Rådet for Menneskerettigheder i FN har enstemmigt vedtaget en resolution om, at ytringsfriheden på internettet er en menneskerettighed. Det sker også med stemmer fra Kina og Cuba.
Den amerikanske FN-ambassadør Elleen Donahue mener, at det er et stort skridt for rådet og retten til adgang til internettet skal beskyttes på samme måde som andre menneskerettigheder.
Amerikansk FN-ambassadør Elleen Donahue skrev:
This outcome is momentous for the Human Rights Council. It’s the first ever U.N. resolution affirming that human rights in the digital realm must be protected and promoted to the same extent and with the same commitment as human rights in the physical world.
Selvom Kina bakkede op om resolutionen, mente den kinesiske ambassadør Xia Jingge dog, at især unge brugere også skal beskyttes fra skadeligt indhold på internettet.
Kinesisk FN-ambassadør Xia Jingge skrev:
We believe that the free flow of information on the Internet and the safe flow of information on the Internet are mutually dependent. As the Internet develops rapidly, online gambling, pornography, violence, fraud and hacking are increasing its threat to the legal rights of society and the public.
Den Internationale Telekommunikation Union, ITU, der også hører under FN, har siden 2003 selv haft et lignende princip.
Elleen Donahue kommenterede på Kinas censur opbakning til resolutionen, hvor hun mener, at Kina har affundet sig med tilstedeværelsen af internettet.
Amerikansk FN-ambassadør Elleen Donahue skrev:
The fact that they found a way to be part of this is a significant, important move in their thinking. It must reflect an awareness that the Internet is here to stay, is an essential part of everyone’s economy and will be a linchpin of development for all countries and they have to be part of it.
Resolutionen (doc) bekræfter de tidligere menneskerettigheder og præciserer, at de samme rettigheder også gælder på internettet.
[list]1. Affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of one’s choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
2. Recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress towards development in its various forms;
3. Calls upon all States to promote and facilitate access to the Internet and international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and communications facilities in all countries;
4. Encourages special procedures to take these issues into account within their existing mandates, as applicable;
5. Decides to continue its consideration of the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, on the Internet and in other technologies, as well as of how the Internet can be an important tool for development and for exercising human rights, in accordance with its programme of work.[/list]