Net Freedom Advocates Should Highlight How Goals Intersect With Trump Interests, Experts Say
Internet freedom advocates should highlight how support for their policy positions would further the goals of the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, to generate that administration’s interest, policy experts said Wednesday. A turnaround in messaging on internet freedom-related issues would be wise given the imminent shift from President Barack Obama's administration, particularly in light of international trends, a New America event heard. Its Open Technology Institute recommended in December that the new administration build on the pro-internet freedom agendas of the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, including bolstering the multistakeholder model of internet governance. The Trump administration should ensure bilateral and multilateral agreements are “compatible with global internet freedom” and that domestic U.S. policies advance internet freedom, OTI said. Trump’s agenda should focus on fostering strong encryption and surveillance reform that defends privacy, OTI said: He should promote the need for free flow of information, including increasing domestic access to broadband.
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The administration change should be an opportunity for the U.S. to change messaging on promoting multistakeholder internet governance, said Wiley Rein telecom and internet governance lawyer David Gross. Coming so soon after the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority transition (see 1610030042), this is an “extraordinarily good time for formulating new arguments,” he said. Trump appears to have a relationship with the internet and social media “unlike any other” previous U.S. president, so federal officials should use this opportunity “work on new arguments” for the U.S. to make in international forums on multistakeholderism, Gross said. There’s “not a lot of optimism” the traditional arguments in support of multistakeholderism at the ITU and other forums remain effective, he said. “Those that are going to be convinced by the old approach already are convinced.” A new pro-multistakeholder approach should focus on improving incentives for countries not already aligned with the U.S. on the issue to shift camps, he said.
It’s very feasible to make a “strong, pragmatic case” for internet freedom based on economics factors, said Freedom House acting President Daniel Calingaert. The free flow of information stimulates business growth, and the dominance of U.S. tech firms in many overseas markets is “very much connected” to pro-internet freedom policies, he said. Internet freedom also promotes the U.S.’ economic interests because it increases the prevalence of democratic nations that can be “reliable” trading partners, Calingaert said. He said Freedom House has reported a decrease in internet freedom globally over the past six years. The group’s 2016 report highlighted what it viewed as governments’ increasing restrictions on the use of social media platforms during periods of civil unrest (see 1611140037).
The Trump administration should adopt a “build-once” approach to global broadband deployment, in which expansions of broadband access would be coordinated with larger infrastructure projects, said Vice President-International Development Nilmini Rubin of infrastructure consulting firm Tetra Tech. Expanding global broadband access will “be of interest” to the Trump administration given the president-elect’s proclivity for promoting market-based growth, she said. A build-once approach would allow the U.S. to take the ideas proposed in the international Global Connect effort to connect another 1.5 billion people by 2020 and “scale it up,” Rubin said.
Access Now U.S. Policy Manager Amie Stepanovich said she believes the Trump administration may take positive steps on improving encryption and surveillance reform despite many privacy advocates’ “pessimistic” expectations. Trump urged supporters to boycott Apple during that company’s fight against federal law enforcement’s bid to break into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters (see 1603290059). Privacy advocates should highlight the need for encryption to bolster the digital economy since that argument will play into Trump’s interest in economic issues, Stepanovich said. Battling against encryption and surveillance reform will erode consumers trust in U.S. tech firms, she said.
Net freedom stakeholders should remain encouraged that privacy issues remain an area where bipartisan coalitions are possible, Stepanovich said. The Obama administration is leaving office with a “very mixed record” on cybersecurity and privacy, and it’s unclear that former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton would have implemented a more privacy-friendly agenda had she won, Stepanovich said. Emphasizing the national security benefits of bolstering privacy and enacting surveillance reform will be important for garnering Republicans’ support on those issues, she said.