A/HRC/4/27 page 11 B. Internet governance and digital democracy 38. The creation of an international organization, which would govern Internet with a firm human rights approach, is a priority for the United Nations and the international community at large. Global rules to ensure that Internet can be developed, in a sustainable manner, as a democratic medium of expression are essential for the international community to include the promotion and the protection of human rights in the emerging era. Such an organization will develop and apply, through the joint work of relevant national agencies, the private sector and the civil society, shared principles, norms, rules, which will shape the evolution and the use of the Internet. The enlargement of broadband communications systems in developing countries will, to a great extent, help the diffusion of information and communication technologies related economy. 39. Several Governments, with the active support of some transnational corporations working in this field, have closely been monitoring the web in order to identify and stop various forms of opposition and criticism. Ordinary citizens have been arrested or harassed by authorities only because they dared express their opinion through an e-mail or through the reading of a website. 40. Political repression from Governments is only a component of the limitations to freedom of expression on the Internet; other restrictions would have more subtle yet still insidious forms and contents. The making of a worldwide digital media system cannot exclusively be put in the hands of powerful media groups and other commercial forces, which by their own nature, are money-makers. The prevalence of a business-oriented digital world could substantially threaten, for instance through the invasion of advertisement, the existence of all the remaining activities that can be performed through the Internet. 41. In the spirit of freedom of expression, which should permeate all human activities, Internet governance should guarantee a digital world where commercial initiatives coexist with social and cultural projects and avoid that a fee has to be paid by consumers for any available service. Unfortunately, advertisers have so far proved to be very aggressive on the digital market and are developing technologies that target Internet consumers, with a special focus on youth, throughout their exploration of the cyberspace. Furthermore, intrusive collection of data and detection of tracking behaviour are restricting the right to privacy and consequently the freedom of expression of regular Internet users. 42. Internet consumers’ associations are obviously reacting to these menaces: there is a definitive trend among online users, bloggers and Internet freedom campaigners to work on network safeguards, which should ensure that Internet serves not only commercial interests, but also promotes free debate and dialogue on issues that are critical for the development of a better world, at local as well as at global level.3 While a part of the digital world should be preserved from commercial considerations, cooperation between private enterprises and institutions will be at the core of the development of Internet contents. 3 See a decision of the United States of America Supreme Court on Internet and free speech (26 June 1997): http://www.cdt.org/speech/cda/; see also Declaration on Digital Democracy: http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/decDigitalDemocracy.html.