As many as 60 countries, including the US and member states of the European Union, have endorsed the ‘Declaration for the Future of the Internet’ that calls for an “open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure” Internet.

India is not part of the Declaration yet. The US said that the doors are still open for countries like India

How was this Declaration formed?

The Internet provides unprecedented opportunities for people around the world to connect and to express themselves, and continues to transform the global economy, enabling economic opportunities for billions of people. Yet it has also created serious policy challenges.

Globally, there is a trend of rising digital authoritarianism where some states act to repress freedom of expression, censor independent news sites, interfere with elections, promote disinformation, and deny their citizens other human rights. At the same time, millions of people still face barriers to access and cybersecurity risks and threats undermine the trust and reliability of networks.

The current situation in Ukraine dramatically demonstrates the risk of severe disruption of the Internet, notably in the form of total or partial shutdowns. There is also a risk of fragmentation of the Internet, as the Russian government has been threatening to disconnect partially or totally from the global Internet, as well as of being misused, as there is currently a surge in cyberattacks, online censorship and disinformation. This shows once again the importance of stepping up our actions to defend the global open Internet, which is a driving force for the economies and societies worldwide.

The United States worked together with the European Union and a group of international partners to devise a positive agenda and shared vision for the future of the global Internet.

Key points of the Declaration:

This Declaration represents a political commitment among Declaration partners to advance a positive vision for the Internet and digital technologies. It reclaims the promise of the Internet in the face of the global opportunities and challenges presented by the 21st century. It also reaffirms and recommits its partners to a single global Internet – one that is truly open and fosters competition, privacy, and respect for human rights. 

The Declaration’s principles include commitments to:

i) Protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people.

ii) Promote a global Internet that advances the free flow of information.

iii) Advance inclusive and affordable connectivity so that all people can benefit from the digital economy.

iv) Promote trust in the global digital ecosystem, including through protection of privacy.

v) Protect and strengthen the multi-stakeholder approach to governance that keeps the Internet running for the benefit of all.

The Declaration is an inclusive initiative. 

All partners will reach out to the private sector, international organisations, the technical community, academia, and civil society, and other relevant stakeholders worldwide to work in partnership 

In signing this Declaration, the 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.

The Declaration is of political nature. Adhering to the principles contained in the Declaration does not create legally binding effects for the partners.

Other stakeholders will be invited, including from civil society and industry, to support the Declaration and facilitate its implementation. Partners will promote these principles globally, within the multilateral system.

These efforts will culminate in an event in the summer of 2022, where partners will discuss with the multi-stakeholder community how the Declaration and its principles can elevate and support the future of the global Internet.

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