"Declaration for the Future of the Internet" - this is the name of the declaration presented by the European Union together with the USA and 32 other international partners on April 22, 2022. It contains principles to make the internet a safe place and trustworthy space for all users.
Open, free, reliable and secure: this is what the Internet of the future will look like. At least, if the European Union, the USA and their international partners have their way. At a meeting of the National Security Council in Washington, they presented a joint declaration summarizing the vision and principles for a trustworthy Internet.
The three-page document is intended to ensure that "the values we uphold offline are also protected online", according to the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Principles for a secure Internet
The declaration focuses above all on democratic principles. According to the signatories, fundamental freedoms and human rights must also be more strongly protected on the internet in future. In addition, the principles of net neutrality should be upheld and all users should be given access to lawful content and services.
The internet should function as a "decentralized network in which digital technologies can be used in a trustworthy manner", the statement reads.
Criticism of authoritarian regimes
The signatories are concerned by the fact that authoritarian governments are suppressing the freedom of the internet.
The declaration primarily addresses countries in which the targeted dissemination of disinformation is used for propaganda purposes, as is currently the case in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The partner states also criticize cyber attacks and the excessive concentration of economic power on the internet.
An outlook for the future
With the "Declaration for the Future of the Internet", all signatory countries are in favor of international cooperation.
The aim is to take joint action against repression, illegal content and human rights violations on the internet in order to safeguard connectivity and the rule of law. From summer 2022, partners and the multi-stakeholder community will discuss how this will be implemented in practice at various workshops.
