FREEDOM HOUSE Internet Bill of Rights GC & Global Internet Freedom

INTERNET BILL OF RIGHTS Internet Freedom Monitor – Incident Tracking, news, developments Reporting Country reports to compare and rank countries. Base reports on well developed methodology and existing reports Advocacy – Promoting internet rights such as freedom of expression & privacy Global Online Freedom Act – US & Now Europe Facilitation & coordination with civil society Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, etc

Internet Freedom

Monitor – Incident Tracking, news, developments

Reporting

Country reports to compare and rank countries.

Base reports on well developed methodology and existing reports

Advocacy – Promoting internet rights such as freedom of expression & privacy

Global Online Freedom Act – US & Now Europe

Facilitation & coordination with civil society

Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, etc

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS : BASICS Analytical reports and numerical ratings for 195 countries and territories Print, broadcast, and Internet news media freedom. Entire “enabling environment” that contributes to press freedom: legal, political, and economic categories. Both an examination of the media’s ability to operate freely and without fear of repercussions as well as the ability of the public to access diverse and independent sources of news information.

Analytical reports and numerical ratings for 195 countries and territories

Print, broadcast, and Internet news media freedom.

Entire “enabling environment” that contributes to press freedom: legal, political, and economic categories.

Both an examination of the media’s ability to operate freely and without fear of repercussions as well as the ability of the public to access diverse and independent sources of news information.

PRESS FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2008 BY COUNTRY

PRESS FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2008 BY POPULATION

RECENT TRENDS IN INTERNET FREEDOM Internet-based newspapers, blogs, and social networking sites emerging as an important force for openness in restricted media environments and key areas of contestation. Broadening diversity of available information, empowering citizens, acting as a potent weapon against lack of transparency In very repressive media environments, the internet is often the only sphere in which anti-government opinions can be expressed.

Internet-based newspapers, blogs, and social networking sites emerging as an important force for openness in restricted media environments and key areas of contestation.

Broadening diversity of available information, empowering citizens, acting as a potent weapon against lack of transparency

In very repressive media environments, the internet is often the only sphere in which anti-government opinions can be expressed.

RECENT TRENDS IN INTERNET FREEDOM (CONT.) Several repressive governments have allowed the internet to remain relatively free, BUT realizing its potential for political mobilization, an increasing number of governments are expanding their methods to control and monitor internet based media. Variance between regions in terms of how much the Internet is a site for political contestation and mobilization. Less in the Americas and Africa; more in Asia and MENA

Several repressive governments have allowed the internet to remain relatively free, BUT realizing its potential for political mobilization, an increasing number of governments are expanding their methods to control and monitor internet based media.

Variance between regions in terms of how much the Internet is a site for political contestation and mobilization.

Less in the Americas and Africa; more in Asia and MENA

REGIONAL TRENDS: THE AMERICAS Variance in internet penetration across the region, from the U.S. and Canada with very high levels, to Chile and Argentina with about 40 percent, to Bolivia and Haiti with under 10 percent. Unlike most other regions, consistent pattern of very few, if any, government restrictions on internet access. Cuba – the exception: Among the most restricted internet environments in the world BUT, example of a very repressive regime where bloggers are pushing back

Variance in internet penetration across the region, from the U.S. and Canada with very high levels, to Chile and Argentina with about 40 percent, to Bolivia and Haiti with under 10 percent.

Unlike most other regions, consistent pattern of very few, if any, government restrictions on internet access.

Cuba – the exception:

Among the most restricted internet environments in the world

BUT, example of a very repressive regime where bloggers are pushing back

REGIONAL TRENDS: AFRICA Internet not playing a major role due to financial and infrastructural constraints, as well as low literacy. Lowest regional average penetration rate – under 5 percent in most countries and under 1 percent in many. BUT, a number of countries where the internet increasingly provides a forum for more open discussion and a primary source of unfiltered news (Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe). A number of governments also working to block sites and restrict access (The Gambia, Ethiopia).

Internet not playing a major role due to financial and infrastructural constraints, as well as low literacy.

Lowest regional average penetration rate – under 5 percent in most countries and under 1 percent in many.

BUT, a number of countries where the internet increasingly provides a forum for more open discussion and a primary source of unfiltered news (Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe).

A number of governments also working to block sites and restrict access (The Gambia, Ethiopia).

REGIONAL TRENDS: WESTERN EUROPE Among the highest internet penetration rates in the world and no significant restrictions when compared to other regions. Blocking of content is more in terms of pornographic content or hate-speech. Turkey – internet is generally unrestricted, but in 2007 YouTube was blocked twice for airing videos perceived as insulting to government leaders and Ataturk.

Among the highest internet penetration rates in the world and no significant restrictions when compared to other regions.

Blocking of content is more in terms of pornographic content or hate-speech.

Turkey – internet is generally unrestricted, but in 2007 YouTube was blocked twice for airing videos perceived as insulting to government leaders and Ataturk.

REGIONAL TRENDS: ASIA-PACIFIC High diversity within the region—home to most active and freest internet environments in the world (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan), but also to the most restricted (North Korea, Burma, China). Internet played a major role in political developments: Burma: Junta added restrictions, banning YouTube and temporarily shut down the internet completely following pro-democracy protests in September. Vietnam: One of the worst government crackdowns in years on peaceful dissent; included sentencing online prodemocracy writers to long prison terms. China: Significant efforts to restrict and control internet content in months before 17 th Party Congress, including blocking over 18,000 websites.

High diversity within the region—home to most active and freest internet environments in the world (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan), but also to the most restricted (North Korea, Burma, China).

Internet played a major role in political developments:

Burma: Junta added restrictions, banning YouTube and temporarily shut down the internet completely following pro-democracy protests in September.

Vietnam: One of the worst government crackdowns in years on peaceful dissent; included sentencing online prodemocracy writers to long prison terms.

China: Significant efforts to restrict and control internet content in months before 17 th Party Congress, including blocking over 18,000 websites.

REGIONAL TRENDS: ASIA-PACIFIC (CONTINUED) Bangladesh: During and after protests in August 2007, authorities re-routed all internet traffic through state telecom company. Sri Lanka: Government ordered to largest ISP’s to restrict access to pro-LTTE news website. Pakistan: blocks some access to politically-sensitive websites; occasionally imposes crude blocks – YouTube incident. Fiji: Authorities attempted to shut down pro-democracy blogs critical of 2006 military coup.

Bangladesh: During and after protests in August 2007, authorities re-routed all internet traffic through state telecom company.

Sri Lanka: Government ordered to largest ISP’s to restrict access to pro-LTTE news website.

Pakistan: blocks some access to politically-sensitive websites; occasionally imposes crude blocks – YouTube incident.

Fiji: Authorities attempted to shut down pro-democracy blogs critical of 2006 military coup.

REGIONAL TRENDS: CEE/FSU High regional diversity – some very free countries with no restrictions (Estonia, Poland) and some highly repressive regimes seeking to control access. In repressive countries, often freer than print and broadcast media. Particularly in FSU and central Asia, steps taken to limit internet freedom: Independent and opposition websites blocked (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) Restrictive legislation or regulations requiring user registration passed (Belarus, Tajikistan) Financed pro-government propaganda sites (Russia)

High regional diversity – some very free countries with no restrictions (Estonia, Poland) and some highly repressive regimes seeking to control access.

In repressive countries, often freer than print and broadcast media.

Particularly in FSU and central Asia, steps taken to limit internet freedom:

Independent and opposition websites blocked (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Restrictive legislation or regulations requiring user registration passed (Belarus, Tajikistan)

Financed pro-government propaganda sites (Russia)

REGIONAL TRENDS: MENA Region where overall media environment benefited significantly from greater internet access. A major force behind numerical improvements in several countries and Egypt’s upgrade to Partly Free. Various methods of control employed: Crackdown on online dissent, especially bloggers critical of government (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran) Blocking websites (Syria, Iran) Filtering and monitoring through government-owned ISPs (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE) Requiring user and website ownership registration (Syria, Iran, Kuwait)

Region where overall media environment benefited significantly from greater internet access.

A major force behind numerical improvements in several countries and Egypt’s upgrade to Partly Free.

Various methods of control employed:

Crackdown on online dissent, especially bloggers critical of government (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran)

Blocking websites (Syria, Iran)

Filtering and monitoring through government-owned ISPs (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, UAE)

Requiring user and website ownership registration (Syria, Iran, Kuwait)

THOUGHTS Despite variation across regions, clear similarities in mechanisms of repression and internet users’ efforts to ‘push the envelope.’ Overall, internet has the potential to be a force for more open political discussion and civil society mobilization Facebook protests in Egypt, demonstrations in Malaysia, anti pollution protests in China, online petitions in Singapore.

Despite variation across regions, clear similarities in mechanisms of repression and internet users’ efforts to ‘push the envelope.’

Overall, internet has the potential to be a force for more open political discussion and civil society mobilization

Facebook protests in Egypt, demonstrations in Malaysia, anti pollution protests in China, online petitions in Singapore.

BUT, such openness is not inevitable as repressive governments commit significant funds to curb information flow. Such efforts need to be countered by more serious commitment from international community to keep internet free.

BUT, such openness is not inevitable as repressive governments commit significant funds to curb information flow.

Such efforts need to be countered by more serious commitment from international community to keep internet free.

More information is available on our website at www.freedomhouse.org or by contacting Robert Guerra at guerra @ freedomhouse. org