White House Announces “Declaration for the Future of the Internet”

The White House has launched the Declaration for the Future of the Internet. The United States, along with 60 other countries, signed the document, which is a political commitment to advance the following principles: protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, promoting the free flow of information, advancing inclusive and affordable connectivity, promoting trust by protecting privacy, and strengthening multistakeholder governance. The United States has must take several steps to achieve these goals. For example, EPIC, along with 23 other organizations, recently urged the President to ensure that any transatlantic data flows are coupled with enactment of U.S. laws that reform government surveillance practices and provide comprehensive privacy protections. EPIC has also repeatedly called for the establishment of an independent data protection agency to safeguard the privacy interests of individuals in the United States. And the pending nominees for the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission need confirmation by the U.S. Senate. It is significant that the White House is committed to the protection of human rights online, but the United States has a long way to go to live up to that vision.