Digital Magna Carta ‘Top 10’ Clauses Revealed 4


Today is the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, a document which has very much changed the world, being the first document of its kind to protect the rights and freedoms of society and establish that the king was subject to the law.  Of course there is an argument that at the time of its signing, the Magna Carta was not as significant as it has become, but that really isn’t the point, it is what it now stands for that matters.

Amongst the many events that have been held to celebrate the anniversary the British Library has revealed the current top 10 clauses people would like to see in a “Magna Carta for the digital age”.  This was the result of a British Library’s project conceived to encourage particularly young people to think about privacy, internet access and freedom in the digital age.

See the British Library “My Digital Rights” web-page for more information which can be found here.

The Top 10 clauses voted for were :
  1. The Web we want will not let companies pay to control it, and not let governments restrict our right to information
  2. The Web we want will allow freedom of speech
  3. The Web we want will be free from government censors in all countries
  4. The Web we want will not allow any kind of government censorship
  5. The Web we want will be available for all those who wish to use it
  6. The Web we want will be free from censorship and mass surveillance
  7. The Web we want will allow equal access to knowledge, information and current news worldwide
  8. The Web we want will have freedom of speech
  9. The Web we want will not be censored by the government
  10. The Web we want will not sell our personal information and preferences for money, and will make it clearer if the company/Website intends to do so

4 thoughts on “Digital Magna Carta ‘Top 10’ Clauses Revealed

  • David Boyd

    11 The Web we want will have Bitcoin that is 100% unregulated and unrestricted.
    12 The Web we want will have Unbreakable Encryption Tools that do not have government back doors.

  • David Boyd

    11 The Web we want will have Bitcoin that is 100% unregulated and unrestricted.
    12 The Web we want will have Unbreakable Encryption Tools that do not have government back doors.

  • cloudstarer

    2 & 8 Are pretty much the same

    So are 3, 4, 6 & 9

    This list could have been trimmed down to 6 items with a little thought and then some other points added, as it is I doubt any politician would take it seriously.

  • cloudstarer

    2 & 8 Are pretty much the same

    So are 3, 4, 6 & 9

    This list could have been trimmed down to 6 items with a little thought and then some other points added, as it is I doubt any politician would take it seriously.

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