Affiliations: [a] Senior Counsel, The World Bank, Legal Advisor to the
Secretariat, the Working Group on Internet Governance
Abstract: The Internet has moved on from its early almost lawless nature.
There are now multiple organisations and legal aspects associated with Internet
governance. Whether the issue on the Internet is network security, intellectual
property rights (IPRs), e-commerce, cybercrime, freedom of expression, freedom
of information, consumer rights or liberalisation of infrastructure –
rules, laws and norms apply. These can be formal laws, treaties, industry
standards or rules of procedure on both national and international level. On
the legislative front there are too many national laws from too many countries
that have effect on Internet governances beyond their borders, hence effective
global cooperation on jurisdictional issues is necessary to ensure an enabling
environment for the growth of the Internet and use of the Internet and ICTs for
economic growth and development. A framework-approach to legal-reform issues of
Internet governance could be the best way forward.
