The idea of an Internet day or diadeinternet emerged on the initiative of the Association of Internet Users, www.aui.es, and the first Internet day was organised on 25 October 2005. More than 400 events were arranged at over 8,000 venues in 31 provinces of the 17 Autonomous Communities. More than 200 organisations operating in the public and private sectors subscribed to the Declaration of Principles to build the Information Society on behalf of over one million people.

At the behest of the II World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia, in November 2005 the United Nations agreed to make 17 May the World International Telecommunications and Information Society Day, with the same objectives as Internet Day.

What is Internet Day?

Internet Day is an on-line project which has emerged from society, on account of society, and for society. It is free, and open to anyone who wishes to take part. Because Internet Day is a common task.

In a word, it is a date which seeks to show the potential of new technology to improve the living standards of nations and their people.

One of the key features of Internet Day is the total freedom of all groups to decide what to do, how to do it, and who their activities will target. Everyone can take part, each person decides to what extent they will be involved, and everyone is as important as everyone else, regardless of the size or number of proposals they put forward.

Why have an Internet Day??

Article 121 of the World Summit on the Information Society’s conclusions document reads as follows:

“It is necessary to make a contribution for Internet to become better known so that it may become a world tool which is genuinely available to the general public. The World Information Society Day will be held annually on 17 May, and this will serve to provide best knowledge of the importance of this international resource, and particularly of the possibilities which ITC can offer societies and economies, and ways to bridge the digital gap.”

Internet Day provides a chance to encourage and facilitate access to the Information Society for the unconnected and the disabled. Also, following on from the experience acquired in Spain, plans have been made to introduce Internet Day in other countries, providing all interested parties with all the work, information and methodology supplied by participants in previous Internet Days.

What does Internet Day do?

The organisation of Internet Day is based on four basic concepts: an Internet Users’ Association as a Technical Office to coordinate and plan; a Support Committee of the main social agents (Authorities, associations, federations, universities, schools, trades unions, political parties etc.); the Promoters, to arrange events and activities for Internet Day; and finally the Communicators, to help spread the idea of Internet Day. They all share space within the Information Society, and this provides both an overview of the project, and a customised vision, to a number of different criteria.

How can I take part in Internet Day?

Everyone is welcome to take part in Internet Day. If you want to join in, all you have to do is decide which profile suits you best, and the extent to which you wish to become involved.

 Live Internet Day: You will find all the information you need to join Internet Day at www.diadeinternet.org. You can find events where you live, in alphabetical order or by types of activity; subscribe as an individual or in a group to any of the declarations suggested; browse news items; or you can contact us - among many other uses.

 Promote Internet Day: Any kind of business, authority and organisation may organise activities and/or events for Internet Day in each country. The promoters decide what kind of event they are going to arrange, how and where they intend to do this, which kind of public they prefer to target, and which resources they are going to use to do so. An event must meet the following conditions to form part of Internet Day:

• It must bring the Information Society to the unconnected or disabled.
• Its main event must take place on 17 May.
• It must introduce itself on www.diadeinternet.org.

 Communicate Internet Day to others: Participation by the media is a basic requirement for Internet Day. To be a communicator, you need only undertake to supply some form of communication which will help spread Internet Day or any of the many initiatives by Internet Day promoters. Send your suggestions to us at www.diadeinternet.org. Your logo will appear on the official web site.

 Internet Day Awards: The objectives of the Internet Day awards are to acknowledge the work of people and institutions to bring the Information Society to the general public, to encourage web accessibility, stimulate open participation of people and institutions on 17 May, and help promote this date. The winners of the 7 award categories: C1-Best Event; C2-Education Centres; C3-Best Accessibility; C4-Digital Gap; C5-Digital Journalist; C6-Internet and Me; and C7-Best Weblog - are chosen by web users, and a jury of members of the Support Committee.

Background

Celebrating Internet Day goes back to World Telecommunications Day, which focused on the profession and the professionals working in the sector. Subsequently, “Internet Day” was held in the United States in the 1990s, with the specific aim of using a holiday to connect up schools, and Internet Day was abandoned when this problem had been solved.

In the 1990s “La fete de l’internet” emerged in France, and this is still held every year in mid-March, focusing on French-speaking countries.

The European Union established the “Safer Internet Day” in 2004 to show the public how to make Internet safer and more reliable. This initiative was supported by a number of EU countries, and was held again in 2005.

The Internet Day emerged in Spain in 2004, following a proposal by the Association of Internet Users, which was seconded by others. The first was held on 25 October 2005 and attracted a considerable number of users.

In the same year, 2005, it was suggested to the work groups arranging the II World Summit on the Information Society that a World Internet Day be created, and it was finally agreed to make 17 May the World Information Society Day.

This suggestion was approved in November 2005, as set out in Article 121 of the Conclusions Document at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia, with the objectives as defined for Internet Day.

On the heels of this decision, in order to adapt to the framework approved by the UN, the Internet Day organisers set 17 May as the date, and as far as possible they intend to ensure that this initiative is followed in every country in the world.

Finance

Taking part in Internet Day is completely free, and no payments are required to the organisers.

All Internet Day actors, naturally, are completely free to seek whatever support and means of finance they see fit to carry out their activity.

All materials produced by Internet Day, regardless of who has produced them, may be used freely at no charge, provided they help promote, encourage and support the Internet Day initiative.

Countries joining with a language other than those used at the present time must undertake to translate static information and web-browsing information into their own language (approximately 15,000 words).

Internet Day web page

All information on Internet Day is shared on one site, which can be accessed and customised from different URLs or web addresses.

The page is an information tool for Internet Day promoters, communicators and participants. Information and activity on the web for each country are coordinated by their Technical Offices.

Since there is a large amount of information involved, particular care has been taken to ensure that all users can customise visits and information in accordance with their own interests. The sections have also been arranged to match the four basic concepts: Participants (Live Internet Day), Promoters (Promote Internet Day), Communicators (Communicate Internet Day to Others) and Organisers.

The URL address used to access the Internet Day web page globally is:

 diadeinternet.org

For direct access to information in a single country, visitors may customise their browsing preferences (geography, language, age, or type of events).