Posner's Remarks on Internet Freedom and Responsibility, October 2011

The "power of connection technologies" can be seen through the changing access to cell phone cameras and video cameras. They can be used to create blogs, video journals that can be shared worldwide. Government surveillance, censorship, restrictions are problematic. The Internet's power was apparent in the Arab Spring and now, some governments (China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Russia) are calling for an "International Code of Conduct for Information Security". This would move the Internet from a "multi-stakeholder people-driven model" to an Internet controlled by the Government leading to a less free and open Internet - if we let it. Responses to scrutiny in Internet businesses include broad principles for free expression and privacy; apply the principles in practice, not just in policy; benchmark progress; create industry best practices and engage with stakeholders.