Rethinking Trust in Internet Governance

Abstract

Within the broader Internet governance community, there has been a resurgence of interest in the issue of trust and the implications that declining levels of it will have on the future potential of the Internet. Policymakers and academics now posit that the critical driver of the Internet’s future is no longer the purview of businesses or governments, but rather is driven by the attitudes of Internet users (CIGI/IPSOS 2014, 2016; Global Commission on Internet Governance 2016). Eroding levels of trust surrounding practices related to personal data, government surveillance, Internet security and Internet freedom are believed to undermine the future potential of the network as a vehicle for economic growth, creativity and innovation, and social inclusion. If users lose trust in the internet, they will stop using it, fundamentally disrupting the benefits the world has reaped through the explosion of online business, education, e-commerce, e-health, and other related services.

Keywords: GigaNet