The Brazilian Internet Governance Model

When thinking about governance models for city-TLDs, the form used by Brazil is frequently cited as a model. When considering it as a model for cities, keep in mind that Brazil is far larger than even the most mega of cities, and the scope of the CGI.gr governance entity’s operation is unencumbered by local or national governments. That being said, there are some lessons to be learned from CGI.br.

This page presents the mission, membership, and principles for CGI.br, Brazil’s Internet Steering Committee.

(NOTE: The source of the below is http://cgi.br/about/.)

Membership

The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee has 21 members:

• Four from the corporate sector
  • Internet access and content providers
  • Telecommunication infrastructure providers;
  • Hardware, telecommunication and software industries;
  • Enterprises that use the Internet.
• Nine from the Federal Government
  • Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Ministry of Communication
  • Presidential Cabinet
  • Ministry of Defense
  • Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade
  • Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management
  • National Telecommunication Agency
  • National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
  • National Council of State Secretariats for Science, Technology and Information Issues
• Four from what they refer to as “the third sector” and might be thought of here as civil society
• Three representatives from the scientific and technological community
• One Internet expert

Mission

The mission of the CGI.br involves advancing the following rights and responsibilities:

• proposing policies and procedures regarding the regulation of Internet activities;
• recommending standards for technical and operational procedures for the Internet in Brazil;
• establishing strategic directives related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil;
• promoting studies and technical standards for network and service security in the country;
• coordinating the allocation of Internet addresses (IPs) and registration in the <.br> domain;
• collecting, organizing and disseminating information on Internet services, including indicators and statistics.

Principles

Considering the need of support and orientation for its actions and decisions according to fundamental principles, the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br), approved Resolution CGI.br/Res/2009/03/P with the  Principles for the Governance and Use of the Internet in 1999.

Principles For The Governance And Use Of The Internet

1. Freedom, privacy and human rights - The use of the Internet must be driven by the principles of freedom of expression, individual privacy and the respect for human rights, recognizing them as essential to the preservation of a fair and democratic society.
2. Democratic and collaborative governance - Internet governance must be exercised in a transparent, multilateral and democratic manner, with the participation of the various sectors of society, thereby preserving and encouraging its character as a collective creation.
3. Universality - Internet access must be universal so that it becomes a tool for human and social development, thereby contributing to the formation of an inclusive and nondiscriminatory society, for the benefit of all.
4. Diversity - Cultural diversity must be respected and preserved and its expression must be stimulated, without the imposition of beliefs, customs or values.
5. Innovation - Internet governance must promote the continuous development and widespread dissemination of new technologies and models for access and use.
6. Neutrality of the network - Filtering or traffic privileges must meet ethical and technical criteria only, excluding any political, commercial, religious and cultural factors or any other form of discrimination or preferential treatment.
7. Non-liability of the network - All action taken against illicit activity on the network must be aimed at those directly responsible for such activities, and not at the means of access and transport, always upholding the fundamental principles of freedom, privacy and the respect for human rights.
8. Functionality, security and stability - The stability, security and overall functionality of the network must be actively preserved through the adoption of technical measures that are consistent with international standards and encourage the adoption of best practices.
9. Standardization and interoperability - The Internet must be based on open standards that facilitate interoperability and enable all to participate in its development.
10. Legal and regulatory environments - The legal and regulatory environments must preserve the dynamics of the Internet as a space for collaboration.

Electoral Process

NOTE: The following was created using auto-translated by Google Translate on December 3, 2014. So please consider the following as only providing a general idea of the selection process. (Source document.)

The Brazilian model of Internet governance is recognized around the world by gathering members from various sectors of society. Thus, the CGI.br represents an important multisectoral forum for dialogue and decision on the major issues related to the Internet in Brazil. In addition to devote a majority in its composition and effective participation of civil society in their actions related to Internet growth management in the country, CGI.br established an electoral process that includes the representation of the various sectors involved more directly to the Internet , especially with regard to the formulation of its policies and national policies.

Since 2003 the CGI.br governing body has been composed of 21 members, 11 representatives of Civil Society, nine representatives of government agencies, and an Internet expert.

CGI.br civil society representatives are elected for three-year terms. Representatives are selected by vote of an electoral college composed of organizations representing each segment (Corporate, Academic, and Non-Profit).

The appeals process:

Each non-gov sector has its own criteria for qualification of voters:

• non-profit non-commercial organizations (not associations) are required to exist legally for at least two years to vote for the civil society representatives, who are indicated by these qualified Non Government Organizations (NGOs);
• technical and scientific community representatives are indicated by their respective professional associations who register to participate in the Electoral College;
• the business sector is divided in four categories: Internet users (here you have bank and accounting associations, as well as associations of other companies who do not fit in the three other sectors); hardware and software companies; Internet service providers; and telecom companies (including those media companies who provide connectivity services).

Except for the NGO sector, the Electoral College of each sector is constituted of associations, not individual organizations, faculties, or companies.

In all cases, registering for the Electoral Colleges is open to any entity who qualifies in its respective sector. The candidates are chosen by these entities. CGI.br in no way interferes with this, nor does the government. NIC.br runs an electronic process of registering voters (members of the Electoral Colleges) and the electronic balloting.

CGI.br constitutes an Electoral Commission for the exclusive purpose of checking qualifications of prospective Electoral College members according to the rules above, and a conflict resolution process is run to settle dubious cases.

CGI.br believes governance is open and as participative as each community or constituency decides it to be. In the case of NGOs, there are more than 200,000 registered NGOs in the country, but very few are interested in Internet governance, so the NGO Electoral College is usually composed of a few hundred NGOs, despite campaigns we run to promote the importance of this participation.

Electoral College Members

The following is a list of entities approved as members of the Electoral College for the 2013 CGI.br election (source). The list was announced after reviewing appeals to membership. The first dozen or so members of the larger categories are presented so as to limit this page’s size and to indicate the type of membership.

Scientific and Technological Community (Complete list of category members)

Industry Computer Goods, Telecommunications and Software (Partial List of category members - 16 of 39)

ISPs and Internet Content (Complete list of category members)

Telecommunications Infrastructure Providers (Complete list of category members)

Business Sector User (Partial List of about 300 category members)

Third Sector (Partial List of about 230 category members)