This Web page contains the basic statistical data gathered in a survey of IGF-Rio participants to measure attitudes about current and likely Internet governance policy initiatives tied to critical Internet resources, access, security, openness and diversity. Responses were gathered from 206 IGF attendees, roughly 15 percent of Forum participants, representing 60 countries. The Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 12-15, 2007, was the second of five annual global events that attract stakeholders who come together to discuss issues tied to the future of information and communications technologies.
To read written elaborations to questions about respondents’ key concerns, click here.
To return to the first IGF Rio Survey page, click here.
STATISTICAL DATA
The Future of Global Internet Policy
1. What is the MOST important governance issue today?
| Equitable control of critical Internet resources | 17% |
| Improving Internet access | 38% |
| Improving the diversity of Internet content | 3% |
| Improving the openness of the Internet | 8% |
| Addressing Internet security | 14% |
| All issues are equally important | 20% |
| Don’t know | 0.5% |
Other (please specify) N=11
1. Ensuring safety/child protection
2. Diversity dependent on access
3. Lack of cross-regional/transborder agreements
2. What is the SECOND most important Internet governance issue today?
| Equitable control of critical Internet resources | 15% |
| Improving Internet access | 19% |
| Improving the diversity of Internet content | 14% |
| Improving the openness of the Internet | 14% |
| Addressing Internet security | 14% |
| All issues are equally important | 22% |
| Don’t know | 0.5% |
Other (please specify) N=5
1. Building Internet skill sets among users
2. Threats to Internet architecture model
3. Resolving differences between multistakeholders
3. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and critical resources, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
Areas of the world without widespread Internet access will only have limited economic success.
| Strongly Agree | 43% |
| Agree | 44% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 9% |
| Disagree | 3% |
| Strongly Disagree | 1% |
The Internet has successfully connected the world.
| Strongly Agree | 21% |
| Agree | 38% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 16% |
| Disagree | 18% |
| Strongly Disagree | 7% |
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is not effective and it should be placed in a more neutral, global control structure.
| Strongly Agree | 16% |
| Agree | 29% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 26% |
| Disagree | 17% |
| Strongly Disagree | 12% |
The Internet has no center of gravity –
no one concentrated location of central control.
| Strongly Agree | 13% |
| Agree | 24% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 17% |
| Disagree | 27% |
| Strongly Disagree | 9% |
4. If you did not agree with the question just before this, please complete this sentence: The Internet has a center of gravity (center of influence or concentrated power) and it is located… (N=54)
Top Five Responses (of 54 responding out of 206 overall participants)
| The United States | 65% |
| The Global West/North (of the equator | 9% |
| Major IT Companies/Corporations | 7% |
| Europe | 4% |
| Users who create content | 4% |
5. Please rank order – from most-effective to least-effective – the following four possible methods of funding critical resources to increase the reach of the Internet.
Each individual country provides its own funding to establish Internet access for those who cannot afford it.
| First Choice (1) | 32% |
| Second Choice (2) | 29% |
| Third (3) | 20% |
| Fourth (4) | 19% |
| Rating average | 2.27 |
Commercial competition among Internet service providers is encouraged to spur lower prices and more access.
| First Choice (1) | 35% |
| Second Choice (2) | 36% |
| Third (3) | 16% |
| Fourth (4) | 12% |
| Rating average | 1.9 |
A global fund – financed and run by commercial Internet companies – is established to extend Internet access.
| First Choice (1) | 24% |
| Second Choice (2) | 25% |
| Third (3) | 41% |
| Fourth (4) | 10% |
| Rating average | 2.45 |
A global tax – collected from Internet users and managed by a non-UN NGO – is established to help extend access.
| First Choice (1) | 13% |
| Second Choice (2) | 11% |
| Third (3) | 20% |
| Fourth (4) | 56% |
| Rating average | 3.27 |
6. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and critical resources, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
Internet access can reduce poverty by creating more and better jobs.
| Strongly Agree | 13% |
| Agree | 34% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 17% |
| Disagree | 27% |
| Strongly Disagree | 9% |
People put too much emphasis on Internet access; there is no real evidence that it creates more and better jobs.
| Strongly Agree | 3% |
| Agree | 17% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 22% |
| Disagree | 40% |
| Strongly Disagree | 19% |
Internet access can improve the quality of healthcare.
| Strongly Agree | 28% |
| Agree | 58% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 11% |
| Disagree | 2% |
| Strongly Disagree | 0.5% |
The Internet is so full of folklore and quackery that there isn’t any reason yet to think that it is improving healthcare.
| Strongly Agree | 3% |
| Agree | 6% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 17% |
| Disagree | 42% |
| Strongly Disagree | 32% |
7. List the most important future concerns you have about CRITICAL INTERNET RESOURCES and Internet governance (open response N=112).
Top Three Responses
1. Centralized control with a political agenda (N=28) – including:
Monopolies of governments and special interests
Lack of multistakeholders
Data concentration in companies
Dependency on particular servers or search engines
2. Availability and access in a democratized system (N=24)
3. Security, spam, children’s sites, cybercrime, protection of privacy (N=14)
8. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and ACCESS, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
The cost of an Internet connection is the primary obstacle to many people getting Internet access.
| Strongly Agree | 39% |
| Agree | 39% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 9% |
| Disagree | 11% |
| Strongly Disagree | 0.5% |
Commercial Internet service providers should be required to offer a basic, low-cost level of Internet service to those who could not afford it otherwise.
| Strongly Agree | 31% |
| Agree | 35% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 17% |
| Disagree | 14% |
| Strongly Disagree | 4% |
Too much regulation of telecommunications exists today, and more policies aimed at promoting market competition would solve much of the problem with Internet access around the world.
| Strongly Agree | 14% |
| Agree | 33% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 24% |
| Disagree | 23% |
| Strongly Disagree | 7% |
9. Rank order the following Internet access points on how effective they are in helping to close the digital divide.
Public Internet kiosks in common spaces like stores, libraries and cafes.
| First Choice (1) | 32% |
| Second Choice (2) | 35% |
| Third (3) | 24% |
| Fourth (4) | 9% |
| Rating average | 2.7 |
Internet connections and instruction in schools.
| First Choice (1) | 49% |
| Second Choice (2) | 32% |
| Third (3) | 16% |
| Fourth (4) | 3% |
| Rating average | 1.82 |
Connections to worldwide resources through use of community-access mobile phones.
| First Choice (1) | 14% |
| Second Choice (2) | 17% |
| Third (3) | 31% |
| Fourth (4) | 38% |
| Rating average | 3.13 |
Public-business initiatives to supply cheap computers like the One Laptop Per Child program.
| First Choice (1) | 13% |
| Second Choice (2) | 21% |
| Third (3) | 29% |
| Fourth (4) | 37% |
| Rating average | 2.93 |
10. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and ACCESS, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
The United Nations should coordinate a coalition of stakeholders to create a global fund to provide a universal basic level of Internet access to everyone.
| Strongly Agree | 28% |
| Agree | 30% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 20% |
| Disagree | 16% |
| Strongly Disagree | 6% |
A global solution to ensure individuals have Internet access is NOT possible.
| Strongly Agree | 5% |
| Agree | 19% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 25% |
| Disagree | 32% |
| Strongly Disagree | 19% |
Leadership from my country is the only means to ensure all of the people in my country have Internet access.
| Strongly Agree | 18% |
| Agree | 26% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 15% |
| Disagree | 29% |
| Strongly Disagree | 12% |
Open and equitable (neutral) access to the Internet will only continue to grow if there are local AND global policies in place to assure commercial interests and governments will support it.
| Strongly Agree | 37% |
| Agree | 40% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 16% |
| Disagree | 6% |
| Strongly Disagree | 1% |
11. List the most important future concerns you have about ACCESS and Internet governance (open response N=67).
Top Three Responses
1. Education about the Internet (N=16)
2. Government intervention to help establish (N=15)
3. Maintaining a neutral network (N=13)
12. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and DIVERSITY, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
Global Internet policies to ensure the languages of the world are represented fairly should be given more emphasis.
| Strongly Agree | 37% |
| Agree | 40% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 16% |
| Disagree | 6% |
| Strongly Disagree | 0.5% |
Local cultures have been diminished by the Internet and may even be destroyed by it.
| Strongly Agree | 14% |
| Agree | 18% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 26% |
| Disagree | 28% |
| Strongly Disagree | 14% |
13. What organization should be responsible for the following.
Establishing protocols to ensure disabled Internet users have access to online content.
| Global Public Policy | 47% |
| Policies in MY country | 30% |
| Commercial Internet service providers | 11% |
| This is not an Internet governance issue | 9% |
| Don’t know | 3% |
Ensuring the content of the Internet reflects the diversity of the people in the world.
| Global Public Policy | 50% |
| Policies in MY country | 21% |
| Commercial Internet service providers | 4% |
| This is not an Internet governance issue | 21% |
| Don’t know | 3% |
Ensuring the free flow of USER-GENERATED content over the Internet.
| Global Public Policy | 46% |
| Policies in MY country | 23% |
| Commercial Internet service providers | 16% |
| This is not an Internet governance issue | 10% |
| Don’t know | 6% |
Ensuring the accuracy and quality of Internet content.
| Global Public Policy | 28% |
| Policies in MY country | 24% |
| Commercial Internet service providers | 10% |
| This is not an Internet governance issue | 31% |
| Don’t know | 7% |
Promoting the availability of the Internet in a neutral, equitable manner.
| Global Public Policy | 52% |
| Policies in MY country | 27% |
| Commercial Internet service providers | 11% |
| This is not an Internet governance issue | 6% |
| Don’t know | 3% |
14. List the most important future concerns you have about DIVERSITY and Internet governance (open response N=52).
Top Three Responses
1. Equal access to neutral multilingual content and use of UNICODE (N=24)
2. Positive effects on localization and culture preservation (N=12)
3. Usability and openness to all, including the people from developing countries and the disabled (N=10)
15. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and OPENNESS, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
A global Internet users Bill of Rights should be adopted.
| Strongly Agree | 31% |
| Agree | 35% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 24% |
| Disagree | 6% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3% |
My country should have the right to approve he Internet content available to the people of my country.
| Strongly Agree | 10% |
| Agree | 18% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 13% |
| Disagree | 23% |
| Strongly Disagree | 36% |
Global agreement on Internet content controls cannot be reached.
| Strongly Agree | 16% |
| Agree | 33% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 26% |
| Disagree | 23% |
| Strongly Disagree | 2% |
A global policy is needed to ensure Internet users are provided the right to freedom of expression on the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 41% |
| Agree | 35% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 12% |
| Disagree | 10% |
| Strongly Disagree | 2% |
Internet content controls weaken the usefulness of the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 28% |
| Agree | 34% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 19% |
| Disagree | 14% |
| Strongly Disagree | 4% |
Internet service providers should have the ability to approve the Internet content available to subscribers of their service.
| Strongly Agree | 6% |
| Agree | 19% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 11% |
| Disagree | 29% |
| Strongly Disagree | 34% |
Policies that regulate content on the Internet are not enforceable because of the borderless nature of the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 14% |
| Agree | 33% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 19% |
| Disagree | 27% |
| Strongly Disagree | 7% |
16. List the most important future concerns about OPENNESS and Internet governance. (N=48)
Top Three Responses
1. Determining the balance between freedom of expression and maintaining a secure, cybercrime-free Internet (N=19)
2. Censorship by the government and policymakers (N=16)
3. Self-regulation is the best policy/users responsible for openness (N=9)
17. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and SECURITY, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
My country should be responsible for the security of the Internet infrastructure (the wires and the wireless hardware) in my country.
| Strongly Agree | 31% |
| Agree | 39% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 15% |
| Disagree | 12% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3% |
Commercial companies that build Internet infrastructure should be primarily responsible for the security architecture of the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 21% |
| Agree | 35% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 21% |
| Disagree | 19% |
| Strongly Disagree | 5% |
A global police force should be established to ensure the security of the hardware architecture of the Internet around the world.
| Strongly Agree | 15% |
| Agree | 23% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 23% |
| Disagree | 23% |
| Strongly Disagree | 15% |
18. In the following series of questions related to the Internet and cybercrime, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
My country should be primarily responsible for ensuring that illegal activity is not conducted through the use of the Internet in my country.
| Strongly Agree | 30% |
| Agree | 50% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 13% |
| Disagree | 5% |
| Strongly Disagree | 2% |
Commercial Internet service providers should be primarily responsible for ensuring that illegal activity is not conducted through use of the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 12% |
| Agree | 24% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 20% |
| Disagree | 33% |
| Strongly Disagree | 11% |
A global set of protocols should be established to ensure the security of conducting business over the Internet.
| Strongly Agree | 39% |
| Agree | 42% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 14% |
| Disagree | 4% |
| Strongly Disagree | 0.5% |
A global Internet security police force should be established to fight cybercrime.
| Strongly Agree | 28% |
| Agree | 28% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 22% |
| Disagree | 15% |
| Strongly Disagree | 7% |
The need to establish a secure Internet outweighs individual Internet users’ right to privacy.
| Strongly Agree | 16% |
| Agree | 19% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 16% |
| Disagree | 27% |
| Strongly Disagree | 23% |
Individual users and not the government are responsible for Internet security.
| Strongly Agree | 10% |
| Agree | 20% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 28% |
| Disagree | 32% |
| Strongly Disagree | 10% |
19. List the most important future concerns about SECURITY and Internet governance. (N=52)
Top Three Reasons
1. Finding the balance between civil liberties and maintaining a secure Internet for all people (N=13)
2. Fighting cybercrime (N=12)
3. Global cooperation in creating a secure and safe Internet (N=12)
20. In the following series of questions related to Internet governance, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
The Internet is a transborder resource that should be governed globally.
| Strongly Agree | 38% |
| Agree | 39% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 9% |
| Disagree | 1% |
| Strongly Disagree | 2% |
Individual countries should be the primary developers of Internet governance.
| Strongly Agree | 15% |
| Agree | 26% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 20% |
| Disagree | 31% |
| Strongly Disagree | 8% |
The governance of the Internet should be a balance between policies in my country and global policies.
| Strongly Agree | 30% |
| Agree | 47% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 13% |
| Disagree | 7% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3% |
The physical characteristics of the Internet make it impossible to govern.
| Strongly Agree | 3% |
| Agree | 20% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 25% |
| Disagree | 41% |
| Strongly Disagree | 11% |
Marketplace demand, not government-mandated public policy, should shape the Internet’s future.
| Strongly Agree | 10% |
| Agree | 28% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 19% |
| Disagree | 26% |
| Strongly Disagree | 16% |
21. The Internet is most like which of the following services provided to the home?
| Broadcast (television or radio) service | 10% |
| Electricity service | 8% |
| Telephone service | 16% |
| Newspaper subscription | 2% |
| Mutichannel (cable or satellite) television | 11% |
| Water service | 7% |
| There is no comparable service | 46% |
Other (please specify)
1. A combination of the above (N=10)
2. Unlike anything because it is user-generated (N=2)
3. Like a sewer system, fresh goes in/sh– out (N=1)
22. In the following series of questions related to Internet governance, please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements.
While some policies are needed to promote the common good, a system is most innovative and dynamic if it has fewer policies than it is if it has many.
| Strongly Agree | 22% |
| Agree | 47% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 17% |
| Disagree | 11% |
| Strongly Disagree | 3% |
The Internet will prosper without additional global public policies.
| Strongly Agree | 9% |
| Agree | 32% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 20% |
| Disagree | 32% |
| Strongly Disagree | 7% |
The Internet’s quick-paced technological development means that public policy will always remain one step behind.
| Strongly Agree | 18% |
| Agree | 47% |
| Neither Agree nor Disagree | 20% |
| Disagree | 13% |
| Strongly Disagree | 2% |
23. What is the ONE most immediate public policy issue facing the Internet today? (N=125)
Top Three Responses
1. Establishing access for all people (N=29)
2. Creating a secure and safe Internet (N=22)
3. Too much government intrusion (N=15)
24. Looking at EMERGING concerns, what are the most crucial future Internet public policy issues that will have to be addressed? (N=121)
Top Three Responses
1. Ensuring a safe and secure Internet (N=24)
2. Privacy/Interference by government (N=19)
3. Affordable access/Easier accessibility (N=17)
25. Was there anything that we did not ask you about Internet governance that you would like to share with us? (N=55)
Top Three Responses
1. How can IGF create non-binding policies to govern the Internet? (N=14)
2. How will we overcome technical and financial hurdles to deploy the Internet to all people? (N=6)
3. How can we achieve capacity building? (N=5)
26. In what country do you reside? (Selected from a drop-down menu)
Algeria 5%
Argentina 1%
Australia 3%
Austria 0.5%
Bangladesh 0.5%
Belgium 1%
Benin 0.5%
Botswana 0.5%
Brazil 28%
Bulgaria 0.5%
Cambodia 0.5%
Cameroon 2%
Canada 3%
Chile 0.5%
China 2%
Hong Kong, China 0.5%
Cuba 0.5%
Dem. Rep. Congo 0.5%
Dominican Rep. 0.5%
Ecuador 2%
Egypt 2%
Ethiopia 0.5%
Fiji 0.5%
Finland 1%
France 5%
Germany 0.5%
Ghana 0.5%
Guinea 0.5%
Haiti 0.5%
Hungary 0.5%
India 3%
Indonesia 0.5%
Italy 2%
Kenya 0.5%
Malaysia 0.5%
Mali 1%
Mozambique 0.5%
Namibia 0.5%
Nepal 0.5%
Netherlands 0.5%
Nigeria 1%
Pakistan 2%
Portugal 0.5%
Rep. Korea 1%
Russian Federation 1%
Rwanda 0.5%
Saudi Arabia 0.5%
Senegal 0.5%
Serbia & Montenegro 0.5%
Slovenia 0.5%
South Africa 1%
Spain 0.5%
Suriname 0.5%
Sweden 0.5%
Switzerland 1%
TFYR Macedonia 0.5%
Togo 0.5%
Trinidad & Tobago 0.5%
Tunisia 3%
Uganda 2%
United Kingdom 3%
USA 7%
Uruguay 2%
Venezuela 0.5%
Zimbabwe 0.5%
Other (please specify) N=2
1. West Africa (1)
2. Africa (1)
27. What role do you have with the Internet? (Check all that apply.)
| Advocate/Voice of the People/Activist User | 26% |
| Business Leader | 12% |
| Consultant | 21% |
| Author/Editor/Journalist | 13% |
| Educator | 21% |
| Government Employee | 13% |
| Legislator/Politician/Lawyer | 6% |
| Research Scientist | 17% |
| Technology Developer/Administrator | 13% |
| United Nations Employee | 0.5% |
Other (please specify) N=17
28. What type of organization are you representing in your Internet work?
| Company with focus on information technology | 26% |
| Company extensively using information technology | 12% |
| College or university | 21% |
| A publication | 13% |
| A government agency | 21% |
| A research organization | 13% |
| A consulting business | 6% |
| A non-profit organization | 17% |
Other (please specify) N=16
29. Are you in attendance at IGF Rio?
Yes 92%
No 8% (the survey was available online, and some with an interest who did not participate in the events in Rio directly did choose to respond)
30. What would you describe as the purpose of your attendance at the Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? (N=86)
Top Three Responses
1. Becoming more educated and furthering my knowledge of the global issues. (N=41)
2. Observing public policy at work. (N=30)
3. Advocacy for the causes of my country. (N=10)
31. Did you attend the first Internet Governance Forum in Greece?
Yes 23%
No 77%
32. What is your gender?
Female 25%
Male 75%
33. How old are you?
Range 19 years old to 73 years old
Mean 41 years old
Median 39 years old
Mode 35 years old (N=9)
Languages used to complete the study:
English 67% (N=138)
French 14% (N=40)
Spanish 19% (N=28)