EU: EC Proposes Information Society Charter

The EC has proposed an International Charter to strengthen world-wide co-ordination for the elimination of barriers to the development of the information society. The Commission believes it is in the interests of industry, users and the general public to ensure greater consistency in global rules for doing business electronically and for using the global communications networks. The idea of such a charter was first raised in September 1997 by the European Telecommunications Commissioner, Martin Bangemann, who said on 4 February: “If we don’t agree to terms globally, each of us will try to set our own regulations, which will lead to over-regulation. But if we do nothing at all, there will be a lack of confidence in the Internet by users.” The Commission has suggested that an international debate, aimed at concluding with the adoption of such a charter in 1999, should now be started. The new charter – the idea of which is strongly opposed by the US – would not require a new international supervisory authority and would not be legally binding but it would encourage the international community to reach an understanding on these areas. Bangemann has also said that while his aim is that all homes, schools and businesses in Europe have access to the Internet, it is “premature” to consider taking regulatory steps to obtain that end.