Censorship or self-regulation: The industry debates the future at the Internet Content Summit in Munich

Radical new measures for internet self-regulation were proposed last September to 300 key industry policy makers at the Internet Content Summit in Munich.

Self-rating and filtering systems were demanded as civil right groups have queued up to condemn the proposals for raising the spectre of censorship.

The key recommendations for self-regulation have come from The Bertelsmann Foundation which has called for an international response to 'protect children online as well as guarantee free speech.' In a wide-ranging report on self-regulation on the net the Foundation demands that:

• Codes of conduct be adopted to ensure Internet content and service providers act in accord with principles of social responsibility;
• Self-regulatory agencies be established;
• Public bodies ratify self regulation;
• The industry adopt self-rating and filtering systems;
• User 'hotlines' be established so that users can respond quickly to content that raises concern; and,
• International co-operation to ensure that host countries take action against illegal content.

The report on self-regulation proposed by the Foundation states that: 'although a limited phenomenon within the overall amount of Internet content, racist and discriminatory web sites, child pornography exchanged in certain newsgroups and chatrooms and "how to" guides for terrorist activities are too disturbing to ignore.'

The Foundation's proposals were drawn up after 'an international network of experts' were brought together to draw up the recommendations and a user survey was completed that was carried out in Australia, Germany and the US.

Civil liberties groups and bodies campaigning against censorship on the net have reacted angrily to the proposals. UK based Cyber-rights & Cyber-liberties stated that: 'any approach to Internet content including self-regulatory initiatives on an international level should be open and transparent. Such initiatives should not only include the representatives of the Internet industry which is more concerned about protecting its financial interests.'

The Global Internet Liberty Campaign is spearheading opposition and has released a statement on the proposals. It argues that far from deflecting statutory control of the internet the Bertelsmann Foundation initiative 'may actually facilitate governmental restrictions on Internet expression.'

The GILC statement has the backing of a range of groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Human Rights Watch, Liberty and Internet Freedom.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).