Finland, Chair of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) 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.
