All,

 

It’s my understanding that the GAC prefers to stay away from “voting” or anything that resembles it.  I also understand that some governments want to amend the current definition to prevent any one government from blocking consensus.

 

Today’s definition and practice for determining consensus is, “the absence of any formal objection.” Instead of using percentages and voting, perhaps the current definition could be amended to, “the absence of any formal objection from at least 2 governments.”

 

This would avoid voting, avoid messy procedural questions (as raised below by David), and prevent any single government from breaking consensus.

 

Please add this suggestion to the list of possible options considered by the ST18 sub-team.

 

Happy to discuss further.

 

Regards,

Keith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I said yesterday during the call, entering into a discussion about percentages and numbers is a dead end.

 

Upon whom exactly would the percentage be applied ? What wouldl be the criteria ? How do we define the membership of GAC ? Are international organisations, such as the African Union or the European Union, to be considered as full members ? Do we count the countries represented in the room only ? then what is the quorum ? how to count those who participate remotely ? How do we check that they do participate ?

 

Why 97% ? Where does this number come from ?

 

It is a very complicated process to set rules for voting. This is why we kept saying that the GAC shall be in control of them. Because they carry a lot of constraints, interests and collateral consequences. It will take the GAC a lot of time to decide on them.

 

If the CCWG really wants to make a proposal on this, nobody knows when the Pandora box will be closed again.

 

Regards,

 

 

David Martinon

Ambassadeur pour la cyberdiplomatie et l’économie numérique/Ambassador for Cyberdiplomacy and the Digital Economy

 

+33 1 43 17 81 14

 

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