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Britain to host major Net summit

Net responsible for international co-operation

The UK is to stage a high level international summit next year to discuss how governments can use the Internet to deliver key public services. A thousand delegates from the G8 group of industrialised nations, developing economies and major trading blocs around the world will attend the World Internet Forum (WIF) at Oxford University in September 2000. Targeted at senior politicians, government officials and the IT industry, delegates attending WIF will explore how Internet delivered services can be used for the provision of social services, health, education and culture. WIF is the brainchild of MP Derek Wyatt and part of the aim of the conference is to bring IT companies and governments together under one roof so that they can explore together the potential of the Net. "Digital technology is moving faster than governments can handle," said Wyatt. "Politicians have to understand that the Internet is not something that they can play catch-up with. "We are urging governments around the world to get involved so that can develop the Internet for every one of their citizens," he said. Film director Lord Puttnam will chair the summit. ®

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