Una agenda de derechos en Internet que detalla deseos en turno al derecho de comunicarse; la libertad de expresión y de intercambio de información; diversidad de contenidos, propiedad y control, protección de los derechos de los usuarios; otorgamiento de licencias y control de la propiedad intelectual; privacidad; gobierno de Internet; y concientización sobre derechos y efectivización de los mismos.

"El documento explicita algunos elementos fundamentales para iniciar una discusión alrededor del papel de la Internet como una herramienta para la construcción de una sociedad equitativa, participativa y solidaria. Se propone una visión social de la Internet, partiendo de los conceptos de acceso, uso y apropiación. Se argumenta alrededor de la idea de que la brecha digital es resultado de la brecha social y que la conexión a la Internet por sí misma no producirá una diferencia. Así mismo se sustenta la idea de que el papel fundamental de la Internet debería ser el de contribuir a la generación de nuevos conocimientos que se aplique a las realidades concretas para que propicie la transformación social y que las acciones de los diferentes actores sociales deberían estar orientadas a crear las capacidades para poder aprovechar la tecnología en este sentido."

Una propuesta de los elementos del derecho a la comunicación que incluye el derecho a la libertad de opinión, el derecho a la libertad de expresión, el derecho a la libertad de difusión, la libertad de Información, y el derecho al acceso y uso de los medios y tecnologías de la información y comunicación.

La persona humana está dotada de la innata capacidad de expresarse y a través de ella buscar la comunicación. El mundo de hoy es especialmente complejo en cuanto a las relaciones expresivas, y aparecen con fuerza inusitada las denominadas industrias culturales, que nos ofrecen sus propias propuestas comunicativas. En la década de los 90s, las comunicaciones han despertado una atención y un debate sin precedentes a nivel jurídico, que deben concluir en la delimitación del Derecho de las Comunicaciones y de las libertades que lo conforman. El autor plantea algunas propuestas de lineamientos reguladores que pueden contribuir a este propósito.

"This paper discusses the impact of ‘computer mediated communication’ (or CMC) on political activism and social movements."

"CMC may be expected to affect collective action by improving the effectiveness of communication and facilitating collective identity and solidarity. However, the heterogeneity of social movements undermines generic arguments and their relationship to CMC. Accordingly, the potential consequences of CMC on three different types of political organizations are discussed: organizations mobilizing mainly participatory resources, organizations focusing on professional resources, and transnational networks. The potential to build ‘virtual [social movement] communities’ seems highest among sympathizers of movement organizations who act professionally on behalf of causes with vast resonance among the public opinion and low radical potential. All in all, the most distinctive contribution of CMC to social movements still seems to be instrumental rather than symbolic. Existing bonds and solidarities are likely to generate more effective mobilization attempts than was the case before the diffusion of CMC; it is more disputable though as to whether CMC may create brand new social ties where there were none."

"The 1999 Seattle demonstrations greatly increased public awareness of the policy-making role of international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank. Another emerging, lesser-known international organization, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), has also been having a growing influence. Like the WTO, people often describe ICANN as a neutral body performing technical functions with no policy implications. But ICANN’s technical decisions definitely have policy implications, most notably in intellectual property rights, where its rules define the property rights contained in the worlds used in domain names. Many observers see ICANN as likely to evolve into the Internet’s governing institution. We should examine what is at stake with ICANN: the governance of the most important new communications medium since television; and we should consider the recent mobilization for popular participation in ICANN, and some broader lessons for the use of the Internet by social movements."

This article discusses why, how and what to advocate in terms of incorporating the Internet into socially relevant public policy in Central America. While many civil society organizations (CSOs) in Central America use Internet at an organizational level, they have not yet begun to consider it in terms of their strategic advocacy planning and agenda. At the same time, the governments of the region are pursuing processes of decentralization or decision-making and service provision that open new possibilities for citizen participation. Thus, it is necessary for CSOs to begin thinking about how ICTs can contribute to public policies that contribute to social transformation, and that respond to social needs and the needs of CSOs.

Public policies constitute one of the instruments available to CSOs for serving the needs of the public and solving social problems. If public policies are to serve the people, then they must meet three criteria: equal opportunity, quality, and transparency. In order for the Internet to contribute to public policies that meet these criteria, the article sets as a goal a social vision for Internet that includes equitable access, meaningful use, and social appropriation. Based on this, the idea is to identify intersections between socially relevant public policies and Internet, where Internet can have a positive social impact on equal opportunity, quality and transparency through its incorporation in public policies.

Currently, governments in Central America are focusing on two questions: How can ICTs be placed at the service of governments and the economy, and how can the Internet be used to improve the efficiency, efficacy and transparency of public policy? Current programs focus on putting information online for existing services, creation of new services and programs, and citizen participation. However, these three types of programs require parallel social and institutional changes.

The Internet in itself cannot fix public policies with serious problems of quality, opportunity and transparency. If the Internet is to contribute to these types of changes, then CSOs must begin to address Internet in their advocacy agendas in order to facilitate public participation. Thus, one must consider what aspects of public policy can be the objects of public participation. Public participation can range from information, through consultation, citizen control, delegation of functions, co-management to self-management. But, where Internet is concerned, governments tend to associate democracy with electronic government which includes online information and consultation. Overall, "if the incorporation of the Internet into public policies takes place in a scenario where the citizenry does not have a say in when, how and why the Internet is incorporated into said policies, then perspectives on access, meaningful use and social appropriation of Internet will be limited."

In terms of making change, private interests have a higher capacity for advocacy than CSOs. For public policies to be 'public' they must balance or aggregate the demands and interests of various actors. Thus, if the objective is to improve the capacity of public policy to respond to social needs, then three objectives of advocacy are: 1) to identify the potential of Internet to improve the ability of public policies to meet social needs, 2) work with CSOs that work on advocacy, and 3) build organizational capacity to incorporate Internet into advocacy agendas for public policy that is relevant.

This document was commissioned by DFID in support of the DOT Force’s efforts to promote more effective universal participation in international ICT decision-making. It sought to map international ICT decision-making; assess current developing country participation and identify obstacles to effective engagement; and make recommendations. Many developing countries are members of established ICT decision-making spaces, however, 1) there is a missing link between ICT policy and development policy at the international level, 2) developing countries have little presence in voluntary or private spaces, 3) developing countries have no presence in areas where standards are determined by markets, 4) developing countries are often excluded from technical policy spaces de facto due to a lack of technical capacity, and 5) effective participation is not limited to what happens before and during meetings. Recommendations include building technical and policy capacity and institutional capacity, improving access to information about the international ICT policy agenda, and improving the structure, functioning and working methods of international ICT policy fora.