yoshio Utsumi, who argued that the summit had helped to promote the use of information and communication technologies for sustainable development and had raised awareness about the importance of access to information and freedom of expression.

Category:United Nations conferences