This document provides an overview of internet governance and filtering. It defines internet governance as the development and application of shared principles, norms, rules and procedures that shape the evolution and use of the internet. It discusses various authorities involved in internet governance like ICANN and ISOC. It then defines internet filtering and the different types of content filtered. It discusses the global status of filtering for political, social and security content. It highlights problems with internet filtering like effects on performance and ethics. It concludes there is a need for improved cooperation and standards set by an independent organization.

1. LOGO
INTERNET GOVERNANCE
AND THE FILTERING PROBLEM
Presented by Tran Quang Minh Tan
BarCampSaigon – RMIT University
December 11, 2011

2. About me
tranquangminhtan@gmail.com
2

3. Contents
1 Internet Governance
+ Definition
+ Status
2 Internet Filtering
+ Definition
+ Status
+ Problems
3 Case Study and Discussion
+ Filtering Standard
4 Conclusion
3

4. As March 2011
Internet Population: 2.095b
About 30.2% of World Population
Source: InternetWorldStats.com
4
Source: opte.org

5. The Internet - Issues
5

6. Internet Governance - Definition
 “Internet governance is the development and
application by Governments, the private sector and
civil society, in their respective roles, of shared
principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures,
and programs that shape the evolution and use of the
Internet.” (source: wikipedia)
 The term Internet Governance is formally defined in
June 2005 by a working group in World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS)
6

7. Internet Governance - Authorities
Internet Society Internet Corporation for Assigned
(ISOC) Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Internet Assigned Numbers
Internet Architecture Authority (IANA)
Board (IAB)
Address Supporting Organization
Internet Engineering (ASO)
Task Force
(IETG) (IESG) Country Code Names Supporting
Organization (CCNSO)
Internet Research Task
Force Generic Names Supporting
(IRTF) (IRSG) Organization (GGNSO)
Network Solutions
- Central Domain Database Accredited Registrars 7
Source: coactive.org - Root Server System

8. Internet Governance - Authorities
 Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN)
ICANN was formed in 1998. ICANN is an acronym for the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a global multi-
stakeholder organization that was created and empowered through
actions by the U.S. government and its Department of Commerce. It
coordinates the Internet DNS, IP addresses and autonomous system
numbers; which involves a continued management of these evolving
systems and the protocols that underly them.
 The Internet Society
The Internet Society (ISOC) is a nonprofit organization founded in
1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education
and policy. They are dedicated to ensuring the open development,
evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout
the world.
8

9. Internet Governance - Principles
1. Human rights, democracy and rule of law
2. Multi-Stakeholder governance
3. Responsibilities of States
4. Empowerment of Internet Users
5. Global nature of the internet
6. Integrity of the Internet
7. Decentralized management
8. Open architecture
9. Network neutrality
10. Cultural and linguistic diversity
(Source: Council of Europe conference, Strasbourg, 18-19 April 2011) 9

10. Internet Governance - Framework
Source: nav6.org
10

11. Internet Governance - Concerns
 Manage Internet Infrastructure
+ Physical Infrastructure
+ IP Addresses, Domain Names
 Define protocol and standard
+ IETF, W3C
 Promote Internet Access
+ Especially in developing country
 Security
+ Anonymity, Privacy
 Content Regulation
+ Child-abusing protection
+ Copyright, Pirate Software, Music
+ Filtering / Censoring
11

12. Internet Filtering
12

13. Internet Filtering - Definition
 Internet filtering normally refers to the technical
approaches to control access to information on the
Internet.
 An Internet filter is hardware or software that restricts
the information that is delivered over the Internet.
Filters can greatly reduce the flow of harmful content
onto your computer.
 Filters can be installed on the servers of an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) or proxy service, as part of a
local area network, or on individual computers. They
can block access to websites, e-mail, chat, or other
Internet-based communications based on category,
site, or content.
13

14. Types of Content Filtered
Political reasons - Content that expresses views in
opposition to those of the current government, or is
related to human rights, freedom of expression,
minority rights.
Religious reasons
Social reasons - commonly pornography,
information about gay and lesbian issues, and sex
education information
14

15. Internet Filtering - Implementation
How filtering is implemented
- Domain filtering
eg. http://facebook.com
- IP Address filtering
eg. 69.63.189.11
- URL filtering
eg. http://www.facebook.com/ BarCampSaigon
- Keyword filtering
eg. “Tiananmen” in China
- Ad-hoc filtering
eg. Ebay Vietnam
15

16. 2011 Best Internet Filter Software
Source: http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/ 16

17. Global Status - Political content
Political content: Content that expresses views in opposition to those of
the current government, or is related to human rights, freedom of
expression, minority rights, and religious movements.
17
Source: http://map.opennet.net/filtering-pol.html

18. Global Status - Social content
Social content: Content related to sexuality, gambling, and illegal drugs and
alcohol, as well as other topics that may be socially sensitive or perceived as
offensive.
18
Source: http://map.opennet.net/filtering-soc.html

19. Global Status - Conflict & security
Conflict & security: Content related to armed conflicts, border disputes,
separatist movements, and militant groups.
19
Source: http://map.opennet.net/filtering-consec.html

20. China - the leader in internet filtering
Source: http://opennet.net/research/profiles/china
China + Internet = Chinternet
20

21. Internet Filtering – Problem
 Internet Performance
Eg. In Australia from 2% - 75%
(http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib310554/
isp-level_internet_content_filtering_trial-report.pdf)
 Ethic / Freedom of speech /
Human Rights
 Inefficiency Jasmine Revolution in Egypt
 Aggressive filter: block the wrong content
because of over-filtering
2010: 255 million websites, 1.97 billion – Internet users worldwide (June 2010).
(source: http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/01/12/internet-2010-in-numbers/)
Eg. Website of Log Cabin Republicans was blocked by U.S.-based SmartFilter
as pornography
 User can by pass by using proxy
Eg. public proxy servers or tools
21

22. Internet Filtering – Problem (cont.)
 Each country implement its own of filtering engine
 costly, ineffective
Eg. Australia: Based on the Government's budgeting of $44.5 million to implement the filtering
scheme, this means the policy will cost $90,000 per URL.
(source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/web/2009/06/03/1243708489312.html)
 Global problems: criminal, virus, sexuality, gambling, and
illegal drugs and alcohol, security…
Should filtering implemented by
individual or as a global standard? 22

23. Discussion – .XXX
Sexually-Explicit Website
Operated under ICM Registry
Brief history
 First proposed in 2000 (rejected)
 Resubmitted again in 2004 (rejected)
 Another time in 2007 (rejected)
 Finally approved in 2011
  a 10-years effort
ICM is expected to make over 200m / year
Source: Wikipedia
23

24. Discussion – .XXX
Cyber Safety for Kids Act of 2006
 Raised by Senator Max Baucus and Mark
Pryor
 Require website with explicit sexual content
MUST operate under .xxx domain
Should we consider .xxx domain
as a standard for sexual filtering ?
24

25. Discussion - .XXX
IOMO: .XXX is not feasible for a filtering
standard
 How to define sexual content ?
 How to enforce the standard globally ?
 Commercialized-motivation ?
25

26. Discussion – ICANN Reform
26
Source: http://www.icann.org

27. Conclusion
 There is a need for Internet Governance, but is not a simple
subject.
 The Internet filtering is costly, ineffective now.
 There is a greater need for cooperation between various branches
of government and law enforcement in and between countries.
 The trend: build up the standards by
+ An Independent Organization
+ By cooperation governments
 Our opinion:
- Independent Organization (ICANN reform, ITU…)
- And…
27

28. References
 Local Nets: Filtering and the Internet Governance Problem,
John Palfrey, (Chapter in Jack Balkin et al., The Global Flow of
Information) September, 2005
 Wikipedia
 OpenNET Intialtive, website http://opennet.net
 CoActive.org/.NYC Project
 ICANN, website http://www.icann.org
28

29. LOGO
Q&A