Chris Sheehy – Global Network Initiative

The Global Network Initiative Welcomes the “Declaration for the Future of the Internet”

GNI welcomes the recent Declaration for the Future of the Internet, in particular the centrality of human rights and the emphasis placed on multistakeholder approaches. As a multistakeholder organization that has been working for over a dozen years to protect digital rights, GNI looks forward to continuing to engage with signatories and stakeholders, and will work to hold signatory nations to the principles laid out in this Declaration. Read more for the full statement.

Chris Sheehy2022-04-29T16:16:35+00:00April 29, 2022|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, media releases, network disruptions, surveillance|Tags: Declaration for the Future of the Internet|

GNI Statement: Proposed Amendments to Address “Cyberbullying” in Kazakhstan Likely to Further Restrict Speech and Privacy Online

GNI expresses concern about proposed amendments to Kazakhstan’s Law on Informatization. While the amendments’ stated goal is to reduce cyberbullying, it appears they will impose significant risks for freedom of expression and privacy in Kazakhstan and undermine this goal. The amendments could impose monitoring obligations on a wide range of ICT companies, increase the government’s authority to order content restrictions, and threaten shutdown of access to services that fail to comply. Read more for the full statement.

Chris Sheehy2022-04-06T16:49:00+00:00April 6, 2022|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, media releases|Tags: censorship, Kazakhstan, landing laws|

GNI Response to Ordinance Amending PECA in Pakistan

The broadened scope and expanded penalties for critical speech in the Amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act follow previous concerns GNI has raised about rushed processes for content regulation and undue restrictions on intermediaries providing services in Pakistan.

Chris Sheehy2022-03-14T19:50:23+00:00March 14, 2022|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, media releases|Tags: Content Regulation, Pakistan|

Concerns About Draft Content Regulation in Bangladesh: Submission to BTRC

GNI recently submitted comment on the draft digital platform regulation from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). GNI is concerned about the rushed process, including overlap with a similar proposal from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as the risks to digital rights from the significant obligations in the draft regulation. GNI stands ready to engage with the BTRC in support of rights-respecting content regulation.

Chris Sheehy2022-03-09T14:26:03+00:00March 9, 2022|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, issues highlight, Publication, surveillance|Tags: Bangladesh, Content Regulation|

GNI Calls for Withdrawal of Draft Cybersecurity Law in Myanmar

GNI expresses serious concern about a recently proposed cybersecurity law in Myanmar, reaffirming and adding to concerns about a draft introduced by the military-led State Administrative Council last year. GNI calls on the authorities to revoke the legislation. Read more for ur analysis of the proposal.

Chris Sheehy2022-01-31T22:18:44+00:00January 31, 2022|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, surveillance|Tags: Content Regulation, Data Localization, Disinformation, Myanmar, Virtual Private Networks|

GNI Seeks Consultant Project Lead for “Meaningful Transparency” Initiative

There is broad agreement that more transparency and collaboration around company and government data use is needed. We seek an experienced consultant to serve as a project lead for a new initiative working to better align existing efforts to address these concerns and to help bridge barriers to "meaningful transparency."

Chris Sheehy2022-01-26T22:17:39+00:00January 26, 2022|Categories: feature, media releases|

GNI Alarmed by Ongoing Network Disruptions in Sudan

GNI calls on the Sudanese authorities to respect freedom of expression and media freedom and restore network connectivity throughout the country.

Chris Sheehy2021-11-10T22:48:40+00:00November 10, 2021|Categories: feature, Issues, issues highlight, network disruptions|Tags: Sudan|

Statement Of Support For The U.S.-EU Trade And Technology Council

GNI is optimistic that the TTC can create spaces to more effectively address the complex issues in the technology sphere, and is eager to engage proactively and constructively with these governments and other relevant stakeholders, including through relevant TTC working groups.

Chris Sheehy2021-11-09T01:49:05+00:00November 9, 2021|Categories: feature, media releases|Tags: European Union|

GNI Letter and Analysis: Draft Digital Platform Regulation in Chile

A proposed draft bill to regulate digital platforms in Chile — built around the concept of "digital freedom of expression — is likely to undermine these very rights. We articulate these concerns in our letter to lawmakers in Chile and subsequent analysis.

Chris Sheehy2021-10-29T13:31:30+00:00October 27, 2021|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, Letter, media releases|Tags: Chile, Content Regulation|

GNI Submission: Government of Canada’s Proposal for Addressing Harmful Content Online

Canada's leadership in supporting Internet freedom around the world could be undermined by the government’s recently proposed approach to content regulation. GNI expressed concerns about pressures to restrict content and facilitate access to user data in the current approach.

Chris Sheehy2021-09-27T14:21:23+00:00September 27, 2021|Categories: feature, intermediary liability, Issues, issues highlight, media releases, surveillance|Tags: Canada, Content Regulation|

About Chris Sheehy