Realizing the freedom of opinion and the freedom of expression online necessarily requires interacting with ‘Internet intermediaries’. Governments around the world undertake speech regulation through the imposition of liability on intermediaries, and often impose related obligations of proactive monitoring and exercising due diligence. Keeping intermediaries from being held culpable through legal provisions that establish that intermediaries cannot be held liable for the content of their users—the concept of “intermediary liability”—thus goes a long way in protecting freedom of expression and other human rights. It is vital to maintain proportionate limits to intermediary liability as we develop policies and laws to defend and promote free expression.

To that end, EFF, CIS (India) and Article 19, building on research analyzing the state of intermediary liability in various countries, and with participation from partner organizations including input from a diverse range of groups and experts worldwide, have facilitated the creation of the Manila Principles on Intermediary Liability. These high level principles arising from an initial planning meeting, and developed through a process of public consultations were finalised and presented at a second meeting as a satellite event of RightsCon 2015. 

This roundtable will look forward, as we endeavour to inculcate the values embedded in these principles into the policies and practices of lawmakers and intermediaries. The roundtable will explain the motivations behind this work and stir discussion on how we can use these principles as a resource for advocacy, research and for strengthening existing collaborations and initiatives around the issues of intermediary liability.