Perhaps it really is the day we fight back, since the EDRi, the European umbrella digital liberty organisation has over the last couiple of days just launched its manifesto for the European Parliament elections. They have published their manifesto on a pseudo trading site where voters and politicians can pledge their votes and promises in public around the EDRi’s charter which consists of the following 10 points.

  1. I will promote transparency, access to documents and citizen participation 
  2. I will support data protection and privacy legislation
  3. I will defend unrestricted access to the Internet and online Services
  4. I will promote an update of copyright legislation
  5. I will not support blanket, unchecked surveillance measures
  6. I will promote online anonymity and encryption
  7. I will not support privatised enforcement outside the rule of law
  8. I will support export controls of surveillance and censorship technology
  9. I will defend the principle of multistakeholderism
  10. I will promote Free software (Open source software)

The hyperlinks take you to explanations but these seem pretty moderate, sensible and pro-citizen to me. I am certainly campaigning to see the manifesto as widely adopted as possible.

The manifesto argues to equip Citizens to participate in their democracy, (1,3, 9 & 10), asserts citizens’ right to privacy (2, 5, & 6),  asserting equality before the law (3 & 7) and asserting citizens rights in the intellectual property settlement (4 & 7). A comprehensive and moderately stated set of policies. Let’s see who can sign up to this.

The European Parliament Chamber in Brussels

A digital manifesto for Europe
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