Support Freedom of Speech on the Internet

Supporting the First Amendment

Bill Gates' Essay on Freedom of Speech on the Internet. Essay Information on the impact of the Communications Decency Act. Support Free Speech On Line HotWired's 24 Hour Site Supporting Internet Freedom of Speech. 24 Hours of Democracy

On Thursday, February 1, Congress passed the Communications Decency Act of 1996 as part of a massive telecommunications reform bill. Microsoft, along with many others in industry and nonprofit organizations, object to the inappropriate and unnecessary constraints this Act places on freedom of speech and public discourse on the Internet. Freedom of speech was so important that the authors of the U.S. Constitution made it the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech also is so important to the development and ultimate success of the Internet that Microsoft and others will work together to protect this fundamental right in our new online world.

This page includes an essay on Freedom of Speech on the Internet by Microsoft founder, Chairman and CEO Bill Gates. It also provides useful links to what other organizations are saying about this issue, and will keep you updated on our efforts to protect freedom of speech and expression on the Internet.