WSIS – basic facts

How WSIS approaches IS "It must be a true meeting of minds, bringing together all stakeholders from the developed and developing world.” “It must have a common understanding of the Information Society and a concrete action plan." ITU Secretary General, Yoshio Utsumi

Progressive rhetoric “The real goal is not just to get more computers or more telephones, but rather to extend access to information, to guarantee the right to communicate and to focus on how ICTs can be used to achieve broader social and economic goals, such as the eradication of poverty.” ITU leader, Yoshio Utsumi  

How WSIS approaches IS Summit should concentrate on: Vision, Access, Applications NOTE: Orientation document for Prepcom 2 “Information and communication for all” Adama Samassekou, president Prep Com

Issues within the document Access Roles of govt, business, civil society Capacity building Enabling environment Policy making Copyright

Issues within the document Privacy Security Language, culture, local content Proprietary vs open source software ICTs in good governance, transparency Originally missing: right to communicate!

Document: on development Call for ICTs to be mainstreamed via: E-learning E-health E-government E-business ICTs for disaster recovery Agric, population, environment, weather

Draft proposals: Benchmarks to be adopted? All education instits to be connected 2015 All hospitals by 2005, clinics 2010 90% people in range of broadcast 2010 All govt depts to have website by 2005 ICT development index to rank countries? Publicise good practice & successes? Train info workers.

WSIS declaration Final declaration indicates WSIS moving away from technological determinism where IT is presumed to affect society much more than society affects IT. Also toning down the technophilia stereotype which unquestioningly assumes that ICT growth is automatically a good thing.

WSIS declaration But no explicit definition of IS! Yet, will have impact on global public opinion and policy: Eg. telcoms regulation Eg. donor policies Eg. World Bank practices. On freedom of expression & media growth?

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