Whither the Internet?

Last November, hundreds of government, industry leaders and Internet activists from around the planet gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the second Internet Governance Forum. Attendees were invited to complete an online survey about their views of the role of the Internet around the world and how about how governments and other regulators should structure policy about the Internet. Respondents indicated strong support for the establishment of a global Internet users Bill of Rights. Some 66% of those participating in this survey agreed with the statement: "A global Internet Bill of Rights should be adopted." Only 6% disagreed. Some key planks of the Bill of Rights would be: freedom of information, freedom of expression, and the right of people to have affordable access. Some 76% of respondents supported freedom of information as a core ethic of online life and 75% agreed that such a policy ensuring freedom of expression on the Internet should be adopted. On the other side of the issue, 62% of respondents said they believe content controls weaken the Internet. And by a 59%-28% margin, they disagreed with the statement, "My country should have the right to approve the Internet content available to the people of my country."