ARCATA, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Internews Network (http://www.internews.org), a nonprofit leader in fostering independent media and access to information around the world, has joined with Google (http://www.google.com), Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com), Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com) and other stakeholders to develop a global code of conduct to protect free speech and guard privacy against government interference on the Internet.
The "Global Network Initiative" (http://www.globalnetworkinitiative.org), officially unveiled today, commits its members to work together in resisting efforts by governments that attempt to enlist information and communications technology companies in acts of censorship and surveillance that violate international standards.
"Access to information and freedom of speech must never be seen as luxuries -- they are basic human rights," said Kathleen Reen, Internews Vice-President for New Media. Reen represented Internews in the coalition of ICT companies, human rights organizations, academics, investors, and technology leaders that spent the past two years designing the initiative.
"Collaboration among participants to engage governments, work with stakeholders in local markets, and share learning from their experiences will be critical to the success of the Global Network Initiative," said Reen. "It's the first step in a long commitment to getting all people everywhere unfettered access to information, which is at the core of Internews' mission."
The Global Network Initiative is being launched in the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60) and is founded on the rights of freedom of expression and privacy set out in numerous international covenants and declarations.
Participating companies make a number of specific operational commitments for the first two years after joining the Initiative. These include: identifying circumstances when freedom of expression and privacy may be jeopardized; training employees on procedures to protect freedom of expression and privacy when faced with government demands; and providing whistle-blowing mechanisms through which employees and other stakeholders can confidentially or anonymously report violations of the initiative's principles.
Internews Network, a nonprofit based in Arcata, California with an office in Washington, D.C., has worked in over 70 countries worldwide to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need and the means to make their voices heard. In addition to supporting independent media and training over 70,000 media professionals, the organization has worked in 36 countries for open and accessible Internet and telecommunications policy. For more information, visit http://www.internews.org.
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SOURCE Internews Network
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