US launches Internet freedom task force
The Global Internet Freedom Task Force will focus on the "foreign policy aspects of Internet freedom", the department said.
These aspects include "The use of technology to restrict access to political content and the impact of such censorship efforts on US companies; the use of technology to track and repress dissidents; and efforts to modify Internet governance structures in order to restrict the free flow of information," it said.
The task force will be overseen by Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner, and Undersecretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky.
The task force will co-ordinate with other US government agencies, non-government organisations and academics, the statement said.
Internet directory Yahoo welcomed the move.
"We applaud the direction of the secretary of state in establishing the Global Internet Freedom Task Force. This embraces the government-to-government approach that Yahoo has been urging," said Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako.
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