Facebook has become a full member of non-governmental organisation (NGO) Global Network Initiative (GNI) to fight for internet freedom and privacy rights.
Facebook joins companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! in partnering with the GNI.
Elliot Schrage, vice president of communications, marketing and public policy at Facebook, said: “We’re pleased to join the GNI and contribute to its efforts to shed a spotlight on government practices that threaten the economic, social and political benefits the internet provides.”
HumanIPO reported last month on the launch of FWD.us, announced by Facebook chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg in an editorial article for the Washington Post, bringing together top American tech companies to form lobby group in order to change the United States’ immigration policies.
Facebook’s decision to join the GNI was applauded by various institutes, including the University of Harvard.
Leslie Harris, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Center for Democracy and Technology, said: “Facebook is fully embracing its responsibility to protecting the rights of its users and setting an example that other companies should follow.”
Susan Morgan, executive director at GNI, said: “We welcome Facebook as a full member of GNI and look forward to working more closely with them to advance the freedom of expression and privacy rights of Internet users worldwide.”
The GNI acts as an information technology company connector, collaborating with NGOs, investors and academics to supply responding guidelines to government requests to the promotion of free expression and privacy.
All GNI members are subject to independent evaluation of applying organisational principles.
