WASHINGTON — The Global Business Dialogue on Electronic Commerce, a group of top executives at e-commerce companies including AOL’s Steve Case, has urged the G8 summit in Okinawa later this month to “advance a comprehensive approach on e-commerce.”
GBDe was founded two years ago to spur a dialogue among the governments of major industrial countries and e-commerce companies “to develop a consistent set of public policies on major e-commerce issues.”
The group has more clout than similar organizations simply because of its membership. Case and Time-Warner CEO Gerald Levin are co-chairs; others include Disney’s Michael Eisner, IBM’s Louis Gerstner, Jean-Marie Messier, CEO of Vivendi, and Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Middelhoff.
In a letter sent to each head of government of the G8 nations, GBDe urged the G8 to adopt the following recommendations:
• Build greater global understanding of the importance of the medium in promoting economic goals and advancing its social and political agenda.
• Put in place a regulatory environment that makes sure the Internet is available to consumers and businesses around the world.
• Develop a “digital opportunities program” that would allow all countries to take advantage of what the Internet has to offer.
• Fight cyber crime and tighten cyber security.
