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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>Dear Chapter Delegates: The following press release will
be sent to all members today.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><u><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><u><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>Internet Society Supports United Nations Human Rights Day
Focus on Social Media <o:p></o:p></span></font></u></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>Internet is central to promoting freedom of opinion and
expression<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>[<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
– 09 December 2011] – The Internet Society welcomed the focus of
today’s United Nations Human Rights Day event highlighting the
transformational role of the Internet and social media applications in giving
voice to people around the world. The Internet Society is a strong advocate of
an open and accessible Internet, and sees the Internet as an enabler of human
rights.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>The influence of the Internet and social media on the
ability of citizens to connect, share ideas, and join communities is
undeniable. In 2011, popular movements in the Middle East and <st1:place w:st="on">North
Africa</st1:place> demonstrated the Internet's power to enable individuals to
exercise their fundamental rights, in particular the right to freedom of
expression as well as the right to peaceful assembly and association. In this
context, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also points to
the role of social media in peaceful protest movements in many other cities
across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>These events illustrate the powerful impact of social
media by generating awareness of and support for efforts of people from all
walks of life seeking to bring about change, unconstrained by borders, time,
and distance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>“The Internet’s influence on society has been
profound,” said Lynn St. Amour, Internet Society President and CEO.
“The Internet Society is committed to ensuring an open, global, and
accessible Internet. It is an instrumental tool to sustain basic human
aspirations for freedom and social development.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>The Internet Society is deeply concerned about increased
attempts by certain governments in many regions of the world to control their
citizens’ access and use of the Internet. Often such actions are taken
without regard to the basic principles of human rights and due process. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>“The Internet is an enabler for the realization of a
wide range of human rights, and the open Internet is the embodiment of freedom
of expression,” said Markus Kummer, Vice President of Public Policy for
the Internet Society. “In 2012, we plan to continue our efforts in this
important policy area and to bring attention to the impact of the Internet on
other aspects of human rights.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>For more information on the United Nations Human Rights
Day 2011, visit http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2011/<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>For more information on the Internet Society and human
rights, visit http://www.isoc.org/internet/issues/humanrights.shtml<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>About the Internet Society<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>The Internet Society is the world’s trusted
independent source of leadership for Internet policy, technology standards, and
future development. Based on its principled vision and substantial
technological foundation, the Internet Society works with its members and
Chapters around the world to promote the continued evolution and growth of the
open Internet through dialog among companies, governments, and other
organizations around the world. For more information, see:
http://www.internetsociety.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'>Media Contact: Wende Cover, cover@isoc.org,
+1-703-439-2773<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Ted Mooney</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Sr. Director, Membership & Services</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Internet Society</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.isoc.org">www.isoc.org</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Direct Line: 703.439.2774</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Cell:
301.980.6446</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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