Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has revised its position on Internet Governance in various forums such as ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, UN Committee for Internet Related Policies;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is working towards the establishment of a new institutional mechanism for global internet governance; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) and (b): After detailed consideration and taking into account considerations relating to internet ecosystem and India’s national interest, the Government has decided to support a multi-stakeholder approach in matters on Internet Governance. However, on matters relating to national security, Government will have supreme right and control.
¬¬(c) and (d): The US Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had announced on March 14, 2014, its intent to transition key internet domain functions to the global multistakeholder community. They also asked Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to develop a proposal for the said transition. Since the announcement the global internet community, including governments, civil society, academia and industry, has been discussing the proposal in this regard.
India has also been contributing to the discussion in various forums.
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