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Content is lifeline of e-gov portals, all Internet based applications and departmental information systems. Content is a vital ingredient for all Internet based service delivery mechanisms, and has direct impact on success of service delivery through the web. The definition of Internet governance as postulated by the working group on Internet governance, there are varied: Internet governance is development and application by governments, private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programs that shape evolution and use of the Internet. It is the content that connects them all. This holds key for the next level of aspirations towards delivering Gov 2.0 level services that foster citizen interaction and assures a greater level of involvement and user community dynamics. Globally, e-gov initiatives are heading that way.

Interestingly, content has different connotations, and at times, meaning for each one of these stakeholders as their roles are different. The content generators, users, regulators, and effectors are generally all different entities making it more complicated. The content issue has kept architects of the e-governance domain on their toes since long. And more so, as people from different backgrounds have different needs, priorities, views of content, and implications ranging from infrastructure, technologies, and regulations to human rights. In a nutshell, all initiatives pertaining to e-governance actually revolve around content. Digital content must not be mistaken with electronic scanning of existing departmental records; rather it corresponds to a change in form utilizing multimedia capabilities and building up the service delivery model on it.

In the international multi-lateral forums and dialog processes, there has been a considerable amount of emphasis and concern on content right from the WSIS, WGIG process, continued till date. The working group on Internet governance in its report submitted to UN secretary general in 2005, has highlighted at least three prominent areas related to content and possible policy directions for the same: freedom of expression; data protection and privacy rights; and multilingualism.

These discussion elements in various forms have significance to e-governance initiatives as well. Since a long time, content issues have been debated across various forums, most notable being IGF (Internet Governance Forum), which was created as a result of the recommendations of WGIG under the mandate from world summit on information society (WSIS). IGF process has dedicated themes cutting across content as a major discussion area, and there is a great civil society participation to address the same at the international level.

Various dynamic coalitions across the world are also contemplating on content related issues. While browsing through discussions on these coalitions sites, one can clearly see the anxieties pertaining to the Internet content. The IGF process has dynamic coalition on Internet and climate change; accessibility and disability; child online safety; framework of principles for the Internet; gender and Internet governance; freedom of expression; freedom of media on the Internet; access and connectivity for remote, rural, and dispersed communities; open standards, privacy, etc. These dynamic coalitions have been instrumental in bringing out routine, procedural, and radical issues related to content. For example, in climate change forums, participants are talking about content disposal and greener ways of handling content.

Today when e-gov initiatives are progressing fast towards achieving Gov 2.0 capabilities, its high time the content lifecycle issues are suitably addressed. In India, we are yet to come up with measures and fostering mechanisms that address the complete lifecycle of content- production, transmission, storage, consumption, and disposal of content. While content is being produced, transmitted, and consumed in a very conspicuous and indeterminate manner; it further requires a lot of capacity building to address this as a discipline. The success and failure of e-gov projects depends on this.

Another bottleneck in content proliferation is production, sharing, and dissemination of intellectual property, ensuring certain exclusivity to the department. On the other hand, various concurrent initiatives by a number of agencies and departments, at times, result in reinvention of wheel. Further, contact has to be rendered to the concerned stakeholders suitably and at all appropriates times. Also, content would be of no use if it is not in context. Thus, it becomes a complex puzzle with diverse pieces viz original creation, generation, storage, retrieval, rendering, usage, collaboration, etc.

Content issues will have to be further seen in light of IT Act 2000 (amendment 2008), which has got provisions and implications related to generation, storage, access, transmission, usage, and attribution of content. The enablement of electronic sharing of information across various departmental portals, databases or even such designs may lead to access, authorization, and attribution issues. Also, the ownership of citizen related information and its usage even to other public services is a matter of opinion and debate. Civil society organizations globally have a discrete stand on this. Thus, there is a need to build capacity across the e-gov ecosystem for addressing all such diverse implications related to generation, storage, access, transmission, usage of content. So, this might appear as an Internet governance issue, but has several e-governance implications.

Development of content has also been identified as a key component under the capacity building initiatives of the National e-governance Plan, which focuses on e-gov specific content, which has a potential to be extrapolated further to address e-gov ecosystem issues. The amorphous, unaddressed piece of knowledge management for e-governance may bear no fruit till content generation and related fostering mechanisms are smoothened.

Various agencies such as CDAC, NIC, etc, along with industry, service providers have been working substantially towards content and multilingual development. This pace has to continue and further enhanced. The content development promises to bring richness to various initiatives under e-governance umbrella and other developmental programs, such as in the field of e-education, health, etc. The clear direction for us is to attune the policies and mobilize resources to address the issues in the content lifecycle as highlighted above, and there is no unique way of doing this. We can take lessons from success stories elsewhere in the world.

In the recent Internet Governance Forum (IGF-2008) meeting in Hyderabad, there have been substantial discussions on the content related issues ranging form popularity of user generated content to content in local languages. The Chairmans Summary clearly highlights the same as discussed in several sessions across themes.

The government of India has also underlined the fact in their statement made at IGF-2008.

The challenge of achieving universal access can be realized only if Internet is made available to people of all languages. More vigorous strategies need to be put in place to make sure that the required content is produced.

Governance of such an entity poses challenges for technology, content, and behavior management coupled with an enhanced understanding of security in all its dimensions and various aspects of privacy.

Further, content has been identified as one of the top themes for IGF 2009 scheduled in Egypt. It is high time that we generate enough sensitization towards this in the region, and involve relevant institutional mechanisms to build momentum addressing the same.

Dr Dhrupad Mathur
The author is director, industry interface, SPJCM Dubai, UAE
maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in

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