Brazil minister backs MEP calls for internet charter

Brazil’s culture minister Gilberto Gil backed proposals for a charter on regulating the internet put forward by MEPs in Brussels on Tuesday.

The proposals are designed to maintain the momentum towards international governance of the internet which started at the world information society summit in Tunisia in November.

Amid concerns that the US exerted too much control over the internet, the EU used the Tunis meeting to push for a new internet government forum that would discuss public policy issues related to the web.

The European position was backed by the US as well as countries with more restrictive approach to the internet, such as Iran or Saudi Arabia.

MEPs are keen to move quickly to build on this unprecedented level of agreement, calling for a charter of rights for the internet based on a set of universal principles.

“The internet represents a great opportunity for the dissemination of culture, knowledge and information,” said Italian MEP Umberto Guidoni, one of several deputies backing the proposals.

“It is important that we safeguard freedom of access to all, including those in countries that are not so technologically advanced.”

“By establishing a set of universal principles – such as freedom of access, the right to access to technology or the right to privacy – we can start to bring order.”

“But we have to be careful not to create artificial barriers to access.”

Gil, a well-known Brazilian jazz musician as well as culture minister, said it was vital to have a set of rules to help manage the internet as a promoter of culture to everyone.

He said that the Brazilian government had already taken a number of measures to increase access to information technology, such as providing free computer software or waiving the copyright on digital library books.

“But we need to consider every aspect of how we coordinate regulation – not just what governments and companies want, but what our citizens want as well.”

Monica Frassoni, co-president of the Green group in the parliament, also backed the proposals.

“It is important to emphasise that the need for rules must go hand-in-hand with the issue of freedom of access,” she said.

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