For the Council of Europe, the Internet is a space of freedom - freedom to express and communicate, learn, work and play in a manner which is safe and responsible.
In 2009 we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe. One year later, in 1950, this was followed by the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Internet has brought new challenges to these rights, and new problems to be solved.
At the Council of Europe we believe everyone should have the same rights and enjoy the same freedoms whether they are online or off-line. Raising awareness of these rights and protecting them in the online world has become one of our key priorities.
That is why we have drafted ground-breaking conventions for protecting human rights on the Internet, such as on cybercrime -and on the protection of children against sexual exploitation. We are working in an array of Internet related fields such as the protection of privacy, e-democracy, freedom of expression and fighting the marketing of counterfeit medicines through the net.
We are now developing a new policy on protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data related to profiling of user´s preferences; and exploring the management of critical Internet resources – all those technical means which are key for the functioning of the Internet - in the public interest and as a public asset.
The Internet belongs to citizens and to all its stakeholders such as users, companies, media or political institutions. Each one of them can significantly contribute to promoting human rights within its sphere of activity, through self-regulation and cooperation with other stakeholders. As an example, the Council of Europe and European trade associations recently developed human rights guidelines for Internet Service Providers and the for online games sector.
This week Geneva is hosting the 2nd European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), a forum that brings together representatives of European stakeholders involved in the Internet: business, media, users, youth, and also governments and parliamentarians. Organized by the European Broadcasting Union and OFCOM Switzerland, with the Council of Europe’s support, it will debate Internet governance challenges from a European perspective.
EuroDIG should become a sustainable forum to foster European dialogue on Internet governance issues and the Council of Europe is willing to provide its support to accomplish this aim. It is clear to us that we must protect the opportunities the Internet offers – while we also do the most to control its risks - and we should do this through an open and inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders.
Philippe Boillat, Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
