Internet Governance: A Human Rights Perspective

This book will provide critical insights into Internet governance through an in-depth examination of human rights law.

The term Internet governance is used to describe the interlinked processes that steer the growth and development of the Internet. The Internet is unique as a user-generated, international, decentralised technology that has evolved without strong State control and, as such, poses distinct regulatory challenges.

Given the pervasive nature of the Internet, its use increasingly brings implications for the protection of human rights. Equality of access, privacy and freedom of expression all need to be supported within a governance structure that is often dominated by State and commercial interests. Internet Governance: A Human Rights Perspective examines the regulatory framework and the role of the State, self-regulatory bodies and co-regulatory initiatives from the perspective of the protection of fundamental freedoms. The book will be in three main parts: the first will examine the international human rights framework with a focus on Internet development; the second will take specific rights in turn and present an in-depth analysis of key policy issues; and the third will bring these together to present a critical account of the potential for human rights debates to shape the future of the Internet.

This book will be of great interest to students and academics with an interest in IT law, Internet regulation and human rights law.

Catherine Easton is a Lecturer at Lancaster University, UK. Her research interests focus upon Internet governance, domain name regulation, intellectual property, access to technology and human/computer interaction. She has published in a number of cross-disciplinary publications and has been an invited expert to speak on the area of website accessibility.