Internet cannot co-exist with the concept of governance: Kapil Sibal

A new cyber jurisprudence, having no political boundaries, needs to be evolved to deal with Internet crime, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said on Tuesday.

Terming the Internet governance as oxymoron, he also said Internet cannot coexist with the concept of governance.

"Internet Governance is an oxymoron. Internet, by its very nature, cannot coexist with the concept of 'governance', which relates to a system designed for dealing with the issues of the physical world," said an official release quoting Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal as saying.

"The term 'Governance', immediately invokes concepts of those who govern and those who are governed, which have no relevance in cyber-space," Sibal added.

Sibal is in Baku, Azerbaijan, for a high-level ministerial meeting at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

He said that issues of public policy related to the Internet have to be dealt with, by adopting a multi-stakeholder, democratic and transparent approach.

Sibal stressed on putting in place a system which is "collaborative, consultative, inclusive and consensual for dealing with all public policies involving the Internet".

He said that all stakeholders should be involved in the decision-making process and the consultative process should also factor regional and national sensitivities besides vast diversities in language and culture.

Also, the process should be evolutionary as static frameworks are inappropriate for meeting the ever-changing requirements of the Internet space, he added.

"A mechanism for accountability, in respect of crimes committed in cyberspace should be put in place. A new cyber jurisprudence needs to be evolved to deal with cyber crime, without being limited by political boundaries and cyber-justice can be delivered in near real time," Sibal said.

It should also be duly reflective of the ground realities as to the manner of representation of stakeholders at all consultative forums, he added.

In order to deliberate on the approaches to the design and establishment of such a cyber-paradigm, India has recommended the constitution of a Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation, he said.