[IGFmaglist] Initial thoughts on a Best Practices Forum on Corruption

Wed Apr 6 05:58:56 EDT 2016

Mike,
I support the idea and you can count on me on this group. Very laudable initiative..
Giacomo

From: Igfmaglist [mailto:igfmaglist-bounces at intgovforum.org] On Behalf Of Michael R. Nelson
Sent: mercredi 6 avril 2016 11:46
To: igfmaglist at intgovforum.org
Subject: [IGFmaglist] Initial thoughts on a Best Practices Forum on Corruption

I am very glad that some of the BPFs have wrapped up their work, enabling the MAG to explore new topics.

As I said in my remarks this morning, I feel strongly that the IGF could make a major contribution in the area of corruption and Internet governance.  Of course, this is a very controversial topic and it will not be easy to get consensus on specific case studies to highlight and effective, concrete recommendations.  Despite that, it would be odd for the IGF to NOT explore this topic, especially in light of the recent release of the "Panama Papers," which will generate a great deal of attention to corruption in government and business in the months to come.  Unfortunately, the ICT sector is an area that has seen a great deal of corrupt behavior that has hurt Internet users in both developed and developing countries around the world.

There are at least two areas where a Best Practices Forum on corruption and Internet Governance could contribute in unique ways:

1) The Internet provides powerful ways to support the collection of data that can expose corruption. It enables more open government and the sharing of data on government procurement, policy decisions, and campaign contributions so journalists and individual citizens can identify and publicize Internet-related decisions that are influenced more by bribes rather than users' needs.  Furthermore, the Internet can empower whistleblowers within government and companies--but only if the Internet evolves in a way that protects the confidentiality of communications between whistleblowers, reporters and others. As an techno-optimist, I believe that the Internet can help ensure that corruption does not undermine the multistakeholder processes that have served the Internet so well.

2) Some of the most successful campaigns against corruption of government regulators (whether in the energy sector, the banking sector, the telecom sector, or elsewhere)--by groups such as Transparency International (http://www.transparency.org)--have relied heavily on the Internet.  The IGF and a Best Practices Forum could explore how to support and publicize such efforts.

I was very glad to hear support from other MAG members for work in this area. As I said this morning, I am happy to step up and help lead this effort.

Requests:
1) Please let me know if you are interested in helping with a BPF on corruption and Internet governance.
2) Please let me know if you know of experts or activists who would contribute to such a BPF.  I am already familiar with the work of Transparency International, Ewan Sutherland (http://www.3wan.net/3wan.html), and the B-20 working group on fighting corruption, of which I'm a member (http://b20turkey.org/anti-corruption/) but I know there is much more work being done in this critical area.
3) Please suggest how we might expand or better focus the scope of a corruption BPF.

I look forward to continuing the discussion on this proposal.

Recommended reading:
"Thieves of State" Thieves of State - Sarah Chayes<http://www.thievesofstate.com/>

Thieves of State - Sarah Chayes<http://www.thievesofstate.com/>
Home page for Sarah Chayes book Thieves of State, why corruption threatens global security

View on www.thievesofstate.com<http://www.thievesofstate.com/>

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How Reporters Pulled Off the Panama Papers, the Biggest Leak in Whistleblower History<http://www.wired.com/2016/04/reporters-pulled-off-panama-papers-biggest-leak-whistleblower-history/>

[image]<http://www.wired.com/2016/04/reporters-pulled-off-panama-papers-biggest-leak-whistleblower-history/>

How Reporters Pulled Off the Panama Papers, the Biggest ...<http://www.wired.com/2016/04/reporters-pulled-off-panama-papers-biggest-leak-whistleblower-history/>
The 2.6 terabyte Panama Papers may be the first leak of their scale, but they won't be the last.

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MICHAEL R. NELSON
Public Policy
CloudFlare
Washington, DC
703-598-5187 cell
Twitter: @MikeNelson

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