It's happening right now. Governments at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are meeting to decide the future of the internet, and it's beginning to shift in our favor.
After much pressure the ITU has just decided to open up some of the process to the public at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), being held in Dubai until Dec. 14. Congratulations - this is a breakthrough.
Our pressure is working, but now we come to a pivotal moment. That's why we need your help.
With proposals being taken up that could make the internet less open, more costly, and much slower, Access is on the ground in Dubai to represent the digital rights for users around the world. If these dangerous proposals go through, the interests of billions of global internet users would be trumped by governments and large telecoms.
The next ten days are critical to the future of the internet. Here are some ways you can pitch in:
- Get informed by watching our ITU video (over 100,000 views already!) and take action by signing the petition, which we will deliver in Dubai: https://www.whatistheitu.org
- Click here to start tweeting: https://www.accessnow.org/tweet-wcit12. And be sure to follow @accessnow for updates.
- Read the key proposals at the WCIT: https://www.accessnow.org/wcit-what-to-watch. Or check out our op-ed in Wired Magazine: http://www.wired.com/opinion/2012/11/you-cant-make-decisions-about-the-open-internet-behind-closed-doors/
- Watch the live proceedings at WCIT in Dubai: http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/webcast.aspx
- If you are an organization, sign the Unity Statement to Protect Global Internet Freedom: http://www.protectinternetfreedom.net/
- Forward this alert to everyone you know and encourage them to take action to protect the internet.
We can win this, but we're going to need you over the next ten days. So keep an eye out for alerts and actions to protect your internet. Together, our voices will prove to be an invaluable tool. We're going to use the internet to protect it.
For an open internet,
Mike Rispoli
Access Campaign Team
Access is an international NGO that promotes open access to the internet as a means to free, full and safe participation in society and the realization of human rights. To help protect the internet around the world, you can donate to Access. 