Internet needs accountability, says Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: The Internet requires not just governance but transparency and accountability on the part of the user, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said on Thursday.

The user "should be free to express his opinion but at the same time be accountable for what is being said", Sibal said while inaugurating the India Internet Governance Conference (IIGC-2012).

"Above all, managing the Internet needs consensus amongst stakeholders - government, business, civil society," he added.

Kapil Sibal said the internet requires not just governance but transparency and accountability on the part of the user.

The two-day conference is organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in association with the communications and IT ministry and the Internet Society.

It aims to provide a platform for an open and inclusive policy dialogue that involves government, business, civil society, the technical community and academia.

"The world of internet is a very diverse place. Hence no one solution can be applicable to all stakeholders," Sibal said.

"A mechanism needs to be created with the consensus of all the stakeholders who can then address issues that will arise in the future.

"India's stand on the issue is that freedom of expression is a must for every citizen which needs to be balanced with accountability. With right comes duty," he added.

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