The Egypt IGF Forum

Today, the Internet has become indispensable social infrastructure for the activities of both people and companies. In order to ensure that it addresses changes in the social environment and technical innovation in a prompt and flexible manner, and that a free, efficient, and highly convenient Internet environment is maintained, it is essential that the Internet's current private-sector-led management structure be maintained. The healthy diffusion of the Internet should be expanded by utilizing the Dynamic Coalitions of various interested parties collaborating together that have come into being as a result of the IGF activity. If the governments of individual countries and international institutions intervene excessively in the management of an Internet that by its very nature transcends time and distance, we fear that its diffusion would be obstructed by individual countries' political opinions or other biases, and that would have a major impact on the global economy and society.

Given that the world of the Internet straddles national borders, it is difficult to prevent Net-based crime by using the laws of individual countries. To counter abuses such as the dissemination of harmful or unlawful information, the fraudulent obtainment of information, and cyberterrorism, it is important for individual countries' experts to join together to create globally harmonized norms. It is essential, also, to improve the education of the youth with regard to the desirable forms of wholesome Internet usage.
It is also desirable that concerned parties in different countries deepen their collaboration with regard to the development and diffusion of filtering and other technologies, and make continuous efforts to enhance the safety of the Internet.
On the other hand, to ensure that excessive action on security does not harm Internet openness and privacy, the parties concerned should join together to continue their dialogue concerning the sound development of the Internet society-- as reported by Nippon Keidanren

I believe that China and other countries liek Egypt and Russia with restrictive Internet access should have the freedom of speech and be allowed to voice their opinions and preferences online, whether it be through petitions or chatlines. I believe that all people should have access to technology and media news. In these times, without technology the citizens will be behind and lack the knowledge of what is going on in the world.