[Chapter-delegates] FW: [Staff] NEWS RELEASE: Internet Society Delivers Statement at the19th Session of the Human Rights Council

[Ted Mooney]

Internet Society Delivers Statement at the 19th Session of the Human Rights
Council 

Human Rights Council discussion on the right to freedom of expression on the
Internet 

[Geneva, Switzerland, 01 March 2012] — Speaking this week at the Human
Rights Council panel on the right to freedom of expression on the Internet,
Markus Kummer, Internet Society Vice President for Public Policy, emphasized
the importance of a multistakeholder dialogue to further this objective. In
the Internet Society’s first statement in the Human Rights Council, Kummer
emphasized that the same standards should be applied to both the online and
offline worlds. 

The high-level panel discussion focused on the ways and means to improve the
protection of freedom of expression online in accordance with international
human rights law. Kummer remarked, “There is no doubt that the unique
characteristics of the Internet have empowered individuals to seek, receive,
and impart information and opinion in unexpected ways and scale. This
success is based on an open and collaborative approach to technology
development. The core values of the Internet pioneers were deeply rooted in
the belief that the human condition can be enhanced by removing barriers to
communication and information.” 

The success of the Internet is based on an open and collaborative approach
to policy, standards, and technology development, as carried out by the
engineers of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and other Internet
organizations. Without the open standards development, the Internet would
not be the powerful catalyst that it is today for access to information,
freedom of expression, and innovation. These unique enabling qualities of
the Internet must be preserved.   

Kummer stated that from the point of view of the Internet Society, Article
19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), which includes the
right “to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media
and regardless of frontiers,” almost reads like a definition of the
Internet, even though it was written a quarter of a century before the
development of the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). 

The Internet Society expressed concern over increased attempts by some
governments to control their citizens' access and use of the global network.
While governments have the responsibility to enforce the laws that are in
place, they also have the obligation to guarantee fundamental rights. There
are many examples of technological measures used to restrict access to
content deemed undesirable, without due regard to the potential impact on an
individual’s capacity to exercise their fundamental rights. 

Kummer continued, “It is our firm conviction that technological shortcuts
should not be used to solve societal problems. We would like to re-emphasize
that the same rights apply to all individuals, whether online and offline,
and that there should not be differentiated treatment depending on the
medium used to exercise these rights.”   

The Internet Society applauds the Human Rights Council on its efforts to
raise awareness of this important issue, and commends the Swedish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and its co-sponsors for the successful panel on Freedom
of Expression on the Internet at the 19th Human Rights Council. 

Mr. Kummer’s full statement to the Human Rights Council panel is available
on the Internet Society website,
http://www.internetsociety.org/humanrightscouncilstatement 

For more information on the Internet Society and the importance of
preserving an open Internet, visit:
http://www.internetsociety.org/internet-invariants-what-really-matters 

About the Internet Society 
The Internet Society is the world’s trusted independent source of Internet
leadership. With its principled vision and substantial technological
foundation, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy,
technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and
foundations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the
Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet
for everyone. For more information, see: http://www.internetsociety.org 


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