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Association of Internet Users established in Russia

“We are called the Internet “users”, but we are its creators,” says the Manifesto of the Association

MOSCOW, April 26 (Itar-Tass) – The Association of Internet Users (AIU) has begun its operation in Russia. Its task will be the protection of the rights and freedoms of the users, as well as defending their interests, one of the founders of the AIU – the Agora Association, which will provide legal support for its work, said on Thursday.

The AIU plans to defend, in particular, such rights of Internet users, as internet access, non-discrimination of the “Internet rights,” the principle of net neutrality, freedom and security, the right to development in the internet, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association. The organisation will deal with data protection, access to knowledge and cultural values through the Internet, the use of the Internet by children, as well as the right to distance education, the right to distance work and the participation in management of the Internet.

Executive Director of Wikimedia Ru Stanislav Kozlovsky and Deputy Chairman of the Pirate Party of Russia Stanislav Shakira have become the co-chairs of the Association. The other founders are representatives of the Association of Internet Publishers, the Foundation for Promotion of Social Creativity Creative Society, head of the New Media department of Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU) Ivan Zassoursky and journalist of the Echo of Moscow radio station Alexander Pluyshchev.

“The number of legislative initiatives dealing with the rights and interests of users, which at the same time restrict the freedom of speech and expression in the Internet has increased in Russia recently,” the founders of the Association believe. The opinion of the users was not taken into account in the development of these initiatives. The Association encourages the web users to participate in this process by registering online and conduct the dialogue with the authorities.

“We are called the Internet “users”, but we are its creators,” says the Manifesto of the Association of Internet Users. “We write open codes, edit articles in Wikipedia, maintain blogs and comment on them, program sites, do social networking, make videos, spread the news, upload our music and books.”

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