Elmau (Germany): Leaders of the powerful G7 grouping and its five allies, including India, have said they are committed to public debate and free flow of information online and offline, while protecting the freedom, independence and diversity of civil society actors. In a joint statement titled ‘2022 Resilient Democracies Statement’ issued here on Monday during the G7 summit, leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they stand ready to defend these principles and are determined to protect freedom of expression . The joint statement comes amid allegations that the Indian government is strangling freedom of expression and civil society actors.
The leaders said democracy enables open public debate, free and pluralistic media and the free flow of information online and offline, promoting legitimacy, transparency, accountability and accountability for citizens and elected representatives alike. The leaders said they resolved to “protect freedom of expression and opinion online and offline and ensure a free and independent media landscape through our work with relevant international initiatives.”
They promised to protect the freedom, liberty and diversity of civil society actors, to speak out against threats to civil space, and to respect freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
The leaders pledged to ensure an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure Internet; Increase cyber resilience of digital infrastructure, including improving awareness and sharing of cyber threats and expanding cyber response cooperation and counter hybrid threats, in particular, information manipulation and interference.
They also pledged to cooperate to combat information manipulation, promote accurate information, and advocate for shared democratic values around the world. They vowed to promote affordable access to diverse sources of information and data, online and offline, through a multi-stakeholder approach, and by strengthening digital skills and digital literacy.
He also promised to increase transparency about the actions of online platforms to combat violent, extremist and online inciting content, in line with the Christchurch Call to Action. The Christchurch Call is a commitment by governments and tech companies to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.
He stated that democracy “founds and protects free and vibrant civic spaces, enables and encourages civic engagement and political participation, which in turn encourages meaningful legitimacy, creativity, innovation, social accountability and responsibility.” ”
The leaders said they were committed to building resilience against deadly foreign interference and acts of international repression to undermine trust in government, society and the media, reduce civilian space and silence critical voices.
The leaders pledged to advance programs to protect human rights defenders and all those exposed to corruption; Promote academic freedom and strengthen the role of scientific evidence and research in democratic debate; Protecting civil space, and maintaining transparent, accountable, inclusive and participatory governance, including advancing women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership in civil and political life.
The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Apart from India, Germany, the host of the G7 summit, also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests to recognize the democracies of the Global South as their partners.