[Privsec] draft

[Robert Guerra]

Here's a copy of the latest version.

http://wiki.digitaldivide.net/wiki/index.php?title=Drafting_Space_for_WGIG_Input

Privacy is an essential human right, enshrined in the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of 
Political and Civil Rights.

In an ŒInformation Society¹, where almost all attributes of an 
individual can be known, interactions mapped, and intentions assumed 
based on records, the need for protection of privacy is more crucial 
than ever.

Privacy encourages co-operation and trust. Privacy is essential for 
on-line support groups, in consultations with doctors and 
counsellors, as well as in the marketplace.

Following from the WSIS declaration in Geneva in 2003 and the work of 
the WGIG, we insist that privacy is not only protected offline, but 
also on the Internet.

     * One detailed example is the next generation internet protocol, 
IPv6. There are plans to include in the IPv6 address field the 
ethernet address of the network card. That would mean that every 
packet you send out to the public Internet using IPv6 would have your 
fingerprints on it. And unlike your IPv4 address, which you can 
change and which can be assigned dynamically, this address is 
embedded in your hardware permanently. Anonymous Internet access 
would no longer be possible.

Other examples we just want to mention:

     * Marketing and advertising regimes and various web-services can 
seriously endanger privacy unless effective measures are taken to 
protect it.
     * Voice-over-IP policies and standards that promote surveillance 
over confidentiality may inhibit the growth potential of this 
technology.
     * Initiatives on unlawful speech and measures to protect 
intellectual property may cast wide nets through the collection of 
personal information, and thereby chill free expression.
     * Regulatory or technical requirements to disclose your identity 
prior to speaking or even accessing information will unnecessarily 
hamper free expression.
     * Agreements, standards and protocols on network security that do 
not first protect the privacy of individuals will affect all conduct 
within the Information Society.

Privacy protects human dignity and individual autonomy. Total 
information about someone reduces that person to a set of known 
facts, an object of control and manipulation. In contrast, a zone of 
autonomy around the individual limits the opportunities for abuse and 
oppression. Privacy is a core pre-condition to participation, a most 
basic civil liberty. Privacy is thus a fundamental component of 
freedom and development.

We therefore strongly ask to keep privacy issues on the agenda of the 
Working Group on Internet Governance. Thank you.

-- 
###
Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org>
Privaterra - <http://www.privaterra.org>