News Stories Archives

Obama Appoints USCIB Members to National Cybersecurity Commission

Published on April 14, 2016

White_HouseGiven society’s increasing reliance on computer systems and information and communication technologies (ICTs), cybersecurity must lie at the heart of any national security strategy. To that end, President Obama announced today his appointees to the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, a new office established within the Department of Commerce to raise awareness about digital security in the United States.

“I have charged the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity with the critically-important task of identifying the steps that our nation must take to ensure our cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world,” President Obama said in a White House press release. “These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience and talent to this important role, and I look forward to receiving the Commission’s recommendations.”

Two USCIB members were appointed to the 12-member commission: Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard, and Peter Lee, corporate vice president of Microsoft Research. USCIB’s ICT Policy Committee has actively shaped the development of a model cybersecurity framework in the OECD, as well as an International Chamber of Commerce practical business guide to implement the OECD security guidelines. USCIB also contributes regularly to the U.S. government’s calls for public comments on cybsercurity challenges.

Business Welcomes Revised OECD e-Commerce Recommendation

Published on March 31, 2016

Smartphone_mobile_globeThe revision of the 1999 OECD Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce (1999), which was initiated in 2014, came to a conclusion with the adoption by the OECD Council on March 24 of a revised Recommendation.

The Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD welcomes the update which takes account of significant evolutions in the technical landscape as well as in consumer habits. From the onset, the BIAC Consumer Policy Task Force contributed actively to the works of the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy, pointing to the benefits of e-commerce and recommending a flexible approach rather than focusing on challenges.

The revised Recommendation will be discussed by ministers and high level experts during the consumer trust panel at the OECD Ministerial on the Digital Economy on June 22 in Cancun, Mexico.

Business Urges Policymakers to Avoid Trade-Distorting Data Privacy Measures

Published on March 21, 2016

dataflows

Paris and New York, March 22, 2016 – Some 10.2 billion new connected devices are expected to come online over the next five years – nearly double the number in existence today. Many of these devices will transmit user data for processing across borders. But a proliferation of forced localization measures and other government policies to restrict cross-border data transfers threaten to choke off essential cross-border electronic commerce.

Businesses from across the developed world are urging policymakers to avoid imposing rules on data privacy and security that distort global trade. In a new paper, BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, points to the crucial role of cross-border data flows for the recovery and future of the global economy, and calls on the OECD and governments to develop policies and regulatory frameworks that address concerns for security and privacy in the least trade-distorting way.

“Governments must avoid restricting trade through data localization measures”, said Clifford Sosnow, chair of the BIAC Trade Committee and partner with the Canadian law firm Fasken Martineau LLP. “Considering the importance of this issue for competitive markets, this paper offers recommendations to address the impact of data localization and at the same time deal with privacy and security concerns.”

The BIAC paper had significant input from the U.S. private sector via BIAC’s American affiliate, the United States Council for International Business. The paper estimates that, if fully enacted, government forced localization measures currently in place, or under consideration, could reduce global trade by $93 billion annually.

BIAC recognizes the OECD’s unique capacity to gather and develop evidence on trade restrictive measures on data flows, and accordingly requests the OECD to:

  • highlight to governments the impact of data localization on trade and investment
  • raise awareness among all industries on the importance of data flows for business operations and participation in global trade
  • promote policies that enable open flow of data, to support the rapidly growing number of business models that rely on data flows.

BIAC will work with the OECD to promote best practices in the field of cross-border data flows and encourage governments to refrain from measures that compromise the benefits of open markets and investment for growth.

Read the BIAC policy paper.

USCIB Applauds Plan to Transition Stewardship of Key Internet Functions, Urges U.S. Government Approval

Published on March 10, 2016

Digital GlobeNew York, N.Y., March 10, 2016 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomed a comprehensive package of proposals developed by numerous Internet stakeholders including the private sector, which will enable global stewardship of the domain name system (DNS) and enhance accountability of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which manages the global domain name system.

The proposals, if approved, would permit the transfer of the stewardship of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a set of core functions necessary for the running of the Internet domain name system, from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to the multi-stakeholder Internet community, with safeguards to enable active involvement by the in processes designed to hold ICANN accountable as an independent entity.

“While some have argued that the Internet should be overseen by governments, the two-year process that culminated in this plan demonstrates that the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance works,” said USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson. “This model is clearly the most appropriate means for considering issues that could affect the operation of the global Internet as we move forward.”

At an ICANN meeting wrapping up today in Marrakesh, Morocco, ICANN’s board approved the proposal and immediately transmitted it to NTIA.

“USCIB worked actively to help shape this ground-breaking initiative,” said Robinson. “We believe that the final product will meet NTIA’s criteria for the transition of the IANA stewardship role and ensure the continued stability, security and resiliency of the domain name system as well as fundamental openness of the Internet. We urge NTIA to approve the plan.”

The package combines the technical requirements for the IANA stewardship transition with important, interrelated enhancements to ICANN’s accountability to replace the “backstop” function provided by NTIA’s current contract with ICANN.

“USCIB believes this package will best ensure the continued security and stability of the domain name system and preclude its capture by a government or governmental entity, which is one of NTIA’s important criteria,” according to Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for information, communications and technology (ICT) policy.

On ICANN accountability, USCIB said the proposal would empower the Internet community through use of a bottom-up, multi-stakeholder model. “There are details that still need refinement, such as the drafting of bylaws,” said Wanner. “We look forward to helping shape these as part of the continued open and consultative implementation process.”

According to Wanner, USCIB contributions to the processes of encouraging the IANA stewardship transition and enhancing ICANN’s accountability have reflected cross-sectoral and cross-community perspectives. She noted that, as an association composed of more than 300 multinational companies, law firms and business associations, the organization’s membership represents a broad cross-section of leading global companies in the ICT sector. Moreover, USCIB members come from both the “contracted house” of ICANN – those companies that serve as registries and registrars of Internet domain names – as well as the “non-contracted house,” which encompasses others in the private sector.

About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 917.420.0039, jhuneke@uscib.org

More on USCIB’s ICT Committee

Internet’s Future to be Discussed at OECD Digital Economy Ministerial

Published on March 7, 2016

Digital GlobeThe rapid increase of information and communications technologies (ICT) and online participation compels us to consider the potentially transformative effects of technology on a broad range of socially beneficial, data driven applications. The upcoming 2016 OECD Digital Economy Ministerial in Cancún is an opportunity to think about the path forward and continue to promote these transformative opportunities in an open, transparent, responsible and inclusive manner, respecting both individual rights and freedoms and the rule of law.

Contributing actively to the development of the next OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) Ministerial Declaration, a delegation from the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD led by USCIB ICT Committee Chair Joe Alhadeff is raising business concerns about the future of the digital economy. The drafting session for the Ministerial Declaration, a multi-stakeholder consultation process also including advisory members of the technical community, has progressed substantially from the first draft in September. The next version of the consensus-built OECD CDEP Ministerial Statement will be available during the next CDEP meetings from March 29 to April 1.

Please read “Enabling a Vibrant Digital Economy” by USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson for more information on USCIB’s involvement in the Digital Economy Ministerial.

USCIB Heads to Peru for APEC Policy Dialogues

Published on February 22, 2016

APEC_PERUSupporting six million American jobs and hosting two thirds of the global middle class, the Asia-Pacific region is of great interest to the business community, as global companies are eager to tap the region’s growing markets. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum – the most influential economic dialogue in the region – continues to be a priority for USCIB members, as it is key to accelerating regional economic integration and promoting balanced, sustainable growth.

To aid private-sector engagement in the dialogue, USCIB works with the U.S. APEC business coalition to give members access to APEC officials and participate in APEC meetings throughout the year, culminating in the APEC CEO Summit, a meeting of CEOs and leaders from the APEC economies.

USCIB is in actively engaged in a number of the APEC working groups related to customs, product policy, and information and communication technologies. Each year, USCIB compiles an APEC priorities and recommendations paper to help direct and coordinate work with our members and APEC officials.

Three of USCIB’s policy team will be attending the upcoming first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 1) in Lima Peru, which began this past weekend.

Action on trade facilitation

Megan Giblin, USCIB’s director for customs and trade facilitation, will participate in the APEC Alliance for Supply Chain Connectivity (A2C2) and the Subcommittee on Customs Procedures meetings, and will identify linkages to the work underway within the USCIB Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee including, but not limited to, e-commerce, single-window efforts, and other aspects that tie directly to WTO TFA implementation.

Giblin was also confirmed last week as the industry Co-Chair to the APEC Subcommittee on Customs Procedures Virtual Working Group (VWG) along with the government of New Zealand. USCIB both helped create the working group and has facilitated its work, co-chairing the group, since its inception. The VWG is comprised of both customs officials and members of the private sector.

Smarter chemicals regulations

Helen Medina, USCIB’s vice president of product policy and Innovation will attend the APEC Chemical Dialogue (CD) meetings to support USCIB’s work and recommendations on a coordinated approach to implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and future GHS capacity building workshops. Medina will also support USCIB’s Customs priorities in the area of Chemical Import Procedures.

USCIB will continue to encourage work within the CD on metals risk assessment, specifically follow-up to the workshop on this topic in 2015 as well as the dissemination of pending OECD metals assessment scientific guidance as joint OECD-APEC guidance for APEC Economies.  Lastly, Medina will meet with the Lima Chamber of Commerce, Peru’s most representative organization promoting Peru’s global economic integration, to share USCIB priorities during the Peru host year and collaborate on areas of mutual interest.

Facilitating cross-border data flows

Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president of ICT policy will participate in the SOM 1 meetings of the Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG), with particular focus on the Data Privacy Subgroup. The meetings will focus on expanding APEC economies’ understanding of and participation in the Cross-Border Privacy Rules system (CBPR). The CBPR system requires firms in participating economies to develop their own internal business rules on cross-border data privacy procedures, complying with the system’s minimum requirements. The meetings will also explore a selection of next-generation privacy issues, such as data portability, open data and privacy, and big data.

Wanner  will also participate in a special workshop, “Building a Dependable Framework for Privacy, Innovation and Cross-Border Data Flows in the Asia-Pacific Region,” which will set the stage for subsequent discussions on APEC CBPR and other privacy issues during the informal and formal ECSG and DPS meetings.

If you would like any further information on the above meetings or issues, please feel free to reach out to our team.

Customs: Megan Giblin, mgiblin@uscib.org
Chemicals: Helen Medina, hmedina@uscib.org
ICT and Data Privacy: Barbara Wanner, bwanner@uscib.org
APEC priorities: Rachel Spence, rspence@uscib.org

WSIS+10: Advance SDGs for Secure and Vibrant Digital Economy in Africa

Published on December 16, 2015
L-R: Moctar Yedaly (African Union), John Danilovich (ICC) and Joseph Alhadeff (Oracle)
L-R: Moctar Yedaly (African Union), John Danilovich (ICC) and Joseph Alhadeff (Oracle)

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) initiative, the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA) and the African Union (AU) joined forces to provide an integrated view of the lessons learned from the implementation of the United Nations (UN) millennium development goals (MDGs) and the good practices imperative for enabling the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The review took place at a side event hosted during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +10 high level review meeting at UN Headquarters in New York. Under the theme “Digital economy and sustainable development”, the luncheon event highlighted the value of information communication technologies (ICTs) and the Internet in the underpinning infrastructure for economic and social progress and providing tools for programmes in sectors such as health, finance and education. Panelists from business and the governments of Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa shared perspectives on how to ensure the Internet continues to be a platform for growth and a critical enabler of sustainable development.

Co-moderators of the session Joseph Alhadeff (Oracle) chair of the ICC’s Commission on the Digital Economy and of USCIB’s ICT Committee, and Moctar Yedaly of the African Union, invited participants to discuss how progress towards the SDGs could be made, reflecting on the myriad ways in which ICTs have already helped to advance several MDGs in Africa.

Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, deputy minister of telecommunications and postal service, South Africa, who took part in the event, said: “If we really want to bring a new agenda of how the use of ICTs helps us to step up our efforts, to equalize and create a sustainable society, we have to deepen our conversations as partners and as to what responsibilities we bear, and how we measure the commitments.”

wsiis1_sourceChaired by ICC Secretary General John Danilovich, the event also featured Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications, Nigeria, Nermine El Saadany, under secretary for international relations division, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt and ICC BASIS members Jimson Olufuye, chairman, Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA).

The interactive discussion focused on the development of a secure and vibrant digital economy in Africa that would help the region better integrate into the global digital economy. Egyptian small business owner and ICC BASIS Officer Hossam El-Gamal said: “We need competitiveness, transparency, security and openness to encourage investment and bring the next billion online.”

For more information about the side event ‘Digital economy and sustainable development’ please click here

 

ICC Launches Principles to Support Innovation

Published on December 2, 2015

inno_sourceThe International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has launched a new set of principles to support the development of policy frameworks that enable innovation, especially in high-technology industries.

The principles – which  promote policies that support innovation as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and broad-based opportunity – were released at a roundtable in Geneva co-hosted at the Permanent Mission to Canada and attended by senior business executives and ambassadors representing a range of countries. They respond, in part, to the challenge of the United Nations’ new Sustainable Development Goals which emphasize the role of innovation in tackling global challenges such as extreme poverty and climate change.

The paper expands upon four central principles, necessary for the creation of a supportive policy environment for innovation. In doing so, it urges policymakers to:

– Build investor confidence by encouraging dialogue between stakeholders, providing stability and good governance, investing in infrastructure and ensuring that regulatory frameworks are predictable, transparent, robust and up to date.

– Train skilled workers in a climate that promotes knowledge exchange  To achieve this, the principles highlight the need for collaboration across sectors, along with investment in educational infrastructure and public-private research programs.

– Open markets to trade and investment, noting that innovation is a global endeavor that transcends borders. The principles state that national trade and competition laws should not discriminate between domestic and foreign companies, and that national systems aimed at attracting investment should conform to international norms and take into account global competition to attract investment capital.

– Ensure adequate intellectual property (IP) systems to incentivize investment in innovation . The paper explains that effective and predictable intellectual property systems assist businesses to obtain financing for innovation, provide certainty that businesses can recoup their investments in R&D, and enable innovative ideas to be commercialized and scaled. They also help to provide security for sharing know-how between businesses and other entities in the context of collaborative innovation.

“The social, environmental, and economic challenges that we face today require innovative responses,” said ICC Secretary General John Danilovich, “Business has a key role to play in helping society meet these challenges but can only do so in an environment that supports innovation. The ICC Innovation Principles have been created with this in mind, and we hope that they will provide the foundation for a wider discussion on technological innovation between business and policymakers.”

To download the ICC Principles on Creating and Nurturing Innovation Ecosystems for High-Tech Industries, click here .

5 Business Messages from the Internet Governance Forum

Published on November 30, 2015

IGF logo(1)_sourceThe Internet Governance Forum (IGF) concluded in Brazil recently bringing together more than 2,400 participants from over 116 countries to discuss Internet governance issues relating to cybersecurity, the Internet economy, inclusiveness, diversity, human rights, critical Internet resources and others. We take a look back at some key business messages that emerged during the four-day event.

Future of the IGF: A crucial time

Addressing government representatives at a high level meeting prior to the Internet Governance Forum, Ilham Habibie, chair of the ICC initiative Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) said that extending the IGF mandate for at least 10 years would assure that Internet governance goals aligned with the United Nation’s recently agreed sustainable development goals which, in varying degrees, all rely on ICTs connected over the Internet and in back end-systems. A United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting marking the conclusion of the 10-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society will bring the future governance of the Internet to a critical juncture next month.

ICTs and Internet for sustainable development

Under the theme of empowering sustainable development, the IGF highlighted how private-sector investment in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship had transformed the Internet from an information exchange network to a powerful platform for sustainable social and economic development.

From e-health services or water distribution projects, to providing solutions for reducing carbon footprints, IGF workshops and main sessions provided wide-ranging examples of how the private sector was leveraging the Internet every day to improve the living conditions of people, bridge gaps that create inequalities, and protect and renew the planet’s resources.

An ICC BASIS co-hosted workshop on multistakeholder practices enabling sustainable development looked at the ways in which cooperation across stakeholders can drive sustainable development and underscored how attainment of all 17 UN sustainable development goals would rely in varying degrees on ICTs and the Internet.

Bringing the next billion online

“We must encourage efforts to bring Internet access to all global citizens,” said Hossan El-Gamal, a board member of the Africa Information & Communication Technologies Alliance (AfICTA), BASIS member and member of the IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group.

Speaking as a representative of the SME community, El-Gamal said: “Bringing the next billion online to benefit from the information society requires, among other things: policy support for swifter access; reducing ICT investment risks; enhancing capacity building; facilitating local business innovation; encouraging local content creation; and strengthening institutional capacities

Importance of new links to local activities

Stakeholders participate in the IGF to share ideas and experiences and leave with insights and new perspectives to apply back home.

Because stakeholders do not meet at the IGF to negotiate or finalize official or binding texts, they can speak frankly and openly, in discussions that have ultimately lead to more informed policy and decision-making within their respective communities and organizations.

“The engagements of regional and national IGFs, in countries including Zimbabwe, Nigeria Paraguay, Mexico and Costa Rica and the subnational IGF in Nigeria are tangible success stories from this annual meeting, which should be sustained,” said Jimson Olufuye, BASIS member and chair of the AfICTA in his closing ceremony speech on behalf of ICC BASIS.

Multistakeholder strength

During the week, business and other stakeholders highlighted how multistakeholder cooperation and approach to Internet governance discussions served a shared interest in a stable and sustainable Internet.

In her opening session speech, BASIS and USCIB member Ellen Blackler of The Walt Disney Company said: “Progress towards our joint goals will be most successful when business, the technical community, government and civil society each have an active role in the development and assessment of policy issues and solutions. This inclusion lowers the risk of unintended consequences, increases legitimacy and facilitates implementation.”

Progress Made on Enhancing Accountability at ICANN Meeting

Published on October 26, 2015

Digital GlobeAs the Internet community prepares for the transition of the Internet’s stewardship from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) of the U.S. Commerce Department to the global multi-stakeholder community, stakeholders made progress on enhancing accountability at the latest annual meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

At the week-long meeting, which wrapped on October 22 in Dublin, some 1,800 participants from government, business, civil society and the technical community rallied around a proposal to develop an ICANN accountability mechanism to replace the “backstop” function currently provided by ICANN’s contract with U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for ICT policy, represented USCIB member interests at the meeting.

Since NTIA announced in March 2014 that it would transition key Internet functions and domain names to the global multistakeholder community, USCIB and other stakeholders have underscored that any new model of domain name system (DNS) management must include mechanisms that ensure it is accountable to the global stakeholder community. USCIB further has emphasized that the transition process must be thoughtfully conceived so as to not in any way compromise principles set forth by NTIA for the IANAN transition. These include supporting and enhancing the multistakeholder model, maintaining the security, stability, and resilience of the Internet DNS, meeting the needs and expectations of the global customers and partners of the IANA services, and maintaining the openness of the Internet.

“The proposal developed at the Dublin meeting marked an important step in developing a mechanism that will effectively empower business and other stakeholders to hold ICANN accountable. We have repeatedly said that accountability mechanisms must be in place before the IANA transition takes place,” said Wanner.

Mathieu Weill, co-chair of the Cross-Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability), concurred. “What I think we can take away from this week is the wonderful and amazing way in which we have brought together in the same room people from different [stakeholder] groups to work in a collaborative manner – and that makes a difference and brings progress,” he said, noting that stakeholder collaboration is being embedded in ICANN’s accountability framework.

According to Wanner, ICANN’s work on accountability is helping to build the case for a multistakeholder Internet governance model, which is preferable to a government-controlled alternative. “Participants proposed that the CCWG-Accountability’s work demonstrates to critics who advocate inter-governmental organization jurisdiction over Internet governance issues that a multistakeholder model, although occasionally ‘messy,’ is effective and produces important results,” she said.

In addition to discussions about the enhanced accountability mechanism, the Dublin gathering featured some over 300 separate sessions on topics as diverse as “Women in ICANN, Internet and ICTs,” “Universal Acceptance of TLDs [top-level domains like .com and .org],” and “The Role of Voluntary Practices in Combating Abuse and Illegal Activity,” which reflected the substantive breadth of the policy and technical issues considered by ICANN.

USCIB is a member of the Business Constituency, a stakeholder group representing the private sector in discussions with ICANN on Internet governance.