Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

United States

Resources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Database_download : Everybody knows Wikipedia, not everyone knows that there are sites where you can download all of Wikipedia. It can take up less space than you'd think, especially if you don't download the images as well.
• Downloadable information on a variety of topics. https://library.kiwix.org/

Informational Resources

• List of Articles: https://www.racialequitytools.org/resources/plan/issues/media-and-technology

Action Tasks

• These are really important bills around internet usage that need to be stopped. This website helps you contact your reps about it. https://www.badinternetbills.com/

Individual Actions:

• Exercise your right to access public information by filing requests for government data/records on issues that interest you.
• Share accurate information from reliable sources on social media and call out misinformation/disinformation when you see it.
• Support independent media outlets and journalists working to investigate issues and hold power to account. Avoid spreading unverified rumors or conspiracy theories that undermine access to truthful information.

Systemic Changes:

• Advocate for robust freedom of information laws that enshrine public's right to request data from government bodies.
• Push for protections for whistleblowers and journalists exposing issues in the public interest. Support civil society groups monitoring and litigating against censorship, surveillance overreach by authorities.
• Call on technology companies to have transparent policies/practices protecting user privacy and free expression online.
• Vote for political candidates/parties with strong platforms defending civil liberties and open public records policies.
• Raise awareness about threats to internet freedom, media freedoms through campaigns, protests when rights are stifled.
• Advocate to end fake news and false information online; for content to have journalistic legal standards. This was not enforced during the creation of the internet in order to protect "small businesses". You can learn more about this from Hasan's Patriot Act episode on journalism, found on YouTube.
• Advocate for artificial intelligence to be regulated. Right now, government officials and corporations are treating AI problems as inevitable, while experts with real solutions are being ignored.

Paradigms

• If you can use your voice to silence someone else, you have violated free speech- not expressed it. This is particularly important to address propaganda that results in death.