World wide web inventor declares support for Brazil's internet bill

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, founding director of the Web Foundation and inventor of the world wide web, has called for the approval of Brazil's civil internet bill "without delay or amendment." The bill is scheduled to be voted on in the country's lower house this week.

"If the Marco Civil is passed, without further delay or amendment, this would be the best possible birthday gift for Brazilian and global web users," Berners-Lee said in a statement posted on the website of the World Wide Web foundation, called webfoundation.org.

"WORLD LEADER IN DEMOCRACY"

"I hope that by passing this bill, Brazil will cement its proud reputation as a world leader in democracy and social progress and will help to usher in a new era - one where citizens' rights in every country around the world are protected by digital bills of rights," the father of modern internet wrote.

In his letter, Berners-Lee makes no specific mention of the points considered controversial in the project, such as network neutrality and the local storage obligation, saying only that "there is still discussion of some areas." The government previously said that the local storage obligation would be removed from the bill.

He highlighted, however, that the Marco Civil "has been built by its users - the groundbreaking, inclusive and participatory process has resulted in a policy that balances the rights and responsibilities of the individuals, governments and corporations who use the internet."

For many, the Marco Civil is seen as an internet "constitution" as it puts core principles for the use of internet in Brazil into law, such as freedom, openness and neutrality, while ensuring users' privacy and data protection.

Berners-Lee's statement was in line with this view: "The draft bill reflects the internet as it should be: an open, neutral and decentralized network, in which users are the engine for collaboration and innovation."

"Commendably, the bill has among its foundations the guarantee of human rights such as privacy, citizenship and the preservation of the diversity and the social purpose of the web."

VOTE

According the lower house news service, house members started to discuss the project on Monday. This phase of discussions is expected to continue on Tuesday, "with the subsequent vote," Agência Câmara informed.