Declarations of Internet Rights

A draft Declaration of Internet Rights has been released by a study commission established by the Italian Chamber of Deputies. After a 5 months public consultation, an updated version of the Declaration is being elaborated by the commission.
Background
In October 13, 2014, a draft Declaration of Internet Rights has been published in Italy, as the first outcome of the work of the study commission established in July 2014 by the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, and led by Prof. Stefano Rodotà for the development of principles and guidelines on the subject of Internet rights. The commission (list of members here) is made up of MPs (one for each group) and experts, including Nexa co-director Juan Carlos De Martin.
In recent months, several European institutions moved in the same direction. At the end of 2013 the Speaker of the UK House of Commons established a commission on digital democracy. In February 2014, the German Bundestag established a parliamentary standing commission on the “Digital Agenda”. In April 2014, the Council of Europe published a guide of human rights for Internet users. In the summer of 2014, the French Parliament established a “Commission de réflexion et de propositions ad hoc sur le droit et les libertés à l’âge du numérique”, which counts among its members the intellectual Philippe Aigrain (trustee of the Nexa Center) and the Italian researcher Francesca Musiani. Both the British and French commissions plan to present their findings at the beginning of 2015. In the same two countries, there are also two other significant initiatives. In UK, “Labour Digital”, an influential group of experts close to the British Labour Party, has just published “Number One in Digital” with several references to democracy and human rights in the digital age. In France, the annual report of the State Council has also analyzed the relationship between digital and human rights.

In October 13, 2014, a draft Declaration of Internet Rights has been published in Italy, as the first outcome of the work of the study commission established in July 2014 by the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Laura Boldrini, and led by Prof. Stefano Rodotà for the development of principles and guidelines on the subject of Internet rights. The commission (list of members here) is made up of MPs (one for each group) and experts, including Nexa co-director Juan Carlos De Martin.
In recent months, several European institutions moved in the same direction. At the end of 2013 the Speaker of the UK House of Commons established a commission on digital democracy. In February 2014, the German Bundestag established a parliamentary standing commission on the “Digital Agenda”. In April 2014, the Council of Europe published a guide of human rights for Internet users. In the summer of 2014, the French Parliament established a “Commission de réflexion et de propositions ad hoc sur le droit et les libertés à l’âge du numérique”, which counts among its members the intellectual Philippe Aigrain (trustee of the Nexa Center) and the Italian researcher Francesca Musiani. Both the British and French commissions plan to present their findings at the beginning of 2015. In the same two countries, there are also two other significant initiatives. In UK, “Labour Digital”, an influential group of experts close to the British Labour Party, has just published “Number One in Digital” with several references to democracy and human rights in the digital age. In France, the annual report of the State Council has also analyzed the relationship between digital and human rights.

The aim is to achieve a document to be delivered to the Italian Parliament and Government to contribute – in Italy, in Europe and worldwide – to protect Internet as a platform, not only for the economic development, but also for the exercise of fundamental human rights.
Beyond the participation of Juan Carlos De Martin in the study commission, the Nexa Center committed to gather contributions to the draft Declaration along the consultation process.

After the wide discussion with experts and all citizens interested, on July 28, 2015, Italy became the first European country to introduce an Internet Bill of Rights. The Declaration has been approved by the Italian Parliament and it is available on line at www.camera.it/leg17/1179. The Declaration of Internet Rights is available also in English, French, Spanish and German.

The 23rd of March 2017 at the secondary school Amedeo Avogadro in Turin the initiative “The Internet Committee of the Chamber in the school” was launched. The project envisions a series of meetings with students and teachers of schools in northern, central and southern Italy. At the meeting students and teachers of the Avogadro had a debate with the Honorable Antonio Palmieri, Juan Carlos De Martin and Anna Masera on the rights and duties of citizens in the Internet.
The activities of the Commission on Internet Rights were formally closed by the end of the 17th legislature.