The United Nations has declared peace on the internet. The Working Group on Internet Governance, currently studying the problems of spam, network security and cyber-crime, will submit its report to Kofi Annan ahead of a world summit on information later this year.

Although those involved will not discuss the content of the report before its publication, the document is not expected to contain any surprises. Junk mail is expected to be ranked as a high priority, despite not appearing on the international agenda. Presumably UN officials get spam too, and like it as much as the rest of us do.

Markus Kummer, executive co-ordinator of the secretariat of the working group said: "Much of the report's content reflects a consensus, and the group was able to agree on priorities for future action." Only in areas relating to government involvement will a range of options be presented.

The WGIG, which was established in 2003, has also discussed the root server system and the administration of internet names and addresses.

The proposals put forward in the report will be considered by member states at the World SUmmit on the Information Society in Tunisia in November 2005. ®

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