In January I wrote a post here on this blog about Hilary Clinton’s speech, ‘Internet Freedom’, in which she argued for the right to free speech and connection to those digital networks that are ‘forming a new nervous system for our planet’. Here’s a reminder of what she said:
Now, in many respects, information has never been so free. There are more ways to spread more ideas to more people than at any moment in history. And even in authoritarian countries, information networks are helping people discover new facts and making governments more accountable.
During his visit to China in November, for example, President Obama held a town hall meeting with an online component to highlight the importance of the internet. In response to a question that was sent in over the internet, he defended the right of people to freely access information, and said that the more freely information flows, the stronger societies become. He spoke about how access to information helps citizens hold their own governments accountable, generates new ideas, encourages creativity and entrepreneurship.
And then came WikiLeaks and her argument … Hasn’t been very visible now, has it?