You are here

Home » What We Do » Public Policy

Public Policy

IGF Baku

What is Internet Public Policy?

Our work is based upon our fundamental belief that the Internet is for everyone. In pursuing our objectives, we operate collaboratively and inclusively, working with governments, national and international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other parties to reach decisions about the Internet that conform to our core values. A primary focus of our public policy work is Internet governance which in 2016 is focused on these three areas:

Our work is informed by the results of our 2015 Internet Governance Survey and we created an Internet Governance Timeline to help track the many events happening over the course of 2016.

How We Work

We work in a multi-stakeholder fashion towards the development of an Open and Sustainable Internet for the benefit of all people. Because the Internet impacts all of us, we work with partners globally of all shapes and sizes to make sure we can address a wide range of social, economic, and policy issues that interfere with an open and sustainable Internet.  For more information regarding our community and partners please visit our Community and Partners Page.

 

Public Policy Blog

  • Join us at RightsCon 2016!

    From 30 March to 1 April, San Francisco will be the world's capital for discussions around freedom of expression, privacy, encryption, and many other issues related to rights in the digital environment.

    Organized for the past few years by Access Now, RightsCon gathers human rights experts, business leaders, technologists, engineers, investors, activists, and government representatives to discuss hot issues related to the Internet and fundamental rights.

    During this 2016 edition, key speakers will include Bruce Schneier, David Kaye, Edward Snowden and many more.

    The...

    Public Policy
    Date published 25 March 2016

  • Privacy in the Digital Age: UN Special Rapporteur Sets Priorities In New Report

    What is the state of online privacy in 2016? What are the key policy issues related to privacy? What are the steps that can be taken within the UN context to help ensure our right to privacy?

    These are a few of the many points addressed by Joseph A. Cannataci, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy (SRP), in his first report released on 9 March.

    As we mentioned before, in recent years, many governments and NGOs have been pushing for the creation of a dedicated UN Special Rapporteur for privacy in the digital age, in part as a reaction to public disclosures of the...

    Public Policy
    Date published 21 March 2016

  • Testimony Before The US House About the IANA Stewardship Transition

    Today, March 17, 2016, Sally Wentworth testified in a hearing on "Privatizing the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority" before the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. Sally's oral testimony as prepared is included below. You can also view:

    Sally Wentworth's written (more detailed) testimony Our IANA Stewardship Transition page Video recording of the hearing

    Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for today’s opportunity to testify before you on the transition of...

    Public Policy
    Date published 17 March 2016

  • Watch Live - Thursday, March 17 - Sally Wentworth Testifying at US Congressional Hearing on Privatizing IANA

    On Thursday, March 17, 2016, our VP of Global Policy Development, Sally Shipman Wentworth, will be testifying before the U.S. Congress on the topic of "Privatizing the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority" (IANA) starting at 10:15am US EDT (UTC-4).  You can learn about the hearing at:

    Privatizing the Internet Assigned Number Authority

    and watch live at:

    Live video stream of U.S. House hearing about IANA Transition

    Sally's written testimony is available in advance from our site at:

    Sally Wentworth Testimony About IANA Transition

    and also from our general IANA...

    Public Policy
    Date published 16 March 2016

  • A note to the ISOC Community: Marking our success, building on IANA momentum to keep Internet on track

    I have just returned from Marrakech where we marked a historic milestone for the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. Following the original request from the U.S. Government, the ICANN Board transmitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) the plan to transition stewardship of the IANA functions to the Internet Community. The Plan was developed through the engagement, energy, dedication, and diligence of many, diverse people around the world. Many of you participated in important ways to reach the consensus...

    Public Policy
    Date published 14 March 2016

Pages