[Chapter-delegates] NEWS RELEASE: Internet Society Board of Trustees Calls on the Global Internet Community to Stand Together to Support Open Internet Access, Freedom, and Privacy

[CW Mail]

Good evening:

I appreciate that the Board of Trustees' Berlin statement has restored some order and coherence among the positions of the ISOC staff on this matter. Thankyou.

However, I agree with with Jozef and Elver that this is not enough. The Trustees' proposals for their next steps would be welcome.

Regards

CW


On 04 Aug 2013, at 19:01, Halbersztadt Jozef (jothal) <jozef.halbersztadt at gmail.com> wrote:

> What about Manning, Assange and Snowden? And a few others who blowed
> wind. Will ISOC stand by them?
> 
> 2013/8/4 Elver Loho <elver.loho at gmail.com>:

>> Yes, but what are we going to do about it?
>> 
>> At the Estonian Chapter, we've done podcasts about this, written
>> countless articles for the media, given interviews, released an online
>> newsletter on global internet surveillance (which is subscribed to by
>> a quarter of the parliament), and we're preparing even more actions to
>> undertake on the local level. All of this without financial support
>> from the ISOC HQ.
>> 
>> I hope that the employees of ISOC HQ can do more than a sternly worded
>> press release. This is one of these issues, which is so important that
>> Chapters can't let you guys and girls off the hook. You've got a
>> thousand times more resources than any Chapter. We're counting on you
>> to make a difference. And we must pressure not only the governments,
>> but also you to act on this.
>> 
>> Best,
>> Elver
>> .ee
>> 
>> elver.loho at gmail.com
>> +372 5661 6933
>> skype: elver.loho
>> 
>> 
>> On 4 August 2013 18:44, Wende Cover <cover at isoc.org> wrote:
>>> Internet Society Board of Trustees Calls on the Global Internet Community to
>>> Stand Together to Support Open Internet Access, Freedom, and Privacy
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Fundamental ideals of the Internet are under threat
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> [Berlin, Germany, 4 August 2013] – The Internet Society Board of Trustees
>>> during its meeting in Berlin, Germany today called on the global Internet
>>> community to stand together in support of open Internet access, freedom, and
>>> privacy. Recently exposed information about government Internet surveillance
>>> programs is a wake-up call for Internet users everywhere – the fundamental
>>> ideals of the Internet are under threat.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The Internet Society Board of Trustees believes that government Internet
>>> surveillance programs create unacceptable risks for the future of a global,
>>> interoperable, and open Internet. Robert Hinden, Chair of the Board of
>>> Trustees, stated, “Berlin is a city where freedom triumphed over tyranny.
>>> Human and technological progress are not based on building walls, and we are
>>> confident that the human ideals of communication and creativity will always
>>> route around these kinds of attempts to constrain them. We are especially
>>> disappointed that the very governments that have traditionally supported a
>>> more balanced role in Internet governance are consciously and deliberately
>>> hosting massive Internet surveillance programs.”
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> In the brief period since these surveillance programs were revealed to the
>>> general public, the Internet Society Board stated there are already chilling
>>> effects on global trust and confidence on the Internet ecosystem. The fact
>>> that information about surveillance programs is emerging primarily from
>>> countries with a long history of supporting the open Internet is
>>> particularly disturbing. As the next billion people come online, these
>>> countries should be expected to demonstrate leadership in support of the
>>> values that underpin the global Internet. In the wake of these
>>> announcements, the Internet Society encourages a return to multistakeholder
>>> cooperation to preserve the benefits of the Internet ecosystem for all.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> The Internet Society Board of Trustees expects governments to fully engage
>>> with their citizens in an open dialogue on how to reconcile national
>>> security and the fundamental rights of individuals. Security should not be
>>> at the cost of individual rights and, in this context, the Board welcomes
>>> the initiative by some civil society organizations to promote "International
>>> Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications
>>> Surveillance." The Internet Society endorses these principles, and
>>> emphasizes the importance of proportionality, due process, legality, and
>>> transparent judicial oversight. The Internet Society believes that
>>> surveillance without any such safeguards risks undermining the
>>> sustainability of the open Internet.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> “In the spirit of the pioneers and early innovators of the Internet that
>>> were honored this week at the 2013 Internet Hall of Fame ceremony, we urge
>>> the global Internet community to defend against attempts by governments to
>>> fragment the Internet either through overt regulation or hidden surveillance
>>> programs,” commented Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO of the Internet
>>> Society. “We must reassert the global spirit of community that is at the
>>> heart of the Internet’s growth and success, and stand firm in our belief
>>> that openness and collaboration is the best path forward.”
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> _______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
> As an Internet Society Chapter Officer you are automatically subscribed
> to this list, which is regularly synchronized with the Internet Society
> Chapter Portal (AMS): https://portal.isoc.org