[WSIS CS-Plenary] SG stresses cyber-security in statement on World Information Society Day

[Robin Gross]

Too bad the UN did not see this was an opportunity to talk about the 
enormous potential of the Internet to benefit people.

Its a little disheartening that instead the announcement highlighted the 
"threat" of the Internet.

Sigh,
Robin


Rik Panganiban wrote:

> Here is Kofi Annan's statement on the first World Information Society 
> Day, yesterday.
>
> His emphasis on "cyber-security" is perhaps not surprising.  However 
> it would have been better in my view if he had taken the opportunity 
> to all stress the importance of ICTs to enhance *human* security.  
> I.e. the work that the Swiss and Bill Drake did developing the ICTs 
> for Peace <http://ictforpeace.org/> web portal, initiatives to create 
> computer games that promote conflict resolution and cooperation like 
> "Peacemaker <http://www.etc.cmu.edu/projects/peacemaker/>" that 
> simulates the Israeli / Palestinian conflict, and the virtual "Darfur 
> camp <http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2006/03/new_world_slurl_8.html>" in the 
> online 3D universe of Second Life that raises awareness of the 
> Sudanese conflict and links you to groups trying to make a difference 
> there.
>
> Instead the SG talked about e-commerce and cyber-criminals.  That's 
> probably the safest theme he could have chosen for the first year of 
> the Information Society Day. But it would be nice if we moved on from 
> these old state-centric views on security toward solutions that really 
> effect people's lives on the ground.
>
> Rik Panganiban
> Rikomatic.com
>
>    
> *26 April 2006*
>
>
> 	
> *Secretary-General*
> *SG/SM/10433** *
> *OBV/553** *
> *PI/1711*
>
>
> *Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York*
>
> *IN MESSAGE FOR WORLD INFORMATION SOCIETY DAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS*
>
> *FOR INTERNATIONAL COUNTERMEASURES TO ENHANCE CYBERSECURITY*
>
>  
>
>
> Following is UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message on World 
> Information Society Day, observed 17 May:
>
> The annual observance of World Telecommunication Day, marking the 
> founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 
> 1865, has drawn attention to the work of ITU and the broader 
> challenges of global communication.  From the days of the telegraph 
> through space-age communication, and now in cyberspace, ITU has helped 
> to connect the world.
>
> In recognition of this evolution, the World Summit on the Information 
> Society, which was held in two phases (in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis 
> in 2005), proposed that 17 May henceforth be celebrated as World 
> Information Society Day.  The Summit’s aim was to build an open, 
> inclusive, people-centred, knowledge-based information society that 
> will accelerate the pace of development.  This occasion now highlights 
> the link between the great potential of information and communication 
> technologies (ICT) and our goal of accelerating the pace of development.
>
> The Summit recognized the importance of building confidence and trust 
> in the use of ICT.  This is reflected in the theme for this year’s 
> observance, “promoting global cybersecurity”.  In an increasingly 
> interconnected and networked world, it has become critically important 
> to safeguard our vital systems and infrastructures against attack by 
> cybercriminals, while instilling confidence in online transactions in 
> order to promote trade, commerce, banking, telemedicine, e-government 
> and a host of other e-applications.  As this depends on the security 
> practices of each and every networked country, business and citizen, 
> we need to develop a global culture of cybersecurity.
>
> I therefore urge all Member States and stakeholders to help increase 
> global awareness of cybersecurity, and to develop an international 
> network of initiatives and ICT-based countermeasures to enhance 
> security and build trust in the use of information and communication 
> technologies.  This is essential for the continued growth and 
> development of our economies, and especially important for developing 
> countries.
>
> On this first World Information Society Day, let us all pledge to 
> connect the unconnected and build a free and safe information society 
> that will spur development for all the world’s people.
>
> ** *** **
>
>
> =-=-= -=-=- =-=-= -=-=- =-=-= -=-=- =-=-= --=-=-  --=-=-
>
>   Rik Panganiban   email:  rikomatic at yahoo.com 
> <mailto:rikomatic at yahoo.com>
>
>                    web:    http://rikomatic.com
>
>
>   "International Man of Action and Large Pants"
>
>
>