[governance] APC statement: A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information online

[Shahzad Ahmad]

Forwarded from APC Network. There is a statement about Wikileaks. Thought
will be of interest to you. 

Best wishes and regards

Shahzad

---------------------------------

APC says, A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information online

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA TUESDAY DECEMBER 7 - The Association for
Progressive Communications (APC) is deeply concerned about recent
attempts by governments to limit access to online content recently
published by whistleblower website WikiLeaks.

APC is also troubled by actions taken by private companies such as
EveryDNS.net which disabled the domain name system services for
WikiLeaks.org, Amazon which repealed web hosting services and Paypal
which restricted access to WikiLeaks' account to prevent supporters from
donating money.

APC believes that the ability to share information and communicate
freely using the internet is vital to the realisation of human rights
and to efforts to use the internet to contribute more accountable and
transparent governance at global and national levels. A site like
WikiLeaks can also play a vital role in aiding the fight against
corruption in governments and corporations.

The APC Internet Rights Charter clearly states that:

*The internet must be protected from all attempts to silence critical
voices and to censor social and political content or debate.

*Organisations, communities and individuals should be free to use the
internet to organise and engage in protest.

*All information, including scientific and social research, that is
produced with the support of public funds should be freely available to all.

As the world's longest-running online progressive network founded in
1990, APC has been troubled by trends over the last decade that show
that such rights are increasingly violated and believes that the recent
attempts to censor WikiLeaks provide additional reasons for concern.

The US government has been unable to provide evidence that lives have
been put at risk by WikiLeaks disclosures.

APC appeals to all governments and the internet community to explicitly
reject any form of online content control that limits freedom of
expression and information, particularly information that contributes to
more transparent governance, and that empowers citizens to hold their
governments accountable. We urge them to assure the uninterrupted online
presence of the WikiLeaks website.

A stand for WikiLeaks is a stand for freedom of information on the internet.

END

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