GNI Statement to Helsinki Commission – 2012
On October 19, 2012, GNI Executive Director Susan Morgan presented to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) at a briefing entitled “Online Safety under Repressive Regimes: What is the Responsibility of Technology Companies?”
In her testimony, Morgan described the difference that the GNI is making for companies seeking to advance freedom of expression and privacy rights, from completing the first assessments of technology companies’ policies and procedures for responding to government requests affecting free speech and privacy, to using our collective voice to influence public policy worldwide.
“By working together, rights-respecting companies have an opportunity to both set a global standard for how companies can responsibly manage government requests impacting free expression and privacy rights, but also collectively engage with those governments to promote the rule of law and the adoption of laws, policies and practices that protect, respect, and fulfill rights to free expression and privacy,” said Morgan.
GNI Board member Meg Roggensack, Senior Advisor for Business and Human Rights at Human Rights First, also briefed the Commission. “The threats to Internet freedom are pervasive and proliferating – as the headlines confirm. Without the full engagement of ICT companies in this battle, we can’t realize the vision of ‘one Internet,’” said Roggensack.