Freedom
of communication
on the Internet
Declaration adopted by the Committee of Ministers
on 28 May 2003 at the 840th meeting
of the Ministers' Deputies
and explanatory note
image: size-isnt-everything.co.uk
Declaration
on freedom of communication
on the Internet
and explanatory note
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe on 28 May 2003
at the 840th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies
Directorate General of Human Rights
Council of Europe
H/Inf (2003) 7
1st printing, June 2003
© Council of Europe, 2003
Directorate General of Human Rights
Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
http://www.coe.int/media
Printed at the Council of Europe
This text was prepared by the
Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM).
3
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Declaration
on freedom of communication
on the Internet
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 28 May 2003
at the 840th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
The member States of the Council of Europe,
Recalling the commitment of member States to the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Considering that freedom of expression and the free circulation of information
on the Internet need to be reaffirmed;
Aware at the same time of the need to balance freedom of expression and information with other legitimate rights and interests, in accordance with Article 10 of
the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Recalling in this respect the Convention on Cybercrime and Recommendation No.
Rec (2001) 8 on self-regulation concerning cyber content;
Recalling, furthermore, Resolution No. 1 of the 5th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy (Thessaloniki, 11-12 December 1997);
Concerned about attempts to limit public access to communication on the
Internet for political reasons or other motives contrary to democratic principles;
Convinced of the necessity to state firmly that prior control of communications
on the Internet, regardless of frontiers, should remain an exception;
Considering, furthermore, that there is a need to remove barriers to individual
access to the Internet, and thus to complement measures already undertaken to set
4
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
up public access points in line with Recommendation No. R (99) 14 on universal
community service concerning new communication and information services;
Convinced that freedom to establish services provided through the Internet will
contribute to guaranteeing the right of users to access pluralistic content from a
variety of domestic and foreign sources;
Convinced also that it is necessary to limit the liability of service providers when
they act as mere transmitters, or when they, in good faith, provide access to, or host,
content from third parties;
Recalling in this respect Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in
particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (Directive on electronic commerce);
Stressing that freedom of communication on the Internet should not prejudice
the human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, especially
minors;
Considering that a balance has to be found between respecting the will of users
of the Internet not to disclose their identity and the need for law enforcement authorities to trace those responsible for criminal acts;
Welcoming efforts by service providers to co-operate with law enforcement
agencies when faced with illegal content on the Internet;
Noting the importance of co-operation between these agencies in the fight
against such content,
Declare that they seek to abide by the following principles in the field of communication on the Internet:
Principle 1
Content rules for the Internet
Member States should not subject content on the Internet to restrictions which
go further than those applied to other means of content delivery.
Principle 2
Self-regulation or co-regulation
Member States should encourage self-regulation or co-regulation regarding content disseminated on the Internet.
5
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Principle 3
Absence of prior state control
Public authorities should not, through general blocking or filtering measures,
deny access by the public to information and other communication on the Internet,
regardless of frontiers. This does not prevent the installation of filters for the protection of minors, in particular in places accessible to them, such as schools or libraries.
Provided that the safeguards of Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention for
the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms are respected, measures
may be taken to enforce the removal of clearly identifiable Internet content or, alternatively, the blockage of access to it, if the competent national authorities have
taken a provisional or final decision on its illegality.
Principle 4
Removal of barriers to the participation
of individuals in the information society
Member States should foster and encourage access for all to Internet communication and information services on a non-discriminatory basis at an affordable price.
Furthermore, the active participation of the public, for example by setting up and
running individual websites, should not be subject to any licensing or other requirements having a similar effect.
Principle 5
Freedom to provide services via the Internet
The provision of services via the Internet should not be made subject to specific
authorisation schemes on the sole grounds of the means of transmission used.
Member States should seek measures to promote a pluralistic offer of services via
the Internet which caters to the different needs of users and social groups. Service
providers should be allowed to operate in a regulatory framework which guarantees
them non-discriminatory access to national and international telecommunication
networks.
Principle 6
Limited liability of service providers for Internet content
Member States should not impose on service providers a general obligation to
monitor content on the Internet to which they give access, that they transmit or
store, nor that of actively seeking facts or circumstances indicating illegal activity.
6
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
Member States should ensure that service providers are not held liable for content on the Internet when their function is limited, as defined by national law, to
transmitting information or providing access to the Internet.
In cases where the functions of service providers are wider and they store content
emanating from other parties, member States may hold them co-responsible if they
do not act expeditiously to remove or disable access to information or services as
soon as they become aware, as defined by national law, of their illegal nature or, in
the event of a claim for damages, of facts or circumstances revealing the illegality of
the activity or information.
When defining under national law the obligations of service providers as set out
in the previous paragraph, due care must be taken to respect the freedom of expression of those who made the information available in the first place, as well as the
corresponding right of users to the information.
In all cases, the above-mentioned limitations of liability should not affect the
possibility of issuing injunctions where service providers are required to terminate or
prevent, to the extent possible, an infringement of the law.
Principle 7
Anonymity
In order to ensure protection against online surveillance and to enhance the free
expression of information and ideas, member States should respect the will of users
of the Internet not to disclose their identity. This does not prevent member States
from taking measures and co-operating in order to trace those responsible for criminal acts, in accordance with national law, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other international agreements in the
fields of justice and the police.
7
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Explanatory note
1. Introduction
New communications and information technologies, commonly referred to as the
“Internet”, have opened up new horizons of public access to information, education
and cultural resources. At the same time, the Internet provides an amazing tool for
individual and group expression with possibilities of reaching a much larger audience
than before at a low cost.
In recent years, the Council of Europe has adopted several legal and political
instruments, which provide answers to the regulatory challenges posed by the
Internet. The Convention on Cybercrime, opened for signature in 2001, enables mutual assistance between States regarding certain computer-related crimes. Another
example is Recommendation Rec (2001) 8 on self-regulation concerning cyber content (self-regulation and user protection against illegal or harmful content on new
communications and information services), which deals with the issue of illegal and
harmful Internet content in general, advocating a self-regulatory approach, with a
view to protecting freedom of expression and information as well as other fundamental values.
Over the past few years, there has been a marked tendency by some governments
to restrict and control access to the Internet in a manner which is incompatible with
international norms on freedom of expression and information. Against this background, the Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM) of the Council of Europe
decided to draw up a Declaration where such practices, especially when politically
motivated, would be strongly condemned. It was considered appropriate to deal in
the same text with other aspects of the Internet where freedom of expression and
information is particularly at stake, namely regar
Freedom
of communication
on the Internet
Declaration adopted by the Committee of Ministers
on 28 May 2003 at the 840th meeting
of the Ministers' Deputies
and explanatory note
image: size-isnt-everything.co.uk
Declaration
on freedom of communication
on the Internet
and explanatory note
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe on 28 May 2003
at the 840th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies
Directorate General of Human Rights
Council of Europe
H/Inf (2003) 7
1st printing, June 2003
© Council of Europe, 2003
Directorate General of Human Rights
Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
http://www.coe.int/media
Printed at the Council of Europe
This text was prepared by the
Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM).
3
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Declaration
on freedom of communication
on the Internet
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 28 May 2003
at the 840th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
The member States of the Council of Europe,
Recalling the commitment of member States to the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Considering that freedom of expression and the free circulation of information
on the Internet need to be reaffirmed;
Aware at the same time of the need to balance freedom of expression and information with other legitimate rights and interests, in accordance with Article 10 of
the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Recalling in this respect the Convention on Cybercrime and Recommendation No.
Rec (2001) 8 on self-regulation concerning cyber content;
Recalling, furthermore, Resolution No. 1 of the 5th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy (Thessaloniki, 11-12 December 1997);
Concerned about attempts to limit public access to communication on the
Internet for political reasons or other motives contrary to democratic principles;
Convinced of the necessity to state firmly that prior control of communications
on the Internet, regardless of frontiers, should remain an exception;
Considering, furthermore, that there is a need to remove barriers to individual
access to the Internet, and thus to complement measures already undertaken to set
4
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
up public access points in line with Recommendation No. R (99) 14 on universal
community service concerning new communication and information services;
Convinced that freedom to establish services provided through the Internet will
contribute to guaranteeing the right of users to access pluralistic content from a
variety of domestic and foreign sources;
Convinced also that it is necessary to limit the liability of service providers when
they act as mere transmitters, or when they, in good faith, provide access to, or host,
content from third parties;
Recalling in this respect Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in
particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market (Directive on electronic commerce);
Stressing that freedom of communication on the Internet should not prejudice
the human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, especially
minors;
Considering that a balance has to be found between respecting the will of users
of the Internet not to disclose their identity and the need for law enforcement authorities to trace those responsible for criminal acts;
Welcoming efforts by service providers to co-operate with law enforcement
agencies when faced with illegal content on the Internet;
Noting the importance of co-operation between these agencies in the fight
against such content,
Declare that they seek to abide by the following principles in the field of communication on the Internet:
Principle 1
Content rules for the Internet
Member States should not subject content on the Internet to restrictions which
go further than those applied to other means of content delivery.
Principle 2
Self-regulation or co-regulation
Member States should encourage self-regulation or co-regulation regarding content disseminated on the Internet.
5
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Principle 3
Absence of prior state control
Public authorities should not, through general blocking or filtering measures,
deny access by the public to information and other communication on the Internet,
regardless of frontiers. This does not prevent the installation of filters for the protection of minors, in particular in places accessible to them, such as schools or libraries.
Provided that the safeguards of Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention for
the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms are respected, measures
may be taken to enforce the removal of clearly identifiable Internet content or, alternatively, the blockage of access to it, if the competent national authorities have
taken a provisional or final decision on its illegality.
Principle 4
Removal of barriers to the participation
of individuals in the information society
Member States should foster and encourage access for all to Internet communication and information services on a non-discriminatory basis at an affordable price.
Furthermore, the active participation of the public, for example by setting up and
running individual websites, should not be subject to any licensing or other requirements having a similar effect.
Principle 5
Freedom to provide services via the Internet
The provision of services via the Internet should not be made subject to specific
authorisation schemes on the sole grounds of the means of transmission used.
Member States should seek measures to promote a pluralistic offer of services via
the Internet which caters to the different needs of users and social groups. Service
providers should be allowed to operate in a regulatory framework which guarantees
them non-discriminatory access to national and international telecommunication
networks.
Principle 6
Limited liability of service providers for Internet content
Member States should not impose on service providers a general obligation to
monitor content on the Internet to which they give access, that they transmit or
store, nor that of actively seeking facts or circumstances indicating illegal activity.
6
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
Member States should ensure that service providers are not held liable for content on the Internet when their function is limited, as defined by national law, to
transmitting information or providing access to the Internet.
In cases where the functions of service providers are wider and they store content
emanating from other parties, member States may hold them co-responsible if they
do not act expeditiously to remove or disable access to information or services as
soon as they become aware, as defined by national law, of their illegal nature or, in
the event of a claim for damages, of facts or circumstances revealing the illegality of
the activity or information.
When defining under national law the obligations of service providers as set out
in the previous paragraph, due care must be taken to respect the freedom of expression of those who made the information available in the first place, as well as the
corresponding right of users to the information.
In all cases, the above-mentioned limitations of liability should not affect the
possibility of issuing injunctions where service providers are required to terminate or
prevent, to the extent possible, an infringement of the law.
Principle 7
Anonymity
In order to ensure protection against online surveillance and to enhance the free
expression of information and ideas, member States should respect the will of users
of the Internet not to disclose their identity. This does not prevent member States
from taking measures and co-operating in order to trace those responsible for criminal acts, in accordance with national law, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and other international agreements in the
fields of justice and the police.
7
Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet
Explanatory note
1. Introduction
New communications and information technologies, commonly referred to as the
“Internet”, have opened up new horizons of public access to information, education
and cultural resources. At the same time, the Internet provides an amazing tool for
individual and group expression with possibilities of reaching a much larger audience
than before at a low cost.
In recent years, the Council of Europe has adopted several legal and political
instruments, which provide answers to the regulatory challenges posed by the
Internet. The Convention on Cybercrime, opened for signature in 2001, enables mutual assistance between States regarding certain computer-related crimes. Another
example is Recommendation Rec (2001) 8 on self-regulation concerning cyber content (self-regulation and user protection against illegal or harmful content on new
communications and information services), which deals with the issue of illegal and
harmful Internet content in general, advocating a self-regulatory approach, with a
view to protecting freedom of expression and information as well as other fundamental values.
Over the past few years, there has been a marked tendency by some governments
to restrict and control access to the Internet in a manner which is incompatible with
international norms on freedom of expression and information. Against this background, the Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM) of the Council of Europe
decided to draw up a Declaration where such practices, especially when politically
motivated, would be strongly condemned. It was considered appropriate to deal in
the same text with other aspects of the Internet where freedom of expression and
information is particularly at stake, namely regar
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