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Internet freedom around the world is dramatically declining, as authoritarian governments crack down on online access. We need to act now to stop it.
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In just over a month, President Biden will host the Summit for Democracy, intended to set forth "an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action." It is critical that digital democracy is included in these conversations.
Each day, the civil rights and civil liberties of people around the world are put in jeopardy by authoritarian regimes. Technology, with its ability to connect people and share information, can also be weaponized or limited to curtail speech. At the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), we are actively taking a stand against government overreach, fighting to keep the digital space open and accessible, and grounded in democracy and human rights.
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The right to free expression cannot be thought of as a purely domestic issue — it needs to be viewed as a foreign policy priority. Governments around the globe are actively seeking to expand jurisdiction over U.S. online service providers, making it increasingly difficult for them to invest and provide services abroad in a manner that supports and respects human rights. In comments made to the U.S. International Trade Commission, CDT explained that laws and government action throughout the world have a chilling effect on speech online. We identified four key trends: increased requirements that non-judicial actors make determinations about the legality of speech; government pressure on intermediaries to implement automated content filtering; manipulation of private content moderation processes by government officials; and mandates to locate data and personnel in-country to increase government leverage over private companies.
Governments are also taking steps to fragment the internet, limiting what users in specific countries can see and do. For example, Russia has introduced a data localization law, requiring companies to store a copy of Russians' data in Russia itself, granting authorities easier access to communications. In China, the "Great Firewall" controls dissent and restricts the free flow of information. And in India, the new Intermediary Guidelines enforce what the government has termed a "soft-touch oversight mechanism," which is really an increase in government control over the freedom of expression. The U.S. and allied partners need to push back against this trend, advocating for strong data protection rules and safeguards, preventing further fragmentation of the internet, and protecting human rights globally.
Encryption is also under attack around the world, undermining an essential tool that allows journalists, human rights advocates, oppressed groups, and all people to communicate safely and securely. Governments are actively trying to regulate against encryption, often using arguments centered on the alleged need for law enforcement to access encrypted content. Recently a new argument has arisen: that providers of end-to-end encrypted communication services can and should moderate unwanted content, including unlawful content such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In response, some companies are trying to get ahead of potential regulation by introducing their own screening systems ostensibly intended to protect children and reduce the spread of CSAM. For example, Apple proposed (but has now paused) a feature that would have notified parents of allegedly sensitive images sent or received by their children over Apple's iMessage service. But this feature would ultimately break end-to-end encryption on iMessage, putting the very children it is trying to protect at risk. CDT, as well as over 90 civil society organizations internationally, joined in an open letter to Apple, calling on the company to abandon its plan to build surveillance capabilities into Apple products.
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SXSW | The High Stakes War for Internet Freedom
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Why Internet Freedom Should be at the Top of the Global Democracy Agenda
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CDT Signs Joint Letter Supporting an Open, Interconnected, & Interoperable Internet
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New Intermediary Rules in India Imperil Free Expression, Privacy, and Security (Part 1)
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New Intermediary Rules in India Imperil Free Expression, Privacy, and Security (Part 2)
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Report | Outside Looking In: Approaches to Content Moderation in End-to-End Encrypted Systems
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If democracy is going to be upheld in our digital age, it is critical that freedom of expression online is protected. Authoritarian governments around the world are cracking down on online access, blocking social media platforms, and in extreme cases, shutting down internet services completely. We are fighting against this, and urging policymakers and companies to do the same.
CDT is committed to supporting and advocating for the digital rights of all, regardless of where you call home. Partners like you have been indispensable in this work. If you are not yet engaged and want to learn more, please reply to this email to join the conversation. You can help CDT fight for civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age.
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