Author: joly

Internet Society Marks its 20-Year Anniversary

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Internet Society is 20![Washington, D.C. USA and Geneva, Switzerland, 04 January 2012] – The Internet Society is proud to announce its 20-year anniversary. The organization was founded in 1992 by two of the fathers of the Internet – Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn – to facilitate and support the evolution of the Internet and its beneficial use.

Over the past two decades, the Internet Society has been committed to ensuring the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world. The Internet Society continues to serve the needs of the growing, global Internet community through championing public policies that enable open access; facilitating the open development of standards and protocols; and organizing events and opportunities that inform and bring people together.

A snapshot of the Internet Society’s highlights over the past 20 years
includes:

* Facilitating training programs and workshops, many in developing countries, starting in the 1990s. Those workshops were the starting point for many of the first generation Internet leaders, and helped to connect many developing countries to the Internet.

* Serving as the organizational home for the pre-eminent Internet standards development organizations, including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). Virtually everything we do online today is because of work done or a standard developed within these organizations.

* Encouraging professional development for technologists and policy makers by providing grants, awards, expertise, and networking opportunities to foster leadership in areas important to the evolution of the Internet.

* Supporting the development and expansion of Internet Society Membership and Chapters around the world. As volunteers, Members and Chapters engage in a wide variety of activities, including educational and networking events to inform members or the general public about Internet related-issues, community programs for economically disadvantaged individuals or those with disabilities, and public policy programs to inform policy and decision makers about critical Internet issues.

* Working as a champion of public policies that advance, validate, and defend an open Internet. The Internet Society is recognized and sought out for its reliable and technologically-sound policy positions on key Internet policy issues, including Trust & Identity, Privacy, Internet Governance, and Human Rights.

* Promoting understanding of and involvement in the development and use of open Internet standards across technical and policy communities. As the underpinnings of the Internet, open technical standards allow devices, services, and applications to be interoperable across a wide and dispersed network of networks. The Internet Society has a long-standing commitment to fostering an open, innovative, and trusted Internet worldwide, and ensuring open Internet standards is foundational to the work of the Internet Society and the IETF.

* Winning the .ORG contract, one of the Internet’s original top-level domains (TLDs). In 2002, the Internet Society founded the Public Interest Registry (PIR), which as a separate company is the domain name registry for all .ORG TLDs.

“Reflecting on this significant milestone, I’d like to congratulate and thank our founders and early leaders, as well as our global community of Members and Chapters, the Board of Trustees, and staff who have all worked so hard to support our mission,” said Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO of the Internet Society. “We all share a passion for the good that the Internet can bring, and it is our hope for the future that everyone in the world will have access to a ubiquitous, reliable, and open Internet.”

In conjunction with its 20-year anniversary, the Internet Society will launch a series of initiatives to focus attention on the evolution of the Internet and the opportunities and challenges that will have a profound impact on its future. An exciting global forum will be held 22-24 April 2012 at the Centre International de Conférences Genève in Geneva, Switzerland.
The event will feature high-powered keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, and interactive workshops to develop a vision for the future of the Internet. Other highlights of the event include a Gala awards dinner and networking opportunities with key businesses, NGOs, and academics operating in the Internet space, as well as Internet pioneers and futurists.

“I am very proud to be part of this global organization and its important work to ensure that people in all parts of the world can enjoy the benefits of an open Internet,” said Raúl Echeberría, Chairman of the Internet Society’s Board of Trustees. “This is a special milestone for the Internet Society, not only to reflect on our past but to look ahead to the future and the impact that we can have through our collective efforts to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive. In 2012, we look forward to continued collaboration with people from around the world to protect the Internet of today for the generations to follow.”

More details on the Internet Society’s 20th anniversary are available at http://www.internetsociety.org/20th

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Internet Society Joins Opposition to Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

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Policies mandating DNS filtering undermine the open architecture of the Internet and raise human rights and freedom of expression concerns

[Washington, D.C. and Geneva, Switzerland – 12 December 2011] – The Internet Society Board of Trustees has expressed concern with a number of U.S. legislative proposals that would mandate DNS blocking and filtering by ISPs to protect the interests of copyright holders. While the Internet Society agrees that combating illicit online activity is an important public policy objective, these critical issues must be addressed in ways that do not undermine the viability of the Internet as a platform for innovation across all industries by compromising its global architecture. The Internet Society Board of Trustees does not believe that the Protect-IP Act (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) are consistent with these basic principles.
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ISOC-NY Event – Jan 5: New Techniques for Protecting Cloud Data and Security

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ISOC-NY & NY Tech. CouncilThe New York Technology Council and Internet Society New York Chapter (ISOC-NY) on Jan 5 2012 will present a joint event “New Techniques for Protecting Cloud Data and Security” – a review of new research, including techniques for data encryption and management, that promises to make the cloud a safer place.

The event is free. Please be sure to register at the link below.

What: New Techniques for Protecting Cloud Data and Security
When: Thursday January 5, 2012, 6pm-8pm
Where: Parsons Kellen Auditorium, 66 Fifth Avenue, NYC
Who: Free for ISOC-NY & NYTECH members. Free for non-members.
Register: https://www.nytech.org/new-cloud-encryption-techniques
Webcast: Will be taped for later viewing
Twitter: #cloud, #security, @ISOCNY, @nytechcouncil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/235852696483623/
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Internet Society Supports United Nations Human Rights Day Focus on Social Media

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[Geneva, Switzerland – 09 December 2011] – The Internet Society welcomed the focus of today’s United Nations Human Rights Day event highlighting the transformational role of the Internet and social media applications in giving voice to people around the world. The Internet Society is a strong advocate of an open and accessible Internet, and sees the Internet as an enabler of human rights.

The influence of the Internet and social media on the ability of citizens to connect, share ideas, and join communities is undeniable. In 2011, popular movements in the Middle East and North Africa demonstrated the Internet’s power to enable individuals to exercise their fundamental rights, in particular the right to freedom of expression as well as the right to peaceful assembly and association. In this context, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also points to the role of social media in peaceful protest movements in many other cities across the globe.

These events illustrate the powerful impact of social media by generating awareness of and support for efforts of people from all walks of life seeking to bring about change, unconstrained by borders, time, and distance.

“The Internet’s influence on society has been profound,” said Lynn St. Amour, Internet Society President and CEO. “The Internet Society is committed to ensuring an open, global, and accessible Internet. It is an instrumental tool to sustain basic human aspirations for freedom and social development.”
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Internet Society statement on DNS Filtering in the US

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The Internet Society has noted with concern a number of U.S. legislative proposals that would mandate DNS blocking and filtering by ISPs in order to protect the interests of copyright holders. We agree with proponents of the Protect-IP Act (PIPA) and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) that combating illegal online activities is a very important public policy objective. However, policies that are enacted to achieve this goal must not undermine the viability of the Internet as a globally reachable platform. After close examination and consultation with the Internet community, we do not believe that the current U.S. legislative proposals are consistent with these basic principles.

In particular, we are concerned with provisions in both laws regarding DNS filtering. DNS filtering is often proposed as a way to block illegal content consumption by end users. Yet policies to mandate DNS filtering have not proven to be effective – these approaches interfere with cross-border data flows and services undermining innovation and social development across the globe. In addition, DNS blocking raises significant concerns with respect to human rights and freedom of expression and may curtail fundamental international principles of rule of law and due process.

The United States has an important leadership role when it comes to online Internet freedoms and should show the way when it comes to balancing local responsibilities and global impact, especially with respect to Internet policy.

In short, the negative impact of DNS filtering far outweighs any short-term, narrow, legal, and commercial benefits. The Internet Society believes that sustained, global collaboration amongst all parties is needed to find ways that protect the global architecture of the Internet while combating illegal online activities. We must all work to support the principles of innovation and freedom of expression upon which the Internet was founded.

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Support the Internet Society!

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On behalf of all of us at the Internet Society, we thank all our members for their commitment to our shared goals for an accessible, secure, ubiquitous and evolving Internet.  It is through this support and interest that we’ve been successful, for example, elevating global awareness of and commitment to Internet Protocol version 6.0 (IPv6), educating interest groups and governments on Net Neutrality, and supporting local Internet Society Chapters and their volunteer members.

The Internet, nevertheless, is faced with challenges from various quarters of the globe and cyberspace: access is unavailable to millions in the developing world making it ever more difficult to escape lives of poverty and disease; access is denied to whole classes of people as a way to exert political or economic control; malicious intrusions from various interest groups defy new security measures; the balances between safety and freedom, between security and transparency teeter everyday.

This is why we need your strong support.  Only the Internet Society offers a powerful, honest and unbiased voice in support of the Internet for Everyone. Through the work of our chapters, organization members and partners, we speak above the fray, inform the policy and decision makers and watch the Internet environment so that all of us may speak and take action.

Please consider a donation to The Internet Society today, or renew/upgrade to a Sustaining Membership for only $75.00 (you’ll need to log into the ISOC Portal for all changes to membership status).

Your assistance will go directly to assist knowledge sharing, Internet Leadership Development and education, and to promote vital debates such as the Internet access as a basic human right. Become part of the engine that propels the Internet as a vibrant, open platform for human social progress.

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Kilnam Chon Receives 2011 Jonathan B. Postel Service Award

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Kilnam Chon[Taipei, 16 November 2011] — The Internet Society today announced that its prestigious Jonathan B. Postel Service Award was presented to leading technologist Professor Kilnam Chon for his significant contributions in the development and advancement of the Internet in Asia.

Professor Chon contributed to the Internet’s growth in Asia through his extensive work in advancing Internet initiatives, research, and development. In addition, his pioneering work inspired many others to promote the Internet’s further growth in the region. The international award committee, comprised of former Jonathan B. Postel award winners, noted that Professor Chon was active in connecting Asia, and that his efforts continue today in the advancement of the Internet in other regions.
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e-meeting – Dec 15 – Deployment & Operationalization Hub (DO Hub)

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The Internet Society will hold an e-meeting on 15 December to introduce a new initiative that collects, creates, and promotes detailed deployment information for IPv6, DNSSEC, and other future standards developed by the IETF. The Deployment & Operationalization Hub (DO Hub)* will work with first adopters to collect and create resources that are easy to understand and quickly actionable by the greater operations community, and will actively solicit the larger community for advice on what deployment topics to cover next.

Many Chapter members are among the first adopters of new technologies and may be interested in helping provide deployment information via the new DO Hub initiative. In addition, the information DO Hub collects will be valuable to Chapter members actively seeking to deploy new technologies. DO Hub events will also provide an avenue for Chapter members to meet their colleagues in person.
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Internet Society Board of Trustees Holds Board Meeting in Dakar, Senegal

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[DAKAR, SENEGAL – 24 October 2011] – The Internet Society today announced that its Board of Trustees held its 90th meeting on 22 – 23 October 2011 in Dakar, Senegal. During the meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the organization’s three-year business plan that includes a wide range of programs in support of its mission to promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world.

While the world population rapidly approaches 7 billion, approximately 2 billion people have access to the Internet. Internet penetration in many developing countries hovers well below 5%. Compared to other regions of the world, Africa has the lowest percent of Internet users to total population; however it is one of the fastest-growing regions for Internet penetration and usage.
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ISOC-NY OneWebDay event: Bob Frankston – “Infrastructure commons – the future of connectivity”

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The 6th annual global OneWebDay celebration will be Thursday September 22 2011. ISOC-NY’s contribution will be to host respected computer scientist and Internet iconoclast Bob Frankston who will present on the theme “Infrastructure commons – the future of connectivity”.

The subways, roads and sidewalks are vital infrastructure. The Internet should be no different – our economy, health and safety depend on our ability to communicate. Yet its provision and economy are based on outdated, inequitable, and inefficient telecom models. How do we move to a connected future?

What: Bob Frankston “Infrastructure commons – the future of connectivity”
When: OneWebDay, Thu Sep 22 2011 – 7.15pm – 9pm
Where: Rm. 202, Courant Institute NYU, 251 Mercer St NYC
Who: Public welcome. In person or by webcast.
Webcast: http://livestream.com/internetsocietychapters
Twitter:@isocny, #onewebday, @bobfrankston
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175684272508607
shorturl: http://bit.ly/frankston

Dave Burstein
We are happy to also announce that Dave Burstein of DSL Prime has agreed to moderate the session. Dave will also talk about the practicalities of establishing community networks.

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Applications open for ISOC Fellowships to OECD Technology Foresight Forum

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isoc next generation leadersThe Internet Society is pleased to invite applications for Fellowships to the OECD Technology Foresight Forum.

Fellowships to the OECD Technology Foresight Forum are part of the Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders (NGL) programme and are available to Internet Society members aged between 20 and 40 years.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Technology Foresight Forum is an annual event organized by the OECD’s Committee for Information, Computer, and Communications Policy (ICCP) to help identify how technical developments create opportunities for, and pose challenges to the Internet Economy. Foresight Forums are a collaborative effort of policymakers from member and non-member governments, business, civil society, and the Internet technical community.

About the OECD ICCP Technology Foresight Forum 2011
—————————————————
In 2011, the OECD Foresight Forum will focus on Evolving Mobile Wireless Platforms and Applications. Participants will explore and evaluate the tremendous potential that mobile networks, applications, and content have for future economic and social development. The Forum will be held in Paris on 26 October.

Fellows to the OECD may be given the opportunity to engage in various tasks at the Forum, including assisting the OECD Secretariat with preparatory work, reporting, and speaking. Details of these opportunities will be confirmed with the OECD Secretariat and successful applicants in advance of the Forum.

More details of the Fellowship to the OECD Technology Foresight Forum are available here:

https://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/oecd-fellowship/

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IETF Fellowship (IETF 82 and 83) – Application Deadline is July 15

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isoc next generation leadersThe Internet Society has announced that it is inviting applications for its latest Internet Society Fellowships to the IETF, part of its Next Generation Leaders (NGL) programme (www.InternetSociety.org/Leaders). The Fellowship programme allows engineers from developing countries to attend an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting.

The IETF is the Internet’s premier standards-making body, responsible for the development of protocols used in IP-based networks. IETF participants represent an international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers involved in the technical operation of the Internet and the continuing evolution of Internet architecture.

Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive application process. The Internet Society is currently accepting fellowship applications for the next two IETF meetings:

* IETF 82, 13 – 18 Nov 2011, Taipei, TW
* IETF 83, 25 – 30 March, Paris, FR

Info: http://www.isoc.org/educpillar/fellowship/index.php

Fellowship applications for both IETF meetings are due by 15 July 2011.

We encourage you to pass on information about this program to individuals involved in your network that have a keen interest in the Internet standardisation activities of the IETF.
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ISOC-NY Event Sat 6/18 @NYU: Beyond the Bleeding Edge: Confronting the Ghosts in the Machine

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Where: Warren Weaver Hall NYU, 251 Mercer St NYC, Room 109
When: Saturday, June 18, 1-5 pm
Who: Public Welcome. Admission Free.
Webcast: http://bit.ly/isoctv

We have designed our civilization based on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up inour faces.” – Carl Sagan

Never has a clear comprehension of the technology surrounding us been more critical than today. We tell machines what to do and hope they’ll do it, and when they don’t they leave us vulnerable to technological accidents and acts of malice we cannot comprehend. This event will bring together technologists from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to explore technology on a granular level, from perspectives ranging from user behavior in virtual environments to the exploitation of functions at the hardware level.
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