Declaration of Internet Freedom

It’s not as elaborate or as long as the U.S. Declaration of Independence but the Declaration of Internet Freedom takes a strong stand to “keep the Internet free and open.”  The organizers are calling it an “international movement to defend our freedoms because we believe that they are worth fighting for.”

Both individuals and organizations can sign the declaration online. Early signers include Google Vice President and Internet pioneer Vinton Cerf, author Cory Doctorow and John Palfrey from Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Organizations on board include Center for Democracy and Technology, CALPIRG and Electronic Frontier Foundation.

DECLARATION

We stand for a free and open Internet.

We support transparent and participatory processes for making Internet policy and the establishment of five basic principles:

• Expression: Don’t censor the Internet.
• Access: Promote universal access to fast and affordable networks.
• Openness: Keep the Internet an open network where everyone is free to connect, communicate, write, read, watch, speak, listen, learn, create and innovate.
• Innovation: Protect the freedom to innovate and create without permission. Don’t block new technologies, and don’t punish innovators for their users’ actions.
• Privacy: Protect privacy and defend everyone’s ability to control how their data and devices are used.

Source: InternetDeclaration.org

For more, see CNET’s coverage