Hague lays down principles for internet co-operation

THE UK GOVERNMENT has set out seven key "rules of the road" that it hopes will frame the debate around international co-operation between governments, businesses and civil society on cyber space issues.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said at the opening of the London Conference on Cyberspace that there currently are no forums where all parties can sit down and discuss key topics, including cyber crime, international security and how to achieve safe and reliable internet access.

"In the place of today's cyber free-for-all, we need rules of the road," he said. "Britain has proposed a set of seven principles as a basis for more effective co-operation between states, businesses and organisations."

The seven principles include the need for governments to act in cyber space in accordance with international law, the need for universal internet access, the right to privacy, the protection of intellectual property and the need to tackle cyber crime.

Also included were "the promotion of a competitive environment which ensures a fair return on investment in networks, services and content", and "ensuring cyber space remains open to innovation and the free flow of ideas".

To continue the work begun by the London conference, Hague revealed that Hungary and the Republic of Korea will host subsequent conferences in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Hague also reaffirmed the UK government's commitment to innovation and openness online and, in an apparent dig at countries like China, warned that internet censorship has a "direct impact on their ability to harness the full economic potential of cyber space".

"Behaviour that is unacceptable offline is also unacceptable online, whether it is carried out by individuals or governments," he said.

"We know that this is not a view that is shared by all countries, but states will find it harder and harder to restrict their citizens' demands for the freedom to express their ideas on the internet." µ