G-8 Nations Adopt IT Charter in Okinawa SummitLeaders of the Group of Eight (G8) nations on Saturday adopted a charter to deal with the rapid development of information technology (IT) at their second- day session of the annual summit in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture of Japan.The Okinawa Charter on Global Information Society, also called the "IT Charter," aims to promote the growth of IT and IT-derived macro-economies and maximize their positive economic impacts, while setting up provisions to actively cope with possible risks. The charter incorporates measures for seizing opportunities and bridging the "digital divide" between rich and poor people and countries. Highlighting the initiative is the establishment of a task force to follow up and coordinate policies and activities among governments, non-governmental organizations and private companies. In the charter, the G8 leaders shared the view that IT is "one of the most potent forces in shaping the 21st century," and said it must be used to create sustainable economic growth and enhance public welfare. They renewed their commitment to the principle of including all people of the world in the benefits of the information society. "Every one, everywhere should be enabled to participate in and no one should be excluded from the benefits of the global information society," said the charter. The leaders vowed to exercise their leadership in advancing government efforts to foster an appropriate policy and regulatory environment to stimulate competition and innovation in the IT field. Citing the private sector's central role in IT development, the charter asked governments to avoid "undue regulatory interventions " that would hinder private-sector activities. Rather, it called for building "information networks offering fast, reliable, secure and affordable access." Under the charter, the proposed task force will hold its first meeting by the end of this year to discuss ways to implement deregulation aimed at promoting IT in the private sector, G-8 policy coordination over taxation on electronic commerce, and measures aimed at preventing computer hacking. It will actively facilitate discussions with developing countries and international organizations to foster IT policy and infrastructure, improve network connectivity and nurture IT experts. The G-8 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Russia. The three-day Okinawa summit is the first summit to take up IT as a major issue. |
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