Topic: Censorship of the Internet
Country: France
Delegate Name: Aaron Pollack
School: Saline High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All France position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
More and more people in the world are using the internet. the French Republic is no exception. Of our approximately 65 million people, we have approximately 43 million internet users placing us at number 9 in global standings. We also have a highly developed telephone system, and broadcasting network. France has a Republic form of government and our head of state is Nicholas Sarkozy.
In the matter of internet censorship, France seeks to uphold the rights of free speech for all citizens. France seeks to uphold the rights in The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (as stated in the preamble to our constitution) which states that " The free communication of thought and opinions is one of the most precious rights of man. Any citizen can therefore speak, write and publish freely; however, they are answerable for abuse of this freedom as determined by law." Thus, France believes that one should have the right to publish to the web whatever he wishes provided that this content does not violate another's rights. This document also upholds that "The law has only the right to forbid those actions that are detrimental to society". Thus, France believes that the only acceptable internet censorship should be to sites that are harmful to society or that violate others rights. Despite this, the French republic seeks to minimize internet censorship to only the most dire of circumstances such as child pornography and illegal downloading of copyright.
