The document describes ideas for “recovering the promise of the Internet” and US officials have described it as an attempt to deal with practical countries such as China and Russia. In particular, it does not mention US domestic struggles for Internet freedom, such as the censorship of politically motivated news by private companies and the alleged illegal mass surveillance of government. “Access to the open internet is restricted by some authoritarian governments and internet platforms and digital tools are increasingly being used to suppress freedom of expression and deny other human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the three-page statement said. The “Declaration for the Future of the Internet”. “Malicious, state-sponsored or applauded behavior is on the rise, including the spread of misinformation and cybercrime, such as ransomware, which affect the security and resilience of critical infrastructure while compromising critical public and private assets.” “At the same time, countries have erected firewalls and taken other technical measures, such as shutting down the internet, to restrict access to journalism, information and services in ways that run counter to international human rights commitments and obligations.” He added: “Internet platforms have allowed the spread of illegal or harmful content that could threaten the safety of individuals and contribute to radicalization and violence. “Misinformation and foreign malicious activity are used to sow discord and conflict between individuals or groups in society, undermining respect for and protection of human rights and democratic institutions.” The Post broke the story of Hunter Biden’s laptop and leaked files. The term misinformation has been used to censor content that later gained widespread acceptance – such as The Post’s report on documents from Hunter Biden’s laptop, which Twitter blocked and Facebook pushed, and speculation that COVID-19 leaked by a Chinese lab, which Facebook had previously banned. US intelligence later found the script to be one of two “reasonable” theories of pandemic origin. The document is non-binding and vague. For example, it does not describe a specific treatment for misinformation, but calls on governments to “[f]for greater exposure to diverse cultural and multilingual content, information and news on the internet “. “Exposure to a variety of online content should contribute to a pluralistic public debate, encourage greater social and digital integration in society, strengthen resilience to misinformation and misinformation, and increase participation in democratic processes,” he said. The Internet statement comes just days after the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, struck a $ 44 billion deal to buy Twitter and create a new vision of freedom of speech for non-censorship of content unless required. by law. Musk specifically condemned Twitter’s decision in October 2020 to suspend The Post’s account for posting what the billionaire called “real” news. Elon Musk is committed to making Twitter a place for free speech. Reuters / Dado Ruvic The new document is signed by many US allies, including the governments of France, Israel, Japan and the United Kingdom, but the list does not include many of the larger but relatively poor republics, such as Brazil, India and Nigeria. Pakistan and the Philippines. The international declaration calls for a “free” and “open” Internet and condemns “censorship”. Its wording also strongly condemns “harassment” and “intimidation” and calls on signatories to “make the Internet a safe and secure place for all, especially women, children and young people”. The countries “[r]We reaffirm our commitment that actions taken by governments, authorities and digital services, including online platforms to reduce illegal and harmful content and activities on the Internet, are in line with international human rights law, including human rights. “in freedom of expression, encouraging diversity of opinion and pluralism without fear of censorship, harassment or intimidation.” In a phone call from the White House, a Biden government official said “we have seen a growing trend of digital authoritarianism.” Russia has spread misinformation to create its own narrative about the Ukraine war. Reuters / Alkis Konstantinidis “Some states are acting to suppress freedom of expression, to censor independent news sources, to interfere in elections, to promote misinformation around the world and to deny their citizens other human rights,” he said. “In recent months, providing an extreme example of such behavior in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has aggressively promoted misinformation at home and abroad, censored Internet news sources, blocked or shut down legitimate websites, and reached out to. to the extent that they physically attack the internet infrastructure in Ukraine “. The official added: “Russia, however, is not nearly alone, but is simply one of the leaders in a dangerous new Internet policy model, along with the People’s Republic of China and some of the most censored countries in the world.” The US official described the internet effort as a practice that hinders countries such as China and Russia. Sputnik / AFP via Getty Images / Alexei Druzhinin Security personnel monitor outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during a visit to the World Health Organization. Reuters / Thomas Peter A reporter asked about the role of Big Tech in the context. “[Big Tech] “They are obviously interested in this and we have consulted – like any other interested party, any other member of civil society,” the official replied. “But the primary impetus here was to take this issue of state behavior and respond to what we see as a very negative trajectory and to what we saw as an attempt to really change the Internet, the nature of the Internet, from something. an instrument of trade and culture in something that is an instrument of state power “. The official said the signatories agreed that there were some “things that should be out of bounds” – “whether it is illegal monitoring of your citizens, blocking legitimate news sources, shutting down the internet or interfering in elections in other countries.” Senator Ron Wyden speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on October 19, 2021.AP / Mandel Ngan The U.S. government conducts some of its own controversial surveillance programs, including spying on data that links to the Internet. Two federal appeals courts ruled that a telephone recording program exposed in 2013 while Joe Biden was vice president was illegal, and Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) And Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in February claimed that there was a collection program unknown to the public. which is “outside the institutional framework that Congress and the public believe governs this collection.”
