Global Internet Freedom Task Force Presentation

Thank you, Jeff, for that kind introduction. I am delighted to be here at this important event and to announce the State Department’s Strategy on Global Internet Freedom.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press lie at the heart of what President Bush has called “the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity.” Those basic human rights are universal, applying to everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, or nationality; they are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Both texts provide that all people have the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers. This human rights framework applies to communication on the Internet just as it applies to other forms of media and communication. We refer to freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet as “Internet freedom.”

The Internet is a powerful tool for positive transformation around the globe. An Internet that is accessible and can be freely used can expose corruption, encourage transparency, and foster participation in the political process. It can also advance education, health, and economic development. The Internet is, in short, a crucial means of empowerment.

Despite international commitments to freedom of expression, numerous governments around the world, seeking to blunt the Internet’s transformational power, restrict the rights of their citizens to participate in the online exchange of information, ideas, and ideals. Today, people are imprisoned in a number of countries simply for expressing their peaceful views online.

President Bush, embracing America’s promise and opportunity, has set out a Freedom Agenda in which we seek to advance human rights for all people. Secretary Rice has led the way in advancing that agenda through transformational diplomacy, in which we aim to use America’s diplomatic strength to pursue positive change for men and women across the globe.

Promoting Internet freedom is a crucial element of those efforts. Secretary Rice established the State Department’s Global Internet Freedom Task Force in February 2006 to address the challenges to freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet by repressive regimes, which threaten the Internet’s ability to empower individuals and societies. The Task Force will continue to focus its energy on defending Internet freedom by advocating the availability of the widest possible universe of content through the Internet. It aims to promote access to and dissemination of information over the Internet; to increase the transparency of content restrictions; and to minimize the success of repressive regimes in censoring information.

Today, I want to share with you the work of the Task Force thus far, and set out our plans for the future. Our strategy is based on three elements: First, monitoring Internet freedom in countries around the world; Second, responding to threats to Internet freedom; and Third, advancing Internet freedom by expanding access to the Internet.

As part of the first element, we will improve our monitoring of and reporting on Internet freedom. We report on Internet freedom in the “Freedom of Speech and Press” section of each country chapter of our annual Human Rights report. In that report, we currently assess the general extent to which Internet access is available to and used by citizens in each country, and provide information on whether governments limit or block access to the Internet or censor websites. I am pleased to announce today that our 2006 report will include a description of the means by which such restrictions occur; the domestic legal authority for such restrictions; and the government entities that conduct those activities.

Also, we currently report on instances in which government authorities in each country have persecuted, prosecuted, or otherwise punished a person or group for the peaceful expression of political or religious views via the Internet, including e-mail. In our 2006 report, we will add reporting on legally mandated or authorized penalties for the exercise of free speech via the Internet, the extent to which such penalties are enforced, and the government authorities that enforced the penalties.

Second, we will strengthen our response to Internet repression. We will step up our coordination with international partners around the world to push for greater Internet freedom, including by expanding Internet freedom commitments and programs in multilateral organizations. Furthermore, we will increase our engagement with the technology industry, non-governmental organizations, academics, and other stakeholders in addressing the problem of Internet censorship.

This approach will build upon our existing multilateral and multisectoral efforts, and will further our bilateral endeavors. During interactions with governments that restrict Internet freedom, the President, the Secretary, I, and other officials consistently raise our concerns regarding those restrictive policies, as well as specific cases of human rights defenders, journalists, and others who have been punished for using the Internet to express their views about democracy, human rights, and government policies. We will continue to express our concern over Internet repression directly to the foreign government involved, and to persuade foreign officials that restricting Internet freedom is contrary to their own interests and that of their countries. I wish to make a special note here of regimes that have opened their economies while attempting to restrict political freedom, including Internet freedom. It will not work in the long run. Over time, as people gain control over their economic lives, they will insist on more control over their political and personal lives as well, and they will be better able to achieve it. The wonder and the promise of the Internet is that it is both essential to a modern economy and an important means of helping individuals and communities control their own destinies.

Third, we will expand access to the Internet. To promote access to the Internet, the U.S. Government currently carries out dialogues bilaterally and via multilateral and regional organizations. We also provide direct technical assistance. Since 2005, we have provided in excess of $250 million on projects in developing countries aimed at expanding access to information and communication technologies, and fostering Internet freedom. Examples include the design of websites and databases, technology training, and the provision of computer hardware.

I am pleased to announce that, last week, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor published a request for proposals for a $500,000 fund to promote Internet freedom. We seek innovative approaches to combating Internet censorship, and welcome proposals that, for example, contemplate the development of a secure website for journalists and human rights defenders in closed countries.

I am also pleased to announce that the State Department will host an Internet Freedom conference in late January 2007 to bring together stakeholders from industry, NGOs, foundations, and academia to address issues of concern, listen to new ideas, discuss next steps, and recommendations.

As we look to the future of the Global Internet Freedom Task Force, I want to commend those whose efforts have made that continued progress possible. Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Josette Sheeran has helped bring together and lead the Task Force, and her considerable contributions will be missed when she moves on to head the World Food Program. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, have undertaken a number of efforts to advance global Internet freedom, from urging restrictive governments to bring their practices into compliance with international standards to engaging with NGOs and technology industry representatives in a cooperative approach. I thank both bureaus for their dedication.

I’d also like to recognize Representative Chris Smith, a human rights champion who has done much to highlight the issue of Internet freedom. Thank you for being here with us today. I’d also like to recognize the many stakeholders in the room—particularly the NGOs, technology companies, scholars, and socially responsible investment firms—who in different ways are exploring approaches to take voluntary action to ensure that, as the availability of the Internet is spread around the world, its abuse for the purpose of political repression is minimized. I look forward to working with each of you to expand the freedom of expression via the Internet and, indeed, all media.

At this time, I would like to invite Ambassador David Gross, the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, to say a few words on behalf of Under Secretary Sheeran