This document contains recommendations for improving internet governance in Tunisia. It discusses the current situation, which includes increased engagement from civil society but temporary legal provisions. Recommendations focus on adopting international conventions, capacity building, encouraging multi-stakeholder participation, restructuring agencies, empowering citizens, liberalizing the internet marketplace, and defining a holistic legal framework for open governance and open data. The conclusion states that internet should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat to be over-regulated.

1. Internet Governance High-level
Training:
Tunisia IG report
Rafik Dammak
16th
June 2013

2. Between
Status quo and Change
No internet filtering ?
Changing current legal framework?
Going toward liberalization/less regulation?
Truly Embracing Opengov/Opendata?

3. Current Situation (1/2)
More engagement :
1) UNHRC resolution
2) Joining Freedom Online Coalition
3) Proposal at WCIT for ITR to mention HR
Moving from Principles toward
implementation?

4. Current Situation (2/2)
1) Many civil society/citizens initiatives and
involvement
2) Technology-focus?
3) Expression of interest from Government,
Ministries
4) But Current legal provisions are temporary

5. Recommendations (1/5)
1) Inclusion of Right to universal communication access
2) Ratifying and embracing international conventions and
treaties e.g. Council of Europe Convention 108
3) Capacity and awareness-building at all stakeholder levels
regarding Internet Governance
4) Encouraging national multi-stakeholder participation
including international forums
5) Creating an independent Internet Steering Committee at
a national level with equal e.g. Kenya, Brazil

6. Recommendations (2/5)
1) Giving Tunisia IGF a prominent role in policy circles to
institute an ongoing national debate
2) Restructuring national agencies related to Internet
3) Supporting the ongoing change in ATI (becoming a truly
NIC)
4) Establishing open consultations and public comments
regarding Internet policies
5) Empowering agencies to enforce regulations related to
privacy, data protection, competition, consumer rights and
communications

7. Recommendations (3/5)
1) Empowering citizens by educating them on their rights :
data protection and privacy, freedom of expression and
guaranteed access.
2) Encouraging research and academic work related to
Internet policy
3) Creating more affordable broadband access in all regions
4) Liberalizing the Internet market place by encouraging
competition between ISPs.
5) Increasing international connectivity and encouraging
more peering and interconnection between national ISP
e.g. Good work done by TunIXP

8. Recommendations (4/5)
1) Encouraging non-profit initiatives that provide free Internet
access, including the liberalization of spectrum
2) Encouraging the localization of content by suppressing all
legal and economic barriers , pushing for open content and
usage of open licensing.
3) Capacity-building and intensive educational efforts within
public administration and government ministries towards
understanding Opengov and Opendata principles
4) Building mechanisms to understand the citizens’ needs and
expectations regarding governance issues.
5) Defining a final holistic legal framework regarding open
governance and open data.

9. Recommendations (5/5)
1) Focusing on Internet access and on services matching
real citizens’ needs to avoid the rise of a new digital divide
2) Enforcing data protection and privacy laws related to
Opengov and Opendata
Making citizen-oriented policies

10. Conclusion
“Internet should be seen as an opportunity for
development and growth, rather than as a
threat to be over-regulated or controlled”.
Beginning of debate and opportunity for change