Realizing a New Global Cyberspace Framework: Normative Foundations and Guiding Principles

198 Pages·2015·1.748 MB·English

by  Rolf H. Weber (auth.)

Rolf H. Weber
Realizing a New
Global Cyberspace
Framework
Normative Foundations and
Guiding Principles
Realizing a New Global Cyberspace Framework

Rolf H. Weber
Realizing a New Global
Cyberspace Framework
Normative Foundations
and Guiding Principles
123
Rolf H. Weber
Faculty of Law
University of Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland
Co-Publication with Schulthess Juristische Medien AG
Copyright © Schulthess Juristische Medien AG, Zurich - Basel - Geneva 2014
ISBN 978-3-7255-7093-5.
www.schulthess.com
ISBN978-3-662-44676-8 ISBN978-3-662-44677-5 (eBook)
DOI10.1007/978-3-662-44677-5
SpringerHeidelbergNewYorkDordrechtLondon
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2014950795
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Preface
In many respects cyberspace has created a new world. The online phenomena en-
compass social, cultural, economic, and legal facets. The information society’s
regulatory framework has gradually crystallized under the term of “Internet gov-
ernance”. However, the focus should be broader addressing all aspects of the in-
visible, intangible world of electronic informational processes stored at multiple
interconnected sites with manifold possibilities for interaction. Cyberspace does
include the exchange of people, businesses and other entities over computer net-
works.
Notwithstanding intensive discussions about the normative foundations and guid-
ing principles of a global cyberspace framework the theoretical grounds still
partly seem shaky. This book attempts to outline a model for a general legal
framework enshrining key principles of human society. Such a framework could
then be complemented by additional polycentric regulations developed through
multistakeholder participation in a multi-layer regime.
The book has benefited from many inputs and encouragements that I am deeply
grateful for. Valuable exchanges have often taken place within GigaNet, the aca-
demic network for Internet governance; furthermore, my stays at the Max Planck
Institute in Munich and at the Institutt for Rettsinformatikk of Oslo University
have provided opportunities for meaningful discussions. The most wonderful sup-
port was always granted by Prof. Dr. Christine Kaufmann (University of Zurich).
Furthermore, I am grateful to my research assistant Ulrike I. Heinrich for her sup-
port in the completion of the book and to Miriam Frisenda for the review of the
manuscript.
Any comments and suggestions from readers would be highly appreciated
([email protected]).
Zurich, June 2014 Rolf H. Weber
V

Contents
Preface ..................................................................................................................... V
Bibliography ........................................................................................................... XI
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... XXV
I. Introduction ................................................................................................... 1
A. Objectives of the book ................................................................................... 1
B. Notion and meaning of cyberspace .............................................................. 2
C. Internet governance as part of cyberspace regulation ............................... 3
II. Confrontation of traditional legal concepts with globalization ................. 5
A. Development of international public law concepts ..................................... 5
1. Insights from Roman law ......................................................................... 5
a) Res nullius and res communis .......................................................... 5
b) Jus naturale and jus gentium ........................................................... 6
2. Nation States: sovereignty principle ........................................................ 7
a) Concept of Westphalian Peace Treaty .............................................. 7
b) Challenges of borderless cyberspace ............................................... 10
B. Present international public law in transition ............................................ 13
1. Relativization of territoriality principle ................................................... 13
a) Scope of territoriality principle ........................................................ 13
b) Applicable law .................................................................................. 13
c) Jurisdiction ....................................................................................... 15
2. Provocation by the “autonomy of cyberspace” concept ........................... 15
3. Adequacy of analogies to other legal fields ............................................ 19
C. Escape movement: soft law ........................................................................... 22
1. Notion and forms of self-regulation ........................................................ 22
2. Legal “quality” of self-regulation ............................................................ 24
3. Strengths of self-regulation ..................................................................... 27
4. Weaknesses of self-regulation ................................................................. 28
5. Importance of self-regulation in the online world ................................... 29
VII
Contents
III. Challenges for regulatory approaches in cyberspace ................................. 33
A. Understanding of law and regulation .......................................................... 33
1. Law as a system ....................................................................................... 33
2. Regulation as a tool of the State .............................................................. 35
B. Traditional rationales and concepts of regulation ...................................... 36
1. Public interest theory ............................................................................... 36
2. Welfare economics theory ....................................................................... 37
3. Public choice theory ................................................................................ 38
4. Institutionalism theory ............................................................................. 38
5. Capturel cyclical theory ........................................................................... 39
C. Social change as challenge for regulation .................................................... 40
1. Social/environmental developments and dynamic concepts ................... 41
2. Qualitatively improved regulatory strategies ........................................... 44
3. Flexibility of law: relative autonomy ....................................................... 47
a) Theory of open systems ................................................................... 47
b) Autopoiesis approach ....................................................................... 47
c) Relative autonomy and change of law .............................................. 49
IV. In search for new rule-making approaches in cyberspace ........................ 53
A. Code-based regulation .................................................................................. 53
1. Concept of Lessig .................................................................................... 54
a) Architecture as key element ............................................................. 54
b) Influence of law and policy .............................................................. 57
c) Problems of the code-based approach .............................................. 58
2. Lex informatica as alternative ................................................................. 60
B. Regulation through formalized standards and networks .......................... 63
1. Socio-legal background ........................................................................... 63
2. Interlinked networks approach ............................................................... 65
3. Complexity structures in networks .......................................................... 68
C. Informal law-making .................................................................................... 70
1. Law-making through (informal) social contract ...................................... 70
2. Informality features in law-making ......................................................... 74
3. Customary Internet-ional law ................................................................. 76
4. Appendix: Importance of accountability ................................................. 78
D. Normativity-oriented regulatory concepts .................................................. 80
1. Philosophical background ...................................................................... 80
2. Hybrid economy and information society ............................................... 82
VIII
Contents
3. Democracy, participation, constitutionalism ........................................... 85
a) Concept of “civic virtue” .................................................................. 85
b) Concept of “semiotic democracy” .................................................... 87
c) Concept of societal constitutionalism .............................................. 88
E. Assessment of regulatory theories and of possible future perspectives .... 89
1. Complexity of structured matrix ............................................................. 89
2. Polycentric and sectoral regulation .......................................................... 90
3. Hybrid and mesh regulation .................................................................... 92
4. Interim conclusion ................................................................................... 95
V. Development of a “Global Cyberspace Framework” (GCF) ..................... 99
A. Introductory Remarks .................................................................................. 99
B. Policy parameters for cyberspace rule-making .......................................... 102
1. Political visions of rule-making ............................................................... 102
2. Scope and limits of rule-making approaches ........................................... 106
3. Structured rule-making processes (multi-layer governance) ................... 109
a) Principles of a multi-layer approach ................................................ 109
b) Development of normative multi-layer governance principles ........ 110
c) Macro-legal and micro-legal level approach as alternative .............. 111
4. Legitimacy of cyberspace rule-making ................................................... 112
C. Guiding principles of a Global Cyberspace Framework ........................... 115
1. Formal/procedural principles of a Global Cyberspace Framework ......... 115
a) Need for a dynamic and flexible approach ....................................... 115
b) Need for a user-centered and community-related approach ............ 118
2. Identification of the relevant substantive principles of cyberspace ......... 120
3. Realization of multistakeholder participation ......................................... 126
a) General foundations ......................................................................... 127
b) Important elements of multistakeholder participation ..................... 129
c) Multistakeholder participation in Internet governance debates ....... 131
4. Compliance with basic socio-legal values ............................................... 136
a) Acknowledgement of cultural diversity ........................................... 136
b) Recognition of cyberspace openness ............................................... 138
c) Implementation of corresponding technological values: neutrality
and interoperability ......................................................................... 142
5. Implementation of structural governance principles ............................... 145
a) Organizational management requirements ....................................... 145
b) Enforcement and dispute resolution requirements ........................... 148
IX