[bestbits] OPED: Brazil: the New Internet Freedom Champion?

[Eduardo Bertoni]

Dear friends and colleagues,

I just published in Global Voices a short article that might be in your
interest titled:

Brazil: the New Internet Freedom
Champion?<http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2013/10/15/brazil-the-new-internet-freedom-champion/>
The piece is copied below and available at
http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2013/10/15/brazil-the-new-internet-freedom-champion/

On Internet governance I also published recently (with Ellery Biddle in The
Huffington Post):
"US Power and the Not-So-Democratic Global Internet"available at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eduardo-bertoni/us-power-and-global
-internet_b_3909008.html

Best,

Eduardo Bertoni

Brazil: the New Internet Freedom
Champion?<http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2013/10/15/brazil-the-new-internet-freedom-champion/>

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff recently delivered a
speech<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/24/brazil-president-un-speech-nsa-surveillance>
before
the United Nations General Assembly that was very well received among
Internet freedom advocates. In her speech, President Rousseff criticized
the United States for spying and also mentioned that Brazil “will present
proposals for the establishment of a civilian multilateral framework for
the governance and use of the Internet and to ensure the effective
protection of data that travels through the web.” Her words are, without a
doubt, a very good starting point for Brazil if it wants to be the new
international leader that guarantees Internet freedom. However, it is
necessary that Brazil take concrete actions in support of Rousseff’s words.

For instance, if Brazil were to join the Freedom Online
Coalition<http://www.freedomonline.tn/Fr/home_46_4>,
a group of governments committed to advance Internet freedom, it would send
a positive message to the international community. Countries that join the
coalition endorse a statement supporting the principle that all people
enjoy the same human rights online as they do offline. From Latin America,
only Costa Rica and Mexico are part of the coalition. On the other hand,
other countries that are not members of the coalition, such as Russia,
China and India, have taken steps in the wrong direction. For example, in
the past, they have presented draft resolutions to the UN General assembly,
which would have put in risk Internet governance. For Brazil, joining the
Freedom Online Coalition would be a turning point and a step in the
opposite direction, demonstrating that it takes some distance from its
partners in groups such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and
IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa).

Another action that Brazil could take to support the President’s speech is
to implement domestic public policies and to push laws that guarantee
freedom online, particularly freedom of expression. The situation in Brazil
up to date is not encouraging. Reports by International NGOs –such as the
recent Freedom on the Net report published by Freedom House that indicates
that Brazil is a “partial free” country– or reports by private companies
–such as the Google Transparency Report that shows that Brazil is one of
the countries with the most requests to take down content from the
Internet- shows that there is lots to do at the domestic level to improve
Internet liberties. The bill known as the “marco civil” or “civil
framework” for the Internet, that could improve the situation for better
freedom online is still pending before the Brazilian Congress, though the
President stated in her speech that she supports and will continue
to support the initiative.

Finally, Brazil should assure it would work for an Internet governance
approach that will not damage Internet infrastructure, and more
importantly, will not impose risks on basic human rights. Last week's
announcement<http://www.circleid.com/posts/brazil_to_host_internet_governance_summit/>
that
Brazil will host a global Internet governance summit next year could be
positive, but it is not yet clear what Brazil's position on this issue will
be: Earlier this year, Brazil signed the ITU treaty in Dubai that was
criticized by advocates and experts as a document that could undermine
Internet freedom. Brazil should distance itself from these initiatives.

Speeches delivered within the framework of inter-governmental
organizations, like the UN, should be taken seriously. But while very
important, they are only words if they are not followed by concrete actions
in the right direction adopted by all branches of government. A true
champion does not stop at words.

*This article was authored by Eduardo Bertoni, Director of the CELE, the
Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression at University of Palermo School
of Law in Argentina.*
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