현재 전세계 시민사회단체들이 정보사회세계정상회의(WSIS) 3차 준비회의가
열리고 있는 제네바에 주목하고 있습니다. 현재 정부들이 합의한 성명서
초안에서는 인권(human rights)이라는 말이 모두 필요성(human need)라는 말로
대체되는 등 최악의 성명으로 시민사회단체들을 경악하게 하고 있습니다.
이런 와중에 영국에 소재하고 있는 국제 프라이버시 단체인 프라이버시
인터내셔널에서 영국의 ‘그린넷’과 함께 <검열 보고서>를 발표하여 주목받고
있습니다.
이 보고서에서는 한국의 사례도 담고 있습니다.
자세한 검열 보고서는 아래 주소에서 받아 보실 수 있습니다.
http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/censorship/
참고하시기 바랍니다.
진보네트워크센터 드림
PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL CENSORSHIP STUDY FOREWARNS ESCALATION
OF INTERNET RESTRICTIONS
Corporations are now vying with governments to gag free speech
and impede Internet access
19th September 2003
For immediate release
A new global study of Internet censorship in over fifty countries and
regions has found that Internet restrictions, government secrecy and
communications surveillance have reached an unprecedented level
across the world. The twelve-month study has found that a sharp
escalation in control of the Internet since September 2001 may have
outstripped the traditional ability of the medium to repel attempts
at restriction.
The report fires a broadside at the United States and the United
Kingdom for creating initiatives hostile to Internet freedom. Those
countries have led a global attack on free speech on the Internet.
They have set a technological and regulatory standard for mass
surveillance and control of the Internet.
The report, Silenced, will be launched today (Friday) at the
preparatory meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society in
Geneva. The 70,000 word report – the largest and most comprehensive
of its kind ever produced – was compiled and edited by the
London-based Privacy International and the GreenNet Educational Trust.
This study has found that censorship of the Internet is commonplace
in most regions of the world. The report warns: "It is clear that in
most countries over the past two years there has been an acceleration
of efforts to either close down or inhibit the Internet. In some
countries, for example in China and Burma, the level of control is
such that the Internet has relatively little value as a medium for
organised free speech, and its used could well create additional
dangers at a personal level for activists".
"The September 11, 2001 attacks have given numerous governments the
opportunity to promulgate restrictive policies that their citizens
had previously opposed. There has been an acceleration of legal
authority for additional snooping, from increased email monitoring to
the retention of Web logs and communications data. Simultaneously,
governments have become more secretive about their own activities,
reducing information that was previously available and refusing to
adhere to policies on freedom of information".
In finding a substantial level of censorship in many countries, the
report condemns the complicity of Western nations. "Governments of
developing nations rely on Western countries to supply them with the
necessary technologies of surveillance and control, such as digital
wiretapping equipment, deciphering equipment, scanners, bugs,
tracking equipment and computer intercept systems. The transfer of
surveillance technology from first to third world is now a lucrative
sideline for the arms industry. Without the aid of this technology
transfer, it is unlikely that non-democratic regimes could impose the
current levels of control over Internet activity."
One of the most important trends in recent years is the growth of
multinational corporate censors. The report says: "It is arguable
that in the first decade of the 21st century, corporations will rival
governments in threatening Internet freedoms. Aggressive protection
of corporate intellectual property has resulted in substantial legal
action against users, and a corresponding deterioration in trust
across the Internet".
The report notes numerous instances where Internet users have been
jailed by authorities for posting or hosting political material. Such
countries include Egypt, China and a number of Middle Eastern
countries. The Internet is tightly controlled and heavily monitored
in regions such as these.
The Internet is a fragile and easily controlled medium. In Africa,
governments in such countries as Kenya and Zimbabwe have at times
literally shut it down. The Saudi government over a period of just
three months blocked access to more than 400,000 websites that were
regarded as immoral.
A wide variety of methods are used to restrict and/or regulate
Internet access. These include: applying draconian laws and licenses,
content filtering, tapping and surveillance, pricing and taxation
policies, telecommunication markets manipulation, hardware and
software manipulation and self censorship
The study does however report that there are some positive
developments. "Countries have established protections, companies have
fought for the rights of privacy of individuals, technologies have
sustained the ability of dissident groups to speak freely and access
content privately. Differences in national laws have sheltered the
speech of the oppressed. Technological developments are being
implemented to protect a free Internet, but the knowledge gap between
radical innovators and restrictive institutions appears to be
closing".
One of the report’s editors, Simon Davies, Director of Privacy
International, said: "It is clear that democratic nations such as the
US and the UK have failed to set an acceptable benchmark for free
speech. Non-democratic regimes look to the West for technologies and
techniques of repression".
"The report sounds a warning that we must move quickly to preserve
the remaining freedoms on the Internet before they are systematically
extinguished".
Notes to editors:
– The report is available online on the Privacy International website
at http://www.privacyinternational.org/survey/censorship/
– Silenced is an independent research initiative managed jointly by
Privacy International and the GreenNet Educational Trust. The
twelve-month project was undertaken through a collaboration of more
than fifty experts and advocates throughout the world. The work was
made possible by a grant from the Open Society Institute.
– Privacy International (PI) www.privacyinternational.org is a human
rights group formed in 1990 as a watchdog on surveillance by
governments and corporations. PI is based in London, and has an
office in Washington, D.C. Together with members in 40 countries, PI
has conducted campaigns throughout the world on issues ranging from
wiretapping and national security activities, to ID cards, video
surveillance, data matching, police information systems, and medical
privacy, and works with a wide range of parliamentary and
inter-governmental organisations such as the European Parliament, the
House of Lords and UNESCO.
– GreenNet Educational Trust (GET) was established to promote the
advancement of education to support, encourage and promote research
into the use of computers, electronic communications and information
technology by the general public. It is the parent company of
GreenNet Limited, a not for profit Internet Service Provider
dedicated to supporting and promoting groups and individuals working
for peace, human rights and the environment through the use of
information and communication technologies (ICTs). More information
about our work can be found at: www.greenneteducationaltrust.org.uk.
– Simon Davies can be reached at simon@privacy.org and within the UK
on 07958 466 552 or (+44) 7958 466 552 from outside the UK.
2003-09-21
