The Internet is a communications medium like no other. Unprecedented in human history, the Internet makes possible fast, cheap and easy communication with anyone in the world. The Internet can be a powerful tool for individuals and societies. It is proving central to the promotion of democracy, political participation and civic involvement, education and the sharing of knowledge and ideas, self-empowerment, as well as commerce and economic development.
Increasingly, however, repressive countries (and even many democratic ones) are harnessing the power of the Internet in ways that violate basic human rights such as freedom of expression and privacy. Authoritarian regimes censor web content, encourage self-censorship, demand real-name registration, actively surveil and block online communications, and even limit Internet access altogether. They also punish activists who attempt to use the Internet as a medium to dissent or challenge state authority.
U.S. technology companies operating in Internet-restricting countries are often put in difficult positions. In order to conduct business, they must adhere to repressive domestic laws or respond to unreasonable government demands, and thereby risk being complicit in human rights violations.
The great challenge is to determine what steps both private companies and their democratic home governments can take to ensure that the Internet remains a tool for freedom rather than repression.
This page includes CDT's fast-growing work as well as other resources on the important related issues of Global Internet Freedom and Businesses & Human Rights.