A ‘Magna Carta for the digital age’ has been drawn up with voters indicating a strong concern around government surveillance and censorship.
The top three clauses demanded that companies would not be allowed to control the internet, have governments restrict access to information, and freedom of speech would be assured and would be free from government censors in all countries.
The top 10 shows a contrast between the make-up of the original clauses picked by schools, with the top ten indicating a stronger emphasis on safety and privacy on the Internet.
Over 30,000 voters chose from 500 clauses to decide that the top 10, which included clauses such as:
– The Web we want will not allow any kind of government censorship
– The Web we want will be available for all those who wish to use it
– The Web we want will be free from censorship and mass surveillance
– The Web we want will allow equal access to knowledge, information and current news worldwide
– The Web we want will have freedom of speech
– The Web we want will not be censored by the government
– The Web we want will not sell our personal information and preferences for money, and will make it clearer if the company/Website intends to do so.
Students took part in debates and workshops by using My Digital Rights teaching resources, with students who participated in workshops leaning towards safety and protecting young people from bulling (29%) over freedom of speech or freedom of the internet (17%).
Ed Macnair, CEO, CensorNet, said: "The modern day digital magna carta is something that the infosecurity industry must take seriously. It is this generation’s responsibility to set the best practice parameters for behaviour, expectation and protection when using the internet to provide the ‘digital utopia’ the next generation are calling for."
"Involving the next generation of doctors, lawyers and teachers is critical to not only ensuring consistent education and awareness at every stage of their development, but to make sure that solutions will truly adhere to wider ‘e-safety’ requirements."
"I am astonished how many kids and students have participated in nominating the clauses for the digital Magna Carta as it shows that they really do care about this subject."
"We fully support the creation of this new digital bill of rights and believe that the infosecurity industry should take the content of the top 10 as the starting point for all future product development."
The project was jointly created by the British Library, World Wide Web Foundation, Southbank Centre and the British Council as part of the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and 25th anniversary of the web.
The top 10 will remain online with public voting remaining open in order to represent the evolving views of people regards the web.
