[A2k] Iceland to become a model for freedom of communication

Tue Feb 16 03:00:02 2010

*** Paris, February 15th, 2009 - Tuesday, a parliamentarian resolution
will be submitted in Iceland in order to turn the country into a model
for freedom of expression on the Internet. Far away from the
conservative vision displayed by many confused governments who try to
control freedom of communication on the Net through "three strikes",
Internet blocking and filtering or the ACTA, this would be a historic
event. La Quadrature du Net supports this project and congratulates the
coalition of Icelandic Parliamentarians at the origin of the initiative.
If repressive and authoritarian schemes were to prevail in our
societies, Iceland would represent the ultimate refuge for the free
circulation of information. ***

This parliamentarian resolution nicknamed "Icelandic Modern Media
Initiative"[1] aims to initiate a legislative process in order to
guarantee by law the freedom of expression and communication on the
Internet. Source and whistleblower protections, libel law, "mere
conduit" principle[2] : this project would compile the best existing
laws from across the world in order to provide the best protection to
journalists and citizens against attempts to undermine freedom of
communication through legal pressure. Thanks to this initiative, this
country devastated by the financial crisis would make the choice of an
original model of socio-economic development, based on the access to
information rather than its control.

"This Icelandic legislative project is a major breakthrough. Refusing
repressive conservatism and the temptation of big corporations and
politicians to control the Internet, Iceland would become a haven for
freedoms on the Internet. We must support this initiative so that
freedom of expression, which is essential to the good functioning of our
democracies, is fully protected on the Internet. With laws such as the
French HADOPI and LOPPSI or the ACTA, we might all end up hosting and
sending our data through Iceland.", states Jérémie Zimmermann,
spokesperson for La Quadrature du Net.

** References **

1. http://immi.is/?l=en&p=intro

2. Mere conduit is guaranteed by article 12 of the 2002 e-Commerce
directive. This principle sets a special liability regime for network
operators by which they have no legal liability for the data transmitted
via their networks

** About la Quadrature du Net **

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates
for the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the
founding principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation
of knowledge.

As such, La Quadrature du Net engages in public-policy debates
concerning, for instance, freedom of speech, copyright, regulation of
telecommunications and online privacy.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific
and pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to
encourage citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and
freedoms in the digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international
NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society
Institute and Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations :
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-squaring-net-la-quadrature-du-n=
et

** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz@laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room

- --
- ---  La Quadrature du Net --- http://www.laquadrature.net
- ---  twitter: j_zim --- identi.ca: jzim

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/

iEYEARECAAYFAkt5U18ACgkQ1eTOPM/5+ws7JgCeMWqtew8VFpBEmHgrVzwdGsYA
918An3QdT0uxLa38blSMJkkIbKk94Flb
=J5+2
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----