Parliaments around the world are acknowledging the serious nature of internet repression and the role that Governments and large companies play in this human rights abuse.

The European Parliament has passed a proposal that views internet censorship by national governments as a barrier to trade with the EU. If passed by the European Council and adopted as a European Union (EU) law, the proposal could then impact on EU trade negotiations with governments such as China, Vietnam, Egypt and Iran to name just a few.

Dutch Member of Parliament , Jules Maaten who introduced the proposal and is suggesting that the EU adopt a Bill such as the US Global Online Freedom Act 2007 has also stated that; “the EU will now have to make supporting journalists and cyber dissidents a priority. Free speech must remain the basis of the Internet." The Acts would ban US and EU companies from providing information that would enable users to be identified by authorities.

In November 2007 a hearing the EU held the "Censorship & cyber-dissidents. Freedom on the internet in authoritarian states" hearing at which NGO's, individuals and Governments were represented. This hearing gave rise to the March 2008 proposal and was one where cyber dissidents from around the world got to share their stories and Governments could hear first hand what company and state policies were doing to people's universal right to freedom of expression through this apparent new frontier of information sharing.

It is certainly heartening to hear statements like this from official halls around the world. I hope that this means there will be pressure on China from many angles to release those journalists, cyber dissidents, peaceful bloggers currently serving prison sentences in China.

Now, if only internet users in China could read these articles and know that there is support out there in the real and cyber worlds.

Amnesty piece on Yahoo! and the US Act