Luca Belli

A heterostakeholder cooperation for sustainable internet policymaking

The article discusses the rise of a multistakeholder approach to internet policymaking and takes a critical stance with regard to the sole reliance on the multiplicity of stakeholders rather than focusing on the heterogeneity of stakeholders’ interests. The article analyses the evolution of the multistakeholder discourse from the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society to … Read more

Network Self-determination and the Positive Externalities of Community Networks

This paper argues that existing examples of Community Networks (CNs) provide a solid evidence-base on which a right to “network self-determination” can be constructed. Network selfdetermination should be seen as the right to freely associate in order to define, in a democratic fashion, the design, development and management of network infrastructure as a common good, … Read more

Law of the Land or Law of the Platform? Beware of the Privatisation of Regulation and Police

This chapter argues that digital platforms are increasingly undertaking regulatory and police functions, which are traditionally considered a matter of public law. The authors emphasise that such functions have been growingly delegated to platforms by public authorities, while at the same time platforms are self attributing such functions to avoid liability, de facto becoming private … Read more

Fostering Connectivity and Empowering People via Community Networks: the case of AlterMundi

Over four billion people are currently unconnected to the Internet, including around a billion individuals who do not have access to basic telephony services. The IGF Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity (DC3) promotes sustainable connectivity, fostering the role of the commons in networks and the elaboration of appropriate frameworks to empower communities and individuals through … Read more

End-to-End, Net Neutrality and Human Rights

The network neutrality (NN) debate focuses on the effects that Internet Traffi c Management (ITM) practices, implemented by network operators, may deploy on Internet users’ rights and, particularly, on their capability to freely seek, receive and impart information and ideas. Certain ITM techniques are indeed aimed at discriminating against specifi c content, applications and services … Read more