Innovation Policy Post

Last week, after much anticipation and delay, the bipartisan Senate cybersecurity legislation, S. 2105 – Cybersecurity Act of 2012, was unveiled.

Though it is laudable that Congress has begun in earnest to attend to the critical cybersecurity threats that face America, there has been little debate about the how information sharing and defense of critical infrastructure will occur in practical terms when, and if, cybersecurity legislation is finally adopted.

On February 10, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice organized an international conference on copyright in The Hague. The conference provided Dutch decision makers with a good opportunity to share their views of future copyright policy with fellow EU Member States, academics, representatives of the entertainment and Internet industries, and other stakeholders. 

Friends of mine who are real movie buffs with an enviable home theater and other wonderful rooms throw an annual Oscars party complete with red carpet and guests dressed up as characters from the year’s hit flicks.  “Creative Hollywood” is the attire.  I’ve channeled June Carter Cash, Amelia, and Black Swan.  This year I’m going much lower and darker…as a pirate.   No…not of the Caribbean or of Penzance.  Of the Internet high seas.  Trying to convince my husband to go as Kim Dotcom of MegaUpload infamy is, ahem, a taller (and bigger) order.   He prefers Keith Richards, and looks like neither.   But I digress.

Geneva is the epicenter of intergovernmental processes that have a key impact on the future of the Internet.  As the only ICT sector trade association in Geneva, CCIA Geneva is in a great position to help ensure that governments like China, Russia, South Africa, and India which use these processes to push for an Internet managed by governments aren’t successful.

One of the most prominent trade issues in 2012 centers on Congressional approval of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia.  While extending PNTR to Russia would provide some economic benefits to both countries following Russia’s WTO entry, we believe that there is another aspect to this issue to be considered: that of Internet Freedom.