Declaration by the Committee of Ministers on the Protection of Freedom of Expression and Information and Freedom of Assembly and Association with Regard to Internet Domain Mames and Name Strings

The declaration declares its support for the recognition by member states of the need to apply fundamental rights safeguards to the management of domain names. In this context, it alerts to the risk which over-regulation of the domain name space and name strings entails for the exercise of freedom of expression and the right to receive and impart information and of freedom of assembly and association. The declaration therefore calls on the competent Council of Europe bodies to work with relevant corporations, agencies and other entities that manage or contribute to the management of the domain name space in order for decisions to take full account of international law, including international human rights law.