Speeches

Remarks by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė at the Internet Governance Forum

Distinguished Participants of the Internet Governance Forum,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your numerous presence here clearly underlines the importance and necessity of this forum.

The Internet - which was born not so long ago, in the second half of the 20th century - has become an integral part of our everyday life. It impossible to imagine modern business, public services, the spread of information, cultural exchanges, person-to-person contacts, entertainment, and leisure without the global electronic network. The development of the Internet is crucial to worldwide progress. It provides a special space for people of arts and letters, the business community, researchers, and human rights activists.

It is very pleasing that the Forum launched in Athens has now moved to Vilnius - also known as "Northern Athens". Lithuania has achieved truly good results over the last decade. Today we have one of the highest internet speeds and mobile phone penetration rates in the world. We must therefore continue to invest into technological development and accelerate the implementation of national and European digital agendas.

The Internet not only contributes to the development of knowledge society, but it also poses new challenges relating to privacy, data security, child abuse, e-theft, and intellectual property rights. There is also the problem of dishonest internet users ever more often trying to make personal gain. The number of security incidents on the Internet has increased tenfold in the past several years. The use of illegal software is also on the rise.

Actions taken at national level alone will not help overcome the newly emerging challenges. We therefore need to have a closer and more open dialogue between the interested stakeholders: national and international institutions, businesses, consumer protection groups, and other non-governmental organizations.

The international community has no other choice but to work together to find the necessary solutions. We have to create a more reliable and more secure Internet for tomorrow. We have to consolidate the efforts of all countries to engage in joint research and to explore new options.

Each of us can make a fitting and appropriate contribution to foster the sustainability and development of the Internet. Let us have the interests and expectations of all legal internet users at heart. Let us respect the principles of the Internet as a free space. At the same time, let us search for the means and methods to stop malicious activity in cyberspace.

I wish the participants of the Forum many new ideas, resolute decisions and meaningful discussions.