Shaping Global Norms
Our work
In addition to coordinating participation in relevant fora, the FOC also acts as a platform to bring worrying or positive developments related to online freedoms to the attention of its members, and issue joint reactions and commentary.
Through efficient and direct information sharing, the Coalition can react quickly to recent developments and deliberate them in an informal setting among governments who are governed by the same principles of Internet freedom.
In many cases, this allows the Coalition to react together by issuing Joint Statements and press releases, representing the views of either the whole Coalition or specific members.
By reacting jointly to emerging issues, Coalition members are able increase the visibility of their response and the impact of their statements.
Any member of the Coalition can initiate a process towards developing a joint FOC statement. The FOC has developed more than 20 joint statements, with most recent examples including:
The Joint Statement on Spread of Disinformation Online (2020)
The Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights (2020)
The Joint Statement on COVID-19 and Internet Freedom (2020)
The Joint Statement on the Human Rights Impact of Cybersecurity Laws, Practices and Policies (2020)
The Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion (2020)
The Joint Statement on Defending Civic Space Online (2019)
Apart from their broader normative value, Joint Statements have proven to be a useful tool for individual FOC members to frame their own positions, inform diplomatic interventions, and, in some cases, foster improved inter-ministerial coordination.
To view all FOC Joint Statements, please click here.
