Election '14 and the Internet: paper released

Election '14 and the Internet: paper released

InternetNZ has today released to the public a paper setting out seven important issues facing the Internet, to help public discussion of Internet issues as the 2014 General Election approaches.

"This paper sets out seven important issues facing the Internet's development. For each we set out what the situation is, why it's important, and suggest questions that policymakers, the media and all those interested in the Internet's future should consider in working out what (if anything) needs to change in responding to the challenges these issues present to New Zealand," says InternetNZ Chief Executive Jordan Carter.

The paper, titled "Election '14 and the Internet", covers the following topics:

• domestic connectivity (beyond the UFB and RBI)

• international connectivity (new cables, data caps)

• fair intellectual property law (copyright, content generation in schools)

• surveillance and privacy (appropriate surveillance, what people want in terms of privacy)

• government's role in the ICT industry (workforce training, the various levers governments have)

• productivity and business use of the Internet (how SMEs can add more value through Internet use)

• human rights online (how to give effect to human rights in the Internet age)

"This paper was developed with the input of a wide range of InternetNZ members and other stakeholders. The analysis is founded on the policy principles that guide all our work on Internet issues," Jordan Carter says.

"Importantly, this paper doesn't set out any kind of wishlist.

"Instead, it's designed to help all those thinking about Internet issues step back from the day to day rush of policy debate and discussion. By setting out questions to focus people's minds on what matters, we hope that better outcomes for New Zealanders will result.

"I'd like to thank all those who contributed to the creation of this paper. I look forward to the discussion it will help create," Jordan Carter says.

The paper is available on the InternetNZ website: https://internetnz.net.nz/our-work/submissions/Election-14-and-Internet

ENDS

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