• Sweden edition
Politics

Sweden links with US in 'net-activist alliance'

Published: 15 Jun 12 16:51 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41474/20120615/

Sweden and the United States are in talks to create a common fund to support internet activists as part of a developing alliance between the two countries.

The Swedish foreign minister and US Secretary of State have both emphasized the importance of internet freedom.

The two countries are currently working on a number of initiatives to support internet activists involved in pro-democracy movements around the world.

According to Bildt, Sweden and the United States plan to put forward a proposal in the United Nations calling for the protection of freedom of speech on the internet.

"We're now working with a broader group around this, countries like Brazil, Nigeria, Turkey, and Tunisia. It's important that it's not only we and the Americans who are supporting this," Bildt told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.

Bildt explained that the proposal means that freedom of speech guarantees in article 19 of the UN declaration of human rights would also be applied to the internet.

Another initiative spearheaded by Sweden and the United States, as well as the Netherlands, calls for the creation of a fund to support net activists in undemocratic countries.

"Yes, we're discussing that. Both we, the Americans, and the Dutch already have such activities and now the question is how much we can coordinate things," said Bildt.

According to DN, the US and the Netherlands have promised to contribute to such a fund, while Sweden plans to contribute once the exact shape of the fund becomes clearer.

An increasing amount of Sweden's foreign aid budget has been devoted to supporting net activists in recent years through initiatives designed to foster democracy and free.

The 2012 budget includes an allocation of 215 million kronor ($30.7 million) to such efforts, up from 150 million kronor the year before, DN reports.

The funds are generally channeled through Swedish aid agency SIDA to train activists on encrypting their communications, among other programmes.

Bildt told DN he hopes the resolution will be presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva before the summer.

The Local/dl
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:29 June 15, 2012 by Just_Kidding
Even George Costanza would have made agreement on something more important.
19:51 June 15, 2012 by Rebel
Wow, so much evil in one picture. Hilary, Carl and Freddie.
20:25 June 15, 2012 by Just_Kidding
Actually seems like a good idea... I take back my statement.
20:25 June 15, 2012 by sgt_doom
Oh look, there's Hillary Clinton, who helped finance the overthrow of democratically-elected President Zelaya of Honduras, via her position as former chair of the Millennium Challenge Corp.

Oh look, there's Carl Bildt, of Lund Petroleum, involved with those mysterious massacres of the Sudanese who were conveniently living on those oil fields they wanted.

Oh look, there's that bald-headed guy with Madeleine Albright's firm (am I the only one who knows Albright is related to George Soros????).

Will Hillary party hardy when Wikileaks' Assange is kidnapped to America by RambObama? And will the same thing be done to him as they did to Padilla and Moussaoui (solitary confinement, extreme lockdown with sensory deprivation --- rendering them both incoherent)???

Bradley Manning is one touch guy --- he was subject to sleep deprivation for around 8 months --- I couldn't have lasted half that long.

He has my deepest respect and sympathy --- a real hero.
20:33 June 15, 2012 by Global Macro
Do they really think that people are that dumb and gullible? They have no intention of supporting freedom of speech or Internet freedom. This is a sham attempt to extend (more) government control over the Internet. More government suppression of freedom of expression, except for goons who support approved government views. All other views are labeled "hate speech" and banned.
22:34 June 15, 2012 by cogito
Ditto Global Macro (#5)

Yes, they do think that people are that dumb.

Be afraid. When Hillary (or any politician) and the U.N. talk about "internet freedom," it is code for exactly the opposite--internet control.
00:32 June 16, 2012 by Rebel
Voted for the Alliance last election. Will never make that mistake again. Sorry Christian Democrats, you hitched your buggy to something that I just can't support anymore.

PS: Who will opt out or vote against Reinfeldt if Sweden sends Assange to the USA?
00:35 June 16, 2012 by Svensksmith
Curly, Moe and Larry.
02:52 June 16, 2012 by HenryPollard
In related news, Josef Fritzl and Ian Huntley have announced an alliance to protect the welfare of children....
13:23 June 16, 2012 by Mr.Smith
What a joke!

"The two countries are currently working on a number of initiatives to support internet activists involved in pro-democracy movements around the world."

No where is there a mention of Julian Assange in this article or from this new "alliance".

pro-democracy = pro-american, anybody else are terrorists.
15:57 June 16, 2012 by Reason abd Realism
OK all smiles to discuss internet freedoms (which facilitates the identification of pro-USA elements within fractured nations, to know who to send the shoulder-lauched missiles to. Probably good in places like Syria, but questionable in some other locations).

But did the doors then close for a round of discussions on internet violations, where maybe Hillary produced an ultimatum to hand over Assange on a silver platter?
20:50 June 16, 2012 by Trace33
U.N. Hilliary....can't be a good thing !
11:27 June 17, 2012 by Finnish guy
What a hypocrites, we haven't forgotten Assange and the treatment Wikileaks has received.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Drunk men more likely to drown: study

Drunk men more likely to drown: study

Men are twice as likely as women to drown, according to a new study, with middle-aged men with alcohol in their bodies posing the greatest risk. READ () »

Moderate Party politician calls for eldercare 'spies'

Moderate Party politician calls for eldercare 'spies'

A local Moderate Party politician has called for the installation of undercover spies to patrol eldercare facilities to ensure that staff do their jobs, in the wake of a slew of recent scandals. READ () »

Pay deal averts Midsummer train chaos

Pay deal averts Midsummer train chaos

Midsummer revellers can breathe a sigh of relief after employers and unions agreed a new pay deal and averted a train strike that promised to wreak havoc over the holiday weekend. READ () »

Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone'

Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone'

Politicians in the small Swedish town of Falköping want to give alcoholics and drug users a glass-encased zone in the middle of a central square, saying it would lessen public disturbances and allow "the down and out" to socialize. READ () »

EU probes SAS airline over state aid

EU probes SAS airline over state aid

The European Commission opened an in-depth probe on Wednesday to see if state aid given to Scandinavian Airlines by Sweden and Denmark conformed to EU rules. READ () »

Fashion Fix
Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers

Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers

In The Local's new Fashion Fix column on Swedish trends, Englishwoman Victoria Hussey gets up close and personal with shoes - namely "brothel creepers" from WWII that have been making a steady return to Stockholm pavements. READ () »

Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug

Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug

Imported frozen raspberries should be boiled before eaten according to new advice from Sweden's National Food Agency, which warns that the berries may carry the novo virus that is more known for causing winter vomiting disease. READ () »

Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days

Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days

A deceased patient who had no relatives was left in a room for five days at the Örebro University Hospital before staff realized the body was still there. READ () »

More Politics

 

Find a new job in Sweden now
19/06 Application Manager
European Spallation Source ESS AB
SKÅ
19/06 C# Developer
Lund
19/06 Customer Service Representative - Distrupol
Distrupol
Malmo
19/06 GE Money Bank söker en senior riskanalytiker
GE Money Bank
Danderyd, STHM
19/06 GLOBAL COMMODITY MANAGER (m/w)
Göteborg
19/06 IT Communication and Support Officer
European Spallation Source ESS AB
SKÅ

ALL JOBS »


 

 

Highlights
Elodie Pradet/The Local Elodie Pradet WikiCommons Private/Scanpix Scanpix fastighetsbyrån.se Elodie Pradet/The Local File photo: AP File photo: Scanpix Private Göran Höglund/Flickr Finest.se Scanpix Ann Törnkvist Stefan Larsson Private DoToday Scanpix, C More The Local Finest.se Facebook The Local Scanpix Ann Törnkvist/The Local Henrik Montgomery/Scanpix CDC/Wikipedia (File) kristja/sxc.hu (File) Fastighetsbyrån Swedish expats use book club to survive London Finest.se Sergei Grits Silence/WikiCommons Oliver Gee Oliver Gee Scanpix veidekke/Flickr Eddie Gee David V. Hughes

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Snuggling With the Enemy

19 June 19:39

Kentucky’s Bourbon Royalty Visits Sweden »

"He's not a celebrity in Sweden, but everyone in Kentucky knows the name Fred Noe. Even more people know the name of his great-grandfather, Jim Beam." READ »

Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now