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Interview: EU to Govern Internet of the Future
Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding told EurActiv in an interview that the European Commission will roll out a number of initiatives to promote the Internet, while remaining vigilant in protecting citizens and networks.
Reding identified these key topics to be address in 2009:
- The early challenges of the Internet of Things
- Rolling out Next Generation Access Networks
- Opening radio spectrum to wireless services
- Broadband for all
- Security of critical communication infrastructure
- Privacy concerns related to the massive deployment of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags
- Internet governance
Speaking at the Internet of Things conference in France on 6-7 October, Reding told EurActiv what she expected would be the main challenges ahead:
1. Brussels wants to pave the way for the emergence of an “Internet of Things,” whereby objects have a virtual identity and communicate between each other to provide services of every kind, from healthcare to transport security.
At the end of September, the Commission opened a public debate related to this, publishing a position document. In November, a recommendation is expected on the privacy and security risks linked to the deployment of RFID tags, which is the technology at the center of the Internet of Things.
2. Early next year, the EU executive is due to publish definitive guidelines for the roll-out of Next Generation Access Networks, the key infrastructure for a future Internet based on data-hungry services. A review of radio spectrum is also ongoing, so as to exploit the “digital dividend” that will result from the switch from analogue to digital TV by 2012. The target is to increase the provision of wireless and mobile Internet services and, as a result, broadband penetration in Europe.
3. Protection of critical online infrastructure, such as networks or key servers, is also high on the Commission's agenda. To avoid cyber-attacks such as that which hit Estonian public Internet services in 2007, the EU executive will propose concrete action at EU level in a document to be published in 2009.
4. The global governance of the Internet and its next developments is also considered crucial by Brussels, with Reding explicitly aiming to challenge U.S. control of many key elements of the Internet.
Read the full text of the interview.
Links
European Union
- European Commission: Communication on future actions of the Commission on Internet issues (29 September 2008)
- European Commission: Working document on the early challenges regarding the Internet of Things (29 September 2008)
- European Commission: Draft recommendation on NGANs (18 September 2008)
- EU French Presidency: Conference on the Internet of Things, the Internet of the future (6-7 October 2008) [FR]
Source: Euractiv.com, www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/interview-eu-govern-internet-future/article-176172
ARMA International International Policy Brief, November 2008
Full International Policy Brief
