Today, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) issued its Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns and Elections. The drafting of the statement was led by the co-Chairs of the FOC’s Task Force on Internet Shutdowns, with input from Coalition Member States and the independent multistakeholder FOC Advisory Network.
The Joint Statement calls on States to refrain from shutting down the Internet and digital communications platforms amid electoral periods, as aligned with States’ international human rights obligations and commitments, including Article 25(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. In the statement, the FOC further highlights the 2021 UN General Assembly resolution on Strengthening the role of the UN in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization.
Recognising elections are key democratic milestones that help hold governments accountable and responsive to the needs of their citizens, the FOC underlines that access to information is a cornerstone of informed voting and decision-making during elections. The Coalition strongly condemns intentional measures taken by States to undermine an open, free, global and interoperable Internet through shutdowns and network disruptions before, during, and following electoral periods.
FOC Member States have previously expressed concern over the growing trend of intentional state-sponsored disruptions of access to or dissemination of information online in the Joint Statement on State Sponsored Network Disruptions, published in 2017, as well as condemned the Government of Iran’s imposition of partial and complete Internet shutdowns amidst nationwide protests over the tragic killing of Mahsa Amini in its Joint Statement on Internet Shutdowns in Iran, published in 2022.
The FOC Task Force on Internet Shutdowns was established in 2021 to improve coordination among like-minded countries, civil society and the private sector, to anticipate, address and respond to Internet shutdowns. The Task Force is currently chaired by the United Kingdom, alongside FOC Advisory Network members’ Access Now and the Global Network Initiative (GNI).
To read the full statement, visit the following link.
