PROJECT IG3T - WORKSHOPS
Workshop 3 - Friday, March 27, 2009 (Milan, Italy)
Technical normalcy and Internet governance: Socio-technical and socio-ethical dimensions

Led by Norberto Patrignani (Catholic University of Milan)

The technical normativity of the Internet is particularly problematic as its underlying socio-technical and socio-ethical aspects generally remain removed from any form of reflexive criticism. The technical devices (supports, systems, networks) are often represented as complex objects. And, they are associated with a sort of structural and functional neutrality. However, it is important "to open the black box" of technology in order to identify and discuss the forms of normativity that these devices convey, with or without any deliberate intention from their designers. In particular, this is a question of determining to which degrees and according to which methods the decision-making and regulatory systems that govern the technical norms and standards of the Internet: 1) can integrate socio-technical and socio-ethical designs into their development; and 2) can be opened up to political checks and balances. In this workshop we will investigate the best blend of the several approaches or dimensions for governing a «public common» like the Internet: architecture (hardware, software), laws, education, etc.

Where

Cripta dell'Aula Magna, Catholic University of Milano, Largo Gemelli 1, Milano (going to "Information")

What

* The technical normativity of the Internet is particularly problematic as its underlying socio-technical and socio-ethical aspects generally remain removed from any form of reflexive criticism

* The technical devices (supports, systems, networks) are often represented as complex objects. And, they are associated with a sort of structural and functional neutrality. However, it is important «to open the black box» of technology in order to identify and discuss the forms of normativity that these devices convey, with or without any deliberate intention from their designers.

* In particular, this is a question of determining to which degrees and according to which methods the decision-making and regulatory systems that govern the technical norms and standards of the Internet:
- can integrate socio-technical and socio-ethical designs into their development; and
- can be opened up to political checks and balances.

* In this workshop we will investigate the best blend of the several approaches or dimensions for governing a «public common» like the Internet:
- architecture (hardware, software),
- laws,
- education, etc.

Themes

* The Internet as a normative device for cultural practices
* Technical co-constitution and industrial design of ICTs and the Internet: an ethical perspective
* The normativity of the Internet: inherency or adherence of standards?
* Internet Communities in Europe
* Prescriptive aspects of the systems of naming and addressing: digital identities
* Standards and protocols: IPv6 and Internet post-IP
* Innovative ethical approaches to Internet governance
* Embedded ethics: the myth of amoral computing

Agenda

09:00 Registration
09:15

Prof. Federico RAJOLA, Università Cattolica di Milano
Introduction to Milano Seminar

09:30

Paul MATHIAS (Collège International de Philosophie, FR)
The Internet as a normative device for cultural practices

10:30

Peter-Paul VERBEEK (University of Twente, NL)
Governing the mediated self:technological morality and the ethics of information technology

11:30

Break

12:00

Stephan BORTZMEYER (AFNIC, FR)
Prescriptive aspects of the systems of naming and addressing: numerical identities

13:00

Lunch

14:30

Jean-Michel CORNU (Fondation Internet Nouvelle Génération, FR)
Impact of architecture on governance: IPv6 and Internet post-IP

15:30

Norberto PATRIGNANI (CeTIF, Università Cattolica di Milano)
Internet and Embedded ethics: the myth of amoral computing

16:30

End of the seminar