Internet Freedom

In today’s technological era, the internet has become a key platform for information sharing, civic mobilization, and promoting human rights. Yet across the globe, governments are restricting internet freedom and freedom of expression online using a variety of methods, including national security regulations, vague language in internet laws, broad investigatory powers, excessive bail, harsh sentences, defamation and libel claims, content restriction and surveillance. In response, ABA ROLI partnered with local civil society organizations (CSOs) and experts in 18 countries (11 in Europe and Eurasia and seven in Asia) to build the capacity of lawyers and CSOs to foster freedom of expression, association and flow of information on the internet.

With support from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, ABA ROLI had two programs to advance legal protections and frameworks to protect internet freedom in Asia and Eastern Europe and Eurasia.