The United States launched a declaration on Thursday (28) that defends the maintenance of the internet as an open network, without barriers between countries, with a free flow of information and respect for human rights.
The proposal, which has no legal weight and serves as a letter of intent, was signed by around 60 countries and the European Commission. Brazil did not join the initiative, as well as China, India and Russia. The US government has said that nations left out can still join the declaration.
The signatories committed to work to promote and maintain an internet model in which there is a free flow of information, with data exchange between different countries and platforms, protection of users’ privacy and fundamental human rights, especially freedom. They also advocate a decentralized model, without governments being responsible for controlling the network.
“We intend to ensure that the use of digital technologies reinforces, not weakens, democracy and respect for human rights, providing opportunities for innovation in the digital ecosystem and maintaining connections between our societies”, states the document.
By the declaration, the countries commit to apply the net neutrality, guaranteeing similar access to all, without imposing blocks or reductions of speed of access in a purposeful way. They also commit not to use the internet to undermine electoral processes, including the use of manipulation and disinformation campaigns. The countries also promised to work together to guarantee access to the digital world for all and to form partnerships to fight digital crimes.
The list of signatories includes South American countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. In Europe, in addition to the European Commission, the relationship includes Germany, France, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom, among many others. Japan and Australia also joined the so-called Declaration for the Future of the Internet.
According to a senior White House official, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, adherence to the declaration remains open to other interested countries and there is hope that more governments will join the program. He also said document members must work on several joint initiatives to put the terms of the letter into practice, but did not detail future actions.
THE Sheet contacted the Itamaraty to obtain information on the Brazilian position, but has not yet received a response. The proposal defended by the US goes against the internet model defended by China. The Chinese government controls the access of its citizens to the network, censors content and places various barriers to accessing foreign websites and applications. In recent years, Russia has made moves toward the Chinese model, such as creating techniques to isolate the Russian network from the global internet.
