PRESS RELEASE

Information Society : "Are we there yet?"

The rapid growth of Information and Communication Technologies and innovation in digital systems represent a revolution that has fundamentally changed the way people think, behave, communicate, work and earn their livelihood.  This so-called digital revolution has forged new ways to create knowledge, educate people and disseminate information.  It has restructured the way the world conducts economic and business practices, runs governments and engages politically.  It has provided for the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid and healthcare, and a new vision for environmental protection.  It has even created new avenues for entertainment and leisure and it has the capacity to improve living standards for millions of people around the world.  Moreover, better communication between people helps resolve conflicts and attain world peace.

The digital revolution in information and communication technologies has created the platform for a free flow of information, ideas and knowledge across the globe.  This revolution has made a profound impression on the way the world functions.  The Internet has become an important global resouce, a resource that is critical to both the developed world as a business and social tool and the developing world as a passport to equitable participation, as well as economic, social and educational development.  It is envisaged that from this digital revolution, a people-centred, inclusive and development oriented Information Society emerges, whereby everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life.

In building an inclusive Information Society, whereby everyone can benefit from the opportunities that ICT can offer, there are 11 key principles that serves as guidelines:-

1. The role of government and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development

In building an Information Society, various stakeholders are involved, ranging from the Government to the private sector, non-government organisations and the civil societies.  These stakeholders have important role and responsibilities.  Member of the civil society can help the community to become aware of the digital revolution in information and communication technologies, for example by helping the neighbourhood in either urban or rural communities by accessing information on health care, nutrition, education and other services.   Students can do a project on using ICT to build an inclusive Information Society and also helping to bridge the digital divide within the community by helping other students or less fortunate children in the use of information and communication technologies.  Building a people-centered Information Society is a joint effort which requires cooperation and partnership among all stakeholders.

2. Information and communication infrastructure: an essential foundation for an inclusive Information Society

Connectivity is a central enabling agent in building the Information Society. Universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to ICT infrastructure and services, constitutes one of the challenges of the Information Society and should be an objective of all stakeholders involved in building it. A well-developed information and communication network infrastructure and applications, adapted to regional, national and local conditions, easily-accessible and affordable, and making greater use of broadband and other innovative technologies where possible, can accelerate the social and economic progress of countries, and the well-being of all individuals, communities and peoples.

3. Access to information and knowledge

The ability for all to access and contribute information, ideas and knowledge is essential in an inclusive Information Society. Access to information and knowledge can be promoted by increasing awareness among all stakeholders of the possibilities offered by different software models, including proprietary, open-source and free software, in order to increase competition, access by users, diversity of choice, and to enable all users to develop solutions which best meet their requirements. Affordable access to software should be considered as an important component of a truly inclusive Information Society. A rich public domain is an essential element for the growth of the Information Society, creating multiple benefits such as an educated public, new jobs, innovation, business opportunities, and the advancement of sciences. Information in the public domain should be easily accessible to support the Information Society, and protected from misappropriation.

4. Capacity building

Each person should have the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in order to understand, participate actively in, and benefit fully from, the Information Society and the knowledge economy. The use of ICTs in all stages of education, training and human resource development should be promoted, taking into account the special needs of persons with disabilities and disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

5. Building confidence and security in the use of ICT

Strengthening the trust framework, including information security and network security, authentication, privacy and consumer protection, is a prerequisite for the development of the Information Society and for building confidence among users of ICT. A global culture of cyber-security needs to be promoted, developed and implemented in cooperation with all stakeholders and international expert bodies. Within this global culture of cyber-security, it is important to enhance security and to ensure the protection of data and privacy, while enhancing access and trade. In addition, it must take into account the level of social and economic development of each country and respect the development-oriented aspects of the Information Society. Spam is a significant and growing problem for users, networks and the Internet as a whole. Spam and cyber-security should be dealt with at appropriate national and international levels.

6. Enabling environment

An enabling environment at national and international levels is essential for the Information Society. ICTs should be used as an important tool for good governance. ICTs are an important enabler of growth through efficiency gains and increased productivity, in particular by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). In this regard, the development of the Information Society is important for broadly-based economic growth in both developed and developing economies. ICT-supported productivity gains and applied innovations across economic sectors should be fostered. Intellectual Property protection is important to encourage innovation and creativity in the Information Society; similarly, the wide dissemination, diffusion, and sharing of knowledge is important to encourage innovation and creativity.

7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life

The usage and deployment of ICTs should seek to create benefits in all aspects of our daily life. ICT applications are potentially important in government operations and services, health care and health information, education and training, employment, job creation, business, agriculture, transport, protection of environment and management of natural resources, disaster prevention, and culture, and to promote eradication of poverty and other agreed development goals. ICTs should also contribute to sustainable production and consumption patterns and reduce traditional barriers, providing an opportunity for all to access local and global markets in a more equitable manner.

8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content

Cultural diversity is the common heritage of humankind.  The Information Society should be founded on and stimulate respect for cultural identity, cultural and linguistic diversity, traditions and religions, and foster dialogue among cultures and civilizations.  The creation, dissemination and preservation of content in diverse languages and formats must be accorded high priority in building an inclusive Information Society, paying particular attention to the diversity of supply of creative work and due recognition of the rights of authors and artists. The development of local content suited to domestic or regional needs will encourage social and economic development and will stimulate participation of all stakeholders, including people living in rural, remote and marginal areas. The preservation of cultural heritage is a crucial component of identity and self–understanding of individuals that links a community to its past. The Information Society should harness and preserve cultural heritage for the future by all appropriate methods, including digitisation.

9. Media

Freedom to seek, receive, impart and use information for the creation, accumulation and dissemination of knowledge are important to the Information Society, which calls for the responsible use and treatment of information by the media in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards.

10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society

The Information Society should respect peace and uphold the fundamental values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, shared responsibility, and respect for nature, and acknowledge the importance of ethics for the Information Society, which should foster justice, and the dignity and worth of the human person. The widest possible protection should be accorded to the family and to enable it to play its crucial role in society. All actors in the Information Society should take appropriate actions and preventive measures, as determined by law, against abusive uses of ICTs, such as illegal and other acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, hatred, violence, all forms of child abuse, including paedophilia and child pornography, and trafficking in, and exploitation of, human beings.

11. International and regional cooperation

The Information Society is intrinsically global in nature and national efforts need to be supported by effective international and regional cooperation among governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international financial institutions.

The global information society is evolving at breakneck speed. The accelerating convergence between telecommunications, broadcasting multimedia and information and communication technologies (ICTs) is driving new products and services, as well as ways of conducting business and commerce. The modern world is undergoing a fundamental transformation as the industrial society that marked the 20th century rapidly gives way to the information society of the 21st century. This dynamic process promises a fundamental change in all aspects of our lives, including knowledge dissemination, social interaction, economic and business practices, political engagement, media, education, health, leisure and entertainment. We are indeed in the midst of a revolution, perhaps the greatest that humanity has ever experienced. To benefit the world community, the successful and continued growth of this new dynamic requires global discussion and harmonization in appropriate areas. However, while the digital revolution has extended the frontiers of the global village, the vast majority of the world remains unhooked from this unfolding phenomenon. With the ever-widening gulf between knowledge and ignorance, the development gap between the rich and the poor among and within countries has also increased. It has therefore become imperative for the world to bridge this digital divide.

Thus the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was created, whereby the framework was endorsed under the UN General Assembly Resolution 56/183. WSIS will provide a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this revolution and its impact on the international community. It aims to bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations agencies, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and civil society in a single high-level event. The roles of the various partners (Member States, UN specialized agencies, private sector and civil society) in ensuring smooth coordination of the practical establishment of the information society around the globe are at the heart of the Summit and its preparation.

WSIS is being held in two phases, the first of which was held in Geneva in December 2003, while the second phase will be held in Tunisia in November 2005. The anticipated outcome of the Summit is to develop and foster a clear statement of political will and a concrete plan of action for achieving the goals of the Information Society, while fully reflecting all the different interests at stake. The scope and nature of this ambitious project will require partnerships with public and private entities, and such partnerships will be actively sought in the coming months.

Source: World Summit on the Information Society Declaration of Principles, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at www.itu.int

Issued by: Ministry of Communications
1st August 2005