I believe that the open, decentralized, user-controlled, and shared resource
nature of the Internet creates unprecedented opportunities for enhancing
democracy and civil liberties. As President, I will co-operate with
institutions and companies that are seeking public policy solutions
that preserve these unique qualities and thereby maximize the
democratizing potential of the Internet...
...Here I am, sharing with you my assessment of and belief in
America's future. I'm answering your questions whenever you like,
wherever you are, even though I'm probably hundreds of miles away
perhaps even sleeping as you make inquiries at 4 am. Isn't that
amazing? You can obtain direct access to a presidential candidate,
independent of campaign speech, debate, and convention schedules.
Well, it's not merely an amazing novelty,it's the beginning of a
much more flexible, more communicative, more democratic and thus
better world. A fundamental goal of our mission is seeking public
policy solutions that preserve these unique qualities and thereby
maximize the democratizing potential of the Internet.
As President, I will support any initiative that conceptualizes,
develops, and implements public policies to preserve and enhance
free expression, privacy, open access, and other democratic values
in the new and increasingly integrated communications medium. We
will pursue research and public policy development in a
consensus-building process based on convening and operating
broad-based working groups composed of public interest and
commercial representatives of divergent views to explore solutions
to critical policy issues.
Every individual, group or institution has their own policy
position in the United States and globally, be it through public
policy advocacy, with the Internet user community organizing online
grassroots and public education campaigns, litigation, as well as
through the development of technology standards and online
information resources.
As President, I will champion the right of individuals to
communicate, publish and obtain an unprecedented array of
information on the Internet. We oppose governmental censorship and
other threats to the free flow of information. As an effective
alternative to government controls, we believe that a diversity of
technology tools can empower families and individuals on the
Internet to communicate freely and make choices about the
information they receive.
Of course, we have to do something about the protection of
privacy. A lot of American companies are working for individual
privacy on the Internet. I believe that maintaining privacy and
freedom of association on the Internet requires the development of
public policies and technology tools that give people the ability to
take control of their personal information online and make informed,
meaningful choices about the collection, use and disclosure of
personal information.
As President, I will contribute to those institutions that
challenge invasive government policies, those who are working for
strong privacy protections against surveillance on the Internet. I
believe that the content of communications, stored information, and
transactional data deserve strong legal protection against
unreasonable government search and seizure. Protections against
government searches should extend to the network, as well as to the
home. I will advocate stronger legal standards for controlling
government surveillance in order to keep pace with the growing
exposure of personal information in communications media.
Every American should have affordable access to the Internet. I
believe that broad access to and use of the Internet enables greater
citizen participation in democracy, promotes a diversity of views,
and enhances civil society. Some organisations work for public
policy solutions that maximize, in a just and equitable fashion, the
unique openness and accessibility of the Internet and preserve its
vision as it evolves with ever more powerful broadband technologies.
And I will be the one they can count on.
I regard it as my mission to enhance citizen participation in the
democratic process through the use of the Internet, and to ensure
the voice of Internet users is heard in critical public policy
debates about the Internet. I believe that the Internet provides
unique and effective means of promoting democracy and of
facilitating grassroots organizing and public education. As
President, I will support using the Internet to afford citizens the
immediate, broad access to government information necessary to the
full practice of democracy.
So let us seize this opportunity by promoting democratic values
and constitutional liberties in the digital age. Let us seek
practical solutions to enhance free expression and privacy in global
communications technologies. Let us build consensus among all
parties interested in the future of the Internet and other new
communications media. Let us benefit from the democratic potential
of today's open, decentralized global web. Together - on the
Internet.
Thank you very much. May God bless each and every one of you!
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