Chris Sheehy | Global Network Initiative

Q: GNI Submission to the Consultation on the UK Online Harms White Paper

Read the Submission (PDF) The Global Network Initiative (GNI) welcomes the opportunity to engage with the government of the United Kingdom on its Online Harms White Paper, which proposes a regulatory approach for responding to abuses of information and communications technologies (ICTs) while protecting users’ rights. GNI shares the government’s concerns about the need to preserve and improve the safety of Internet users, especially children. However, the approach outlined in the White Paper could create significant threats to users’ freedom of expression and privacy. The proposal’s intentionally broad scope (both in terms of the range of “companies” and the nearly two-dozen potential “harms” covered), the lack of clear transparency and accountability mechanisms for a proposed regulator (who is newly empowered with significant enforcement powers), and the unclear application of a “duty of care” could create a climate of legal uncertainty and concern for liability. This climate is likely to incentivize companies to proactively monitor their users and err on the side of restricting any content that could conceivably run afoul of the regulator’s judgment. The UK strives to establish a global leadership role in crafting regulations for an Internet that is both safe and free, and it is therefore critical that the approach is grounded in globally recognized laws and principles set out in the international human rights framework. Read more in the full submission .

GNI Statement on Domestic Cases Asserting Global Internet Jurisdiction

Two recent rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union — Google vs. CNIL and Glawischnig-Piesczek vs. Facebook — fail to sufficiently consider freedom of expression and privacy risks when EU countries' domestic authorities assert global authority and jurisdiction over online content. Greater efforts at intergovernmental and multistakeholder deliberation are needed to determine the appropriate scope of application for domestic legal orders on global internet companies.

Chris Sheehy2020-01-29T18:35:08+00:00January 29, 2020|Categories: feature, Issues, issues highlight, Jurisdictional Assertions & Limits|Tags: CJEU, CNIL, Right to be Forgotten|

GNI Statement on Ongoing Information and Communications Disruptions in India

GNI is deeply concerned about reports of network disruptions across India, including in New Delhi, amid mass protests. GNI urges the government to consider its international commitments to freedom of expression and the risks disruptions pose for public safety, health and emergency services, the economy, and the news media.

Chris Sheehy2019-12-24T14:57:00+00:00December 24, 2019|Categories: feature, issues highlight, media releases, network disruptions|Tags: India, Kashmir|

Event Report: “The State of Digital Rights Due Diligence,” the 2019 GNI Annual Learning Forum

As the practice of human rights due diligence takes root in the technology sector, how can companies keep pace with new risks to freedom of expression and privacy? Read GNI members' lessons learned from ten years of HRDD and thoughts on the road ahead in the 2019 learning forum event report.

Chris Sheehy2019-12-12T13:41:11+00:00December 9, 2019|Categories: events, feature, media releases, reports, Resources|Tags: Human rights due diligence, learning forum|

GNI Joins Christchurch Call Advisory Network

The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is pleased to join the Christchurch Call Advisory Network, whose participating members were announced on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2019.

“GNI’s multistakeholder membership looks forward to continuing to engage with participating governments, companies, and […]

Chris Sheehy2019-12-09T16:15:54+00:00November 27, 2019|Categories: intermediary liability, issues highlight|Tags: Christchurch Call, Extremism Online|

The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) Joins GNI

“GNI welcomes WOUGNET’s policy advocacy and gender perspective on the use of technology, which will enrich our endeavors to protect the rights of freedom of expression and privacy around the world,” said GNI Executive Director Judith Lichtenberg.

Chris Sheehy2019-10-28T19:30:37+00:00October 28, 2019|Categories: feature, media releases, New Members|Tags: Gender and Digital Rights|

Enhancing Understanding of Legal Trends Impacting Freedom of Expression and Privacy in the ICT Sector

The new and improved GNI Country Legal Frameworks Resource (CLFR) is Live! The CLFR centralizes and facilitates search and comparison across a repository of more than 50 country-specific reports on governments' authorities to access user data or restrict communications.

Chris Sheehy2019-09-19T14:19:12+00:00September 19, 2019|Categories: feature, issues highlight, network disruptions, surveillance|Tags: Country Legal Frameworks Resource, Digital Rights Law|

GNI Submission to the Consultation on the UK Online Harms White Paper

We are concerned that the approach outlined in the White Paper is both too broad and unnecessarily vague. We ask the government to take the time necessary to narrow and flesh-out its approach in more detail, in broad consultation with all stakeholders and before moving forward with legislation, in order to protect freedom of expression online, promote innovation and competition, and provide the coherence and certainty that the government seeks to deliver.

Chris Sheehy2019-08-28T23:57:14+00:00July 2, 2019|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight|Tags: Freedom of Expression, Online Harms White Paper, United Kingdom|

GNI Condemns Ongoing Network Shutdown in Sudan

GNI shares the concerns expressed by a number of our members who have spoken publicly about the serious human rights consequences of recent actions by the Sudanese Transitional Military Council.

Chris Sheehy2019-06-19T18:20:56+00:00June 19, 2019|Categories: feature, Issues, issues highlight, network disruptions|Tags: Sudan|

Understanding Electoral Information Flows: How to Approach the Role of Digital Technologies in Elections? By Jason Pielemeier*

GNI's session at UNESCO World Press Freedom Day explored information flows and potential abuses of ICTs during elections, and lessons for upcoming elections in Ethiopia. GNI Policy Director Jason Pielemeier reflects on the session for the GNI Blog.

Chris Sheehy2019-06-10T21:03:14+00:00June 10, 2019|Categories: issues highlight, network disruptions|Tags: Ethiopia, World Press Freedom Day|

The Global Forum for Media Development Joins GNI

GFMD is an international network of around 200 members working across 70 countries to provide an international platform for journalism support and media development practitioners to interact with donors, governments, opinion leaders, and the wider public in order to advocate for media development as a primary pillar for social, economic, and political progress.

Chris Sheehy2019-08-26T18:41:03+00:00June 7, 2019|Categories: media releases, New Members|Tags: Journalism, Media Development|

About Chris Sheehy