Information Policy

Internet Safety Is the New Internet Freedom

By Konstantinos Komaitis

On Jan. 25, 2011, protests erupted across Egypt against the regime of Hosni Mubarak. As an estimated 2 million people protested at Tahrir Square in Cairo, the government tried to control the narrative by first blocking Twitter and then Facebook. Within a couple of days, Egypt’s telecom services would go dark. According to reports at the time, “the shutdown caused a 90 percent drop in data traffic to and from Egypt, crippling an important communications tool used by antigovernment protesters and their supporters to organize and to spread their message.”

Secretary Blinken Announces Next Steps for Creating a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State

On October 27, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced plans to modernize and reorient American diplomacy to meet the evolving demands of the 21st century. The State Department, in consultation with governmental and outside experts, and with the support of Congress, intends to establish a new Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy (“Bureau”), as well as name a new special envoy for critical and emerging technology at the Department.

Freedom Online Coalition Welcomes Luxembourg as its 34th Member

The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), a group of countries working together to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms online, has welcomed Luxembourg into its Coalition as its 34th member. Luxembourg has pledged to work collaboratively with the Coalition’s membership as well as uphold and advance the FOC’s shared goals and values as stated in the Founding Declaration and the Tallinn Recommendations for Freedom Online.

EU Commission gathers expert group on disinformation and digital literacy

 

The European Commission launched on Tuesday (12 October) an expert group on disinformation and digital literacy to develop common guidelines for educators when it comes to combating the former and training citizens in the latter.

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As internet adoption continues to grow worldwide, more and more governments want to control what internet users can see and assert their authority over tech firms. These trends have resulted in a significant decrease in internet freedom and more restricted access to content.

Almost 40% of internet users globally don’t have internet freedom

As internet adoption continues to grow worldwide, more and more governments want to control what internet users can see and assert their authority over tech firms. These trends have resulted in a significant decrease in internet freedom and more restricted access to content.