[Chapter-delegates] An old story about freedom of the Internet

[Veni Markovski]

It might be interesting to point out to this press release, by one of 
the European respected organizations.


http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net

Paris, May 17th, 2011 -- *Next week, Nicolas Sarkozy will be convening 
the "eG8 forum", just two days ahead of a G8 summit that will focus on 
Internet policy. Disguised as a pseudo-consultative process, this staged 
show could mask the actual will of governments to increase state control 
over the Internet. Beyond the smokescreen of the "forum", citizens must 
hold world leaders accountable for their actions, and denounce the 
numerous ongoing attempts at undermining our freedoms online.*

/La Quadrature du Net, along with several artist and citizen 
organizations, calls on everyone to participate in creative action at 
http://g8internet.com./

One of the biggest advertising agencies in the world, Publicis, has been 
appointed by Nicolas Sarkozy to organize the "eG8 forum", which will 
gather an impressive cast of business actors to discuss the future of 
the Internet economy. In fact, Sarkozy has stated for months his 
intention to use his presidency of the G8 to impose his concept of a 
"civilized Internet".

This notion, borrowed from the Chinese government, is in line with 
Sarkozy's record on Internet policy1 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net#footnote1_xpom44q>. 
Last year on the international stage, Sarkozy also tried 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/sarkozy-exports-repressive-internet> to 
impose the idea of nation-state control over the network's architecture, 
playing down the importance of the Internet for freedom of communication 
and democracy worldwide2 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net#footnote2_335c6uh>. 


Recent events worldwide suggest that such an approach is gaining 
momentum internationally. The Internet black-out in Egypt, the US 
government's reaction to WikiLeaks 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/wikileaks-and-the-control-of-the-internet>3 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net#footnote3_6s07ihi>, 
the ACTA agreement <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/ACTA> that will be 
signed during the G8, the adoption of website blocking mechanisms and 
talks about a "Virtual Schengen border"4 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net#footnote4_s5ntk93> 
in Europe, or plans for "Internet Kill Switches" 
<https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Internet_kill_switch> 
are some of the numerous examples of governments trying to take over the 
Internet and its governance5 
<http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eg8-forum-a-smokescreen-for-governmental-control-of-the-net#footnote5_q19efnr>. 
Citizens must react by holding their governments accountable and ensure 
that the Internet remains our most precious tool for improving societies.

*/"In spite of a harmless-sounding rhetoric, the 'eG8 forum' is a 
smokescreen to cover the increased control of governments over the 
Internet. It is a crucial moment in history when citizens have to 
mobilize to remain in control of an open and universal Internet. 
Attempts to turn the Net into a tool of repression and control must be 
opposed through every available mean of expression and creation."/* 
concludes Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson for citizen advocacy group La 
Quadrature du Net.



On 5/23/2011 05:20, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond wrote:
> What a lovely multi-stakeholder line-up at the eG8!
> http://www.eg8forum.com/programme.html
>
> Where is the Internet Society?
>
> eG8: The Slaughter of The Internet.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Olivier
>
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