Click here to download a printable PDF of this resource.

Our responses to these frequently asked questions will give you some background about the movement to protect Internet freedom. You also might find it useful to print out this guide and share it with people who attend your event.

Why do we need Internet freedom?

• The open Internet is central to people’s freedom to communicate, share, advocate and innovate in the 21st century. But powerful interests want to censor free speech, block the sharing of information, hinder innovation and control how Internet users get online.
• All too often, people in power are making political decisions behind closed doors about how the Internet should operate — and they're doing this without the involvement of actual Internet users.
• The result: policies that could close down the open Internet and destroy our freedom to connect.

What is the Declaration of Internet Freedom?

• The Declaration of Internet Freedom presents a proactive vision of how to protect the open Internet over the long term.
• The Declaration outlines the basic principles of Internet freedom: expression, access, openness, innovation and privacy. Click here to view the Declaration.

Who made the Declaration?

• The Declaration was drafted by a coalition of dozens of organizations, companies and individuals — including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Press, Mozilla and the Center for Democracy & Technology — that played key roles in the fight to stop SOPA and PIPA, two anti-piracy bills that would have irrevocably harmed the open Internet.
• This coalition is diverse and post-partisan. It reflects many different viewpoints, political persuasions and geographic world views.

Why do we need to protect the Internet?

• Corporations and their allies in government have repeatedly sought to create policies that would give them control over what we do, say, read and watch online. The push to pass SOPA and PIPA was simply one of the more high-visible examples of this.
• While it’s always important to beat back these threats when they occur, we also need to be proactive to protect the free and open Internet. That means supporting positive visions like the one embodied in the Declaration of Internet Freedom.
• Keeping the Internet free and open means more jobs, more innovation, more creativity and more political engagement. It is essential to free speech around the world.

What should I do with the Declaration?

• Click here to sign it.
• Remix it! The Declaration is a public document and a launching pad for a discussion about how we can secure Internet freedom for everyone. We hope you’ll celebrate it, debate it and talk about what it means to you and your community.
• Ask your elected officials to sign on to it. Click here for information about scheduling meetings with elected officials.

Still have questions? Email us at declaration@freepress.net.