Facebook on Wednesday became a full member of the Global Network
Initiative, a non-governmental organization promoting Internet freedom
and privacy rights.
The announcement came one year after the world's biggest social
network gained observer status at GNI, whose corporate members include
Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google.
"We welcome Facebook as a full member of GNI and look forward to
working more closely with them to advance the freedom of expression and
privacy rights of Internet users worldwide," said the group's executive
director Susan Morgan.
"Adding the power of Facebook's community of one billion global users
puts GNI in an even better place to press governments to fulfill their
obligations to protect rights online."
Facebook Vice President Elliot Schrage said the California company
joined the group as part of its commitment to "advancing human rights,
including freedom of expression and the right to communicate freely."
"We're pleased to join GNI and contribute to its efforts to shed a
spotlight on government practices that threaten the economic, social and
political benefits the Internet provides."
The news was welcomed by Human Rights Watch, which is also a member of the initiative.
"By joining the Global Network Initiative, Facebook is taking an important step to respect its users' human rights and to be accountable to them. The real test is to see how it implements GNI's principles."
Other GNI members include the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
