The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution on Thursday declaring that people have the same basic human rights online as they do in the physical world.
From Hillicon Valley:
More than 80 countries signed on to co-sponsor the Internet freedom resolution, including 30 members of the council. The United States, Tunisia, Brazil, Nigeria, Turkey and Sweden presented the resolution.
“This outcome is momentous for the Human Rights Council,” said Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe. “It’s the first ever UN resolution affirming that human rights in the digital realm must be protected and promoted to the same extent and with the same commitment as human rights in the physical world.”
So good news, people in China, your government will now stop censoring the Internet! Well, no, of course not. But at a time when there’s a lot of talk about international agreements calling for a restricted Internet in places like China and Russia, it’s a sign that a broader selection of nations stand opposed to that, at least in theory.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
