The goal of this report is to shed light on how internet intermediaries – services that
mediate online communication and enable various forms of online expression – both
foster and restrict freedom of expression across a range of jurisdictions, circumstances,
technologies, and business models.
All of the intermediaries studied in this report are operated by companies. According to
the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, states have the primary duty
to protect human rights, businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, and
both must play a role in providing remedy to those whose rights have been violated.4
The report’s authors have applied this ‘protect, respect, and remedy’ framework to the
policies and practices of companies representing three intermediary types (internet
service providers, search engines, and social networking platforms) across ten countries.
The three case studies highlight challenges and opportunities for different types of
intermediaries in respecting and protecting online freedom of expression.
