Hi all – just following up on this and thanks to those who responded (on or off list).

By way of background, the meeting I was attending was organised by Cordaid and Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). In a nutshell, they are concerned about the lack of civil society involvement in UN discussion about counter terrorism policy and developed this three day event to galvanise interest.

One part that was a meeting with officials involved in the CTITF. Several officials attended including one senior human rights adviser and Richard Barrett (Coordinator of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Committee under which the internet working group takes place). The dialogue was Chatham House, but I can give you the flavour. It began with a look at Indonesia and some brief remarks and then participants took the opportunity to ask questions.

With 20+ participants there was very little time to ask questions in the end but, in relation to the Internet working group, I raised concerns over blanket domain name take downs for “extreme” content, the so-called “faith based filtering” and disproportionate effects on free speech, including on legitimate sites (one area under discussion) etc. Here the response was that this was a topic on which governments did not have an agreed approach, but apparently there are now some regional agreements about counter-terrorism measures and taking down radical online content among governments who seek to control content. Also that a main focus of the working group was on “more speech” and creating alternative narratives.

The responses were courteous and helpfully descriptive, but no real substance. For example, there was no response to a question on whether they were talking with Frank La Rue the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression who devoted his annual report to FX on the internet – including a section on government actions in the name of national security which were taken without due process or against political opponents.. Ironically, I attended a meeting that same day at the UN where Frank and Rebecca MacKinnon were guest panellists (did a nice job, too) and Frank mentioned he had been talking to the CTITF. So!)

Ed Flynn, the senior human rights officer for the CTITF, was very keen to talk and learn more about CSO concerns re the internet. All in all, I would say the key point was that they heard someone from civil society ask questions about the topic.

The CTITF will have a review next year and the participants have agreed to collaborate around that review including through contributions to a CSO background paper –probably for early next year. I think a short briefing paper on the internet related issues is probably needed for that review – most of the participants had no knowledge of the issues. Given the NCSG membership and expertise on issues of law enforcement, the need for due process, the concern over various national approaches to legislation, if anyone wants to stay in touch with me about that, please just let me know. And if you come across any reference to this in the ICANN work programme, do share.

Thanks again

Joy

From: NCSG-Discuss [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joy Liddicoat
Sent: Thursday, 20 October 2011 11:52 p.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Internet and Counter Terrorism Measures

Hi all,

I’m seeking your inputs for a meeting I am having tomorrow with some officials from UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. I am in New York for a human rights meeting and the organisers have invited some UN officials to meet with us on this topic. The CTITF has a specific working group related to the Internet: https://www.un.org/terrorism/internet.shtml  - It produced this report in May https://www.un.org/terrorism/pdfs/CTITF%20Interagency%20WG%20Compendium-%20Legal%20&%20Technical%20Aspects%20WEB.pdf

I’m wondering if anyone on the list is aware of the CTITF and its work and, if so, if you have any questions you’d like me to take the opportunity to ask on your behalf.

Apologies for the late notice but we were not told who the officials were until late today and I hadn’t made this connection.

Cheers

Joy