"There are many other networks in the world - some aid in
the movement of people or resources; and some facilitate exchanges between
individuals with the same work or interests.
But the internet is a network that magnifies the power and potential of all others. And that's why we believe it's critical that its users are assured certain basic freedoms.
First among them is the freedom of expression. This freedom is no longer defined solely by whether citizens can go into the town square and criticize their government without fear of retribution. Blogs, email, social networks, and text messages have opened up new forums for exchanging ideas - and created new targets for censorship...
The final freedom I want to address today flows from the
four I’ve already mentioned: the freedom to connect - the idea that
governments should not prevent people from connecting to the internet,
to websites, or to each other.
The freedom to connect is like the freedom of assembly in cyberspace. It allows individuals to get online, come together, and hopefully cooperate in the name of progress. Once you’re on the internet, you don’t need to be a tycoon or a rock star to have a huge impact on society."
— U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
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