An Internet Bill of Rights

Privacy, data protection, freedom of expression, universal accessibility, network neutrability, interoperability, use of format and open standards, free access to information and knowledge, right to innovation and a fair and competitive market and consumers safeguard.

I recently read that we needed an Internet Bill of Rights - and I see no reason why those rights shouldn’t be shaped and finalized online; creating and drafting a Bill in a collaborative way that could only be accomplished using the internet.

Below is a very, very rough start to a would-be Internet Bill of Rights, it’s a work in progress and intentionally structured off our existing Bill of Rights, the more people behind its structure the better.

At the moment, this document is written in a public Google Doc, I am more than happy to move it anywhere else on the internet, I simply didn’t want to waste any more time searching for the best service to collaborate with.

1. Congress shall make no law prohibiting, throttling or restricting access, or grant a private business the right to prohibit, throttle or restrict access; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to organize, and to petition the Government, individuals or Corporations for a redress of grievances.

2. A well informed public, being necessary to the security, transparency and effectiveness of a free State, the right of the people to freely share information may not be infringed.

3. The right of the people to be secure in their online identity, domain and server property, documents, creative works, and effects, against unreasonable searches, monitoring and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

4. … Help protect the open internet - help draft an Internet Bill of Rights.

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