The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) is pleased to welcome Iceland as its 37th Member.
Over recent years, Iceland has made significant progress towards advancing digital inclusion domestically, ensuring quality Internet access throughout the country, and in conjunction with an effective and supportive legal framework, facilitating the wide enjoyment of human rights and Internet freedom. Iceland’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights online is further underscored through the Icelandic National Cybersecurity Strategy, which outlines the aim of ensuring Icelanders can ‘enjoy the most secure environment on the Internet as possible, which they can trust and where human rights and personal data protection are respected’.
Iceland is an active participant in various forums and human rights bodies, and has supported efforts to bring attention to topics concerning human rights violations occurring globally. In line with the FOC’s mission and values, Iceland has supported efforts in multilateral fora to advance Internet freedom, including the UN Human Rights Council resolutions ‘Freedom of Opinion and Expression’ and ‘The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age’.
Iceland has shown a clear commitment to intergovernmental and multistakeholder initiatives in assuming the chairmanship of the Council of Europe in 2022, prioritising the advancement of human rights and democratic values. Iceland has endorsed the International Partnership on Information and Democracy, and has also reinforced its commitment to promote democratic principles and human rights through the Summit for Democracy. As a Member of the Media Freedom Coalition, Iceland is also a signatory to the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, highlighting its commitment to promoting media freedom and the protection of journalists.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Thordís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, said:
“Iceland is committed to the promotion and defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including internet freedoms. We are honoured to become a member of the Freedom Online Coalition, gaining partners in the protection of the online space. The human rights we fight for – including freedom of speech, freedom of association, assembly and privacy – should be respected online as well as offline.”
As the Coalition’s 37th Member, Iceland has pledged to uphold and advance the Coalition’s shared goals and values as stated in the FOC Founding Declaration, the Helsinki Declaration, and the Ottawa Agenda. Iceland will become an active participant in the FOC’s various bodies and diplomatic networks to promote the values of democracy and human rights online domestically and abroad.
The FOC looks forward to working collaboratively with Iceland to promote a rules-based, democratic, and inclusive world where human rights and fundamental freedoms are upheld in online and digital contexts.
To read more about the Freedom Online Coalition’s priorities and ongoing activities, visit www.freedomonlinecoalition.com/about-us/.
