Brett Solomon

Brett Solomon will speak next at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions, discussing socially disruptive technology and its impact upon digital rights and users at risk.

This year, major data breaches at corporations and within government have spurred officials to do something ?— anything at all ?— to fix online security. We’ve seen a raft of so-called cybersecurity legislation introduced around the world that creates more problems than it solves, trampling upon privacy and human rights in the name of “cyber.” Access has been involved in a number of those fights around the world.

Brett Solomon, executive director of Access, explores strategies for working within corporate accountability structures to defend human rights in the digital age.

Access is currently in the nascent stages of implementing a three year subgranting project. This project will allow us to more directly support the critical work of civil society actors working on digital rights.

Access Executive Director Brett Solomon explains that, contrary to what some lawmakers have claimed, the use of strong encryption makes everyone safer.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed into law the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015, which bans bulk collection under some U.S. surveillance powers, increases transparency, and improves accountability of surveillance agencies and oversight mechanisms. The law is far from perfect, but its passage is the first step in a long journey toward comprehensive surveillance reform that protects the human rights of all people around the world.

The island nation of Nauru may be tiny — only 21 square kilometers (8.5 square miles) — but what is happening there should reverberate around the world. Over the past few weeks, the government of Nauru has imposed an internet shutdown, blocking people from using certain sites on the pretext of protecting them from online pornography. At the same time, it has passed a dangerous new provision in its criminal code that could restrict free expression. These developments are putting people who care about human rights on high alert.

The internet has enabled significant advances in health, education, and creativity, and it is now essential to fully realize human rights. We wouldn’t allow a government to shut off water to an entire city. It’s time we say no to internet shutdowns.

Legislators tend to respond swiftly to cyber attacks and terrorism with bold statements and hastily written bills — but as we’ve seen, bad laws can stay on the books for decades. These issues are far too important to rush into law. Cyber security should not be used as an excuse to trample upon our digital rights or expand government surveillance, in the U.S., in Europe, or anywhere else in the world.

As digital rights advocates around the world celebrate the victory for Net Neutrality in the U.S., we should remember that the fight in Europe is heating up. Right now decision makers in Brussels are negotiating over a crucial text to preserve the open internet, and it’s time for them to make the right decision and pass Net Neutrality into law. The European Parliament holds the key.