Openness is one of the key founding principles and characteristics of the Internet. The open nature of the Internet is part of its uniqueness, and its importance as a tool to advance human development. Internet users trade ideas and information and build on both, thus increasing the wealth of knowledge for everyone.. Never have so many people been able to communicate and therefore to express themselves (i.e. to hold, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers) as richly and as clearly at such a low cost as they can today using the Internet. The communications possibilities of the Internet are enhanced over any previous medium as they allow for rapid communication by voice, printed text, picture and video across the same network. Access to knowledge and empowering people with information and knowledge that is available on the Internet is a critical objective of an inclusive Information Society and to continued economic and social development. This session will focus on freedom of expression and the free flow of information, ideas and knowledge in the online context and the enabling environment that is best suited to promote these principles.
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Openness is one of the key founding principles and characteristics of the Internet. The open nature of the Internet is part of its uniqueness, and its importance as a tool to advance human development. Internet users trade ideas and information and build on both, thus increasing the wealth of knowledge for everyone.. Never have so many people been able to communicate and therefore to express themselves (i.e. to hold, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers) as richly and as clearly at such a low cost as they can today using the Internet. The communications possibilities of the Internet are enhanced over any previous medium as they allow for rapid communication by voice, printed text, picture and video across the same network. Access to knowledge and empowering people with information and knowledge that is available on the Internet is a critical objective of an inclusive Information Society and to continued economic and social development. This session will focus on freedom of expression and the free flow of information, ideas and knowledge in the online context and the enabling environment that is best suited to promote these principles.