Saving Unity of the Internet (Interview with Jovan Kurbalija)

Diplo’s director Jovan Kurbalija provides a summary of the current challenges of Internet governance in an interview for Geneva-based Le Temps (Monday, 28th January). In the article Saving a unified Internet, he reflects on the outcome of the recent Dubai World Conference of International Communications (WCIT) and claims that ‘the polarisation that has occurred in Dubai with the formation of the two blocks is bad news for the Internet.’ He sees some signs of optimism for the future, including vital interest from all major players in preserving the Internet as open and integrated.

With every cyberborder, the USA is losing space for its Internet business and the promotion of soft power. At the same time, for BRIC countries, access to the global Internet is vital for socio-economic development. A possible global compromise in global Internet politics could be shaped by the EU, and Switzerland, Norway, and other like-minded countries. With 55% of Internet governance activities happening in Geneva (the result of a Diplo study), it is likely that Geneva will play a vital role in developing a future Interenet governance regime.

Full text of the article in Les Temps.

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