roundtable: ACTION ALERT: The Sixth Principle

roundtable: ACTION ALERT: The Sixth Principle

ACTION ALERT: The Sixth Principle

BEESONA@HRW.ORG
Tue, 21 Feb 95 14:50:25 EST 

From: BEESONA@HRW.ORG
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 95 14:50:25 EST
Message-Id: <9501217934.AA793407025@email.hrw.org>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: ACTION ALERT: The Sixth Principle


     **ACTION ALERT**
     
     Free Expression On The Global Information 
     Infrastructure Is In Jeopardy Unless You Act Now!
     
     BACKGROUND:  On February 25-26, the G-7 will meet in 
     Brussels to make crucial decisions that will affect the 
     future of the global information infrastructure (GII).  The 
     Clinton Administration wants support from the G-7 for five 
     basic principles for building the GII:  encouraging private 
     investment; promoting competition; creating a flexible 
     regulatory environment; providing open access to networks 
     and services for providers and users; and ensuring universal 
     service.
     
     ISSUE:  These five principles will not protect online free 
     expression!  In a letter to Al Gore last week, nine leading 
     human rights and civil liberties groups recommended a specific 
     principle to protect free expression in cyberspace.  (The full 
     text of the letter is available at:  
     gopher.humanrights.org5000/international human rights/HRW/free 
     expression project.)
     
     ACTION:  Send the Vice President a message by e-mail before 
     Saturday, February 25th urging the adoption of a "sixth 
     principle" that protects and promotes free expression on the 
     GII.  (See the sample letter below.)  Please use the subject 
     header "Sixth Principle", and copy your message to:  
     g7@hrw.org.
     
     Join Human Rights Watch, Electronic Privacy Information 
     Center, American Civil Liberties Union, American Library 
     Association, Article 19, Center for Democracy and 
     Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, People for the 
     American Way, and Privacy International in the fight for 
     free expression in cyberspace!
     
     -----------------------------------------
     
     The Honorable Al Gore
     Vice President of the United States
     S212 Capitol Building
     Washington, DC  20510
     e-mail:  vice.president@whitehouse.gov 
     cc:      g7@hrw.org
     
     Dear Mr. Vice President:
     
     I am writing to ask that you add a "sixth principle" for 
     adoption by the G-7 this week that explicitly recognizes a 
     commitment to protect and promote the free exchange of 
     information and ideas on the global information 
     infrastructure (GII).
     
     I also support the specific recommendations regarding free 
     expression principles for the GII that were provided to you 
     in the February 16th letter from leading human rights and 
     civil liberties organizations.
     
     The U.S. should carry the free speech banner as it shapes 
     the development of the GII.
     
     Sincerely,
     
     [name]

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