Hacking digital public policy: Director of OWNI joins government debate

The Elysée asked me to be part of a group of 18 to 20 experts for the French Conseil National du Numérique, or CNN (National Digital Council). This newly-formed group will bring together the major Internet actors “in their diversity,” and according to the Ministry of Industry “will be consulted for concerning all legislative bills and government regulations relating to the information society.” This public policy forum will assist in questioning the legislative machine before it’s randomly put into motion.

It was a persistent rumor, the type that seemed too strange to be true. “You butt heads with the authorities, I can’t see this actually happening,” we were told by unanimous sources, echoing that this wasn’t a reality but rather a mere rumor.

The proposition was even more of a shock, because we are responsible for launching OWNI.fr - the non-identified web object of which I am Publishing Director – during the Hadopi law debate. During this time certain authorities held a concept of the Internet that put the Creation and Internet law in danger, and was diametrically opposite to our vision of promoting Internet freedom.

The Internet is not a savage entity nor another civilization – one which must be tamed, the other which we must accept the status quo.

My approach and my vision of the Internet could result in me diving headfirst into direct conflict with those who are part of the current government. Nonetheless, I have accepted to take part in the CNN because its composition and direction makes me believe this task assigned to me will not be in vain, and it could serve as a forum for consultation and guidance concerning digital public policy.

For the most part governments, especially France, have held a distorted and anxiety-ridden view of the Internet. The creation of the CNN shows a potential shift – society has a lot to learn from new media entrepreneurs and media directors who are trying to make our information society part of the solution rather than a collective problem. The Internet is not a savage entity nor another civilization – one which must be tamed, the other which we must accept the status quo.

There is a strong teenage-like impulse to slam the door in their faces. Yet, in accepting this nomination, I hope to make myself the mouthpiece for those who believe the Internet is a reflection of democracy, and thus defend:

Net neutrality for networks, the possibility for citizens to defend themselves, the right to free and universal access to the Internet, a society based on sharing, remixing, open source, open data and Creative Commons.

The Internet is also a critical opportunity for our economy: A report by McKinsey recently estimated that the Internet injects 60 billion euros into the French economy and created over 700,000 jobs in France, which is 25% of the new jobs created since 1995.

I don’t have a fancy degree like most politicians – I just have the equivalent of a high school degree in my back pocket. I did however start my first company when I was 18 years-old, and in 2006 launched the PoliTIC’Show which was a video blog giving presidential candidates in 2007 a platform to speak – I tried to show that bloggers, citizens, and amateurs could in fact bring added value to policy debates. Today, OWNI tries to show how the Internet can make positive changes in redefining the media ecosystem, mediation of culture, and journalism. I’d like to think that this nomination to the CNN indicates an evolution in how governments are starting to play an effective role in today’s public debate.

But I’m also not naive: It’s unlikely that Parliament will have time to adopt significant Internet freedom legislation in time for the 2012 presidential election. I have reservations that the CNN will be optimally functional at that point, yet I hope to start contributing to the debate on how to make the Internet, both in a digital and concrete sense, and embedded part of our democracy – it would be a shame to deny this.

If this is not the case, then I will assess the situation: with you and 1.5 million users on our site each month, along with the 38 full-time OWNI employees at our one thousands contributor. I do not doubt for a moment that the experts appointed to the CNN will ultimately represent you.

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Crédits photos CC FlickR Rémy Saglier, Quasimodo

Translation by Stefanie Chernow