NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Internet Society statement on Egypt's Internet shutdown
----- Forwarded message from Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> ----- Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:18:59 -0500 From: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> Subject: [IP] : Internet Society statement on Egypt's Internet shutdown Reply-To: dave@farber.net To: ip <ip@listbox.com> Begin forwarded message: > From: Greg Wood <wood@isoc.org> > Date: January 28, 2011 4:44:05 PM EST > To: David Farber <dave@farber.net> > Subject: Internet Society statement on Egypt's Internet shutdown > > Dave, > Of interest to IP readers, perhaps. > Regards, > -Greg > > Internet Society Statement on Egypt's Internet Shutdown > 28 January 2011 > > We are following the current events in Egypt with concern as it appears that all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic has been disrupted. The Internet Society believes that the Internet is a global medium that fundamentally supports opportunity, empowerment, knowledge, growth, and freedom and that these values should never be taken away from individuals. > > The Internet Society considers this recent action by the Egyptian government to block Internet traffic to be an inappropriate response to a political crisis. It is a very serious decision for a government to block all Internet access in its country, and a serious intrusion into its citizens’ basic rights to communicate. If the blockage continues, it will have a very detrimental impact on Egypt's economy and society. Ultimately, the Egyptian people and nation are the ones that will suffer, while the rest of the world will be worse off with the loss of Egyptian voices on the net. > > However we are most concerned about the safety and security of the Egyptian people. Alongside the rest of the world, we share the hope for a positive and lasting solution to the problems that have risen to the surface there. > > In the longer term, we are sure that the world will learn a lesson from this very unfortunate example, and come to understand that cutting off a nation's access to the Internet only serves to fuel dissent and does not address the underlying causes of dissatisfaction. > > Also available at: http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=3091 > > The Internet Society > "The Internet is for Everyone" > http://www.internetsociety.org > > > -- > Greg Wood > Internet Society > > InternetSociety.org > office: +1-703-439-2145 > mobile: +1-703-625-3917 > ----- End forwarded message -----