[liberationtech] Internet Society Board of Trustees Calls on the Global Internet Community to Stand Together to Support Open Internet Access, Freedom, and Privacy

[Yosem Companys]

From: DAVID J. FARBER <farber at gmail.com>

Internet Society Board of Trustees Calls on the Global Internet Community 
to Stand Together to Support Open Internet Access, Freedom, and Privacy
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Fundamental ideals of the Internet are under threat****
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[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. ****
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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.”****
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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.****
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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.****
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“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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