Tim Berners-Lee warns web surveillance and censorship is threatening democracy
Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee has called on the UK and US governments to do more to protect the privacy of internet users amidst concern that a ‘growing tide of surveillance and censorship’ is undermining democracy.
The intervention by Berners-Lee comes amidst publication of a global league table which put the UK and US in third and fourth place respectively on respect of the freedoms they afford to their citizens.
Sweden continues to top the list, with Norway in second, with the UK ranking poorly on privacy rights but highly for the availability of content.
The US meanwhile was praised for harnessing the web for social, political and environmental causes but lagged in terms of breadth of access, infrastructure and privacy safeguards.
Berners-Lee said: “One of the most encouraging findings of this year's Web Index is how the web and social media are increasingly spurring people to organise, take action and try to expose wrongdoing in every region of the world.
"But some governments are threatened by this, and a growing tide of surveillance and censorship now threatens the future of democracy. Bold steps are needed now to protect our fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and association online."