Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations

Statement by the Representative of the Russian Federation Mr. Boris Meshchanov at the informal consultations on the Global Digital Compact «Internet Governance»

Distinguished Global Digital Compact Coordinators,

Distinguished Secretary General's Envoy on Technology,

Today, the Internet provides a modern world with the broadest opportunities in various spheres of life. Many critically important processes within states, their economic security, well-being and protection of the rights of citizens currently depend on the functioning of the World Wide Web. The Internet has long been the property of all mankind.

The Russian Federation consistently calls to internationalization of Internet governance and equal participation of States in this process, the sovereign right of States to regulate national segments of the Internet. Actually, the vast majority of countries would support such a truly democratic approach, which was recorded back in 2005 in the Tunis Agenda of the World Summit on the Information Society. Thus, paragraph 24 recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for coordinating public funding programs and government initiatives in the field of ICT development. Paragraph 35 establishes the political authority to decide public policy issues related to the Internet as the sovereign right of States. Paragraph 68 recognizes that all Governments should have the same tasks and obligations in the area of Internet governance on an international basis.

However, true equality of states in matters of Internet governance is far from being achieved. On the contrary, declarations have emerged in which states are artificially classified into “democratic” and “authoritarian”, the latter allegedly opposed to a free and safe Internet. We consider such drawing of "dividing lines" in relation to the Internet unfortunate and unacceptable leading to fragmentation of the World Wide Web. Moreover we have been witnesses of examples of exercising coercive measures and other limitations against developing states with the use of ICTS and the Internet. It is thus fundamentally important through the collective efforts of all countries interested in maintaining their own information sovereignty to achieve the internationalization of Internet governance while increasing the role of States in this process. To be underlined, despite the recognition of the special role of states in ICT issues, the concept of “multistakeholder model” used today in various forums for Internet governance in fact only creates the illusion that States are involved in this process. Dominant position in the market is maintained by large technological conglomerates, in fact, they seek to replace the State. The regulation of the Internet exclusively by the private sector has long been shown to be ineffective. Only States can guarantee the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens and play a unique role in matters of the economy, security and stability of critical information infrastructure. Especially acute today is the question of the need to create criteria for the responsible behavior of global digital platforms and tools to regulate their activities.

In the work on the future draft of the Global Compact, the Russian Federation intends to follow the course of creating a balanced international system for managing the Internet infrastructure and developing a global policy in this area under the auspices of the UN. Other UN Mandates however should be respected and not mixed, while roles and responsibilities of stakeholders further clearly established as agreed in Geneva and Tunis agenda. 

I thank you. We intend to comment on issues of human rights, trust and security and other issues raised today, under their relevant consultations in accordance with the Roadmap.