U.S. - Japan On The Internet Economy

“The Internet is transforming the global economy and improving the lives of people around the world,” said a statement issued jointly by the United States and Japan at the conclusion of the recent Third Director General-Level Meeting of the Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy. “Participants from both countries [agreed] that close cooperation and commitment to shared values is essential ... to ensure the free flow of information on the Internet in order to foster innovation and stimulate economic growth.”

Internet industry representatives from the United States and Japan submitted a “U.S.-Japan Business Dialogue on the Internet Economy Joint Statement,” addressing the need for coordination on Internet policies; promotion of cloud computing services; collaboration on cyber security; advancing Internet information and communications technology in the public sector; coordination on disaster response; cooperation on research development, training, and promotion of digital literacy; and lastly, the deployment of Internet Protocol version 6, to replace Version 4, which is currently used to direct nearly all Internet traffic.

Taking account of the “U.S.-Japan Business Dialogue on the Internet Economy Joint Statement,” government participants discussed details to implement the suggestions and emphasized the need to ensure the free flow of information in order to foster innovation and stimulate economic growth.

The United States and Japan also reaffirmed the principles in the joint statement of the Second Director General-Level meeting last year, including preserving the open and interoperable nature of the global Internet, which underpins the global free flow of data; and protecting Internet freedom, which includes the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly online.

To advance these principles, participants from both countries recognized the importance of coordination on Internet policy issues, including Internet governance, protecting personal information, and protecting children online. They also encouraged other countries to develop trade principles consistent with protecting freedom on the Internet.

Participants from both countries also recognized the concerns of users about the proper use of personal information by Internet service providers, and that service providers should be held accountable for protecting users’ personal information, regardless of national boundaries.