Sir Tim Berners-Lee: World wide web needs bill of rights
The inventor of the world wide web has marked the 25th anniversary of his creation by calling for a 'Magna Carta' bill of rights to protect its users.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee told BBC Breakfast the issue could be compared to the importance of human rights.
He has been an outspoken critic of government surveillance following a series of leaks from ex-US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
Sir Tim called on people to take action and protest against surveillance.
'Communal decision'He told BBC Breakfast the online community has now reached a crossroads.
"It's time for us to make a big communal decision," he said. "In front of us are two roads - which way are we going to go?
"Are we going to continue on the road and just allow the governments to do more and more and more control - more and more surveillance?
"Or are we going to set up a bunch of values? Are we going to set up something like a Magna Carta for the world wide web and say, actually, now it's so important, so much part of our lives, that it becomes on a level with human rights?"
Sir Tim said the internet should be a "neutral" medium that can be used without feeling "somebody's looking over our shoulder".
He called for vigilance against surveillance by its users, adding: "The people of the world have to be constantly aware, constantly looking out for it - constantly making sure through action, protest, that it doesn't happen."
Sir Tim has previously warned that surveillance could threaten the democratic nature of the web.
He has also spoken out in support of Mr Snowden, saying his actions were "in the public interest".
Browser favourites
- The BBC website and Facebook are the UK's most popular sites, according to a survey of 2,001 adults
- The poll for internet registry firm Nominet, found 24% of people chose Facebook as their favourite website
- The BBC was second, with 20% choosing the site
- Amazon was third with 9%
- Gmail and Yahoo were both chosen by 5% of those polled
Source: Nominet
The idea that the world wide web would end up playing such a huge role in people's lives would have seemed "crazy" 25 years ago, said Sir Tim.
He admitted that the web represented "humanity connected", involving both the "wonderful" and the "ghastly".
But he added: "I don't have a lot of sympathy with people who say: 'There's so much rubbish on the web.'
"Well, if there's so much rubbish, if it's rubbish, don't read it. Go read something else."
The web we want campaign has been set up by Sir Tim's World Wide Web Foundation to coincide with the 25th anniversary and aims to protect human rights online.
Comment number 433.
ChaosEmerald12th March 2014 - 14:16
I agree with the sentiment of a "web magna carta" although I'm pragmatic enough to realise that it cannot and will not ever happen.
more importantly than this, as time goes on and more and more people opt for open-source software that isn't riddled with back doors and vulnerabilities, and crucially as encryption technology becomes ubiquitous and more usable, we wont need a web magna carta. :)
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Comment number 203.
TheNavvie12th March 2014 - 10:17
My post can't be intercepted without a warrant authorised by the home secretary. The same should be true of my emails, texts, tweets, google searches... everything I do online.
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Comment number 105.
James_3212th March 2014 - 9:22
I like government surveillance of the internet. I never do anything illegal, and don't really care if the government sees what I do on it.
Their watchfulness makes me feel safer, and could stop terrorist attacks/criminal activity.
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Comment number 73.
Heisenberg12th March 2014 - 9:00
The internet is the last bastion of real freedom of speech left to us. We need to protect that at ALL costs.
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Comment number 22.
Eat the Path12th March 2014 - 8:40
Governments never let something silly like a law or constitution get in their way. They'll simply sign up, make a great speech about how wonderful the internet is for the economy and then go back to snooping.
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