Media freedom representative publishes report on Internet governance in OSCE region

VIENNA, 26 July 2007 - Implications of Internet regulation on media freedom in the OSCE region are the focus of a report presented by Miklós Haraszti, the Organization's Representative on Freedom of the Media, in Vienna today.

The publication offers case studies from different parts of the OSCE region on how governments, civil society and the telecommunications industry can co-operate in their approaches to Internet governance.

"The Internet is an additional - and in some regions the only - source for media pluralism," said Haraszti. "Internet governance is not only about technical standards or the Domain Name System. It also has commercial, cultural and social implications, concerning issues like the free flow of information, the fight against intolerance, and freedom of the online media."

"Involving all of society's actors is a difficult task and there is no ready-made approach suiting all OSCE countries. These case studies highlight good practices, but also show where there is room for improvement," he added.

The United Nations has addressed the issue of Internet governance at World Summits on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva and Tunis, and has established a new Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in which the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media participates.

The publication, entitled 'Governing the Internet - Freedom and Regulation in the OSCE Region', is available from the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and online at: www.osce.org/fom/publications.html

The publication has been financed by the Governments of France and Germany.

Bibliographical note:

Christian Moeller/Arnaud Amouroux (eds.) Governing the Internet - Freedom and Regulation in the OSCE Region. 2007. Vienna: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. ISBN 3-9501955-4-8.