An organisation devoted to online freedom created after last year's Iranian elections says a 'proxy cloud' to stop censorship of the Internet is being developed.
Brett Solomon, Executive Director of AccessNow.org, says often governments will censor the Internet in order to stop information from entering or leaving the country.
One way around this to create a proxy, or third - usually external - computer to overcome firewalls that block off the sites.
Clouds 'hover' online
"There are a lot of people around the world who understand the importance of online technologies to influence [the] political landscape, and we're trying to offer a system in which you offer your bandwith... to another person on the other side of the firewall and they can use your computer as a proxy," Mr Solomon says.
The Australian-born campaigner, who used to head online activist group GetUp, says if enough people lend their computers as proxies, a network forms which can effectively "hover over countries where Internet censorship takes place".
These 'clouds' would target so-called 'Dirty Dozen' countries; nations like China, Iran, Cuba and Burma that actively monitor or censor the Internet.
Australia 'now censors'
Mr Solomon the Rudd Government's proposed Internet filter has meant AUstralia is now on the list of countries that censor its population.
He says while it's unfair to compare Australia with countries like Iran and Burma, there is the possibility that the web filter could be used misused.
"This is a very dangerous position, a very unhelpful position, for Australia to be in. This proposal that has been put forward by the Australian government is something that is unnecessary and that there are alternatives to," Mr Solomon says.
One of the problems presented by the global nature of the web is a lack of understanding about how people use it, the Executive Director says.
International online Bill of Rights
"There is insufficient international law in place, and international regulation in place," Mr Solomon says.
He says this means authorities are left to their own devices when governing their citizens' usage of the Internet.
One of the solutions to this problem is creating a International Bill of Rights for the Online community.
This document would ensure groups, such as opposition movements and anti-government protesters, can congregate online without fear of monitoring or censorship.
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