NCSG Colleagues,

As one who started with serious reservations about the NETmundial 
initiative (NMI), based in large measure on the involvement of the World 
Economic Form (WEF), but having moved to somewhere between neutral and 
mild support for the NMI, I have always argued for engagement in any NMI 
dialogue as it unfolds, but had reservations about the WEF-NMI 
connection. The situation has changed.

According to Fadi’s comments in New York (see: 
http://youtu.be/huI6PucrL7c ) the WEF is no longer involved in NMI, but 
is pursuing its own WEF events, linked initial to European Internet 
privacy concerns. Now NMI is apparently completely independent of WEF. I 
raise this because the Internet Governance Civil Society Coordination 
Group (CSCG) letter to the NMI Transitional Council, as currently 
written seems not to reflect this change in engagement in the NMI.

Also, this change in the team working on the roll out of the NMI may 
change when and how some Civil Society groups wish to be engaged, or not 
engaged. Having said that it is important to register that there is 
still considerable doubt about the necessity, or the desirability, of 
such an additional initiative at this time. There is also considerable 
uncertainty about whether or not it will actually take flight.

Sam L.