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WASHINGTON, DC — The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is pleased to announce that Facebook is the first company to gain observer status with GNI. Observer status is an opportunity for companies who are actively considering joining GNI to examine the initiative's programs as well as its principles on free expression and privacy.
The Global Network Initiative (GNI) commends recent action by the U.S. government and Europe to press for accountability from Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies in relation to human rights abuses in Iran and Syria.
All over the world – from the Americas to Europe to the Middle East to Africa and Asia – companies in the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sector face increasing government pressure to comply with domestic laws and policies in ways that may conflict with the internationally recognized human rights of freedom of expression and privacy.
In response, a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics spent two years negotiating and creating a collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector, and have formed an Initiative to take this work forward.
Three core documents describe GNI's objectives and the key commitments of the participants:
Principles | Implementation Guidelines | Governance, Accountability and Learning Framework
Our latest report focuses on the difference we are
making in seeding a global standard for free expression and privacy, helping companies to chart an ethical path forward, and using our collective voice to change policy and advance human rights worldwide.
Download a copy of the report (pdf).
To learn more about who composes GNI, why the issues GNI faces matter, and how GNI benefits its members in order to overcome those challenges, please see our brochure (pdf).
