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THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN THE WCITǧ12
Security
Article 5A Security and Robustness of Networks simply reads:
Member States
shall individually and collectively endeavour to ensure the security and robustness of
international telecommunication networks in order to achieve effective use thereof
and avoidance of technical harm there to, as well as the harmonious development of
international telecommunication services offered to the public
. This cannot reveal all the
emotions and discussions behind it. At first glance, it suggests that Member States
should take care of the networks in order to keep them safe. The problem, however,
lies in the expression “security”, which the internet community uses to describe steps
taken to ensure delivery of harmless content. Telecommunications, on the other
hand, use robustness as a description of a network that is ready to transfer a huge
amount of content from one point to the other safely and unspoiled. The discussions
over how to address those two expressions were endless, leading to a compromise in
which both are included.
Question of spam
One of the significant characteristics of the whole WCIT-12 was a continuous
effort to make the ITRs applicable on as many issues as possible. One of the typical
examples is spam. Although it seems logical to address the opinion of the need to
combat spam, it was unacceptable for many states, including the Czech Republic,
to make such provisions a part of the ITRs. Spam or any bulk information is always
about content, which some users consider intrusive, but others might find useful.
Governments should not regulate spam, especially not because of an international
treaty.
After endless discussions, Article 5B, entitled
“Unsolicited bulk electronic
communications”,
was adopted as follows:
Member States should endeavour to take necessary measures to prevent the propagation
of unsolicited bulk electronic communications and minimize its impact on international
telecommunication services.
Member States are encouraged to cooperate in that sense.
It is important to state that this moment,for many states, meant an enormous
step towards their decision for not signing the ITRs.
Preamble
The most crucial issue not only for ITRs but for the whole WCIT-12 was
the Preamble that was opened by the Tunisian proposal on freedom of expression
and the Polish one, and subsequently EU ones, concerning human rights in
telecommunications. This issue brought forward so many polarised views that it led
to informal negotiations within regional groups. Ahead of the spam and the security
texts, the Preamble text was opened. The USA proposal, “
While implementing these
Regulations Member States shall take into account their international obligations in
relation to universal human rights
”, which worked well for the EU, opened a huge