'This is a critical time when fundamental rights -- particularly freedom of expression and privacy --are under threat from governments that want to control what their citizens say, and what information they can access,' Amnesty said.
The call comes as the online world prepares to meet at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF, Athens 30/10 - 2/11) to discuss the future of the internet.
The statement also coincides with an urgent appeal on behalf of Kianoosh Sanjari, a blogger in Iran who was detained this month. Kianoosh Sanjari was arrested earlier this month while reporting on clashes between security forces and supporters of Shi'a cleric Ayatollah Boroujerdi. 'He is being held incommunicado and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Sanjari had allegedly gone to the home of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in the capital, Tehran, to prepare a report on the clashes that were taking place there,' Amnesty said.
Amnesty International has also launched a campaign to highlight the cases of prisoners of conscience, imprisoned for the expression of their peaceful views online in countries like China, Iran, Vietnam and Tunisia.
The campaign slams Internet companies like Microsoft, Yahoo and Google 'for aiding repression, censorship, and violation of fundamental freedoms in these nations, particularly China'.
Chinese journalist Shi Tao used his Yahoo! account to email a US-based website about an internal government directive instructing journalists how to handle media coverage of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." Yahoo! provided information to the government that was used in his prosecution.
Tunisian lawyer and human rights defender Mohammed Abbou is serving a three and a half year prison sentence largely for publishing articles critical of the Tunisian authorities on the internet.
Vietnamese political dissident Truong Quoc Huy was first arrested in October 2005 with two other young people after chatting on a democracy and human rights website. He was held incommunicado for nine months then released, but on 18 August 2006 he was rearrested in an internet cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, where he had logged on to a chatroom. His whereabouts remain unknown and no charges have been publicised.
"The internet is a powerful force for human rights, enabling the free flow of ideas and information around the world," Steve Ballinger, part of Amnesty International's delegation to the IGF, was quoted as saying.
"But some governments have sought to curtail this freedom. People have been locked up just for expressing their views in an email or a website. Sites and blogs have been shut down and firewalls built to prevent access to information. Companies have restricted internet searches to stop people accessing information that repressive governments don't want them to see. Countries and businesses have failed to respect, protect and promote the rights to freedom of expression, association and privacy, and the rights of human rights defenders."
Asserting that "freedom of expression online is a right, not a privilege --but it's a right that needs defending," Ballinger said: "We're asking bloggers worldwide to show their solidarity with web users in countries where they can face jail just for criticising the government. The Internet Governance Forum needs to know that the online community is bothered about free expression online and willing to stand up for it."
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External Link: Fighting for human rights in cyberspace
