This was the question that was addressed at a plenary session at the APNIC conference in New Delhi today. The debate that centers on the role and function of multi-stakeholders, not limited to governments alone, was conducted by a panel representing multiple stakeholders, including Hon Hasanul Haq Inu, Chair of the Standing Committee on post and telecom of the Bangladesh Parliament, Mr N. Ravi Shanker, Administrator of the Indian Government’s Universal Service Fund, Mr Paul Wilson, Director General of APNIC, and Raman Jit Singh Chima of Google India. I chaired the session.
The Indian government wants the current Internet Governance Forum to be beefed up so that it will actually produce decisions. Those who do not represent governments would prefer not to, because the word-by-word negotiations that would result from such a change would not be productive and because such a procedure would necessarily privilege governments. They would prefer decision to be taken elsewhere, informed by IGF discussions. There was no enthusiasm from anyone for the idea of an International Internet Union as favored by Hamadoun Toure and Vladimir Putin.
Partly due to bad architecture (too big a room; too high a stage; big old barriers between audience and panel), it was not the most lively of sessions. I tried hard to allow for questions from the audience and the promised participants from afar, but got only one person asking questions. It could have been livelier, but I think we did justice to the key issues.
For those who like such things, video and transcripts are available here.
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