Access to the internet In Estonia has remained the same when compared to the 2011 report. Limitation on content has slightly grown but the rights of users has improved.
Analysts observed that although Estonia is greatly advanced in communications technology and restrictions on content are practically non-existent, there still have been cases of content removal due to Estonia's privacy legislation. Most of these cases have been involved with court decisions which required that case specific comments from internet news sites and forums be deleted. In addition 636 gambling sites that didn't meet the license requirements of the duty and tariff agency were blocked.
Organizations guarding intellectual rights have removed from the YouTube hundreds of Estonian music videos in spite of the fact that some of the videos had been uploaded by the authors themselves. The report also mentions the demonstrations this past spring against ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) which drew together numerous diverse supporters of internet freedom.
Estonia gained high points from the fact that organizations of internet users and advocates of internet freedom are active in guaranteeing the right to anonymity and to secure on-line solutions.
Following Estonia, Freedom House rated the USA, Germany, Australia, Hungary and Italy in descending order. Russia stood in the 30th spot and Freedom House observed that their position would likely worsen next year. Substantial lack of internet freedom exists in Iran, Cuba, China, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Thailand. Freedom House concluded that restrictions placed on the internet by many countries have increased in the past few years and this is being done mainly without arousing attention.
One might ask why freedom of and access to the internet should be as important as basic human rights. Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet at a United Nations human rights conference in February said: “Since the internet has its own peculiar characteristics and is a powerful medium, then it's crucial that freedom of expression there not be violated. Estonia considers it important that the internet be accessible worldwide. As a member acceding to the UN Human Rights Commission, Estonia proposes that this question be seriously considered internationally.”
A group of internet experts in Estonia have proposed that some internet-related issues be widely discussed in public forums: 1. All have a right to internet access and use. This can only be limited on a case-by-case basis by court order in a democratic system to protect the rights of others. 2. Everyone has the right to create, search for, receive and send information that doesn't violate the rights, dignity and freedom of others as defined in a democracy. 3. Everyone has a right to share in the internet's cultural richness, enjoy its art and learn about advances in knowledge. The authors of intellectual property have a right to its protection in a manner that doesn't hinder access to it as proscribed by the author. Reproduction of this material strictly for personal and non-commercial use should be allowed. 4. All have a right to freedom of self-expression and should not be restricted except in the case of inciting hatred. 5. Everyone has the right of access to their personal information stored on the internet and the managers of this data have an obligation to reveal how and why this information is used. 6. Everyone has the right to be protected from harassment and identity theft on the internet. Children especially have a right to security and protection from sexual or other abuse on the internet. The state is obliged to pursue this security internationally without restricting the rights of other users. 7. Everyone, whether citizen or visitor, has to right to access and use government services electronically regardless of one's location, to participate electronically in the implementation of government policy. “E-democracy” should be fostered and public input in the creation of legislation electronically should be available and simplified. 8. Everyone has the right to secure, international e-commerce, the striking of agreements and transfer of funds. 9. Everyone has the right to secure communications. A third party has no right to intercept except with a lawful court order. 10. Everyone must be guaranteed that their internet usage is based on the aforesaid and everyone must help in the honouring of their rights and freedoms. 11. The amendment of regulations governing the internet should be done with public input, in multilateral co-operation, where participation is open to states, establishments, public organizations and internet users.
The above suggestions/demands have been drawn up by individuals in a country, Estonia, where IT usage and culture is comparatively advanced compared to most other countries. Some will seem radical and somewhat strange in nature and, not part of any public discourse. They are also, obviously, not seen as necessary by some. But in Estonia, where rights and freedoms were suppressed for two generations by Soviet rule, identifying and getting popular acceptance of them initially as guidelines early on will help to establish them as basic principles in the future.
Laas Leivat
