Human rights activists have criticised the UN-sponsored Internet Governance Forum for holding the meeting in Egypt.

BBC: UN slated for stifling net debate

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) brings together government officials, businesses and net luminaries.

BBC: UN slated for stifling net debate

Launched during the 7th Global Internet Governance Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan, this unprecedented report gathers up-to-date and often staggering information on emerging issues that challenge the coexistence of freedom of expression and the right to privacy in both developed and developing countries.

UNESCO: 2012 UNESCO Publications in Review

This is one reason international bodies such as the United Nations hold occasional global forums like the Internet Governance Forum or the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Conference on International Telecommunications to talk about coordinated strategies to keep traffic flowing on our global highway.

FORBES: Dealing with Spam and Cyberattacks: Control Vs. Openness

In a statement before action, the representative of the United States stressed that discussions and policymaking on Internet governance must include the full range of stakeholders, adding that the consensus reached on the text regrettably did not better reflect steps by the Internet Governance Forum to examine its working methods and participation.

UN: General Assembly

The new report also served as the basis of a well-attended workshop on Wednesday addressed by a renowned expert panel at the 2012 Internet Governance Forum Panellist Katitza Rodriguez, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, pointed out how correlations of data could allow inferences about the religious views and sexual orientation of individuals, at a time in history when privacy was still an emerging right.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES