<bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>THE NATION <color><param>6664,6664,6664</param><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>

Information society faces a critical time </bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger></color><bigger><bigger><bigger><bigger>

</bigger></bigger></bigger></bigger>Published on Sep 17, 2003 

</fontfamily></bold><fontfamily><param>Arial</param>Precarious trends

are emerging that could restrict press freedom and the free flow of

information on the Internet at the World Summit on Information Society

(WSIS) in Geneva set for December. 

When the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) initiated the

WSIS last year, three main objectives were highlighted. 

First and foremost was to raise awareness among leaders about the

implications and new challenges of the information society. The second

was the injustice of the "digital divide". Third was the development

of new legal and policy frameworks appropriate to cyberspace.

Discussions so far have concentrated on ways and means to control

Internet content and subject the free flow of information to national

laws. 

Like many developing countries in the lead-up discussions to the WSIS,

Thailand has been trapped by issues related to information and

communication technologies and the digital divide. Completely ignored

is the third objective, which can restrict Internet content and the

free flow of information, leaving it to member countries with a long

"laundry list" of media restrictions. 

Among free media supporters the prevailing sentiment is that the WSIS

is just an ITU power play for ideological influence and international

regulatory power within the United Nations. They argue that issues

related to content and regulation of the Internet and the digital

divide should be debated by Unesco in Paris or the UN Information

Committee in New York instead of at forums organised by the ITU. 

They believed the ITU does not have the mandate to create new Internet

regulations and policies or lay the groundwork for the information

society. But they also concede that time is running out for them to

change anything at the WSIS unless government representatives can

change their attitudes. 

The Thai government has sent telecommunications specialists to the two

WSIS preparatory meetings. Their mandate has been to promote the use

of broadband and garner financial and material support on information

technology from developed countries. 

Early this month, the Ministry of Information Technology and

Communications organised a meeting to prepare Thailand's position on

the WSIS. However, its focus was on the success of Thailand in

proposing increased points of access for online communications, access

by handicapped persons and, of course, the wide-spread use of

broadband. 

Surprisingly, no one raised the issues of press freedom and free flow

of information nor ongoing efforts by countries that want to control

Internet content. One delegate told the session that, given the

composition of the Thai delegates, only technical aspects could be

addressed. Each concerned authority, such as the Ministry of Education

and the Department of Public Relations, would send its own delegate to

the WSIS and form its own position without formulating an overall

joint strategy and common positions. 

In the age of globalisation and borderless information, no one can

dispute the objective of discussing future challenges and the digital

divide. But the problem is, the ITU has failed to point out that the

WSIS is not only about technical aspects of the information society

but about freedom and content as well. 

Somehow, this point has not been reflected in the Asian media. The

Thai media has been completely mute on this important topic. The

current preparatory meeting will be the last before ministerial level

delegates gather in Geneva in December to sign a declaration and plan

of action. 

In previous UN-sponsored summits, all sectors of societies have been

invited to give inputs and discuss issues in areas of their expertise.

However, this has not been the case with the WSIS. From the very

beginning, only officials and technicians were engaged in writing

texts, while no media people took part. Previous declarations on media

and democracy were written by professionals in the media and related

areas. 

At the moment, Switzerland is spearheading an effort to raise the

profile of press freedom at the Geneva preparatory meeting. The host

is expected to receive support from EU members. Although the effort is

considered too little too late, it presents a last-ditch attempt to

alter the text, which ignored the press freedom. 

If the current text is approved, the issue of press freedom - a

universal value since 1946 - will be subjected to national laws.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has

been the pillar of a free press, would be trumped by national laws. 

Due to overriding concerns by Western countries over security

following September 11, press freedom has not been considered a top

priority as before. That helps to explain why the so-called remnants

of the defunct movement of NWCIO - the New World Communication and

Information Order - which failed to gain control over information

flows during the 1970s and 1980s - are coming back and trying to

realise their archaic dreams. 

Kavi Chongkittavorn 

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