John Perry Barlow’s Declaration of Cyberspace Independence

Globally, the internet has an immense social, political and economic impact. For many years since the advent of the internet, the topic of internet regulation has been one of the most contentious issues across the world.  John Perry Barlow was an advocate for free speech and an activist for digital rights. His Declaration of Cyberspace Independence was inspired by the belief that people had people had the right to access the internet freely, and to express themselves. The declaration comprised sixteen paragraphs in which Barlow advised that governments should allow the internet to develop methods of solving its problems. Barlow accuses countries such as China, Russia, Singapore and France of controlling the internet. The declaration was important because it enabled people to express themselves openly without fear of being policed or censured.



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