Equal Before the Internet IFLA STATEMENT OFFERS FIRM SUPPORT FOR NET NEUTRALITY

Net neutrality : a major concern for libraries NEUTRALITY FREEDOM OF A2I DIVERSITY OF INFORMATION PRIVACY NON-DISCRIMINATION FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Freedom of access to Information (1) IFLA and libraries guarantee the Universal right to seek, impart and receive information and ideas, and obtain equitable access to all content (i.e. balanced and diverse information without unnecessary barriers) THIS CORE MISSION IS CHALLENGED IN SEVERAL WAYS

Freedom of Access to Information (2) In order to fulfil their mission, libraries use the internet as Information provider Access to internet provider Respecting two main principles Non discrimination Privacy

Freedom of Access to Information (2) In order to fulfil their mission, libraries use the internet as Information provider Access to internet provider Respecting two main principles Non discrimination Privacy

Freedom of Access to Information (3) => Net neutrality is a necessary condition for the respect of the universal right to access to all information for all people

IFLA and Libraries defend, as a major condition for democracy : the universal right to freedom of expression (Article 19 Universal Declaration of human Rights) A NEUTRAL INTERNET HAS ALLOWED THAT RIGHT TO BE EXERTED AS NEVER BEFORE Freedom of expression (1)

Freedom of expression (2) Before the internet Monographies Encyclopedias Newspapers TV Grey literature Journals Radio Experts Politicians Professionals Economic actors Academics Journalists Anyone People ??

Freedom of expression (3) With a neutral internet Newspapers Comments Blogs Social media Encyclopedias Videos Radio Journals Monographies TV Grey literature Experts Politicians Profesionnals Economic actors Academics Journalists Anyone People

Freedom of expression (4) With a prioritized internet Big commercial actors Rich political parties Any other rich and powerful person / institution All the others Fast Content Slow Content People ???

Freedom of expression (5) => Net neutrality is a necessary condition for the respect of the universal right to freedom of expression and information diversity in the information society

Action of IFLA IFLA and libraries have to take position. => IFLA is releasing a statement today that is strongly backing the principle of net neutrality Participate in the global debateProvide guidance to professionals

Content of the statement ● Definitions of Net neutrality and zero-rating ● Freedom of Access to Information : Avoiding Information Monopolies ● Freedom of Expression : Ensuring Information Diversity ● Recommendations ● References

Recommendations (1) ● Participate in policy discussions regarding NN ● Make clear their support for an open Internet ● Train users ● Verify the practices of local ISPs ● Advocate for a legal guarantee of NN ● Call for rules obliging ISPs to be transparent

Recommendations (2) ● Advocate for a ban on zero-rating mobile contracts ● Advocate for reducing the cost of access to the full breadth of the Internet worldwide, including through well-supported public access in libraries ● Advocate for public investments in infrastructure and alternative Internet access strategies such as community networks

Why is the statement radical ? ● IG issues = complex, multistakeholder and multidimensional ● Each actor must defend radically its specific values and position in order to take its full place in the debate ● It is the role of public services, NGOs and civil society to bring in further considerations than just economic ones

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