The Internet Society Expresses Concern About Cybersecurity Legislation Currently Under Consideration in the USA

After plans in the USA for the legislative projects of a Stop Online Piracy Act – SOPA and a Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement – ACTA – had been given up in view of widespread – also international – criticism, a Cyber_Intelligence_Sharing_and_Protection_Act – CISPA – is now under consideration, introduced in the US House of Representatives as by Mike Rogers (Republican) on 30 November 2011. It is reported that President Obama has stated that the bill lacks confidentiality and civil liberties’ safeguards, and he may veto it.

The – international – Internet Society took up these plans. We had reported about ISOC’s earlier responses issued here (19.1.2012) with the words of Leslie Daigle, chief internet technology officer of the Internet Society:
Beyond SOPA: Why ‘Easy’ Solutions Don’t Stop Net Crime

CISPA has received positive comments and support from certain industries, such as Microsoft, Facebook, and the Chamber of Commerce of the USA, that see it as an effective handle against cyber threats. But CISPA has also been criticized by advocates of internet privacy and civil liberties, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation – EFF, and the American Civil Liberties Union. They argue that CISPA is not clear about the limits and legal regulations how and when the government may supervise private individual’s internet use. Such powers could be used to monitor the general public rather than to focus on criminal acts.

And there is now a new Statement about CISPA, issued by ISOC on 7.5.2012, reprinted down here.

It is taken up because obviously whatever happens in the USA in Internet affairs, in most cases has also an impact on the rest of the communicating world, either directly by way of exercising some influence on the flow of information, or indirectly by being taken as an example for legislative action in other countries.

It is interesting that the Microsoft company has changed its position: Originally (30.11.2011) they supported CISPA: “This bill is an important first step towards addressing significant problems in cyber security.”

More recently, Microsoft’s position has changed, they want to: ”ensure the final legislation helps to tackle the real threat of cybercrime while protecting consumer privacy.”

Therefore, the expression of concern by the international Internet Society is also of concern for its Chapters. The following is the text of the original statement:

The Internet Society (ISOC) is concerned about cybersecurity legislation currently under consideration in the United States. The proposed Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) was passed last week by the House of Representatives and cybersecurity legislation may go to the Senate floor this month. CISPA aims to provide more effective channels of communication across different federal agencies and private entities in relation to online threats.

The Internet Society expresses its hope that the U.S. Senate will address privacy considerations and protect citizens’ rights and civil liberties in any future cybersecurity legislation.

(Source)

201205 – Monthly Letter from the President

Dear Members of the Cambodia Chapter of the Internet Society,


from time to time I get the question: “Why is there an Internet Society, and especially also a Cambodia Chapter? Many more people use telephones – but there is no telephone user’s society!”

Correct – the Internet Society is not just an Internet user’s society. It is an institution created with specific purposes and functions, briefly explained in its self description:

The Internet Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. We are dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world.

It is not a mass organization, and – from country to country in different ways over the years – there are many other, different Internet related organizations: technical, educational, content related, etc. More can be found on this page here, in the right upper corner with a click on “Internet Society.” The Internet Society describes its members typically as:

• individuals who want to influence the future of the Internet
• companies, government agencies, and foundations that have created the Internet and its technologies as well as innovative new entrepreneurial organizations contributing to maintain that dynamic.

That we are – with such a description of our motivation and activities – on the right track has been expressed recently in two quite different ways:

The Cambodia Daily reported recently that the Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, has encouraged all provincial and city information departments to set up and maintain their own homepages, websites, and profiles on the Internet, including popular social networking sites such as Facebook. And a department director at the Ministry added that the Minister emphasized using social media websites as a quick and efficient way of sharing information. “This is a modern technology that we should carry on with, because all of the world is using it. And if officials are having problems setting up websites or profiles, the Ministry’s information technology department is at their disposal.

And in a very different context, Spokesperson of the Council of Ministers Ek Tha was quoted to consider the exposure of Prime Minister Body Guard Unit Major General Bun Sokha and three of his bodyguards beating a man, visible on a 13 minutes video on the Internet, as a “prime example” how such communication technology can better society.”

The videos went quickly to the Internet and have been seen by tens of thousands of people: “I do strongly support them. And the more people who will post this kind of unlawful activity or this kind of offense or crime, the better for Cambodian society to see and make their own judgment.”It will send a very strong message to other powerful people or to other armed men to be cautious.”

The important challenge – in both statements above – is the fact that these positive consequences of the use of the Internet do not happen automatically. Only when officials are prepared to actively use “social media websites as a quick and efficient way of sharing information” – only if they see that such open sharing of official information is important for the growth of society – and only when “more people … will post this kind of unlawful activity or this kind of offense or crime, the better it is for Cambodian society to see and make their own judgment.”

To be informed what is going on, so that people can make their own judgment – the Internet Society is working towards the same.


Norbert Klein
President
ISOC Cambodia Chapter


There are surely flaws, errors, not working links etc. in a website being developed – please let me know your observations, criticism, and suggestions to improve our work.

Asia Pacific Next Generation Camp – urgent invitation

Dear young members of the Cambodia Chapter of the Internet Society,

this is welcome and important information, but unfortunately it reached me only today: it is an invitation to receive a fellowship grant to attend the 14th Asia Pacific Next Generation (APNG) Camp, an annual melting pot for the young hopeful Internet enthusiasts, guided by the Asia Pacific Networking Group (APNG – http://apng.org). This year, the camp is set to take place in Seoul, South Korea, from 15 to 19 August 2012.


Theme: “Unleash ICT Potentials. Shape Asia’s Future”

The negative point of this mail is the deadline, as the information I received only now says:

Please prepare the following documents and submit on or before 1 May 2012. This is a strict deadline – later applications will not be considered.

Some more information from the invitation document:


“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, APNG and its camp activities aim to not only empower the Next Generation, who are envisioned as crucial to development carrying innovative and fresh points of view on Internet Technology, but facilitate a platform for bonding and strengthening relationship among senior leaders and the youth to share and discuss the salient topics related to the Internet in Asia Pacific present today.


The APNG Camp Fellowship Program targets personnel from developing countries who are actively involved in Internet development, in any of the following roles:

• Young network architects/developers/engineers
• Young decision makers in government, educational, non-government, commercial, non-profit sectors related to Internet development.
• Young on-line activists in (and not limited to) social science, business, environment, gender equivalence, entertainment, etc

Award Package

Fellowship package will cover:

• camp registration fees
• local accommodation
• local transportations
• roundtrip cheapest economy airfare (Full/Partial)
• meals: Lunch, Refreshments and Dinner will be provided during camp period

The final grant size is determined according to final costs and available funding, of which successful applicants will be duly informed. Past fellows come from many different territories or countries all around Asia Pacific Region.


Eligibility

The fellowship recipients will be selected based on:

• Residency in a developing country
• Full-time student of a university or college (public or private), or employed by Internet-related company
• Under 35 years of age
• Willingness to return to APNG Camp as a presenter or trainer in future
• Willingness and capability to present your country’s culture/heritage/traditions/costume
• Presentation materials and a 2-page paper submitted for APNG Camp “Call for Presentation”. The presentations/papers should be in line with any of the following working group topics:
1. Internet Technology
2. e-Culture and Green ICT
3. Ubiquitous Networking and Mobile Internet
4. Disaster Management and e- Health”

Application

Please prepare the following, and complete all document requirements with the submission; details can be found here:

http://www.apngcamp.asia/call-for-fellowship/

Please let me know if you apply – but I cannot give more information than what is in this note.

One of our members just returned from attending the 20th Anniversary celebrations and workshops of the Internet Society in Switzerland; another application to attend an Internet Engineering Task Force conference is still pending. I am happy that the Cambodia Chapter of ISOC can help to extend the international experience of our members.

Norbert Klein
President
Internet Society – Cambodia Chapter

Make Malaysia Open-Source Software hub

By Athi Shankar, 14 April 2012

It would save millions of ringgit for Malaysian consumers and companies, says Consumer Association of Penang.

I refer to the following article from Malaysia, as it would also save Cambodia millions of dollars if a similar approach would really be taken by many: if more government agencies, private companies and civil society organizations, and more individuals would follow the government guidelines given by the Deputy Prime Minister Sok An already a long time ago, supporting freedom of choice and independence in the ICT sector, during a high level 3-days policy seminar on Information Technology Awareness, in September 2001. He said there:

• “All laws, regulations and policies in the IT sector will reflect the following guiding spirit and philosophy:
• - to uphold the interests of the consumers and general public,
• - to guarantee security of information, while facilitating the broadest possible access to public information,
• - to respect individual rights, and – to avoid dependency on proprietary systems, instead promoting open systems and interoperability.”

Avoiding dependency on proprietary systems is also what is proposed in the following article from Malaysia. Here are examples the Consumer Association of Penang is showing “how to avoid dependency on proprietary systems” as similarly proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.

Malaysian Ringgit 242 million correspond to over US$77 million. And this is the possible savings in Government Departments only.These two examples are from the website of the Consumer Association of Penang.

Norbert Klein

GEORGE TOWN/PENANG: Malaysia should take the lead and implement policies to transform the country into an international Open-Source Software (OSS) hub, Consumer Association of Penang said here today.

Consumer Association of Penang president SM Mohamed Idris suggested that the government form a specific agency to formulate policies to make Malaysia the leader in the promotion and development of Open-Source Software. He urged the government to take the initiative to make the country an Open-Source Software hub that would save millions of ringgit for Malaysian consumers and companies.

He said it would create jobs and develop skills for local manpower, providing the competitive cutting-edge expertise and support services for the huge Open-Source Software market worldwide.

Studies showed that the adoption of Open-Source Software models has saved RM60 billion annually worldwide. Malaysian consumers could be saving more than RM400 million [approx. more that US$125 million] a year if the products of Microsoft and Oracle are substituted. Government agencies like the Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit have saved RM242 million [over US$77 million] after adopting Open-Source Software.

Why not expand the program to make Malaysia the Open-Source Software leader? Idris told a press conference in Consumer Association of Penang office here today. Also present was visiting India Professor CK Raju, who is currently attached to the School of Mathematical Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Idris said the current system of proprietary software, commonly used by Malaysians, has not been beneficial as local customers were paying a steep price for using the licensed software, or else they risked being penalized for using pirated versions. Consumer Association of Penang is perturbed by the exploitation of consumers by proprietary software companies, he said. He added that Malaysians were also paying for the Microsoft windows operating system packaged in desktop and laptop purchases, thus restricting their choice.

Consumer rights While unsophisticated consumers would not notice the extra cost involved, he said sophisticated consumers could lose money due to lack of option to obtain the computer with Open-Source Software. Thus, he said the government should legalize the requirement to offer consumers the choice of Open-Source Software on all machines.

Consumers are forced to pay for Microsoft software whether they want it or not. We are denied our consumer rights, Idris said. He added that most Malaysians were unaware that Open-Source Software has commonly used applications and has been available for free.

He urged the government to form centers to disseminate information on Open-Source Software. He said free Open-Source Software has good alternatives to proprietary software for most common applications.

He noted that Open-Source Software has Open Office [and now Libre Office] to replace Microsoft Office in general office applications, GIMP for Photoshop in image editing, Mozilla Firefox for Internet Explorer in Internet browsing, VLC for Windows Media Player for videos and sound playback, Calibre for Adobe Reader in reading ebooks and Ubuntu for Microsoft Windows in operating systems.

There are many more such Open-Source Software applications that are excellent and are in some ways better than the proprietary software, Idris said. He urged the government to form a special agency, like the Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit, to encourage the use of Open-Source Software for the national economy, adding that small and medium enterprises and major users such as multi-national corporations should also be encouraged to use Open-Source Software.

He also urged the government to establish supporting centers for Open-Source Software development. He said such centers can also function as training centers for Open-Source Software, adding that they can become self-sustaining in the long run.

He said universities and research institutes should be encouraged to develop and use Open-Source Software educational software instead of proprietary software such as Matlab and Mathematica. All these will encourage people to look upon Open-Source Software development in terms of entrepreneurship. It will boost Malaysia to emerge as a hub for skilled manpower, Idris said.

Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/04/14/make-msia-open-source-software-hub/

Fortunately, the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, is in line with the “regulations and policies in the IT sector” and the “guiding spirit and philosophy” declared by the Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in 2001, as the Master Plan for ICT in Education of the Ministry shows. It is worth while to study it to see – and implement – its important implications for the future development of the information and communication technology sector – and for the whole society of the country.

201204 – Monthly Letter from the President

Dear Members of the Cambodia Chapter of the Internet Society,

while the last Monthly Letter started with the announcement of the new opportunities for mutual communication using the facilities of our newly designed website, now is the opportunity to consider these further.

There are two sides to such communication: (1) general, related to the Internet Society, in Cambodia and global, and related to the wider world of communications – (2) and the exchange of information among us – the members of our Chapter.

-(1)-

The middle column of our website presents, from time to time, information from the international information society. During the month of March, there were only three texts posted, in future there may be some more:

• The statement of the Board of Trustees of the Internet Society expressed concerns about copyright enforcement strategies in the USA, but there is concern that the proposed methodsusing generalized controls would, in turn, also violate the rights of legal free communication.
• The announcement of the Diplo Foundation of a study program in the series of Next Generation Leaders Programs of the Internet Society on “Shaping the Internet – History and Futures.”
• The announcement of the screening in Phnom Penh of an entertaining action comedy from Malaysia about the violation of DVD copyrights for large scale private financial gain.

This selection shows also the wide range of subjects which form the international discussion in the information society.

From 22 to 24 April 2012, the Internet Society will celebrate its 20th anniversary: the Global INET meetings. Among the keynote speakers will be Mitchell Baker, Chair of the Mozilla Foundation, Vint Cerf, Vice President of Google, and Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia.

Jimmy Wales is an Internet entrepreneur, wiki pioneer, and technology visionary. He will provide his insights into the future direction of the Internet with an inspiring opening keynote at the Global INET. Lynn St. Amour, Internet Society President and CEO, will address today’s most pressing issues and concerns for the advancement of the Internet. The co-founder and Chair of Mozilla, Mitchell Baker, will speak from her deep commitment to an open, innovative Web and the infinite possibilities it presents.

The Global INET will bring together global Internet leaders in technology, business, and policy, addressing issues that will shape the Internet’s future, including how to preserve an Internet responsive to all stakeholders – governments, business, and civil society – while extending access to the Internet’s power as an engine for education and economic growth.

Our Chapter will have a chance to receive a personal report from these events, because our members Vong Pheakavoin, who had applied for a fellowship when it was announced to all members in December, was endorsed by our Advisory Board, and accepted as a participant by the Internet Society.

As far as know by now, none of our members applied for a fellowship which the Internet Society offered to participate in the 84th or 85th meetings of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in Canada and the USA later in the year, about which I had informed our membership with my mail of 13 March 2012. – The possibility to apply for participation in the course “Shaping the Internet – History and Futures” is still open until 10 April 2012; all details are on our webpage, by now at the right margin under “Access to the 10 recent posts.”

-(2)-

Here I would like to repeat offer to our members that a reference to their blog or website could be put on our website, left column, under “ISOC Cambodia member relations,” to make the content of such work wider known, especially also among our members. Please let me know by e-mail if you are interested, and we can clarify the details.

For those who do not have a blog of their own, but would like to start one: we are planning a workshop to assist in such plans.

And a happy news item at the end: During this month, the 100th membership application in our Chapter was approved.

Norbert Klein
President
ISOC Cambodia Chapter

It is still true what I said one month ago: There are surely flaws, errors, not working links etc. in our website – please let me know your observations, criticism, and suggestions to improve our work at president@isoc-kh.org – thanks for the suggestions already received.

Large scale DVD pirating

Jo is a Malaysian student studying in England. He supports his studies by selling pirated DVDs from Malaysia in the UK. He’s about to make his biggest shipment yet: 175 movies. With gangsters in England who’ll pay 50 pounds a DVD, Jo thinks he has hit the jackpot. Too bad that on the day he wants to pick up his shipment, Kuala Lumpur is hit with the biggest anti-piracy raid in history. Jo has 24 hours to get 175 pirated DVDs in order to avoid being punished by his gangster friends in the UK.

The highly entertaining comedy “Ciplak” (Malay for cheat, piracy) was shot on a budget of US$ 5,000 by self-taught director Khairil M. Bahar, who also wrote the script and edited and acted in the movie. Despite its meager budget, it was shown in multiplex cinemas in Malaysia to great
critical acclaim.

The film is presented in its Cambodian premiere on the occasion of the launch of the new book “Southeast Asian Independent Cinema” by German film critic Dr. Tilman Baumgärtel, a professor at the Department of Media and Communication (DMC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP).

“Ciplak” is an excellent example of the new independent cinema that has emerged in the last decade in most of the countries of Southeast Asia. Empowered by affordable digital technology and often working on incredibly low budgets, a new generation of film makers in countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia has put Southeast Asia on the map of international cinema.

The book features essays on and interviews with film directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Lav Diaz, Brillante Mendoza, Eric Khoo, Yasmin Ahmand, Nia Dinata and Pen-ek Ratanaruang. It will be for sale
Friday, March 30, 2012 at the Meta House.

Look for more information on the book here.

Friday, 30 March 2012, 7:00 p.m.

Meta House, #37 Sothearos Boulevard, Songkhat Tonle Bassak, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh

Next Generation Leaders eLearning program “Shaping the Internet – History and Futures”

Diplo Internet Governance Community

Applications are now open for the Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders (NGL) eLearning program “Shaping the Internet – History and Futures.”

The Internet Society is pleased to call for applications from talented individuals seeking to join the new generation of Internet leaders, who will address the critical technology, policy, business, and education challenges that lie ahead.

Following the success of last year’s program, in 2012 the Internet Society is offering two classes in English, one in French, and one in Spanish. All classes will start the week of 21 May 2012.

The course, “Shaping the Internet – History and Futures”, is delivered by the DiploFoundation through their eLearning platform and learning methodology and features weekly online discussions of the course materials, moderated by a tutor and an expert facilitator.

The NGL programme is designed to advance the careers of individuals who have the potential to become local, regional, and international leaders within the Internet technology, policy, and governance communities. The curriculum empowers participants to share their particular expertise with colleagues while acquiring knowledge in areas outside of their specialties.

Places in the eLearning course are strictly limited, so all applications will be subject to a thorough selection process.

The deadline for applications is 10 April 2012.

The Program

The program offers 25 places in each class for professionals from diverse stakeholder backgrounds in the fields of Internet technology, governance, and policy. All courses are open to individuals from around the world. The program will be conducted entirely online.

The program includes four thematic parts, which take place over six months during 2012 (May to October, with an exam at the conclusion of the course):

• The History of the Internet
• Technical Background – Internet Standards and Technology
• Internet Governance and Policy
• Emerging issues – Studies in Internet Policies, Processes and Diplomacy

Learning activities take place in an online classroom and include analysis of course materials, interactive group discussions using a variety of communication tools, assignments, and exams. Successful participants will receive a certificate of completion of the program.

Languages

Course materials and moderated online discussions for each course are in English, French, and Spanish respectively.

Target Audience

The project is designed for Internet Society members from academia, the public sector, technology industries, and civil society who are committed to the ongoing expansion of an open, sustainable Internet.

Applications from the following categories of individuals from both developed and developing countries are encouraged:

• officials in governmental ministries and departments dealing with ICT-related issues (for example, telecommunications, culture, education, foreign affairs, justice)
• officials in regulatory authorities or institutions dealing with Information Society, Internet, and ICT-related issues
• postgraduate students and researchers (for example, telecommunications, electrical engineering, law, economics, development studies, sociology)
• engineers in the Internet field
• civil society activists in the Internet field
• journalists covering Internet-related issues
• business people in the Internet field (for example, those managing ISPs or involved in software development).

Timeline 2012

22 Mar: Applications open
10 Apr: Applications close
10 & 11 May: Awardees announced
21 May (week of): All classes begin
21 May (week of): Class 1 (Introduction to classroom and course)
28 May (week of): Class 2 (Introduction to Internet Governance)
04 Jun (week of): Class 3 (History of the Internet 1)
11 Jun (week of): Class 4 (Actors 1)
18 Jun (week of): Class 5 (Actors 2)
25 June (week of): Break
02 Jul (week of): Class 6 (Diplomacy 1)
09 Jul (week of): Class 7 (Diplomacy 2)
16 Jul (week of): Class 8 (Internet Policy Principles)
23 Jul (week of): Class 9 (Technical background 1)
30 Jul (week of): Class 10 (Technical Background 2)
06 Aug (week of): Break
13 Aug (week of): Break
20 Aug (week of): Class 11(Regulatory Frameworks)
27 Aug (week of): Class 12 (Regulation and the Digital Divide)
03 Sep (week of): Class 13 (Multilingualism)
10 Sep (week of): Class 14 (Legal Aspects and Privacy)
17 Sep (week of): Class 15 (Intellectual Property Rights)
24 Sep (week of): Class 16 (Copyright)
01 Oct (week of): Break
08 Oct (week of): Class 17 (Emerging Issues)
15 Oct (week of): Wrap Up Course Week
22 Oct (week of): Exam. All classes end; final grades & certificates follow

Requirements

Applicants are required to have:

• met the age requirement (20-40 years old)
• a basic awareness of, and interest in, Internet-related issues
• knowledge and experience of the multi-stakeholder approach in international affairs
• a professional background and relevant work or academic experience in the Internet field
• member status in ISOC http://www.internetsociety.org/get-involved/join-community
• fluency in English
• good writing skills, ability to summarize information, and focus on details
• regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient)
• minimum of 8 hours commitment per week during each thematic part of the online course (this is perhaps the single most important requirement and should be evaluated seriously by any potential applicant)
• readiness to participate in online consultations (once a week at specified times)

Deadline for Applications

The deadline for applications is 10 April 2012, by midnight UTC/GMT.

How to Apply

For more information about how to apply, click here.

Internet Society Board of Trustees Expresses Concern over Online Copyright Enforcement Strategies

The Board encourages cooperation among all stakeholders in the search for solutions that respect freedom of expression and protect the open architecture of the Internet

[San Jose, Costa Rica – 12 March 2012] – In its first meeting of the year, held 10 – 11 March 2012, the Internet Society Board of Trustees reviewed various initiatives that several countries are considering or implementing in an attempt to increase copyright enforcement. The Board discussed the potential implications that these initiatives may have for the future of the Internet and expressed concern over actions that could undermine the open architecture of the Internet and restrict freedom of expression.

The Board observed a growing emphasis on technical measures to implement regulatory goals, as well as a trend towards greater utilization of Internet intermediaries, such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as instruments of enforcement. Further, the Board recalled that the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) had established the principle that Internet governance should be open and transparent and involve all stakeholders. The Board noted that some forums for the development of new Internet-related policies and laws are not adhering to this principle.

In particular, the Board singled out the process used to develop the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) which was negotiated behind closed doors as if it were a typical trade negotiation. Any negotiations centrally impacting the Internet should be open and transparent and involve all stakeholders. The Internet Society previously expressed its concerns regarding the process and substance of the agreement, noting that its implementation might limit Internet access and legitimate use, and stifle innovation.

The Board also took note of reports of concern about the proposed objectives of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) regarding intellectual property in the online environment, fueled by a lack of information, transparency, and multistakeholder engagement. The Internet Society Board of Trustees urges the negotiating countries to open up the process and engage all stakeholders.

The Internet Society Board welcomed the decision of the U.S. Congress in January to revisit the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), which provide for filtering of DNS queries to prevent access to allegedly infringing websites. These draft bills caused great concern about unintended collateral restrictions to lawful communications and exchange of content, as well as extraterritorial reach. The Board also took note with appreciation that several countries halted ratification procedures for ACTA.

“The Internet Society is a strong proponent of open, transparent, and inclusive multistakeholder engagement in the development of Internet standards and policy,” stated Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO of the Internet Society. “We are concerned about national laws and international trade agreements that threaten the stability of the Internet’s global architecture and risk constraining legitimate communications.”

The Internet Society Board agreed to step up the monitoring of national laws and international agreements across the globe and assess possible adverse impacts on the Internet as a matter of priority. Any attempt to address problems should be based on cooperation in an open and inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders, respect freedom of expression, and protect the open nature of the Internet.

“We all have a role in the future of the Internet – individuals, governments, private sector, and civil society,” stated Raúl Echeberría, Chairman of the Internet Society’s Board of Trustees. “The success of the Internet itself and the undeniable benefits it has brought to humanity, clearly underlines the success of the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. The Internet Society believes that the key factors in the success of the Internet are openness, collaboration, and transparent governance. These aspects are central to the Internet’s development and its ongoing evolution.”

Over the past two decades, the Internet Society has been committed to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. The Internet Society believes that sustained collaboration amongst all parties is needed to address illegal online activities in a way that is consistent with the global architecture of the Internet. Any policies to curtail online intellectual property rights infringement should not stifle the evolution or legitimate use of the Internet or Internet technologies.

About the Internet Society
The Internet Society is the world’s trusted independent source of Internet leadership. With its principled vision and substantial technological foundation, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology and future development among users, companies, governments, and foundations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.

Monthly Letter from the President – March 2012

Dear Members of the Cambodia Chapter of the Internet Society,

I would like to send you with my greetings this important information: our new website is up and running!
Unfortunately, there has been a laps of communication for a long time, as the Secretary of the ISOC Cambodia Chapter resigned suddenly and surprisingly in early January. Ong Pisey, our Treasurer, and myself, have just now been able to recover operational access to our server and site, and so I can send you this first Monthly Letter together with some announcements.

In a recent meeting of the Advisory Board of our Chapter, it has been decided that I will fulfill also the role of Secretary for the time being, until we can establish again our personnel structure according to the regulations of our Bylaws – soon they will be available also in Khmer, in addition to the English version, on our new website.

In future, I will every month, point to some important discussions and developments in Cambodia or the wider communications world. I would be happy to receive your considerations and suggestions in response not only by direct communication to me, but especially also on the discuss@isoc-kh.org discussion list for the sharing of information and opinion among our membership.

But what is more important than my Monthly Letter is the context, in which it is reaching you: our newly organized website. It is, as everything on the Internet, always still in development. We look forward do questions and suggestions, and will always try to accommodate what seems t respond to wider interests and needs.
As you see, the left and right columns have been rearranged in such a way that the left side is providing links to things in Cambodia, and the right side provides quite a large selection of links to international and regional resources – related to the Internet Society as a worldwide fellowship, but also to many other organizations, networks, and institutions in communicating information society.

The wide, middle column will be used to share, fairly frequently, articles which have received wider interest, commentaries, and which are being discussed elsewhere – their content can also serve as a stimulus for considering the status, or the future of electronic communication in Cambodia.

There is one area of the new site where we foresee a lot of change to come. Down at the left column – ISOC Cambodia member relations – we would like to offer to all our members the possibility to put the title and URL of their web of blog sites, to make their work wider known. – If you want to do so, please let me know by e-mail.

The motto of the Internet Society worldwide is:

The Internet is for everyone.

We, the members of the Cambodia Chapter, have the possibility and the challenge to work towards the realization of this goal.

Norbert Klein
President
ISOC Cambodia Chapter

There are surely flaws, errors, not working links etc. in the beginning – please let me know your observations, criticism, and suggestions to improve our work at president@isoc-kh.org