The European Commission announced plans to open the Global Internet Policy Observatory (GIPO), an online platform for improve knowledge of and participation of all stakeholders across the world in debates and decisions on internet policy. The initiative has received the backing or interest from a core alliance of countries and NGOs, including Brazil, the African Union, Switzerland, the Internet Society and the Association for Progressive Communication.
It is intended to act as a clearinghouse for monitoring internet policy, regulatory and technological developments around the world. GIPO will not replace existing mechanisms and fora where global internet governance is discussed, such as the Internet Governance Forum. To the contrary, its objective is to be a tool-box for stakeholders and an instrument to strengthen existing internet policy-making processes, making full use of modern technology. Pending the results of a feasibility study to be carried out in the coming months, GIPO’s development could start next year.
