Several Western democracies have become “predators of digital freedoms,” using the fight against terrorism to increase surveillance on the Internet, an international media-rights group charged, according to wire service reports.
Reporters Without Borders criticized not only authoritarian states such as China that tightly police Internet use, but also Western governments–including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Denmark–and the European Parliament.
“A year after the tragic events in New York and Washington, the Internet can be included on the list of ‘collateral damage,”’ the Paris-based group said in a report. “Cyber-liberty has been undermined and fundamental digital freedoms have been amputated.”
The report accused China, Vietnam and other countries hostile to dissent of using the international counterterrorism campaign “to strengthen their police mechanisms and legal frameworks relating to the Web and to increase pressure on cyber-dissidents.”
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