Canadian Views on Internet Governance

Canadian Views on Internet Governance May 2015
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Introduc9on §  The Canadian Internet Registra;on Authority commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct public opinion research on maDers related to internet governance in Canada and globally. §  The objec;ves were to assess public perspec;ves on whether there should be more or less involvement by governments, private sector and mul;na;onal organiza;ons in how the internet is governed, and also what some of the priori;es should be with respect to the safety and security of the internet as opposed to how free and open it is. §  To meet these objec;ves ques;ons were added to the Ipsos eNa;on Omnibus study, an online study of n=1,000 Canadian adults. The field dates were April 1-­‐5, 2015. 2 Key Findings §  When it comes to ques;ons around internet governance, Canadians prefer interna;onal standards and global access and see a more free and open internet as a posi;ve when combaPng extremist groups like ISIS: ð  Two in three say global interconnected standards (65%) would be best for the Internet versus specific local technologies (35%). ð  A majority of Canadians (70%) says that connec;ng as much of the global popula;on as possible to the Internet should be a top priority in interna;onal affairs. ð  Nearly two in three (64%) say that combaPng extremist groups, like ISIS, is easier when the Internet is as open and free as it can be. §  Yet, Canadians are not en;rely in favor of a free and unfeDered Internet: ð  When forced to choose, seven in ten Canadians say a focus on safety and security (69%) would be best for the Internet compared to three in ten (31%) who say the focus should be on openness and increased access. ð  Most (58%) disagree that individual countries should be able to control what their ci;zens can see and post online (including 30% who strongly disagree). However, a substan;al propor;on (42%) agree at least somewhat that individual countries should be able to control what their ci;zens can see and post online. ð  While a majority prefers less (59%), not more (41%) government involvement, a slight majority favors more (56%), not fewer (44%) regula;ons. §  There is liDle clarity on who should be most responsible for the Internet: ð  Half (50%) say more control by individual countries would be beDer; half (50%) say more mul;na;onal control would be beDer. ð  Half (50%) say more private sector involvement would be beDer; half (50%) prefer less private sector involvement. ð  It’s worth no;ng that more highly educated respondents are much more likely prefer both mul;na;onal control (63% among university graduates) and global interconnected standards (75%), although an Internet governed by a mul;na;onal organiza;on, like the U.N., would likely contribute to more country-­‐by-­‐country governance and less standardiza;on in how the internet operates and is governed. 3 Canadians are split on whether more control by individual countries, or more mul9na9onal control would be best, but a clear majority favor global standards More control for individual countries 50% •  High school or less (55%) Specific local technologies More mul9-­‐
na9onal control •  University graduates (63%) 35% •  High school or less (41%) •  Low income, under $40k (42%) •  Quebec (44%) Q1 Which of the following do you believe is best for the Internet? Base: All respondents (n=1000) 50% 65% Global interconnected standards •  University graduates (75%) •  High income, $100k+ (73%) •  Alberta (71%) and Atlan;c Canada (71%) 4 Majori9es say connec9ng the global popula9on to the Internet should be a top priority in interna9onal affairs, and say it makes figh9ng extremism easier Agree or Disagree: Canada's leaders should make connec9ng as much of the global popula9on to the Internet as possible a top priority in interna9onal affairs. Strongly Agree 19% Somewhat Agree Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree 51% 23% 7% CombaVng extremist groups, like ISIS, is made easier when the Internet is as open and free as it can be. 23% 41% 23% Q2. For each of the following statements please indicate whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree. Base: All respondents (n=1000) 13% 4 Most say more focus on security and safety, rather than openness and increased access, would be best, although fewer call for more regula9ons Focused on security and safety 69% •  Women (75%) •  Older respondents, 55 and over (80%) •  Ontario (71%) and Quebec (73%) More regula9ons 31% •  Men (38%) •  Younger respondents, 18-­‐34 years (43%) •  Alberta (44%) 44% Fewer regula9ons 56% •  Women (67%) •  Older respondents, 55 and over (62%) •  Upper middle income respondents, $60-­‐
$100k (63%) •  Quebec (68%) Q1 Which of the following do you believe is best for the Internet? Base: All respondents (n=1000) Focused on openness and increased access • 
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Men (55%) Younger respondents, 18-­‐34 years (49%) High income responents, $100k+ (51%) Ontario (52%) and Atlan;c Canada (54%) 6 While most (58%) disagree that individual countries should be able to control what their ci9zens can see and post online, two in five (42%) agree at least somewhat Agree or Disagree: Individual countries should be able to control what their ci9zens can see and post online Strongly Agree 11% • 
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Somewhat Agree 31% Women (46%) High school or less (48%) Low income, under $40k (49%) Quebec (47%) Saskatchewan and Manitoba (52%) Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree 28% 30% •  Men (61%) •  University graduates (64%) •  Upper-­‐middle, $60-­‐$100k (65%) and high income respondents, $100k+ (63%) •  Atlan;c Canada (70%) Q2. For each of the following statements please indicate whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree. Base: All respondents (n=1000) 4 Canadians are evenly divided as to whether more or less private sector involvement is best for the internet, however, they lean towards less involvement by government More private sector involvement 50% •  Older respondents, 55 and older (58%) •  Quebec (61%) More government involvement •  Women (44%) •  Quebec (48%) Q1 Which of the following do you believe is best for the Internet? Base: All respondents (n=1000) 41% 50% Less private sector involvement •  Younger respondents, 18-­‐34 years (58%) •  Ontario (52%) and Atlan;c Canada (54%) 59% Less government involvement •  Men (62%) •  Alberta (66%) 8