Okay, I am sat in a room in Tunis, it's 9.36pm and the sub-committee over internet governance is starting up again.
Every now and again I checked the latest news popping up around the world about WSIS to see who is here and if I'm missing out on anything, and I have to say it is making me despair of the modern media.
Even just an hour ago, a new story popped up saying there was a deep split and divide at WSIS, and listing the self-same issues that surfaced back in September. The reality – and believe me, I am sat here – is that that split is ancient news.
There is agreement on a new forum. The controversial oversight body proposed by the EU which caused alot of the tension has been effectively pulled out of negotiations. It is agreed to work with the existing institutions (although it be helpful to point out that the EU never said it wouldn't work within the existing institutions), and what is being argued about is the wording, the creation of the forum and progressive changes to be made.
Sure – they are pretty fundamental and there is no guarantee that it will go smoothly at all, but the stories appearing even now on the Net and in the mainstream press are hopelessly out of date.
Just thought I'd mention that.
