World leaders sign landmark ‘future of the internet’ pact
Countries around the world have committed to promoting a democratic internet
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World leaders from more than 60 countries including the US and the UK have come together to commit to a new agreement aimed at safeguarding thefuture of the internet.
The so-calledDeclaration of the Future of the Internet(PDF) will help strengthen democracy online as the countries that have agreed to its terms have promised not to undermine elections by running onlinemisinformation campaignsor illegally spying on people according to the White House.
At the same time, the declaration commits to promote safety and the equitable use of the internet, with the countries involved agreeing to refrain from imposing government-led shutdowns while providing both affordable and reliable internet services.
While the Declaration of the Future of the Internet isn’t legally binding, the principles set forth within it will serve as a reference for public policy makers, businesses, citizens and civil society organizations.
Declaration for the Future of the Internet
In afact sheetput out by the White House, theBiden administrationprovided further insight on how the US and other partners will work together to safeguard the future of the internet, saying:
“In signing this Declaration, the United States and partners will work together to promote this vision and its principles globally, while respecting each other’s regulatory autonomy within our own jurisdictions and in accordance with our respective domestic laws and international legal obligations.”
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As of now, 60 countries have committed to the declaration though the European Commission has said that it expects others to join in the coming weeks. Unsurprisingly, Russia, China and India are not involved in these efforts though a senior Biden administration official did say in abackground press callthat “the hope remains that time isn’t fully passed yet for India to join”.
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US tech giants support the declaration withGooglesaying in ablog postthat the private sector must also play an important role when furthering internet standards while Microsoft president Brad Smith explained in aseparate blog postthat governments cannot manage the global challenges facing the internet on their own.
We’ll likely hear more once countries begin implementing the declaration and others that were late to the party decide to commit to it.
ViaZDNet
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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