Freedom of speech is one of the top ten clauses chosen by 30,000 visitors to the Magna Carter: My Digital Rights website.
Visitors to the site were asked to choose their favourite clauses from 500 possibilities, which were submitted by thousands of 10 to 18 year olds worldwide.
Analysis of the clauses showed protecting young people and preventing bullying on the web favour of freedom of speech or freedom of the internet.
Project manager of Magna Carter Sarah Shaw said: “It has been fascinating to see how the public’s top clauses have compared to those of the thousands of students who have co-created this ‘Magna Carta for the digital age.
“The project was conceived to encourage young people to think about issues of privacy, access and freedom raised by Magna Carta in the digital age. These ‘Top 10′ clauses show a snapshot of how the public feel at this 800th anniversary moment about our rights and responsibilities on the web.”
The public can continue to vote for their favourite clauses on the My Digital Rights website. The top 10 clauses will remain online as an ever-evolving “Magna Carter for the Digital age”.
The top ten clauses currently stand as:
• will not let companies pay to control it, and not let governments restrict our right to information.
• will allow freedom of speech.
• will be free from government censors in all countries.
• will not allow any kind of government censorship.
• will be available for all those who wish to use it.
• will be free from censorship and mass surveillance.
• will allow equal access to knowledge, information and current news worldwide.
• will have freedom of speech.
• will not be censored by the government.
• will not sell our personal information and preferences for money, and will make it clearer if the company/website intends to do so.
Tim Berners-Lee, the founder and creator of the World Wide Web launched a campaign called The Web We Want back in March last year, to mark the 25th anniversary of his invention.
The campaign calls for a free, open and truly global internet and the drafting of a digital era Magna Carta or “Internet Users’ Bill of Rights” for every country.
He also called on the government to demonstrate that it can build a system that is accountable for all UK citizens and one that ensures security services look at private data with legal oversight.