Two years ago, NRB launched the John Milton Project to address the threat of viewpoint censorship and to present potential solutions.   On September 12, 2012, NRB will unveil its Free Speech Charter for the Internet, a unique, first-of-its-kind proposal to the free speech/free enterprise dilemma.

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) plans to release a proposal to new media companies like Facebook, Google and Apple on how to balance their free enterprise rights with the free speech rights of Internet users.

In recent years, new media companies have been accused of censoring faith-based viewpoints and expressions. In 2010, Apple removed from its iTunes App Store the Manhattan Declaration, a statement of Christian conscience drafted in part by the late Chuck Colson, as well as the app of Exodus International, a leading outreach to individuals, families, and churches impacted by LGBT issues.    

More recently, Facebook removed from its site a page created by Gov. Mike Huckabee that called for a “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” after the chain’s president, Dan Cathy, expressed his unabashed support for traditional marriage. The page was taken down for about 12 hours before appearing again. A Facebook representative reportedly said if the company had deleted the page it was because the “content violated our policies not because of public sentiment.”    

“Clearly, these new media web-based tech companies have, at least in part, contributed to the suppression of free speech,” says Craig Parshall, Senior Vice President & General Counsel at the National Religious Broadcasters and Director of the John Milton Project for Religious Free Speech.   

Two years ago, NRB launched the John Milton Project to address the threat of viewpoint censorship and to present potential solutions.    

On September 12, 2012, NRB will unveil its Free Speech Charter for the Internet, a unique, first-of-its-kind proposal to the free speech/free enterprise dilemma. A press conference has been scheduled on that date at 2:30 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, along with a discussion featuring an all-star panel of experts.    

Members of the press and other attendees are strongly encouraged to RSVP to Erin Kube at [email protected].   

About NRB  
The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) is a non-partisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. Our mission is to advance biblical truth; to promote media excellence; and to defend free speech. In addition to promoting standards of excellence, integrity, and accountability, NRB provides networking, educational, ministry, and fellowship opportunities for its members. Learn more at www.nrb.org.

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