Future of free fl ow of information in the context of ACTA and IRT projects Cover Image

Losy swobodnego przepływu informacji w kontekście projektów ACTA oraz ITR
Future of free fl ow of information in the context of ACTA and IRT projects

Author(s): Michał Olędzki
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Communication studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: flow of information; ACTA; IRT; new media

Summary/Abstract: The idea of free flow of information, for which after II world war developed democratic countries fought on the United Nations and UNESCO forums, was primarily based on the American concept of freedom of the press and the belief that the source of human progress is unrestricted activity of individuals and free competition, uninhibited by state authorities intervention. Today, with the Internet we finally have free access to information and freedom of passing it on to others. However, frequently there are more cases of limiting access to certain information on the network, not only from authoritarian countries, but also democratic. Under the legal names of projects such as European Commissions’ ACTA or ITR (International Telecommunications Regulations) operated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU – the specialized organization of United Nations) there are smuggled provisions that main goal is to better control the Internet, and thus the flow of information in the world. Citizens of many countries recognize this as a desire to limit their rights and freedoms, so they loudly oppose such regulations. There is a war for control over information. This war has already started decades ago and on its course not only politicians, big business and the media have an impact, but also to the fore come Internet users – citizens of free countries.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 2 (218)
  • Page Range: 337-354
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish