Commerce's Pritzker Praises Multistakeholderism, Warns OECD Against Internet Fragmentation
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker urged the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Wednesday to remain committed to the group's 2011 Principles for Internet Policy Making as it continues its Ministerial on the Digital Economy in Cancun, Mexico, this week.…
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The OECD's Principles for Internet Policy Making emphasize a flexible policymaking approach based on the multistakeholder Internet governance model. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría warned Wednesday that legislation on a variety of issues isn't keeping up with changes in the digital economy. “Too many countries are taking a 20th century approach to a 21st century technology that is moving faster than any other the world has seen,” Gurría said during the ministerial. “The internet is profoundly transforming the way we live and work, but we could be getting a lot more out of it. The longer we dither on the digital economy, the less benefit we will get out of it as societies.” The OECD's digital economy ministerial “is an opportunity to ask ourselves, as the representatives of governments and the leaders of nations, if we are living up to those principles,” Pritzker said in a prepared version of her speech to the ministerial: “Too often, well-intentioned efforts to address legitimate concerns over issues like privacy and security lead to unintended consequences” via the enactment of data localization laws and "onerous" technical standards designed to restrict trade. Such policies “undermine our vision of a free, open and truly global internet,” Pritzker said. “We expect such policies from authoritarian regimes that want to isolate their people -- not from nations that welcome the global exchange of ideas and commerce.” Pritzker warned against the “alarming trend” toward internet fragmentation, which she said “should concern us all. Our ability to empower entrepreneurs, build long-term prosperity, and drive innovation hinges on our collective commitment to a global, free and open internet.” Pritzker also noted a new Commerce report that chronicles efforts during President Barack Obama's administration to expand the digital economy. The report shows Commerce's commitment to OECD principles on stakeholder cooperation on cybersecurity issues, privacy and multistakeholderism, she said.