CoLab Launches Multi-Stakeholder Publication on Internet and Security at IGF Bali

Leonid Todorov of .ru and Wolfgang Kleinwächter

In the 6th Collaboratory MIND discussion paper “Internet and Security”, introduced today at the IGF in Bali, security expert Bruce Schneier and Estonian President Ilves propose rethinking cybersecurity and freedom on the Internet in times of global surveillance.

This year’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF), held in Bali, started under the shadow of the world-spanning revelations about intelligence services monitoring Internet communications — the extent of which not only is dramatic, but (as yet) not fully undisclosed. Questions arise about whether there can be proper balance between cyber-security and personal liberties in digital communications. Hence, what is under discussion is the the nature of privacy and personal safety on the web, free communication and personal liberties being required for actual democracy and the rule of law.

Contributing to this debate, the Internet & Society Collaboratory has launched the sixth issue of its Multi-stakeholder Internet Dialogue (MIND) at the IGF Bali conference, together at the APC’s launch of GISwatch2013. The discussion paper series is edited by Prof. Wolfgang Kleinwächter, who personally introduced it there this morning.

This fall’s issue is headlined by international security expert and author Bruce Schneier, who takes a sobering look at the current state of internet security and power relations that dominate global communications. The President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Henrik Ilves takes a broad look at what cybersecurity means in today’s world. He is in a unique position to contribute, since Estonia was one of the first countries that experienced broad-scale cyber-attacks.

Prof. Kleinwächter has invited several experts to further elaborate on these two propositions. The contributors’ backgrounds range from civil society to academia and from the private sector to government experts; many are regular attendants of the IGF and other multi-stakeholder forums. 

Wolfgang Kleinwächter presenting MIND 6

“Cyber-security is as important as the openness and freedom of the internet” explains Prof. Kleinwächter in his introduction. Moreover, he quotes ISOC’s president, who states: “Any systematic, state-level attack on Internet security and privacy is a rejection of the global, collaborative fabric that has enabled the Internet‘s growth to extend beyond the interests of any one country.”

The Internet has never faced such a threat to the very nature of its existence. The 6th Collaboratory MIND discussion paper is meant to be a helpful addition to the debate that should help stakeholders strike the right balance between freedom and security on the Internet. The publication is available online at www.collaboratory.de under an open license and is available in print upon request. It is meant as an open discussion format: engaged replies in the form of articles as well as general feedback are warmly welcomed. A spring issue is also released every year in German: in 2014 it will coincide with EuroDIG.

Click here to read the issue now in various formats, or click here for an overview of all volumes.

Wolfgang Kleinwächter, MIND publication: In internet governance there are non final truths, we are still looking for answers #igf2013
— APCNoticias (@APCNoticias) October 23, 2013