President of Chile
The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has welcomed Chile as its 35th Member saying it looks forward to working collaboratively with the country to support Internet freedom and protect human rights online worldwide. The FOC noted that in recent years, Chile has made significant progress towards digitisation efforts and ensuring technological developments benefit society in a safe and inclusive manner which has made it qualified to be admitted into the FOC.
Over recent years, Chile has made significant progress towards digitisation efforts and ensuring technological developments benefit society in a safe and inclusive manner which have made it qualified to be admitted into the FOC. Among the progress made, the government of Chile has passed laws protecting Internet users and their rights, and has also launched initiatives to improve connectivity throughout the country. Internationally, Chile engages in various multilateral and multi-stakeholder forums and initiatives that promote democracy and civic participation. All these add up to put it in a position to be admitted into the Coalition.
Chile has committed to protecting the human rights of its citizens and ensuring data protection and net neutrality, including implementing the Law on Digital Transformation of the State to simplify interactions between citizens and the administration, and their Zero Digital Gap Plan 2022-2025 to ensure access to Internet connectivity throughout the country.
Chile enacted a new cybercrime law in in 2022 in order to adapt its legal framework to the provisions of the Budapest Convention and it has a vibrant and internationally recognised civil society community working on digital rights issues.
The country is an active participant in a number of intergovernmental and multistakeholder initiatives that promote democracy, transparency and civic participation, including, but not limited to, the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, the Open Government Partnership, the Media Freedom Coalition and the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse.
It has also demonstrated a commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement in the UN Open-ended working group on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security; in the implementation of the principles and objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society; and in the General Assembly debate on the use of new technologies for sustainable development and avoiding their unintended consequences.
Of the FOC, Mrs. Antonia Urrejola, Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “The Freedom Online Coalition has been doing a remarkable job advocating for Internet freedom and compliance of human rights principles and standards online. By joining this initiative, Chile not only reiterates its commitment to these values domestically, but also to uphold them globally. This commitment is particularly relevant for Chile after being elected as UNHRC State Member for a new term starting January 2023.”
As the Coalition’s 35th member, Chile has pledged to uphold and advance the Coalition’s shared goals and values as stated in the FOC Founding Declaration, the Tallinn Recommendations for Freedom Online, and the Helsinki Declaration. Chile will be an active participant in the FOC’s various bodies and diplomatic networks to promote the values of democracy and human rights online domestically and abroad.
