NIC.BR and the Internet Society Work Together to Increase Routing Security in Brazil

This week on Tuesday, 26 June, the Internet Society and NIC.BR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to increase routing security in Brazil, including the MANRS initiative. Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security is a global initiative that provides crucial fixes to reduce the most common routing threats.

We are excited to strengthen our efforts to work together with NIC.br, and in fact this MoU only formalizes an existing long-term relationship between the two organizations. Our goal is to help increase the number of Brazilian Internet Service Providers and Internet Exchange Points joining efforts for a more secure and resilient Internet.

Not a single day goes by without dozens of incidents affecting the Internet’s routing system. Route hijacking, route leaks, IP address spoofing, and other harmful activities can lead to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, traffic inspection and surveillance, lost revenue, reputational damage, and more. As one of the biggest countries with high access rates, Brazil is also facing these incidents on a daily basis.

NIC.BR is responsible for the coordination and integration of all Internet service initiatives in Brazil, including long-standing activities related to Internet security. They are also responsible for many projects that Continue reading

Let’s Reform the IGF to Ensure Its Healthy Future

It seems like yesterday we were in Tunis at the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), where I was involved in the negotiations that led to the formation of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). When I look back at the evolution of Internet governance since then, it is amazing!

But the decisions we have made before are in constant scrutiny of the reality check. Geopolitical forces around the world have been changing and increased challenges with rapid Internet evolution have impacted global society as never before. Nevertheless, the IGF community is showing signs of fatigue – less government and high level attendance, difficulties to confirm the host country in advance, fewer contributions for the intersessional work – while there are heated debates on the Internet front regarding cybersecurity, the digital economy, and the future of jobs and education with IoT and AI.

Thus, it is urgent that the community takes the responsibility of introducing the reform the IGF needs to continue its brilliant journey. The IGF has an amazing opportunity ahead to adapt and inspire people to work effectively in support of people-centered development.

The world is much better with the IGF than without it!

The IGF Continue reading

Every Connection Matters – Shape Tomorrow and Help Close Digital Divides

We are currently living a special moment in time, a sort of paradox.

Today, almost half of the world’s population already has Internet access. This figure is much higher than anything we could have anticipated 10 years ago, an achievement we should be happily celebrating.

But a recent report by the Internet Society, Paths To Our Digital Future, shows there are no guarantees when it comes to the Internet’s future.  To achieve a digital future where people come first will require new thinking, new approaches, and new tools for this rapidly changing world around us.

And with this we find ourselves facing an even greater challenge. This is no longer the Internet of 10% of the world’s population. It is the Internet of 50% of the people around the world; in some countries, Internet penetration is now close to 100%.

The Internet has become essential, and the opportunity gap between those who are connected and those who are not grows each day. We cannot afford to remain indifferent to this Internet revolution.

If we don’t connect the remaining 50%, this gap could have long-term consequences for the opportunities that present themselves later in life.

After the United Nations adopted Continue reading