Our Principles & Declaration

The Coalition's Principles are inspired by the Internet Rights and Principles Coalition based at the UN Internet Governance Forum and in this endeavour the Coalition Cities have been joined by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and Eurocities, that latter being aligned in the aim of furthering digital rights of citizens among its 190 members in 39 countries. We stand by:

1. Universal and equal access to the internet, and digital literacy. Everyone should have access to affordable and accessible internet and digital services on equal terms, as well as the digital skills to make use of this access and overcome the digital divide.

2. Privacy, data protection and security. Everyone should have privacy and control over their personal information through data protection in both physical and virtual places, to ensure digital confidentiality, security, dignity and anonymity, and sovereignty over their data, including the right to know what happens to their data, who uses it and for what purposes.

3. Transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination of data, content and algorithms. Everyone should have access to understandable and accurate information about the technological, algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems that impact their lives, and the ability to question and change unfair, biased or discriminatory systems.

4. Participatory Democracy, diversity and inclusion. Everyone should have full representation on the internet, and the ability collectively to engage with the city through open, participatory and transparent digital processes. Everyone should have the opportunities to participate in shaping local digital infrastructures and services and, more generally, city policy-making for the common good.

5. Open and ethical digital service standards. Everyone should be able to use the technologies of their choice, and expect the same level of interoperability, inclusion and opportunity in their digital services. Cities should define their own technological infrastructures, services and agenda, through open and ethical digital service standards and data to ensure that they live up to this promise.

 

Our Objectives

The Coalition aims to rally up cities around the world to sign the declaration with the following objectives:

• Improved policies, laws, plans and strategies for better open and ethical digital service standards at the city and global level.
• Improved access to affordable and accessible internet and digital services on equal terms, as well as the digital skills to make use of this access and overcome the digital divide.
• Improved privacy and control over personal information through data protection in both physical and virtual places.
• Increased understanding of the technological, algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems that impact their lives, and the ability to question and change unfair, biased or discriminatory systems.
• Improved representation on the internet, and collectively engage with the city through open, participatory and transparent opportunities to shape the technologies designed for them, including managing our digital infrastructures and data as a common good.

The Coalition has the following expected outcomes of its activities:

• To eliminate barriers to harnessing technological opportunities that improve the lives of city inhabitants;
• To provide secure digital services and infrastructures that support communities; and
• To increase respect for human rights in a digital environment, particularly in City services by incorporating human rights principles such as privacy, security, freedom of expression, and democracy by design into locally controlled digital platforms, infrastructures and services.
• To jointly advocate for digital rights and the provision of digital services and infrastructures that support communities.

 

READ THE DECLARATION JOIN THE COALITION