"Why We’re Leaving the Global Network Initiative", 1 Feb 2016

This week, the Global Network Initiative (GNI) announced that seven telecom companies have joined its ranks as observers according to terms approved at GNI’s December board meeting...[G]iven our serious concerns about the terms of the agreement to admit the telecom companies, as well as GNI’s overall direction at this time, we are regretfully withdrawing our participation in the initiative... [W]e do not believe that those most active in GNI, including the telecom companies now participating as observers, have a shared vision for the organization’s core mission and future agenda...[and] as it stands, GNI struggles to fulfill its most basic functions and has not been successful in making the case for significant, ongoing support from philanthropic foundations or others...Our Center remains ready and willing to re-engage at some future point if and when GNI is prepared to tackle the fundamental questions that are essential to making it a leading global organization on free expression and privacy in the tech sector. Read the Center’s letter informing GNI leadership of its withdrawal.