Aims and Priorities About us Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents The Freedom Online Coalition is a group of governments who have committed to work together to support Internet freedom and protect fundamental human rights free expression, association, assembly, and privacy online worldwide. All Coalition Member States have pledged to uphold and advance the FOC s shared goals and values as stated in the FOC Founding Declaration, the Helsinki Declaration, and the Ottawa Agenda. PRIORITIES To support the above-stated mission statement, members agreed in the San Jose Statement and Work Plan to prioritize three primary activity areas: Strengthening coordination and cooperation among members, as well as with outside stakeholders who share the Coalition s objectives, with added focus on fostering cross-regional diplomacy through employing local networks; Shaping global norms on human rights online through joint statements; Holding periodic convenings with members and other stakeholders. ACTIVITIES The Coalition members coordinate their diplomatic efforts, share information on violations of human rights online and work together to voice concern over measures that curtail human rights online.  The Coalition also collaborates by issuing joint statements, by sharing policy approaches to complex issues, exchanging views on strategy, and planning participation in relevant forums. Additionally, the Coalition provides a platform for multistakeholder engagement, which is also recognized in its founding declaration. The Coalition has made continuous efforts to engage civil society and the private sector in a constructive dialogue on pressing issues related to Internet freedom and digital rights and has grown into a unique avenue for direct engagement with high-level government representatives. The Coalition encourages member states to engage with companies domestically to discuss human rights challenges faced by the ICT sector at the national level. The Hague 2011, Freedom Online Conferences have been held in Nairobi 2012,


Nairobi 2012, Tunis 2013, Tallinn 2014, Ulaanbaatar 2015, San Jose 2016, Berlin 2018, Accra 2020 and most recently through a virtual Conference hosted by Finland in 2021. Alongside these senior-level meetings, members of the Coalition regularly meet informally as governments and in consultation with other stakeholders at numerous conferences and intergovernmental meetings relevant to Internet freedom. These meetings serve as an opportunity to coordinate viewpoints, share relevant information, and discuss strategies to advance an open Internet in each context. The member countries have committed to working closely together in international fora to assure as much support for human rights online as possible. Through the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP), several Coalition countries support innovative solutions to the protection of bloggers and online activists in danger and provide quick support in response to a range of emerging threats to Internet freedom. DDP is managed by the Dutch NGO Hivos and invests in organisations and individuals working on solutions to digital threats faced by journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders. PROGRAM OF ACTION The Program of Action represents the efforts of the Coalition to be more forward-looking and action-oriented in its work. It builds on the progress the Coalition has made in streamlining its internal operating procedures and clarifying its primary activity areas in the  Stockholm Terms of Reference. Program of Action 2023 The Program of Action 2023 outlines the FOC s priority areas and activities for this year, and was developed by the United States as the FOC 2023 Chair, following consultations with FOC and FOC Advisory Network Members. The activities outlined below will be carried out over the course of the United States  term as Chair from January 1 to December 31, 2023.


In 2023, FOC Members are committed to strengthening and expanding the FOC, building upon previous years  work and focusing on the following three goals that are foundational to rejuvenating the Coalition: Goal 1: Bolster existing efforts where the FOC adds unique value; Goal 2: Increase ties between FOC multilateral policy development and country-level activities, including both diplomatic and development assistance activities; and Goal 3: Strengthen and expand the FOC through improved operating mechanics and outreach efforts. Promoting and protecting fundamental freedoms; Countering growing digital authoritarianism and the misuse of digital technologies; Advancing norms, principles and safeguards for Artificial Intelligence; and Strengthening digital inclusion. link. FOC Program of Action 2022 FOC Program of Action 2021 FOC Program of Action 2020 (April December) FOC Program of Action 2019 2020 FOC Program of Action 2018 FOC Program of Action 2017 FACT SHEET Freedom Online Coalition Factsheet RELATED DOCUMENTS The Founding Declaration of the Freedom Online Coalition The Ottawa Agenda Recommendations for Freedom Online Stockholm Terms of Reference of the Freedom Online Coalition Program of Action 2023


Structure About us Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) is a partnership of governments who abide by the principle that human rights apply online as they do offline, and are committed to working together to support and protect Internet freedoms worldwide. COALITION CHAIR Freedom Online Conferences in The Hague, Nairobi, Tunis , Tallinn, Ulaanbaatar, San Jose, Accra and a virtual Conference in 2021. FRIENDS OF THE CHAIR The Chair is assisted by the Friends of the Chair, a group of FOC members currently comprising  of the United States (2023 Chair of the FOC), Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. The group provides support to the current Chair to assist with the diplomatic work, the preparation of the periodic FO Conference, and ensure continuity from year to year. Every month, the Friends of the Chair holds a call to discuss Coalition activities and next steps. To view the minutes of these calls, click here. DIPLOMATIC NETWORKS As Internet freedom becomes increasingly interlinked with other international policy discussions, so does the need for coordinated action to support it. The Coalition aims to facilitate diplomatic coordination in forums where online freedoms are being discussed. Currently, there are active networks of FOC representatives in Paris, Geneva, New York and Vienna. These are complemented by ad hoc coordination around particular meetings taking place elsewhere. The networks are coordinated by local FOC representatives and serve as an opportunity to coordinate viewpoints, share relevant information, and discuss strategies to advance an open Internet in each context. ADVISORY NETWORK


ADVISORY NETWORK The FOC Advisory Network is intended to serve as a key mechanism for the Coalition to engage regularly with non-governmental Internet stakeholders. It is envisaged as a platform for multistakeholder dialogue which, independently of FOC members, provides advice to FOC governments on the work of the FOC, organizes multistakeholder collaboration around FOC activities, and explores possibilities for cooperation to advance human rights online. AD HOC WORKING GROUPS & TASK FORCES The Friends of the Chair may establish a subordinate entity, such as a working group, at any time by publishing its mandate and a call for participation on the FOC website. In 2013, the Coalition established issue-specific working groups that continued dialogue in-between formal FOC meetings. These multistakeholder working groups for 15-20 members worked towards practical outcomes on key issues of concern to Internet freedom and human rights. To view past and present FOC Working Groups and Task Forces click here. SUPPORT UNIT The FOC Support Unit is a neutral, third party secretariat that provides administrative, substantive and coordination assistance to the Coalition and its members. It maintains and strengthens the Coalition s structure, processes and institutional capacity to support diplomatic coordination, multistakeholder engagement, and the smooth running of the FOC s programmatic work. It also acts as the main point of contact for anyone wishing to know more about the work of the Coalition. Currently, this function is held by Global Partners Digital, a social purpose company based in London. FACT SHEET Freedom Online Coalition Fact Sheet RELATED DOCUMENTS The Founding Declaration of the Freedom Online Coalition The Ottawa Agenda Recommendations for Freedom Online Stockholm Terms of Reference of the Freedom Online Coalition


About us Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents DECEMBER 2011 The FOC is established at the inaugural Freedom Online Conference in The Hague, on December 8-9, 2011, where it is launched by the Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal, with keynote remarks from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Thirteen countries pledge to abide by the commitments set out in the Founding Declaration. 2011 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 In 2012, the Coalition is chaired by the government of Kenya, which hosts the second Freedom Online Conference in Nairobi, September 6-7, 2012. During the conference, FOC members agree to the Nairobi Terms of Reference and the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) fund is launched. JUNE 2013 From 2012 to 2013, the government of Tunisia holds the Chairship, and hosts the third Freedom Online Conference in Tunis, June 17-18, 2013. Discussions at the Conference result in the establishment of the three FOC multistakeholder Working Groups: An Internet Free and Secure, Digital Development and Openness, and Privacy and Transparency Online. 2013 2014 JANUARY 2014 The FOC Secretariat is established to provide administrative support to the Coalition, maximise coordination efforts among members, and facilitate internal and external communications. APRIL 2014 The Chairship of the Coalition returns to Europe, with the government of Estonia taking up the mantle from 2013 to 2014. The fourth Freedom Online Conference is held in Tallinn, April 28-29, 2014. At the Conference, FOC members adopt the Tallinn Recommendations for Freedom Online, and the official FOC website is launched.


JULY 2014 FOC Working Groups  An Internet Free and Secure  and  Privacy and Transparency Online  are formally set up through an open call for members. AUGUST 2014 The  Friends of the Chair  group is established to provide support to the FOC chair in the run-up to the Conference and ensure year to year continuity of the Coalition s diplomatic efforts. 2015 MAY 2015 From 2014 to 2015, the Coalition is chaired by the government of Mongolia, marking the first time the torch is carried by an Asian country. The fifth Freedom Online Conference is held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on May 4-5, 2015. The FOC decides to renew the mandates of the FOC Working Groups and to undergo a 5-year strategic review. JUNE 2015 The government of Costa Rica assumes the Chairship, with plans to host the Freedom Online Conference in San Jos in October 2016, bringing the Coalition s core activities to the Western Hemisphere for the first time. FOC launches its newsletter. 2016 OCTOBER 2016 On October 17-18, 2016, the sixth Freedom Online Conference takes place in San Jos, Costa Rica. During the conference the San Jos Statement, the culmination of a 16-month long strategic review, is presented to the international community. MAY 2017 On May 16, 2017, at the FOC Strategy and Coordination Meeting held adjacent to the Stockholm Internet Forum 2017, the FOC officially adopts the Stockholm Terms of Reference. 2017 2018 MARCH 2018


2017 2018 MARCH 2018 Following an open call for members and the subsequent selection process, the FOC announces the membership of the Coalition s new multistakeholder body, the FOC Advisory Network, consisting of 30 non-governmental representatives. NOVEMBER 2018 On November 28-30, 2018, the seventh Freedom Online Conference takes place in Berlin, under the German Chairship. The Conference is opened by Germany s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Heiko Maas. 2019 MARCH 2019 In 2019-2020, the Chairship of the Coalition returns to the African continent. Ghana assumes the Chairship and is the third African country to Chair the FOC. FEBRUARY 2020 On February 6-7 2020, the eighth Freedom Online Conference takes place in Accra, under the theme Achieving a Common Vision for Internet Freedom. 2020 2021 JANUARY 2021 On January 1, Finland assumes the Chairship of the Coalition for the year 2021 with plans to mark the 10-year anniversary of the FOC at the Freedom Online Conference in Helsinki on December 2-3.


Statements & Other Outputs FOC Documents Statements & Other Outputs Underpinning Documents Background Papers Statements & Other Outputs Underpinning Documents Background Papers A key priority of the Freedom Online Coalition is the shaping of global norms through joint action. The Freedom Online Coalition offers its Members an informal diplomatic space to share information about current developments, coordinate diplomatic efforts, and address challenges posed by the growing misuse of digital technologies and threats to human rights online. This fast and direct information sharing allows the Coalition to react to recent developments and coordinate in an informal setting among like-minded governments who are committed to supporting Internet freedom, and protecting and advancing human rights both online and offline, as outlined in the FOC s underpinning documents. The Coalition may issue thematic or country-specific statements, or other outputs, representing the views of either the full Coalition, or delivered on behalf of specific members, in case consensus is not reached. By reacting jointly to emerging issues, Coalition Members are able to increase the visibility of their response and the impact of their statements. To view documents available in Arabic, French, German, Russian, and Spanish please click on the links below: Arabic FOC Joint Statements (Arabic) 2020 FOC Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online (FOC) Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom


Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom (FOC) -19 Download Statement 2019 FOC Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online (FOC) Download Statement 2017 FOC Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Government on State-Sponsored Network Disruptions (FOC) Download Statement French (Francaise) FOC Joint Statements (French) 2020 FOC Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online Dclaration commune de la Coalition pour la libert en ligne sur la diffusion de dsinformation en ligne Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Dclaration commune de la Coalition pour la libert en ligne sur l Intelligence Artificielle et les Droits de la Personne Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom Dclaration commune de la Coalition pour la libert en ligne sur la COVID-19 et la libert sur Internet Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion


Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion Dclaration commune de la Coalition pour la libert en ligne sur l inclusion numrique Download Statement 2019 FOC Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online Dclaration commune de la Coalition pour la libert en ligne sur la dfense de l espace civique en ligne Download Statement German (Deutsch) FOC Joint Statements (German) 2020 FOC Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online Gemeinsame Erklarung der FOC uber die Verbreitung von Desinformation im Internet Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights Gemeinsame Erklarung der FOC uber kunstliche Intelligenz und Menschenrechte Download Statement 2017 FOC Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Government on State-Sponsored Network Disruptions Gemeinsame Erklarung der FOC uber staatlich gesteuerte Netzstarungen Download Statement Russian (P) FOC Joint Statements (Russian) 2020 FOC Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online FOC Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights FOC Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom FOC COVID-19 Download Statement 2019 FOC Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online


Download Statement 2019 FOC Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online FOC Download Statement 2017 FOC Joint Statement and Accompanying Good Practices for Government on State-Sponsored Network Disruptions FOC Download Statement Spanish (Espanol) FOC Joint Statements (Spanish) 2020 FOC Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online Declaracion conjunta de la FOC sobre la difusion de desinformacion en Internet Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom Declaracion conjunta de la FOC sobre la COVID-19 y la libertad en Internet Download Statement FOC Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion Declaracion conjunta de la FOC sobre la inclusion digital Download Statement 2019 FOC Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online Declaracion conjunta de la FOC sobre la defensa del espacio civico en Internet Download Statement 2023 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON GOVERNMENT USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES In March 2023, the Freedom Online Coalition published the consensus-based  Guiding Principles on Government Use of Surveillance Technologies , which are voluntary and non-legally binding Guiding Principles, illustrating how governments can maintain their commitment to respect and protect democratic principles, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, consistent with their international obligations and commitments, in the responsible use of surveillance technology. DOWNLOAD 2022 JOINT STATEMENT ON INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN IRAN


2022 JOINT STATEMENT ON INTERNET SHUTDOWNS IN IRAN In October 2022, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) issued a Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns in Iran. With the United States as the penholder, the statement is endorsed by all 34 member states of the FOC, and strongly condemns the measures undertaken by Iran to restrict access to the Internet following the nationwide protests over the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini. The FOC calls upon Iranian authorities to refrain from imposing partial or complete Internet shutdowns and blocking or filtering of services and to respect Iran s international human rights obligations, including under articles 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. DOWNLOAD 2021 JOINT STATEMENT ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ONLINE PRESENTED AT THE 47TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL JULY 2021 Finland, Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition for 2021, issued a statement on behalf of the FOC during the interactive dialogue on the annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan. The statement highlights the Coalition s concern with the growing trend of state-sponsored actions to restrict access to online content and obstruct free expression online and offline. This includes the use of arbitrary or unlawful surveillance practices, partial or complete Internet shutdowns as well as online content regulation and censorship, in violation of states  obligations under international human rights law. DOWNLOAD 2020 JOINT STATEMENT ON SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION ONLINE NOVEMBER 2020


JOINT STATEMENT ON SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION ONLINE NOVEMBER 2020 In its Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) expresses deep concern about the growing scope and sophistication of disinformation, which has been employed by state and non-state actors with political, ideological, commercial or other motives. To address this trend, the FOC calls upon governments to refrain from conducting and sponsoring disinformation campaigns, and urges all stakeholders to take active steps to address the issue in a manner that respects human rights, democracy and the rule of law, including acknowledging, in particular the specific targeting of and impact on women and persons belonging to minorities. The development of this statement was led by the governments of Finland and the United Kingdom with input from other Coalition member states and the multi-stakeholder FOC Advisory Network. ENGLISH | FRENCH | ARABIC | RUSSIAN | SPANISH | GERMAN JOINT STATEMENT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS NOVEMBER 2020 The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a joint statement on artificial intelligence (AI) and human rights. While the FOC acknowledges that AI systems offer unprecedented opportunities for human development and innovation, the Coalition expresses concern over the documented and ongoing use of AI systems towards repressive and authoritarian purposes, including through facial recognition technology and automated content moderation, which can enable and scale human rights violations and abuses. The FOC calls upon governments to oppose and refrain from the use of AI systems for repressive and authoritarian purposes; to ensure the design, development and use of AI systems in the public sector is conducted in accordance with international human rights obligations; and to promote, where appropriate, support efforts by the private sector, civil society, and all other relevant stakeholders to increase transparency and accountability related to the use of AI systems.


The statement was developed by a multistakeholder taskforce of governments, civil society, academia and private sector representatives, led by the government of Canada. It was launched at the 2020 Internet Governance Forum, on Thursday 5 November 2020. DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH | FRENCH | RUSSIAN | GERMAN JOINT STATEMENT ON COVID-19 AND INTERNET FREEDOM MAY 2020 The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a joint statement on COVID-19 and Internet freedom. In the statement, FOC reaffirms its commitment to promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to working together to support Internet freedom for individuals worldwide including the freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, as well as privacy rights online. FOC expresses concern about the human rights implications of certain measures introduced by governments in response to the COVID-19 crisis, such as the use of arbitrary or unlawful surveillance practices, network shutdowns and censorship. FOC calls upon governments worldwide to refrain from adopting or implementing laws and policies that may negatively affect the enjoyment of human rights, to promote an enabling environment for free expression and access to information, and take appropriate action to address Internet shutdowns, digital divides and spread of disinformation online. The development of the statement was led by the governments of the United States, Canada and Finland with input from other FOC member states and the multistakeholder FOC Advisory Network. DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH | FRENCH | ARABIC | RUSSIAN | SPANISH JOINT STATEMENT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT OF CYBERSECURITY LAWS, PRACTICES AND POLICIES FEBRUARY 2020 The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a new joint statement on the human rights impact of cybersecurity laws, policies and practices.


The statement reaffirms and builds on commitments the FOC made in 2016, while elaborating further on the human rights based approach to cybersecurity as a basis for strengthening cybersecurity, promoting stability in cyberspace, and promoting emerging technologies that are trust-worthy whilst ensuring the protection of all online users. It contains recommendations for national cybersecurity practices and international cybersecurity processes and is based on recommendations developed by the multistakeholder FOC working group. The statement was developed by a multistakeholder task force of governments, civil society and private sector representatives, led by the governments of Estonia and the Netherlands. It was launched at the 2020 Freedom Online Conference in Accra, on Friday 7 February 2020. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT ON DIGITAL INCLUSION FEBRUARY 2020 In its  Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion , the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) expresses concern over the persistence of digital divides, and support for measures to promote digital inclusion. The joint statement was launched by Germany and Ghana at the 2020 Freedom Online Conference in Accra, on Thursday 6 February 2020. On Thursday 5 March 2020, Germany delivered a statement on digital inclusion (DOWNLOAD) on behalf of Members of the FOC during the general debate of the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The statement reaffirms the FOC s commitment to promoting digital inclusion and calls upon governments to implement long-lasting measures to address access and use of the Internet in order to address the multiple digital divides, including addressing underlying causes. DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH | FRENCH | SPANISH 2019 JOINT STATEMENT FOR THE CLUSTERED INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION JUNE 2019


JUNE 2019 On Tuesday 25 June, Estonia delivered a statement on behalf of Members of the FOC during the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva for the Clustered Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The statement expressed concern about shrinking civic and democratic spaces online as a result of State-sponsored obstruction of free expression, peaceful assembly, and free association. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT ON DEFENDING CIVIC SPACE ONLINE MAY 2019 In its  Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online , the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) expresses concern about shrinking civic and democratic spaces online as a result of state-sponsored obstruction of free expression, peaceful assembly, and free association. Within the statement, the FOC recognizes the Internet as an invaluable tool for human rights defenders and civil society and notes that civic space online is integral to a vibrant civic space offline. It further recognizes that state-sponsored obstruction of these rights is a direct challenge to the FOC s goal of protecting and promoting both the exercise of human rights online and an open and interoperable Internet. The statement highlights that a robust and protected civic space forms the cornerstone of accountable, inclusive, and responsive democratic societies. As part of the statement, the FOC issues a call to action for all governments to promote a vibrant and resilient civic space, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law, consistent with obligations under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. The statement was lead by Canada and developed with input from Coalition Members and the FOC s Advisory Network. DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH | FRENCH | ARABIC | RUSSIAN | SPANISH 2018


2018 JOINT STATEMENT ON THE ITU PLENIPOTENTIARY 2018 OCTOBER 2018 Following the first submission of proactive advice of the Freedom Online Coalition s (FOC) Advisory Network, the FOC has issued a Joint Statement on the International Telecommunications Union s (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2018, which takes place from 29 October 16 November. Within the statement, the FOC recognizes the importance of accountability, transparency and multistakeholder engagement at forums where international public policy issues are discussed, such as the ITU. It additionally recognizes the importance of engaging non-governmental human rights experts in national processes for the 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference. The statement encourages governments that are not members of the FOC to also consider enhancing their processes by engaging non-governmental human rights experts. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT ON INTERNET CENSORSHIP MAY 2018 As part of its efforts to promote global norms that seek to prevent and limit state-sponsored restrictions to human rights online, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a Joint Statement on Internet Censorship. In it, the FOC expresses deep concern about the growing trend of state-sponsored Internet censorship, which challenges Coalition s goals of protecting and promoting human rights online and protecting and extending an open and interoperable Internet, as affirmed in the FOC s Tallinn Agenda. To address this trend, the FOC calls upon governments to refrain from content restrictions on the Internet that violate international human rights law and to create an enabling environment for free expression and access to information online.


Furthermore, it calls upon all stakeholders to work together toward a shared approach firmly grounded in respect for international human rights law that aims to evaluate, respond to, and if necessary, remedy state-sponsored efforts to restrict, moderate, or manipulate online content, and that calls for greater transparency of private Internet companies  mediation, automation, and remedial policies. The FOC encourages all Internet stakeholders to take note of and endorse this statement, and invites states that support an open and interoperable Internet to apply to join the FOC. DOWNLOAD 2017 JOINT STATEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING GOOD PRACTICES FOR GOVERNMENT ON STATE-SPONSORED NETWORK DISRUPTIONS MARCH 2017 The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the growing trend of intentional state-sponsored disruptions of access to or dissemination of information online. These disruptions challenge the FOC s goal of protecting and extending an open and interoperable Internet, as affirmed in the Tallinn Agenda. In addition to the joint statement, the Coalition has issued an accompanying document which outlines good practices, and encourages all governments to refrain from network disruptions which stifle exercise of the freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly online, while bolstering multi-stakeholder, participatory and inclusive Internet governance, strengthening Internet infrastructure, and improving transparency. DOWNLOAD: ENGLISH | ARABIC | RUSSIAN | GERMAN JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FREEDOM ONLINE COALITION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND THE WORK OF THE UN GGE FEBRUARY 2017 GGE experts to build on the stance of previous GGE reports and emphasize the central importance of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for the maintenance of international peace and security. DOWNLOAD 2016


of international peace and security. DOWNLOAD 2016 FREEDOM ONLINE COALITION STATEMENT ON A HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO CYBERSECURITY POLICY MAKING OCTOBER 2016 The Freedom Online Coalition applauds the direction of the work undertaken by Working Group 1, and hopes that this will work towards the realisation of a paradigm shift in cybersecurity policy making that is human rights respecting by design. DOWNLOAD FREEDOM ONLINE COALITION STRATEGIC REVIEW WORKING GROUP JOINT STATEMENT ON INDEPENDENT REPORT BY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MAY 2016 The Freedom Online Coalition s Strategic Review Working Group issued this statement on the report released on 4th May 2016 by the University of Pennsylvania and authored by Ms. Susan Morgan based on her external assessment of the Coalition s membership, governance and structure, efforts and activities, and funding. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT ON CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ONLINE MARCH 2016 The Freedom Online Coalition has issued a statement calling upon governments to halt measures designed, in contravention of states  international human rights obligations, to restrict the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly online, as stated in the Tallinn Agenda. DOWNLOAD 2015 JOINT STATEMENT ON RESTRICTIVE DATA LOCALISATION LAWS SUMMER 2015 The Freedom Online Coalition issued a statement expressing its concern regarding the use of privacy and security considerations by authoritarian governments as a pretext to force Internet companies and service providers to store user data on servers physically located within their domestic borders. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FOC PRESENTED AT THE 29TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL JULY 2015


JULY 2015 On behalf of members, the Ambassador of Mongolia presented a Joint Statement on Online Freedoms at the 29th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, June 22 under Agenda Item 3, General Debate. DOWNLOAD 2014 JOINT STATEMENT ON THE USE AND EXPORT OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY OCTOBER 2014 Recently, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has been made aware of and has become increasingly concerned by the arbitrary or even unlawful use of surveillance technology in many countries, in clear breach of international human rights law.  While welcome steps are being taken to update international trade agreements such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, greater multi-stakeholder efforts from government and private companies are necessary. To this end the FOC governments are issuing a statement calling on governments and businesses to uphold their human rights obligations in this respect, as well as reaffirming their own commitment in their practice of upholding those same obligations. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT ON RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA AUGUST 2014 The Freedom Online Coalition issued a statement expressing its increasing concern at the violation of human rights principles and law involved by, for example, the wholesale blocking of social media sites, and the use of third-parties to restrict access to content in violation of international law. DOWNLOAD 2013 JOINT STATEMENT ON THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM S DECREE 72 AUGUST 2013 In response to the announcement of Vietnam s new Decree 72, which imposed further restrictions on the way the Internet is accessed and used in Vietnam, The Freedom Online Coalition voiced deep concern and calls on the Vietnamese government to revise Decree 72 so that it promotes the ability of individuals to exercise their human rights, including the right to freedom of expression. DOWNLOAD


DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FOC AT THE OSCE HUMAN DIMENSION IMPLEMENTATION MEETING FEBRUARY 2013On behalf of the Freedom Online Coalition, the Permanent Representative of Estonia, Mrs Mariin Ratnik, expressed concern that the world continues to witness restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression and other fundamental freedoms online, including within social media platforms. The FOC drew special attention to the practices in some OSCE member states in this regard. The members of the FOC believe that it is time to counter the trend of increased controls over internet content and underlined the importance of safeguarding and supporting media pluralism. DOWNLOAD JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FOC TO THE OSCE AT THE INTERNET 2013 CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 2013 The FOC expresses sincere gratitude to the Representative on Freedom of the Media, Ms Dunja Mijatovi, and her team for having organized an OSCE conference which deals with the important topic of Internet freedom. At the same time the FOC noted with concern the continued harassment, intimidation and killings of journalists, civil society members and other professionals working online, as well as illicit monitoring, filtering and hacking, and urges all participating states to fully implement the common commitments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. DOWNLOAD


Members About us Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents Aims and Priorities Members Structure History FOC Documents Today, 37 governments are part of the Freedom Online Coalition: Argentina Australia Austria Canada Chile Costa Rica The Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Ghana Ireland Iceland Italy Japan Kenya Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg The Maldives Mexico Moldova Mongolia The Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tunisia United Kingdom United States of America FOC members are countries committed to protecting and promoting online freedoms domestically and abroad. FOC members agree to work together through joint FOC activities and to adhere to existing FOC commitments as stated in the Coalition s Founding Declaration, Stockholm Terms of Reference and the Tallinn Agenda. For more information about the Coalition and its principles, please see the FOC factsheet. Since its founding Conference, the FOC has grown from 15 members in 2011 to 37 today. As the most recent member, Iceland, joined the Coalition in 2023. The Chair of the Coalition rotates among member states on an annual basis. The 2023 Chair of the Coalition is the United States. The Chair is assisted by the Friends of the Chair, a group of FOC members currently comprising of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Friends of the Chair may at its discretion offer  Observer  status, as outlined in the Stockholm Terms of Reference (III.c.). Current FOC Observers include: Taiwan.