Center for a New American Security

In the 21st century, Internet freedom will increasingly become a focal point in the discussion on human rights, democracy and American “smart power.” In March 2010, after an event co-hosted with the U.S. Senate Global Internet Freedom Caucus (co-chaired by Senators Ted Kaufman and Sam Brownback), the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) initiated a major study to explore the promises and potential perils of promoting the free use of Internet communication technologies in the context of U.S. foreign policy. In 2010-2011, CNAS convened technology, communications, foreign policy and security experts in a dialogue aimed at understanding and analyzing the full range of foreign policy and security implications of Internet freedom issues.

In June 2011, CNAS released Internet Freedom: A Foreign Policy Imperative in the Digital Age. In this report, authors Richard Fontaine and Will Rogers argue that America needs a comprehensive Internet freedom strategy, one that tilts the balance in favor of those who would use the Internet to advance tolerance and free expression, and away from those who would employ it for repression or violence. This requires incorporating Internet freedom as a key element of American foreign policy. Read the full report here.