"Internet companies have become the new gatekeepers of information–and their data-parsing algorithms the twenty-first century equivalent of the stereotypical editor with the green eyeshade who filtered the news before passing it along to readers .. As they have expanded globally, these pioneering corporations have had to face, and deal with, a tough reality. The Internet that gave them birth espouses all sorts of high-minded principles of open and free expression. But many of the governments in countries that offer tantalizingly large commercial markets not only don’t espouse those principles, they actively deny them [...] This report offers these recommendations for addressing the role of the new information gatekeepers in the age of the Internet: The dominant Internet companies should be more transparent about how they decide on content issues ...; The start-ups of today should consider the lessons of the recent past ...; Twitter (and the telecoms, and other ICT companies) should join the Global Network Initiative ...; The Global Network Initiative should toughen up." (Executive summary, page 6-7)
Sovereigns? Or Salvation? 11
Gatekeepers and Gated in a Networked World, 13
Policies, Terms of Service…and War, 17
Navigating Turbulent International Waters, 20
Dealing With Governments: Takedown Requests, 23
China: Formidable Presence, Uncertain Future, 26
Suppression, Yes–But New Approaches as Well, 31
Mobile And Telecoms: A Nightmare Ahead? 32
Intermediaries: Weak Links in the Chain? 34
Tackling It Head-On: The Global Network Initiative, 36
More Efforts Toward Solutions, 41
Conclusions, 43
Recommendations, 46