World leaders from more than 60 countries, including the US and the UK, have come together to commit to a new agreement to safeguard the future of the Internet.
The so-called Declaration on the Future of the Internet (PDF) will help strengthen democracy online, as countries that accepted its terms promised not to undermine elections by conducting online disinformation campaigns or illegally spying on individuals, according to the White House.
At the same time, the declaration commits to promoting safe and fair use of the Internet, with affected countries agreeing to refrain from imposing government-led shutdowns while providing affordable and reliable Internet services.
Although the Declaration on the Future of the Internet is not legally binding, the principles established in it will serve as a reference for public decision makers, companies, citizens and civil society organizations.
Statement for the Future of the Internet
In a fact sheet released by the White House, the Biden administration provided additional information on how the United States and other partners will work together to protect the future of the Internet, saying:
"By signing this declaration, the United States and its partners will work together to advance this vision and its principles globally, respecting the regulatory autonomy of all within our own jurisdictions and in accordance with our respective national laws and our international legal obligations.
So far, 60 countries have pledged to comply with the declaration, although the European Commission has said it expects more to join in the coming weeks. Unsurprisingly, Russia, China and India are not involved in these efforts, although a senior Biden administration official said in a background press appeal that "it is hoped that the time has not yet fully elapsed for India to be one".
US tech giants back the statement, with Google saying in a blog post that the private sector must also play a major role in promoting internet standards, while Microsoft Chairman Brad Smith explained in a separate blog post that governments cannot handle the global challenges facing the Internet on their own.
We are likely to hear more once countries start implementing the declaration and others that were late to the party decide to commit to it.
Through ZDNet