Broad network of groups delivers over 1 million signatures to ITU delegates asking them to oppose revising the ITU’s treaties to include Internet governance

 

Altogether, over 1 million signatures were collected by grassroots groups and delivered to ITU delegates by human rights, labor, tech policy, and media advocacy groups.

 

The groups who organized these petitions are available for comment on their campaigns to protect internet freedom.

 

 

“Despite strong opposition from a number of governments, and the demands of over 1 million people from around the world, the final text of the ITRs includes a resolution that explicitly provides for ITU involvement in Internet policy, and contains a number of problematic provisions that could affect human rights and free expression online. 

 

“We urge governments not to sign the ITRs as they stand. The US, UK, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, and Czech Republic have declared that they will not sign the ITRs. In explaining their decisions, they have referenced the ‘Internet Resolution’ (Resolution/PLEN 3)  and the lack of opportunity to fully debate these issues in the public session. A growing list of countries, including Poland, Kenya, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands have elected to consult with stakeholders in their countries to decide whether or not they will sign the treaty.

 

“Internet users all over the world have signed petitions calling on governments to keep the Internet out of the ITRs. They have done this because they want to protect and promote Internet openness for all users. We urge delegates to the WCIT not to sign the ITRs as they stand. We believe that their future impact on the Internet, largely a result of the closed and opaque process by which they were adopted, will threaten the open Internet and the exercise of human rights online for users in every nation.”

 

Here are the results of each advocacy effort:

 

ITU: Hands off our Internet! (http://www.avaaz.org/itu)

Over 820,000 individuals from 194 countries

 

Stop the Net Grab (http://www.ituc-csi.org/workers-around-globe-call-on-itu.html#)

Over 100,000 individuals from ITUC and national affiliates' petitions.

 

Statement to Protect Global Internet Freedom (www.protectinternetfreedom.net)

Over 38,000 individuals and nearly 1,500 organizations from 183 countries

 

What is the ITU? (www.whatistheITU.org)

Over 36,000 individuals from 145 countries

 

Internet Coup (www.internetcoup.org)

Over 9,800 individuals from over 137 countries

 

 

Gemma Swart, ITUC, [email protected], +32 479 064 163

Holmes Wilson, Fight for the Future, [email protected], +1 614 465 6371

Mike Rispoli, Access, [email protected], +1 732 890 5564

Mark Stanley, CDT, [email protected], +1 202 407 8839