huridocs-tech Press release on free speech on the Internet

Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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## author     : Cyber.Rights[mailto:cyber-rights@cpsr.org]
## date       : 11.09.99
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MEDIA RELEASE-IMMEDIATE 9 September 1999

MUNICH SUMMIT - "BEGINS THE WAR AGAINST FREE SPEECH ON THE
INTERNET"

Internet Freedom unreservedly condemns attempts by the
Internet industry, policy makers and law enforcement
agencies to enforce industry regulation of the Internet,
calling it a "short cut to censorship".

This Friday 10 September The Bertelsmann Foundation ,which
is a member of the pro-rating group Internet Content Rating
Association (ICRA), will present a "Memorandum on
Self-Regulation" at the Internet Content Summit in Munich,
Germany. The memorandum outlines international proposals to
regulate content on the Net.

According to CNET News.com, who have obtained access to the
memo, it proposes that web sites develop codes of conduct,
Internet Service Providers remove illegal sites, governments
and industry groups set up hot lines for people to report
questionable online content, an improved 'architecture' for
the rating and filtering of Internet content, the labelling
of material by content providers, and the provision of
filters for Internet users.

A similar plan sponsored by the Internet Content Rating for
Europe (INCORE) is also likely to be proposed at the summit.

Contrary to its much-hyped packaging, so-called rating
schemes do not operate like film classification. Material is
not merely labelled according to some third-party judgement
as to its content, but is physically blocked to prevent
access. Any adult can see an '18' certificate film if the
choose, but they will not be able to visit sites blocked by
their service providers, by libraries, by their employers or
by regulatory bodies. Experience in the UK has already shown
the eagerness of sections of the industry to block legal
material deemed offensive to adults. Moreover, the absence
of accountability inherent in industry regulation means that
Internet users may not even know of the existence of
material that is screened out. In common with film
classification, rating will mean that a vast body of unrated
material will be effectively censored. Some of the leading
search engines have already indicated that they will cease
to list unrated material.

Rating and filtering disempowers parents by taking the
judgement of material out of their hands and placing it
firmly in the grip of service providers, industry regulators
and content providers. More importantly, it will make
children the focus of concern for all originators of
content, regardless of the intended audience, making the
needs of children the orientation of the entire Internet.
This can only have devastating consequences for freedom of
expression.

The UK has been treated as a guinea pig for the war on free
speech. For more than three years the Internet Watch
Foundation has operated a hotline for reporting
controversial material, ISPs have routinely removed
'potentially' illegal web sites, and the government has
regularly emphasised its commitment to filtering and rating.
In 1996 Science and Technology Minister Ian Taylor warned
that in the absence of self-regulation, the police would
take action against service providers as well as the
originators of illegal material. The Internet industry may
have felt it had no choice, but self regulation has meant
that UK Net users are among the most heavily policed in the
world.


Chris Ellison, chief spokesman for the Campaign, commented:

"For some years would-be censors have bemoaned the technical
difficulty of censoring Net material. The widespread
adoption of content rating will for the first time make
censorship a technical possibility. The proposals will
empower no one but the industry bodies themselves. The
Munich Summit marks the beginning of an international war on
free speech on the Net."

For further comment call Chris Ellison on 00 44 (0) 956 129
518

NOTES

1. Internet Freedom is one of the UK's leading cyber
liberties campaigns. Their web site is at
http://www.netfreedom.org. They can be contacted on 00 44
(0) 171 681 1559 or emailed on campaign@netfreedom.org.

2. The Internet Content Summit will be held in Munich on
September 9-11, 1999, where the Bertelsmann Foundation will
present its "Memorandum on Self-Regulation." Information
about the summit can be found at
http://www.stiftung.bertelsmann.de/internetcontent/english/frameset.htm?cont
ent/ c1000.htm

3. The Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) was formed
in April 1999 to develop, implement and manage an
internationally acceptable voluntary self-rating system.
ICRA members include America Online Europe, Bertelsmann
Foundation, Microsoft, IBM, British Telecom, British
Telecom, Demon Internet (UK), EuroISPA, Internet Watch
Foundation, Microsoft, Software & Information Industry
Association, and T-Online Germany. ICRA's website is at
http://www.icra.org/

4. Internet Content Rating for Europe (INCORE) was set up by
a group of European organisations with a common interest in
industry self-regulation and rating of Internet content. It
is now focused on a project which aims to create a generic
rating and filtering system suitable for European users.
This is being funded by the European Commission in 1999.
INCORE's web site is at http://www.incore.org/





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