Dealing with positive and negative externalities of the Internet as a global public resource

Published on 05 May 2015
Updated on 05 April 2024

[Update] Read the reports which summarise the panel discussions:

Panel 1: The Internet ‘an exceptional global public resource’
Panel 2: What aspects of the Internet can be considered global public resources?
Panel 3: Dealing with positive and negative externalities
Panel 4: Learning from other policy areas
Panel 5: Facilitating an integrated approach to digital issues
Concluding panel: From conference discussions to research project

[Update] Taking the project forward: Read the concept note on the Policy Research and Dialogue Project, published on 4 May
[Update] High-level speech by Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Dr Helena Dalli
[Update] View the conference photo gallery, and download the conference poster
[Update] Follow live tweets: #internetgpr
[Update] The conference in the media:

Read the article and watch the interview with Louis Pouzin, in Nobody thought of making Web secure, on The Times of Malta (read the article in pdf format);
Read: Muscat aims to position Malta as digital hub for small states in MaltaToday;
Watch: Diskussi l-isfidi etici u teknologici ta’ l-internet’ (Ethical and technological challenges of the Internet in discussion), on TVM
Press release: Internet conference, in The Times of Malta.

Conference announcement

While users, business, governments, and civil society have different roles in the development and use of the Internet, they share the common concern of preserving a functional and safe Internet as a global public resource. DiploFoundation, with support from the Government of Malta, is holding an international conference on The Internet as a Global Public Resource. The conference will take place in Malta, on 29-30 April 2015. The Malta conference will initiate a research and policy project aimed at discussing the future developments of the Internet as a global public resource.

The conference will take place on 29-30 April, at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta.

1. Context

The Internet is vital for the functioning of modern society. Much of the world’s current economic growth comes from the Internet (more than 20% in developed economies). The Internet is essential for delivery of many public goods: education, health protection, security, and democratic debates, to name a few.

Dealing with the Internet as a global public resource requires a mix of innovative policy solutions and well-tested approaches. The conference will capitalise both on Malta as a vibrant digital society, and its long tradition of promoting global public resources and related concepts (e.g. the common heritage of mankind).

2. Objectives

Initiate the research and policy project on the Internet as global public resource
Explore the technical, organisational, commercial, and societal aspects of the Internet that could be considered global public resources or related concepts (e.g. global commons, common heritage of mankind)
Identify the roles of different actors (government, business, civil society) in both promoting and protecting global public resources
Learn from the experience of global public resources in other policy areas (e.g. climate change, health, security) and ensure transversal cross-fertilisation
Explore ways to link the Internet as a global public resource with the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
Propose further research and policy dialogue on the Internet as a global public resource

3. Conference programme (draft)

(Last updated: 28 April 2015)

First Day (29 April 2015)

9:00‒9:30 9.30‒10.30	Registrations Official welcome by the Hon Dr George Vella, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta Introductory statements by Ms Megan Richards, Principal Adviser to the Director General of DG CONNECT, European Commission Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploFoundation & Head, Geneva Internet Platform
10.30‒11:00	Coffee break and group photo
11:00–12.30	What aspects of the Internet can be considered global public resources? Mr Louis Pouzin, computer communications pioneer and one of the fathers of the Internet (keynote address) Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malta Professor Joe Cannataci, Head, Department of Information Policy and Governance, University of Malta; Chair in European Information Policy and Technology Law, University of Groningen
12.30–14.00	Lunch break
14.00–15.30	How can we deal with the positive and negative externalities of the Internet as a global public resource? How can we ensure that privately owned Internet infrastructure (more than 90%) contributes to the Internet as global public resource? Mr Godfrey Vella, Digital Champion of Malta; Member of the Board of the Malta Communications Authority (moderator) Mr Nick Ashton-Hart, Executive Director, Internet & Digital Ecosystem Alliance (IDEA) Dr Richard Hill, President, Association for Proper Internet Governance
15.30‒16.00	Coffee break
16.00–17.30	What can Internet policy learn from other policy areas where the concept of a global public resource has been used (e.g. climate change, health)? Professor Beat Bürgenmeier, Professor Emeritus, University of Geneva Professor Lichia Saner-Yiu, Centre for Socio-Economic Development, Geneva Mr Jasper Schellekens, Internet Society Malta Chapter Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploFoundation; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (moderator)

Second Day (30 April 2015)

9.00–10.15	Digital policy operates in a cross-sectoral field; it cannot operate within niches. Many countries and international organisations face the challenge of addressing digital policy issues through a coordinated approach. In the next few years, Malta will play a highly important role in various global developments in which digital issues will feature prominently. The session will brainstorm ways and means on how Malta can facilitate an integrated approach to digital issues on both national and international levels. Hon Dr Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Mr Tony Sultana, Executive Chairman, Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) Mr Nigel Hickson, Vice-President, UN and IGO Engagement, ICANN Ms Lara Pace, Knowledge Exchange Manager, Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford Dr Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploFoundation; Head, Geneva Internet Platform (moderator)
10.15–10.45	High level address by the Hon Dr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta
10.45–11:30	Coffee break and networking
11.30‒12.30	Concluding session (summary and roadmap for future research)

19:30‒21:00 (Please note change in time)	Reception at San Anton Palace, hosted by H.E. The President of Malta Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca View the speakers’ bios.

4. Venue and accessibility

The conference will take place on 29-30 April, at the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta.

For international delegates: view more details about the venue and how to reach it by public transport or taxi; a list of hotels within walking distance is also available.