The Council of Europe has issued a new guide to human rights online for Internet users, governments, private companies and for others that have a duty to respect and defend human rights offline and online.

The guide offers Internet users information about their online rights :

• Access and non-discrimination
• Freedom of expression and information
• Freedom of assembly, association and participation
• Privacy and data protection
• Education and literacy
• Protection of children and young people
• Right to effective remedies for violations of human rights

It also indicates possible actions that governments can take to promote human rights on the Internet.

Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)6 of the Committee of Ministers says that Council of Europe member States have an obligation to secure for everyone within their jurisdiction the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights – an obligation that is also valid in the context of Internet use.

The special website dedicated to the guide http://internet-users-rights.coe.int will be further developed with data on legal provisions, mechanisms and remedies available to Internet users in all 47 member states. The Council of Europe will work with others to apply the guide, and to ensure that internet users have access to effective remedies when they believe their rights have been restricted or violated.