The Global Network Initiative (GNI) says new members from diverse sectors have joined its network, including companies, civil society organizations, investors, and academics, in a collaborative effort to protect freedom of expression and privacy online.
The new members are: Procera Networks, Linkedin, PEN American Center, Walden Asset Management, EIRIS Conflict Risk Network, and Professor Philip N. Howard.
Procera Networks is an ICT company which delivers Internet intelligence solutions designed for carriers, service providers and enterprises based on Deep Packet Inspection technology for fixed, mobile, and wireless network operators around the world. The ICT company became the seventh company to join GNI.
Linkedln is one most popular social network and largest professional network with 238 million members in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Linkedln gained one-year observer status with GNI.
PEN American Center has been a leading voice on behalf of writers and journalists around the world, and is now working to ensure that new technologies serve to advance, and not inhibit, free expression and creative freedom. PEN American Center is the newest civil society organization to join GNI.
Walden Asset Management is an investment manager with $2.5 billion in assets under management for clients who seek to integrate environmental, social and governance analysis into investment decision-making. They have joined the network on the investor constituency.
EIRIS Conflict Risk Network includes institutional investors, financial service providers and related stakeholders that are calling on corporate actors to fulfill their responsibility to respect human rights and to take steps that support peace and stability in areas affected by genocide and mass atrocities.
Professor Philip N. Howard is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington and in the School of Public Policy at the Central European University. His research investigates patterns of technology diffusion between and within developing countries and the role of new information technologies in political communication systems around the world. Howard joins the network on the academic constituency in his personal capacity.
GNI’s Executive Director, Susan Morgan, said: “as new companies commit to GNI’s principles on freedom of expression and privacy, and as new human rights groups, investors and academics join our efforts, our ability to set a standard for safeguarding online rights is increasing.”
The Chairman of the GNI Board, Mr. Jermyn Brooks said: “The free expression and privacy challenges facing technology companies are multiplying, but GNI’s growing membership is bringing diverse new expertise and capacities to help companies find an ethical path forward.”
