Let it flow! Let it flow! Let it flow!

By Patricia Lee Sharpe

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for free and equal global access to information during her recent remarks on Internet Freedom at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.   This was a major speech—an “important speech on a very important subject,” she called it.  It was well written and forcefully delivered, too, although it was worrisomely long in coming, given the extent and seriousness of the violations that provoked it.

In mid-December Google complained of, and dozens of other companies operating in China were also subject to, formidable cyber attacks.  “While there is no conclusive proof the attackers had formal ties to [the government of] China, the sophistication and coordination of the assaults, combined with IP addresses used for many of the command and control channels, strongly suggest[ed] a state-sanctioned campaign....”

By mid-January, the State Department announced that the U.S. will be issuing a “formal diplomatic note” to China .  “It will express our concern for this incident and request information from China as to an explanation of how it happened and what they plan to do about it.”  That’s nicely put. Without explicitly accusing the Chinese government of wrong-doing, it makes clear that China is responsible for responding to offenses that originate within Chinese borders.

Finally, on January 21st, Secretary Clinton hit at the jugular so far as China is concerned:  If a country strangles political discourse, the economic info won’t get through either, she said.   A rising tide of information floats all economic boats.  Closed societies don’t prosper.  The current Chinese leadership fears blooming of a hundred flowers, but it wants the consummate power that comes from being filthy rich.  Won’t work, Clinton said.

Some think the U.S. reply to the cyber assault should have come sooner. I was one of them.  But I’ve changed my mind.  Thoughtful is better than instantaneous.  In fact, maybe we should thank China for provoking the State Department to issue its first intelligent and comprehensive—I might even say grown up—statement on what the internet and its many communications outlets offer to diplomacy, development and defense today.    Secretary Clinton’s speech at the Newseum, it seems to me, puts the U.S. clearly out in front when it comes to understanding, promoting and defending the role of access to information in creating a world that’s prosperous and free.  It was forthright.  It was full of specificity.  It courageously confronted the downsides as well as the clear advantages of full and free access to internet resources. It’s a rallying cry that can be quoted and quoted and quoted.    

The Newseum speech, thank goodness, jettisoned the approaches I’ve found wanting (at the truly exasperating risk of sounding like a Luddite) these past few years, whether in nominees' glib testimony before Congress or in manic dispatches from lower level enthusiasts faddishly in love with technology per se.  The hopeless old approaches failed, generally, to draw a distinction between the personal gratifications from social networking and  the use of these powerful new tools to (1) pursue the public’s business at home and abroad, (2) to conduct consequential private enterprise, (3) to do solid creative research, (4) to provide reportage to and from closed societies, (5) to assist in emergencies, and so on.  Clinton’s speech gives us a clear, comprehensive internet policy statement that’s determined, dignified, inspiring and actionable.  China’s response, so far, has been defensive, petulant and even a little threatening.  China will have to do a lot better if it is to capture the high ground on this one.

I’m not going to summarize Clinton’s Internet Freedom address.  It deserves a thorough reading and the reading, I promise, will be easy, because it’s so well written.   But here are a few passages to spur you on:

“New technologies do not take sides in the struggle for freedom and progress, but the United States does.  We stand for a single internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas.”

“Once you’re on the internet, you’d don’t need to be a tycoon or a rock star to have a huge impact on society.”

“Blogs, emails, social networks and text messages [to say nothing of twitter] have opened up new forums for exchanging ideas, and created new targets for censorship.”

“All societies recognize that free expression has its limits....As we work to advance freedoms, we must also work against those who use communications networks as tools of disruption and fear [and exploitation.]”

“Governments and citizens must have confidence that the networks at the core of their national security and economic prosperity are safe and resilient....Countries or individuals that engage in cyber attacks should face consequences and international condemnation.”

“For companies this issue is about more than claiming the moral high ground...Consumers everywhere want to have confidence that the internet companies they rely on will provide comprehensive search results and act as responsible stewards of their own personal information.” 

“The private sector has a shared responsibility to help safeguard free expression.  And when their business dealings threaten to undermine this freedom, they need to consider what’s right, not simply what’s a quick profit.”

“By advancing this agenda,” the Secretary concludes, “we align our principles, our economic goals and our strategic priorities.”   I couldn’t agree more.