[huridocs-tech] OSCE Media Representative issues Amsterdam Recommendations defending freedom of the Internet

VIENNA, 17 June 2003 - At the end of a two-day conference on 
Internet-related perils to freedom of expression, the OSCE Representative 
on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, has issued a call for the OSCE to 
take up a strong position towards free flow of information on the Internet.

The so-called Amsterdam Recommendations on Freedom of the Media and the 
Internet were issued at the conclusion of the conference held on 13 and 14 
June in the City Hall of Amsterdam. The event brought together more than 25 
experts from international organizations, media, academia, specialized 
non-governmental organizations from Europe and the U.S. as well as from the 
European Parliament, Council of Europe, European Commission and the OSCE.

Topics discussed at the conference ranged from technical framework, the 
influence of code and the economic framework to the regulation of 
decentralized networks and different aspects of access to information.

"Freedom of the Media as a human right is universal. No matter what 
technical means are used to channel the work of journalists to the public – 
be it TV, radio, newspapers or the Internet – the basic constitutional 
value of freedom of the media must not be questioned," Freimut Duve said in 
his opening remarks to the conference.

"The advantages of a vast network of online resources and the free flow of 
information outweigh the dangers of misusing the Internet. But criminal 
exploitation of the Internet cannot be tolerated," he added. "Illegal 
content must be prosecuted in the country of its origin but all legislative 
and law enforcement activity must clearly target only illegal content and 
not the infrastructure of the Internet itself."

Besides regulatory and legal framework, the importance of the underlying 
technology for a free infrastructure was stressed. "Freedom of Information 
starts with a free infrastructure", said Alberto Escudero Pascual of the 
Royal Swedish Institute of Technology.

"Combining all these different issues, I am sure the conference will 
contribute to the groundwork for the future of both technology and 
freedom," Mr. Duve said. "The Amsterdam Recommendations are a first step of 
the OSCE taking a strong position towards the free flow of information and 
freedom of the media on the Internet."

Key links and documents:

AMSTERDAM RECOMMENDATIONS: http://www.osce.org/documents/rfm/2003/06/215_en.pdf
CONFERENCE WEBSITE: http://www.osce.org/events/fom/amsterdam/

For further information, please contact:
Alex Ivanko
Senior Adviser
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media	
Kaerntner Ring 5-7, Top 14, 2.DG		
1010, Vienna		
Austria
Tel.:	+43-1 514 36 6205	
Fax:	+43-1 514 36 6260		
E-mail: pm-fom@osce.org


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