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FACTBOX-Britain's proposed cyberspace principles

by Julie Mollins | @jmollins | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 2 November 2011 13:19 GMT

British foreign secretary underlines need for everyone to have cyberspace access

LONDON (AlertNet) - The world must work towards establishing a broad agreement about norms of behaviour in cyberspace with the same intensity as it tackles efforts to eradicate global poverty or climate change, Britain’s foreign secretary said on Monday.

"We suggested these principles as a starting point in efforts to reach a broad agreement about behaviour in cyberspace," William Hague said in his address to 900 delegates from 60 countries at the London Conference on Cyberspace.

Following are the principles laid out by Hague:

* The need for governments to act proportionately in cyberspace and in accordance with international law

* The need for everyone to have the ability to access cyberspace, including the skills, technology, confidence and opportunity to do so

* The need for users of cyberspace to show tolerance and respect for diversity of language, culture and ideas

* Ensuring that cyberspace remains open to innovation and the free flow of ideas, information and expression

* The need to respect individual rights of privacy and to provide proper protection to intellectual property

* The need for us all to work together collectively to tackle the threat from criminals acting online

* The promotion of a competitive environment which ensures a fair return on investment in networks, services and content

(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)

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