September 28th, 2015 – “One of the big changes that all democracies are living through is the Internet: an extraordinary space of communication, discussion, grassroots participation, economic and social development, which has become an essential presence in our daily lives, professional, political and social. In this space, we need to preserve the ability of free development, access and neutrality. A place where the rights of the person must find equal protection as they do outside the virtual world: to be guaranteed their full effect in case of breaches in personal data, cyberbullying, the creation of oligopolies, censorship and mass surveillance. The internet in this sense is a common good, which is what we are stating in our joint statement. The internet is a common good that cannot be left in the hands of private individuals, nor in those of authoritarian governments,” said the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, at the signing of the Joint Declaration on Digital Rights with the President of the French National Assembly, Claude Bartolone. The statement was prepared by the Commission on the rights and duties on the internet of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Commission for the reflection and proposal on the rights and freedoms in the digital age of the French National Assembly. “I don’t find agree – continues President Boldrini – with those who say that to protect the Internet it is necessary to protect the absence of rules. The rules are already there but are dictated either by large economic entities, which are looking to make a profit, or by states that want to curb and restrict access to the internet as a place of emancipation and democratic participation. I remember what the co-chairman of the French commission, Christiane Féral-Schuhl, told us during his hearing in Rome: ‘The legislature, in consultation with civil society, must take action to protect freedom on the net to recall and redefine new principles, rights and duties of internet in the digital age.’ Words that I fully support today.” (PO / Red)
