A free and open internet is a key component for thriving democratic societies and an important counterweight to the rising tide of authoritarianism. Around the world, governments are restricting internet freedom under the guise of protecting users and dubious threats to national security. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor has long recognized that protecting internet freedom advances fundamental human rights such as the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) works in 18 countries across Europe, Eurasia, and Asia to enhance legal protections for a free internet and strengthen civil societies to advocate for more internet freedom.
Recently, ABA ROLI hosted the second Regional Internet
Freedom Summit in Struga, Macedonia, where more than 120 Internet freedom
experts and activists from 11 countries in Europe and Eurasia gathered to
discuss the latest developments in online freedom of expression, privacy, and
cybersecurity. Although these countries
are located in the same region and may have similar challenges, each country
has its own unique setting and Internet status. The summit offered an opportunity
for experts and activists to share their experiences and best practices to
foster Internet freedom. In
addition, during the Summit, the Internet Freedom Network was able to gather
all of its members together to brainstorm ideas for increasing their
cooperation and coordination efforts, and how they might undertake new
bilateral activities.
ABA
ROLI also hosted representatives from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Global Voices Advox, the Center
for Democracy & Technology, Tech Against Terrorism, and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. Local partners
had the opportunity to learn from each other on topics including encryption
trends, challenges and opportunities brought on by the digital economy, and the
regulatory and legislative challenges to online freedom of expression and the
right to privacy, while also exploring new tools to ensure the digital safety on
Internet activists.
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