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Internet
Freedom Conference
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From Principles to
Global Treaty Law?
Content,
Stakeholders, Form
The conference
brought together representatives of Council
of Europe member and non-member states, and
members of the business and technical
communities, as well as civil society activists
from both Europe and beyond. The
opening speech
of the conference was given by Ms Maud de Boer-Buquicchio,
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of
Europe. Discussions provided a comprehensive
insight into
Internet freedom and the normative
frameworks that are needed to support it
internationally.
Full enjoyment
and exercise of fundamental rights and
freedoms on the Internet, in particular
freedom of expression and access to
information, regardless of national
boundaries, are essential for genuine democracy.
The Internet should be both stable and free from
political interference. In this respect,
multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial.
Presently there is no one-size-fits-all model
for it.
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A set of ten
draft principles on Internet governance,
proposed by a Council of Europe group of
experts, were considered by conference
participants as reflecting the spirit of
principles developed by the Internet community.
The Internet’s
sustainability
was considered a sine-qua-non condition for
Internet freedom. Citizens’ reliance on and
confidence in the network, as well as states’
mutual expectations regarding a stable and
functioning Internet, give rise to state
responsibilities to preserve the Internet. At
present these principles can be formalised in a
soft law framework. A deeper reflection on the
global nature of the Internet and the legal
constructs that could support it
internationally, as well as on roles of
stakeholders, should continue.
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Your comments on
the conference texts
are still welcome:
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Internet governance principles
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Protection and promotion of the Internet's
universality, integrity and openness
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Maud de Boer-Buquicchio Opening of the conference
Panel 1 |
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Deputy Secretary
General
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From Principles to Global Treaty Law?
The Council of Europe and Internet Freedom
- Interview with Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
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Council of Europe
European
Court of Human Rights
Conference
content:
Elvana Thaçi
Practical
information:
Corinne Gavrilovic;
Marise Boylan |
