This report provides a new perspective on the social and political dynamics behind the threats to expression. It develops a conceptual framework on the ‘ecology of freedom of expression’ for discussing the broad context of policy and practice that should be taken into consideration in discussions of this issue.
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This comprehensive research publication examines the changing legal and regulatory
ecology that has shaped the Internet over the years. The research was supported by
UNESCO within the framework of the follow-up process to the World Summit on the
Information Society, and as part of UNESCO’s activities relating to the Internet Governance
Forum. The principal aim was to provide a reference tool that can inform and stimulate
the current debate on the global trends that have shaped freedom of expression on the
Internet. The report explores the various legal and policy mechanisms that are crucial
for the free ow of information, providing guidance for policy-makers and other relevant
users on the creation of environments conducive to the freedom of expression.
As this publication explains, freedom of expression is not just a by-product of technical
change; it must be protected by legal and regulatory measures that balance a variety of
potentially con icting values and interests in a complex global ecology of choices. The
impetus that this report provides for the prioritization of research in this eld encourages
further scrutiny of the multifaceted issues that govern the conditions for freedom of
expression on the Internet. The ndings of this research point to the need to better track
a wider array of global, legal and regulatory trends. It is my hope that this publication
proves to be a useful and informative resource for all users working in this domain,
whether individual researchers, students or policy makers.

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