Yesterday, New America Foundation's Rebecca MacKinnon testified before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on "Promoting Global Internet Freedom."
In her testimony, MacKinnon stated: "As today’s discussion has shown, there is no one-shot “silver bullet” for achieving global, long-term and sustainable Internet freedom. Offline physical freedom here in the United States -- or anywhere else for that matter -- was not won easily, and will not be expanded, preserved or protected without constant struggle and vigilance. Internet freedom is no different. A global struggle for freedom and control of the Internet is now underway. As with our physical freedom, Internet freedom will not be possible without an ecosystem of industry, government, and concerned citizens working together with a shared commitment to basic human rights and values."
During her testimony, MacKinnon urged the Committee to:
- Improve and update export control laws;
- Require corporate accountability and transparency in all markets;
- Support multi-stakeholder corporate accountability efforts like the Global Network Initiative; and
- Ensure that all U.S. legislation is compatible with global Internet freedom.
MacKinnon, a Bernard L. Schwartz Fellow at the New America Foundation, conducts research, writing and advocacy on global Internet policy, free expression and the impact of digital technologies on human rights. To view the complete text of her testimony, click here.
MacKinnon's forthcoming book, Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom, will be published in January 2012 by Basic Books.
