On bringing governance into technology: Case of Internet governance and implications for Africa

Abstract

Technology, particularly the Internet, allows for innovativeness and enables different countries and stakeholders to extend their global reach. The Internet in particular has become a pervasive and ubiquitous technology that has the potential to impact all aspects of everyday life. There is thus a great need to ensure that it is governed in a manner that takes into consideration its different users and stakeholders. This paper uses the evolution of the Internet to illustrate how governance has been interwoven with technology. Although traces of governance are evident since its inception, the levels and intensity of governance keep increasing as the Internet services, operations and use continue scaling. To ensure that the governing of the Internet encompasses all stakeholders involved, a `multi-stakeholder approach' has been adopted in its governance. This provides a solution of bringing governance into a technology as complex as the Internet and avoids the traditional way of governance which might not apply where different stakeholders with different interest converge.