Over 250,000 people shape action plan to save the Internet
Over 250,000 people shape action plan to save the Internet
Digital rights group OpenMedia releases comprehensive election platform packed with ideas crowdsourced from Canadians
August
27, 2015 – It's as if the entire city of London
Ontario banded together to save the Internet. Shaped by more
than 250,000 people and launching today, Canada's Digital Future is a
crowd-sourced election platform packed with ideas from
everyday citizens. It’s an initiative of digital rights
group Openmedia, which is urging people to consider Canada's
digital future when casting their vote this
election.
While OpenMedia won’t be endorsing any
political party, it does plan to meet the main parties and
report back as to which are most committed to implementing
its platform. Thousands of people have already pledged to vote for the future of the
Internet in the upcoming election.
“Whether it’s
telecom price-gouging, reckless spying legislation, or
abusive copyright notices, failed digital policies are
hurting Canadians,” said OpenMedia’s communications
manager David Christopher. “Young people
in particular are speaking up for a better way forward,
because Canada can’t afford to keep falling behind our
international counterparts. That’s why this election will
be the most important Canadian Internet users have ever
faced.”
Digital rights issues have featured
prominently in the media recent times. Bill C-51 has sparked
nationwide protests. Thousands of Canadians have received threatening and misleading
copyright demand letters. And the high cost of Internet and cell phone
service has been a recurring bugbear for telecom
customers.
Almost 300,000 Canadians have spoken out
against draconian Bill C-51; over half-a-million have demanded more
affordable Internet and cell phone access; and over 100,000
have stood up for free expression.
The
last election was decided by only 6,200 votes. With over
half-a-million engaged Canadians, the OpenMedia community
has the power to impact the outcome of this election, and is
working to make the future of our digital communications a
key issue.
Learn more at OurDigitalFuture.ca/platform (en
français: OurDigitalFuture.ca/programme)
ENDS