The Final　version of Draft speech 091231/11/01

Security and Stability of the Internet: an International PerspectiveNo Time to Wait !

Kenji Kosaka

Senior Vice Minister for Public Management, Home Affairs,

Posts and Telecommunications

And Member of the House of RepresentativesGovernment of Japan

Mister. Ppresident,

Distinguished board members,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I feel am very honored to be have been inviteda chance to speak to all of you today to such a distinguished audience at thisparticipants in the special meeting ICANN special Conferenceon the Security and Stability of the Internet Naming and Address Allocation Systems.

First of all, I would like to begin by expressing my sympathy and admiration for tsolidarity to the American people in the aftermath of the barbaric terrorist crime the whole world witnessed two months ago on September 11. I also heard the unfortunate air disaster yesterday. My thoughts are always always with the victims and their families, who suffered from the abominable acts of barbaric crime that the whole world witnessed two months ago. At the same time, I have been impressed encouraged by the efforts of the rescue workers.

that came together to help those who suffered to pick up the pieces of their lives and of those We have to who are work togethering to ensure that such a tragedy canshould never happen again.

Furthermore, I would like to say

In particular, I am Secondly, I am deeply moved by the efforts of all the people involved in this organizing this important meeting under suchthese trying difficult circumstances since September 11.

1. Introduction

- At first glance Well, you may think of me meresimply as a as a prim man representative ofing the Japanese government. However, I am also In reality I am a fellow member of the Internet Family like all of you., for I became am connected to each and every one of you through a wireless internet LAN card the moment I entered this hall. I can connect via the wireless Internet even though I arrived from Japan with Japanese equipment because two years ago iIn Japan we adjusted the frequency band for wireless LANs in the country two years ago to ensure that the same wireless internet make same cards can be used usable anywhere in the world. So I can be connected via wireless Internet even though I arrived from Japan. That i’s truly an example of the “power of the internet.” Therefore, I would like to address you today as a fellow member of the Internet Family.

- Why I am here? There are two reasons:

- The first one is, of course, because after watching the tragic terrorist acts I became was concerned about ensuring the security of the Internet, t, which is the nervous system of the contemporary world. after watching the tragic terrorist acts.

- The sSecond reasonone is, however, that I was astounded unpleasantly surprised to learn that ICANN decided to hold a meeting focused on this subjecthe security of the internet only after that the tragic events of September 11. As anone Internet user, I had assumed was thinking that this theme and should related issues hadve been fully resolved exhausted ages ago. I think this theme was, is, and will always be, very important.

- “What is Man?” is one of the eternal questions of the human race, yet there are few who would disagree that people are intellectual animals. (I mean human beings are intellectual in general, which does not necessarily mean it is also the case with me.)[i] The Internet is a tool of communication that has the potential to increase human intellect and knowledge without limit, because it connects all the people of the world, transcending all time and space. It is the a revolutionary tool of thefor humankind that will bring change of the, on par with the agricultural revolution and the industrial revolution.

- The Internet has gone from a network serving researchers to a network for use by everyday people. TNowadays the Internet is has become part of the very foundation of human society and people. From kindergarten students pupils to the elderly, people now use the Internet as they would a TV remote control or water faucet. The use of the Internet has risen skyward, partly due to popularity of the www (world wide web). However, iIt used to be like a simple spider's web: easily broken by the wind or the rain or a small falling leaf. Now it is like a strong hammock, made of netted cords, rigged between trees with thick ropes. People rely on it and repose themselves there. You can enhance its reliability by firmly tying each knot. By weaving minutely, you can make it robust enough to support you even if a part of it is damaged.

- As the role and importance of the Internet has changed, it is becoming more and more important to secure the safety security and stability of the Internet as an integral part of the social infrastructure.

2. Praise and support for the creation of the current ICANN system

- Looking back at the history of the establishment of ICANN in 1998, I cannot help but respect and admire the U.S. government's support for the autonomous operation of the Internet by the world Internet community and the fundamental policy of a community consensus for ICANN decision making.

- The reason is that iIf the U.S. government had not worked to implement private management for the Internet as a basic rule, support from around the world participation in ICANN by organizations from each country and the support that they provide would not have been possible. When ICANN was establishedlaunched, it was a big issuethe question of how to build a global system acceptable to the whole world, transcending the differences of nations, languages and cultures, was a major issue. It is worthy of praise that the this issue was resolved through an open debate discussions among the members of the Internet community in a series of Green Papers and White Papers, with everyone showing mutual respect for each other.exhausted this subject, fully respecting each other, through the series of procedures including Green Papers and White Papers. The The US government which produced’s producing that process such procedures is also highly to beworthy of praised.

Current ICANN activities are the advanceda first step towardof a democratic form of global governance in the future. They not only showed valuable lessons to the world, but also gave hope and courage to people who dare new challenges.

- If ICANN were not founded on a basis of a community consensus, I would probably not have had thise chance to meet with the many wonderful freedom-loving and wonderful people that I see here today who have open hearts and are willingness to listen to others.

- I strongly support current ICANN policy. In particular, II believe that the community decision-making method, which ICANN uses, is the best onemost appropriate for the internet community. By theThe reliance on the consensus of all the members, rather than top-down by the orders frofrom onem the top, it ensures the strong ties and support throughoutamong the Internet community, namely among parties such asincluding among Internet policy makers, operators, users and governments.

- - In Japan, we made last year we passed a new the "Basic Law on the Formation of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society". The lawIt is based on thea notion premise that the much in the same way the Internet is governed today, should be as it is today, in other words, tthe basis of the society in the 21st century should also be